September 2016 Newsletter OFFICERS: President: Wayne Bane 724-594-7482 [email protected] Vice President: Peter Sarkis 412-310-1589 [email protected] Secretary: Mary Beth Meyer 412-747-0769 [email protected] Treasurer: Jerry Longstreth 412-466-9091 [email protected]

RECENT EVENTS:

Washington Wild Things Game Saturday, August 20th

Members of the Pitt Birds attended a Washington Wild Things’ Baseball Game in Washington PA. We met at McDonalds on Racetrack Road and caravanned to Angelo’s Restaurant for dinner. We had a private room and the food was delicious. After dinner we took a short drive to the ballfield. Pete Sarkis made prior arrangements and we were escorted to a reserved parking area. The Washington Wild Things are part of the and have been playing since 2002 at Park, previously called Falconi Field. This night the Wild Things were playing the from the Chicago area. This game was more of a defensive battle with the Wild Things leading two to one going into the ninth inning. In the ninth inning, the Boomers did well enough to get bases loaded but the Wild Things were able to get the third out before the Boomers could score. This made for an exciting finish. The Pitt Birds thank Pete and Karen Sarkis for organizing and leading this event. RECENT EVENTS Continued:

Beaver Car Cruise Saturday, August 6th Members attended one of the area’s largest car cruises on the main street of Beaver, PA. Some arrived as early at 7:30 AM to get a prime spot. Others arrived and 10:00 and noon. Although we could not park our Thunderbirds in the same area, We placed our chairs near Jon and Joann Strebeck’s Thunderbird and watched the cars and people enter the cruise.

Lake Arthur Regatta Car Cruise Moraine State Park Sunday, August 7th The tour started from Denny’s Restaurant in Cranberry where we caravanned north on Route 19. We made a short stop at Baldinger’s Candy Store for a shopping spree of old time penny candy. We continued north to Moraine State Park to the Lake Arthur Regatta and Car Cruise. We were able to display our Thunderbirds together and we claimed a picnic table and placed a tent in a location that provided a wonderful scenic view of the lake. Members enjoyed strolling though the craft vendors and food area. Some took a tour of the lake on an old river boat. The Pitt Birds thank Mary Beth Meyer for organizing and leading this tour.

2 RECENT EVENTS Continued: UPCOMING EVENTS: Winery Festival and Chili Cook-Off Christian Klay Winery Sunday, September 18th We will enjoy the fruits of the vine at Christian Klay Winery in Chalk Hill where they are sponsoring the 18th annual Mountain Harvest Festival & Chili Cook-Off. We will have the opportunity to sample various recipes prepared by the area’s finest chefs and amateur cooks. There will be live music, crafts and of course, wine tasting opportunities. There will also be the opportunity to visit their distillery across the street from their wine making operation. This is a fund raising event for local charities so a $5 donation per person is requested which they will collect at the event. We will meet at the Bill Green Shopping Center parking lot on Clairton Road adjacent to the cloverleaf at Route 51 and Lebanon Church Road, GPS: 10 Old Clairton Rd, , PA 15236. We will depart at 11:00 AM. We will then caravan to the Christian Klay Winery at Chalk Hill. If it is more convenient, you can meet up with the tour at noon at the Winery located at 412 Fayette Springs Road, Chalk Hill, PA. The route will take us through the Laurel Mountains where we should be rewarded with an early display of fall colors. The tour will end at the winery at 4:00 PM. If you have any questions, contact either Ed Kaczkowski at 412-302- 2151 or Debbie Kaczkowski at 412-656-8147. Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday, September 18th, to enjoy a great day in the mountains listening to music and taking in the views while sampling good food and good wine and spirits.

Moon Area Car Cruise Sunday, August 28th Swigart Car Museum Huntingdon PA Some members arrived at Moon Park as early as 7:30 AM to get a Saturday, October 15th good spot and a pavilion, while others arrived later in the morning. The Pitt Birds will meet at Panera Bread in Murrysville at 9:00 AM. We This was a great cruise sponsored by the Moon Township Volunteer will travel to Huntingdon, PA to visit the Swigart Car Museum. After Fire Departments. It was a hot day but we were blessed with plenty of the museum tour we will have a late lunch in the Huntingdon area. If shade. Our thanks go out to John and Donna Shubert for organizing you have any questions, please contact Wayne Bane at 724-594-7482 the event, and to Pete and Karen Sarkis and Mary Beth Meyers for or email [email protected]. providing the lunch.

3 MEMBERSHIP: FOR SALE: Current Membership: 89 Members Hard Top, For 2002-2005 Thunderbird Welcome New Members: Gene O'Neill and Ruth Dobson Contact: Jerry Longstreth 412-466-9091 or [email protected] Interested in Joining an International Thunderbird Club? The Pitt Birds Thunderbird Club is a chapter club with the Classic Hard Top: 2002-2005 Black, excellent condition. $1,000.00 to Pitt Thunderbird Club International (CTCI) and the International Bird Members. Also have a foldable cart, $150.00, and cover $50.00. Thunderbird Club (ITC). Both CTCI and ITC have regional and Will sell hard top separately, will not sell cart and cover separate from international events, provide excellent technical advice, publish bi- the hard top. monthly magazines, offer vendor sourcing, and articles about other local clubs. Membership information to CTCI or ITC can be found by 1960 Thunderbird Coupe with Sunroof visiting the following web sites. Contact: Bob Anderson, Houtzdale, PA 814-378-7452 or 814-577-0781 Classic Thunderbird Club International: www.ctci.org V-8, Automatic, PS, PB, Dark Green with two tone Green Interior. Then click on “Become a Member” on the Home page. 42,000 Miles, original owner, always garaged, no winter driving, asking $22,000. International Thunderbird Club: www.intl-thunderbirdclub.com 1957 Thunderbird Parts Then click on the “Membership” button on the Home page. Contact: Bob Anderson, Houtzdale, PA 814-378-7452 or 814-577-0781 NOS and Good Used . Please call for list. Sold as a Package Deal. Buyer must pick up, no shipping. Nomination of Officers: 1958-1960 Thunderbird Parts The Pitt Birds are soliciting nomination suggestions for the following Contact: Bob Anderson, Houtzdale, PA offices in this club: President, Vice President, Secretary, and 814-378-7452 or 814-577-0781 Treasurer. If you are interested or know of someone that is interested, NOS Continental Kit, $1500, pick up or ship FOB. please contact Wayne Bane at 724-594-7482 or [email protected]. Golf Shirts: Turquoise / Thunderbird blue golf shirt with the Pitt Birds logo, contact The position for the Newsletter Editor is also available. Wayne and Dolly Bane at: 724-226-0788. The price is $30.00 ($32.00 for XXL).

Tee Shirts: With the Pitt Birds club logo are for sale for $15.00 each. Shipping and handling to your address is an additional $3.00. Limited supply remaining, 4 medium sizes available. 4 Contact Ann Augustine at: 724-468-3202. Modern collectibles revealed: 11th Generation 2002-2005 Ford Thunderbird By Andre Smirnov

When most car enthusiasts hear the word "Thunderbird", the likely image that comes to mind is the original stylish 1955 legend from FoMoCo with its long hood and trunk, tail fins, and half hidden rear wheels. There is no question that the 1st generation Thunderbird is a collectible. Almost every classic car auction will have at least one example of meticulously restored Thunderbird selling for top dollar. Does this car have performance? Once again, this car is not When you study the history of the Ford Thunderbird in a little more meant for quarter mile runs. It weighs in at near 3,800 lbs, but the detail, you will find out that this nameplate has gone thought more suspension is nice and comfy. iterations and refreshes than any other car (as of Dec 2011). Let’s Is it fun? If your idea of fun is gliding down to a local diner for a focus on the 11th generation of this car that was produced from milkshake while enjoying a V8 rumble, and then going to a drive- 2002-2005. in movie - then yes. It is meant to rekindle the magic of the 50s Can this great-great-grand child come close to matching the and it succeeds. appeal of the original? Or is it lost among the sea of minor updates Does it have critical acclaim? This model generated quite a lot of and major redesigns? Let’s break it down and apply the buzz upon its arrival. It won the 2002 Car of the Year award and Desirability + Rarity formula. that's no small feat! 1. Desirability: These answers move the desirability meter near the top. Does this car have style? This version of the car is channeling the original with its retro styling. You can definitely see the lineage to 2. Rarity: the 1955 car in this version and more so than any other. Yet it's a In total there were a little more than 68,000 11th generation T- sleek and simple design that can withstand the test of time. So far, Birds produced. If you focus only on the 2003-2005 years, this this sounds promising. number goes down to fewer than 37,000. Then you get to have fun with rare colors and options. How many doors does it have? It has 2 doors and a folding top. The car collector world prefers two door coupes and convertibles For example, maybe a 2003 Coral color James Bond edition with for whatever reason. Also, you get an option of a removable 700 examples produced would intrigue you? Or maybe you have hardtop with those classic port hole side windows. Neat! been able to find 1 or 82 2005 Inca Gold cars? There is definitely a lot of room here for a collector to play. Does this car have power? This car is not a rocket ship and this maybe it's weak link. However, the character of this Bird is more of 3. Verdict: a boulevard cruiser, rather than a drag racer or canyon carver. In This model is already fetching higher than book value in many its second year, the engine was upgraded from 252hp to 280hp. cases. A nice example can not only maintain the price, but is This makes the first year cars a little less attractive. likely to appreciate.

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