March 2019 Volume 24 Issue 3

The G T O Tiger Times The Voice of the G T O and Enthusiast in Central Pennsylvania

Contact Russ or I for more info if you ’d like to President ’s Corner share you and your car ’s history with the members. In this newsletter you will find the official show flyer for our August show, now the GTOAA East As I write this an impending snow storm has once Coast Regionals. Online registration is now open, again cleaned out all the makings of French toast head to the members section of the website to sign from all local grocery stores, and we can only hope up. SVGTO members are now included in the show that Punxsutawney Phil was right and before long field, so be sure to pick the right class for your we will be driving our GTOs to monthly meetings Poncho. If you have any questions regarding what instead of 4x4 trucks! Despite that, things are fall- class you should be in or whether you should be in ing in to place for the 2019 season for SVGTO. stock or modified, feel free to ask before register- Plenty of great ideas for things to do each month ing. Email me at: [email protected] with any flowed at the February club meeting as we begin to questions. lock in some dates and events to get this year un- derway. Let ’s hope that our region doesn ’t retain Brian the tropical rain forest climate that hampered show season in 2018!

This year we will kick off the year as we normally A couple other reminders: do with a cruise. As we were discussing what we wanted to do someone mentioned that Gary Cave Chapter dues renewals – We are nearing was having an open house and swap meet in April, the end of the renewal grace period, so if you which just happens to be on one of the weekends haven ’t renewed your SVGTO dues yet please do! we were looking at anyway. We ’ll meet up and At the end of March the password for the members cruise down to Gary ’s on April 14 th , stay tuned for only part of the website will be changed. If you more detail as we get closer to the date. need to renew, see Bob at this Sunday ’s meeting or Next up will be a tour of R.E.M. Automotive in it can be done on the site or by mail. Annville on May 18 th . We have quite a few new members since we last visited Ralph and Doug, this Mecum – Sign up is open, so if you would be one not to miss! For those that don ’t haven ’t yet, let us know you are interested! They know, R.E.M. manufactures hundreds of different are adding Wednesday this year so let us know restoration “soft parts ”. You may have never heard what you can do to help! of them, but I can guarantee you ’ve used their parts before if you have done any restoration work on your Pontiacs. Come out and find out just how many quality parts come out of our home turf! Both of these events will be rain or shine, and they will also both be in conjunction with the club meet- ing for April and May. April we will head to a nearby restaurant, and May will be at the conclusion of the tour at R.E.M. Both meetings will be brief meetings to keep the day from getting long and avoid having a club event the same weekend as a meeting. In June we will go back to meetings at the Hillside again.

We are still looking for members to share their sto- ries with us. This month we learn a little more about our Treasurer Bob Krewson. In months to come we ’d like to hear from you!

The GTO Tiger Times, A 2006 -18 GTOAA Award winner for Chapter Newsletter Excellence

SVGTO.COM January 2018 Club News

March 2019 donating raffle prizes, we welcome all Meeting Notes 02/10/2019 donations.

In Attendance: The POCI Convention at Gettysburg Random Pontiacs Brian Little, Russ Esenwine, Bob Krewson, Gateway is July 16-21st. If you are Mike Gettys, Marlyn Runk, Rob Schaffer, planning on attending, and are in need of Rich & Darlene Slarb, Jim Eyers, Glen & a hotel room, we suggest you act fast as Deb Hill, Andy, Kear, Jeff Jukes, Alan rooms are selling out at a rapid pace. Haynes, Riaz Jena, Doug & Rueben Warble, Wilson Wolfe, John Douglas.

Meeting called to order with opening SVGTO would like to welcome our newest remarks by Brian Little. member:

Treasurer’s report presented by Bob Ken Leaman Of Strasburg, Pa Krewson. And his 64, 428 Tri-powered LeMans/GTO Since our regular meeting in May will fall on Mother’s Day, the meeting has been rescheduled to follow the REM Tour on May 18th. This will be a brief meeting, no more than 1 hour.

There was much discussion about upcoming events for 2019. Please check page three for a list of confirmed events.

As most of you are aware, SVGTO has taken the task of hosting the GTOAA East Coast Regional event. In the past this event was held in June in Hartfield Pa.We have moved this event to August and combined it with our annual show. The ECR will be a two day event starting on Friday August 16th & 17th. This will also be a rain or shine event. Keep checking ATTENTION! the website and newsletter for updates and schedule of activities. Be sure to check out the If youwebsite have comments Since this is a GTOAA sanctioned event, about, or suggestions to SVGTO members will now be able to www.svgto.comhelp improve The GTO enter their cars in the show field rather Tiger Times, please than having special classes, as we’ve For thecontact latest Russ information Esenwine. of done in the past. upcoming events. If you or anyone you know, personal, or [email protected] business contacts, would be interested in

Next Meeting: The next regular club meeting will be Sunday, March 10th, 1pm at the Hillside Café.

Somber News

It is with great sadness that we share the news that in November we lost an SVGTO mem- ber. Lester Hess was a newer member of the club joining just last April. He was the origi- nal owner of a ’67 GTO. Mr. Hess was 72 years old and is survived by his wife Nancy.

Page 2 Recent & Upcoming Events SVGTO.COM

2019 SVGTO Schedule of Events

April 14 – Cruise to Gary Cave ’s spring swap meet Chapter Corner May 18 – Spring cruise to R.E.M. Automotive June 2 - Burdette Brothers Pontiac Show with GTOAA Chapter Coordinator, Denny Deal June 25 -30 – GTOAA National Convention in Lawrence- burg , Indiana I’ve been getting feedback from some of July 16 -21 – POCI National Convention in Gettysburg the chapters and Beth Butcher, our mem- July 21 - Ronald McDonald House meal prep bership coordinator, about members and July 31 -August 3 – Mecum Harrisburg their e -mail addresses. I send a Chapter August 16 – 17 – SVGTO All Pontiac show/GTOAA East Corner memo out periodically and expect Coast Regional your officers to forward it to you. If you are September 14 – Neffsville car show/SVGTO annual pic- not seeing them, then you need to check nic and make sure your e -mail address is correct with your October TBD – Fall Cruise chapter member responsible for passing these along. November 23 - SVGTO Holiday Banquet December 22 – Ronald McDonald House meal prep We also need to remind everyone that when you renew on -line whoever puts it in whether it is you, your wife, husband, girlfriend, friend, secretary etc. that this is the e-mail that is going to come through to Beth and she will update it to that e -mail in the GTOAA data- Did You Know …………… base. Most of the errors come from being unable to read the e -mail address especially when we do a show In 1958, Pontiac ’s optional “Sportable ” transistor AM radio or event and people are hand writing it out. She has to have a correct address for mailing and credit card pro- could be slid out from the dash to be taken anywhere. It oper- cessing, but if the e -mail is wrong, she has no way to ated on its own batteries and had its own antenna. When it know. was returned to the dash, it would then play through the car ’s From my standpoint, I only have the addresses for your speaker system using the car ’s electrical system to power it. officers so I expect that when I send out a memo that For 1959 and 1960, the transistor radio ’s design had changed pertains to you, the members, that your officers are to a small unit that was separate from the in -dash radio. It putting it on your Facebook page, on your website or stored in its own holder in the glovebox. Here ’s Pontiac ’s including along with your newsletter. Check your e -mail “Sportable ” transistor radio circa 1960. In the 1959 Oldsmo- out and make sure those that need to know have your correct address. bile it was the “Trans -Portable ” and the 1959 Buick it was If your chapter is involved in a Regional Events get called the “Transistor -Portable. ” Its styling differed some- them posted on our www.GTOAA.org website. Your what between the divisions. chapter needs to contact Jon Schwenn at [email protected] . I see that the NW Legends have a nice write up in this month ’s “LEGEND ”, and the Gateway, Heart of Illinois and Windy City GTO chapters have a regional flyer listed, but no other regional event flyers are posted. Also be sure to get it in the “Upcoming Events ” column in the back of the “LEGEND ”. Lastly, please notify Lance at [email protected] for GTOAA Facebook promotions . All of these resources are there for you to get the word out around the coun- try about your event. Take advantage of these promo- tional opportunities. Happy Motoring,

Denny Deal/GTOAA Chapter Coordinator [email protected]

Page 3 Our 24th Year! Who is this SVGTO Treasurer Pontiac in Jenkintown every September guy, anyway? to see the new Pontiacs and to even take a test drive with him occasionally. By: Bob Krewson I was 4 -1/2 when he bought his ’59 Robert W. Krewson (Bob) was born in Catalina 4 -door. What a car that was! Abington, PA on a beautiful June morn- Thirty -nine feet long, 4 giant doors, ing in 1954 —I must assume that it was power windows, power VENT windows, a beautiful day, I was only little at the power brakes, power steering, even time, after all. that new -fangled AIR CONDITIONING, From early on there was a strong Pon- it was Seaspray Green, which was a tiac influence in my life. Mom and Dad very pale green, and had a trunk that brought me home from the hospital in could swallow anything that you could a 1956 Pontiac Chieftain post . I think of. I loved riding in that car, Pop - remember standing on the back seat Pop continued his Teefy Pontiac pil- as an older kid, or earlier, riding in my grimage with me every year until he steel -framed car seat that hooked over the non -latching front seatback, this died in 1964. seat was complete with its own steer- My Dad bought a new ’63 ing wheel, a horn, and a stretchy plas- from Pollino Buick -Pontiac 2019 Club Officers tic ¾ ” wide seatbelt to keep me in place. Safety First! in Fort Washington, instead of the same year Tempest —as an engineer he didn ’t like that ‘rope drive foolish- Brian Little —President ness ’ and thought that it would be troublesome. That Buick Special be- [email protected] came my first car in 1970. I had a part -time job after school at D’Angelo ’s Sunoco on the corner of Mike Gettys —Vice President Limekiln Pike and Horsham Rd (Rte 463) for a couple of years. This was a [email protected] true full -service station, I pumped gas, cleaned windows, checked tires, re- placed wipers and bulbs, plugs and points, lubed cars and changed oil. I Bob Krewson —Treasurer got to know my way around cars well, What is interesting is that my paternal following Dan & Tony ’s direction. [email protected] grandfather was a hardcore Chevrolet These guys passed their knowledge, guy, and would buy a new Chevy every tips, & tricks of Quadrajet carburetors few years. He always said that Pontiacs on to me, I have retained this Russ Esenwine —Secretary were “too expensive for working peo- ple ”. knowledge and use it as required. [email protected] It was my maternal grandparents who reinforced the Pontiac theme, Charlie Pop -Pop (we weren ’t very innovative with names) used to take me to Teefy Continued on Page 7

National Organization Information Susquehanna Valley GTO is an affiliated chapter of the GTO Association of America, the premier national organization for GTO enthusiasts. Each month GTOAA members receive The Legend , a Golden Quill Award winning publication. Members can read the technical articles and have access to the GTOAA Technical Advisors Staff, use 50 words of free advertising monthly, view the feature articles on some of the most interesting GTOs you ’ll come across, and have access to the GTOAA Club Store mer- chandise. For an on -line preview of The Legend, go to www.gtoaa.org. For local chapter information, send an e -mail to Bill Vantuono at [email protected] . To 1995 2019 receive a membership application by mail, write to: GTOAA, PO Box 213, Timnath, CO. 80547, or send an e -mail to: [email protected] for more information. The GTOAA National Meet is hosted by various local chapters, and is held annually. The acclaimed Concours and Popular Vote Car Shows bring some of the finest GTOs together for superb viewing. Other highlights include many renowned Technical and Special Interest speakers, the multi -day swap meet, drag tracing, and other great events.

Official GTOAA Chapter, Since 1995 Page 4 SVGTO.COM Story by: Alan Haynes

The 389 -cid V8 was used in all Pontiacs in 1960. In 1961, the new Tempest compact offered a different type of V8 as a very rare option. History of Ponac V8 This was a 215 -cid 155 -hp job built by Buick. Also showing up very late in the calendar year was a 421 -cid V8 that became a regular production Part I (1955 to 1963) option (RPO) in 1962. It produced 405 hp. The 421 did not differ greatly in basic design from the 389 -cid V8, but featured lighter connecting rods and much larger crankshaft journals. The 421 -cid 405 -hp designation I am familiar with the Pontiac V8 motors that you see at club events and became well known after it appeared on the hoods of many NASCAR my ears always perk up when I hear the buzzwords like 421 or Ram Air stock cars and Super -Duty drag cars. or even SD455. However, when you say 251 I kind of get that deer in the headlights look and think to myself what in the heck is a 251? I am More directly derived from the 389, a new 326 -cid V8 arrived in the pretty sure that is not a Pontiac! upsized 1963 Tempest. It was a de -stroked version of the 389 with a four - So again thanks to my sources (your sources too if you like searching for barrel carburetor and 260 hp. Pontiac continued with Tri -Power options information on the internet) like www.enginebuildermag.com in this for both the 389 and 421. Two 421 H.O. V8s produced 353 and 370 hp, case …It seems that if you hear 251 thrown around in motor conversa- but the hottest options of all were the 390 -, 405 - and 410 -hp versions of tions at a Pontiac function, don ’t walk away as it is part of our family the 421 Super -Duty V8. These featured up to 13.0:1 compression and too. came with a single four -barrel, three two -barrel or dual four -barrel From an article that Engine Builder published Titled “A History Lesson carburetors. They were intended strictly for racing and to make Pontiac in Pontiac V8 Power ” the competition king. The first Pontiac V8 lasted only one year. Out in 1932, V8 used the same Below are some great pictures Pontiac engines. It is interesting to see 251 -cid in Pontiac ’s almost -dead parent make, Oakland, during 1930 how they evolve into what we are more familiar with today. Thanks to and 1931. The 85 -hp flathead was unchanged in the Pontiac, except that www.pontiacdiy.com for pictures and descriptions. the mounting system was slightly modified. Pontiac had really just re- Below is the 287 V8 that started it all! named the Oakland V8 as an upper series Pontiac because it was a pret- ty good way to clear out the parts bin. In 1933 and 1934, Pontiac built only eight -cylinder cars, but they used a flathead straight eight. OK …I must admit I still have the Deer in the Headlights look but I like to appreciate history and especially Pontiac ’s heritage so I felt like the 251 needed a little bit of attention. Let ’s give the little guy a hat tip as maybe it really did earn the bragging rights of being the 1 st Pontiac V8! Actually, my intention of writing this article was to talk about the Ponti- ac V8 ’s that most of us see at car shows or in your garage maybe. The Pontiac Overhead Valve V8 that started its life in 1955 as a 287 cubic inch motor. Again, I relied the article that Engine Builder published Titled “A Histo- ry Lesson in Pontiac V8 Power ” In 1955, Pontiac started towards a youthful new, high -performance image that it would nurture during the last half of the ’50 s. The first important change came under the hood, where a 287 cid overhead -valve V8 was nestled. When linked to a manual transmission this motor had 7.4:1 compression and 173 brake horsepower. Adding Hydra -Matic Drive upped compression to 9.0:1 and horsepower to 180. The new OHV V -8 “Strato Streak ” engine debuted in 1955. Displacing 287 ci, the entry -level 2 -barrel mill was packed full of cutting -edge Engineers Clayton B. Leach and Ed Windeler developed this cast -iron features and was rated at 173 hp. An optional 4 -barrel carburetor was engine with ball -and -stud rocker arms, gusher type cooling, pressure - made available midyear, which increased horsepower to 200. suction crankcase ventilation, and easy -to -cast block construction to keep costs low and make it efficient. It had a very short, still crankcase, a lightweight valve train, five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, and a Carter WGD or Rochester 2GC two -barrel carburetor. By mid -1955, an optional “power pack ” engine with a four -barrel carburetor and dual exhausts was made available.

In 1956, the 297 was bored to 317 cid. Pontiac really jumped in the horsepower race with built -for -racing “NASCAR ” options carrying dual four -barrel carburetors and delivering up to 285 hp. This was just the beginning. In 1957, the stroke was increased and displacement rose to 347 cid. The original, limited edition got a 315 -hp fuel -injected version of the engine. There was also a 290 -hp “Tri - Power ” (three two -barrel carburetors) option, plus a pair of 317 -hp Bunkie Knudsen was brought in to change Pontiac ’s image. Though his NASCAR Tri -Power engines. influence is felt in 1957 model year styling, this 1958 Bonneville repre- sents the direction Pontiac was headed during the late 1950s and into Pontiac engineers got the boring bar out again in 1958, to reach 370 the 1960s. The low -slung body with flashy accents made the Pontiac cid. Fuel -injection was made an option and again there were Tri -Power seem as if it ’s moving forward while standing still. and NACAR (a.k.a “Tempest 395 -A) engine options delivering horse- power numbers as high as 330. In 1959, the 370 was stroked out to be- come the famous 389 -cid Pontiac V8. Fuel -injection was gone, but the highest output level was now up to 345 hp thanks to a Tempest 395 -A option with a 10.5:1 compression ratio and Tri -Power combination. Page 5 SVGTO.COM Story by: Alan Haynes

History of Ponac V8 Part I (1955 to 1963) Continued

To maintain competitiveness on the track with the larger engines pro- duced by other manufacturers, Pontiac released a 421 version of its Super Duty package through its parts departments toward the end of the 1961 model year. To comply with rules imposed by racing associa- tions, both it and the Super Duty 389 became factory installed options Royal Pontiac in Royal Oak, Michigan, capitalized on Pontiac ’s success in 1962. Available only with two 4 -barrels, the SD -421 was rated at on the drag strip early on. With the assistance of Pontiac ad -man Jim 405 hp and made quick work of the competition. Wangers, Royal Pontiac became intertwined with the Division and had a direct line to its Engineering department. This particular 1961 Ven- tura, campaigned by Royal Pontiac and driven by Wangers, may be the only 1961 Pontiac to receive a factory -installed Super Duty 389.

Concerned with maximum performance, little regard was given to cold -weather operating characteristics of the Super Duty engine. As such, most Super Duty Pontiacs were purchased with the sole intent of reg- ularly competing on the racetrack. Campaigned by Gay Pontiac, driver Don Gay claimed the 1963 NHRA National Championship in class A/ Stock with this 1962 Catalina.

Tri -Power was introduced in 1957 to give Pontiac a youthful appeal to young hot rodders. Boasting excellent street manners and economy while operating on its center 2 -barrel carburetor, and strong accelera- tion as its end 2 -barrels progressively opened, it was well marketed and quite popular with buyers through 1966. It is truly a Pontiac trademark.

You might see some familiar faces and names from the past and to me that is one of the best parts of learning about our history and our heritage! We have gone from a mighty 287 2bbl up to a SD -421 in less than 10 years …Stay tuned for Part II of our Pontiac V8 Story.

Page 6 By: Bob Krewson SVGTO.COM

Later, the V12 sedans and XK -E’s received Turbo 400’ s Continued from Page 4 with a special bellhousing, instead of the Borg -Warner The D ’Angelo brothers were hard -core Pontiac guys and unit, but they were still having similar problems with they fanned the Pontiac flames within me. The parts transmission failures. Maginniss trusted me enough to chaser at D ’Angelo ’s was Danny ’s ’62 Catalina converti- give me a brand new V12 XK -E roadster from their stock ble with a built 400/400 combo in it. We used to fall to drive for testing, I quickly figured out that the GM - over ourselves to drive it to the parts store. sourced THM400 ’s in these cars were the least -costly By this time, I had graduated from Hatboro -Horsham standard units and the Leyland engineers had never HS, but wasn ’t ready for college, so I went to work full - altered any of the valve body settings and pressures to time at Jack & Jim ’s Auto Repair in Horsham. This was work with the torquey but high -revving V -12 ’s in those another full -service station with 5 repair bays, 3 over- heavy cars. head lifts, and a Bear Wheel Alignment machine. I installed a B&M shift kit in the transmission, raised My own cars at these times were not always Pontiacs, shift pressures and changed shift timing, making sure but some were! I had the Buick, but I wanted a sports that it still felt like a Jaguar, and not like my wagon car, so I bought a ‘72 MGB Roadster. There was a which would break the rear tires loose with every shift. steady stream of all types of cars coming through our door all the time. A good customer came in with his ’68 With almost 3 months of trying to break the hot -rodded BelAir 9 -passenger wagon that was really rusty, the 396 Jag transmission and failing to do so, my kit became the engine smoked uncontrollably, and the Powerglide had factory -approved fix in all of those new Jags, I got to only one functional gear. I offered him $200 for the car, repair about 25 or so in my shop, usually with a Leyland which was enough to make it mine. Working at night, I rep watching intently and taking notes. My revisions rebuilt the transmission, and put new umbrella oil seals were added to the following year ’s cars at the factory, in the engine —this greatly lessened the smoke, but did- they had zero trouble after that. No, I wasn ’t paid for n’t stop it. I riveted some sheetmetal over the gaping the research, nor did I have the presence of mind to holes in the rear quarters and rear footwell, and then patent my fix! But I was the only 25 -year old in the area bent up a complete 2-1/2” dual exhaust system with the with a brand new XKE V -12! My sexy Jaguar coupe went ubiquitous turbo mufflers. THAT single modification back to the UK after my time with her; they probably made the car something to be feared. The car wasn ’t did an autopsy to verify the changes that I had made, loud, but it now had a deep, low tone that hit you right even though I spelled it all out in great detail. I miss in the chest. The free -breathing exhaust didn ’t make it that car too. any faster, but people were now scared to stand next to It should be noted that in addition to being a dealer those tailpipes. That old Chevy wagon became the shop themselves, Maginniss was the East Coast distributor for parts chaser; and was unstoppable. All that you had to all British -Leyland car dealers, MG, Triumph, & Jag, so remember was to throw a case of oil in the back before this was a significant feather in my cap. Yes, Leyland you went very far. I also installed a set of Corvette rally DID try to hire me to work in R&D in the UK, I stupidly wheels, with new white lettered Jetzon G60x15 bias turned it down. This was a much different time, a more plies all around, and a Pontiac Sport steering wheel, casual and laid -back time for certain. both from wrecks that had been towed to our shop. More on a particular wrecked Firebird later. I found out that all of these guys would talk at the vari- I began soliciting the local new car dealerships for any ous dealer conferences, Maginniss was extolling my vir- overflow work or problem children that they could send tues one night and the next morning my phone was our way. We had a reputation for being problem solv- ringing with multiple calls from Bryner Chevrolet & Teefy ers, and could fix just about anything. Maginniss For- Pontiac in Jenkintown, Wilson Pontiac & Lafferty Chevro- eign Car was the first one to contact me, at the time, let in Warminster. All of these folks were having trouble Jaguars were having issues with the Borg -Warner trans- with certain transmissions, and would I take a look? missions failing in the new XJ sedans and would I con- Most of the cars were from Teefy, and many were 68 -72 sider swapping factory new transmissions for the failed GTO ’s and LeMans ’. ones, since all their mechanics hated the job. I remem- We did a lot of repairs for these dealerships, I was also ber that the first one took me about 8 hours, but I de- the electrical guru, many electrical gremlins were rooted livered the car back to the dealership late the next out and repaired by me, and our reputation continued to morning. They agreed to pay me what British -Leyland grow, transmissions, engines, nothing could beat my paid them for the warranty job, 10 hours, at the time I team back then. think that was about $100 in my pocket, and a lot of money in 1974. I was ecstatic because I beat the time by 2 hours! As the floodgates opened and more and more of these cars came to my door, I was doing 2 and 3 a night, and still getting paid 10 hours for each. Keep Continued on Page 8 in mind that these were brand -new, very expensive cars, usually with less than 5000 miles. And all with very fussy, very anxious owners. Page 7 By: Bob Krewson SVGTO.COM

Continued from Page 7 We went back to Freed ’s for a bigger car, and bought my ’98 Grand Prix GT. This was a car that everyone could love. Life went on at Jack ’s, one afternoon I found a ’72 Grand Roomy, reasonably fast —although no Trans Am —and great Prix for sale in the local AutoFinder paper; of course, I on long trips. This car was also my work car as I now had jumped in the truck and went to NE Philly that night, found another job in outside sales, and was driving roughly 1200 the car in a sketchy neighborhood and brought it home, miles a week. probably around 1979. It had a base 400 with a bunch of bent pushrods, I didn ’t even try to figure that one out, so There was this guy that lived behind us in Landisville, one we yanked it out, rebuilt the THM400, and looked around day I was riding past his house and saw a Palladium Silver the shop. My eyes fell on the engine from that wrecked ’73 ’70 GTO in the driveway, so I walked through the yard to Firebird that had gone sideways into a tree so long ago. A introduce myself to none other than Vic Schreck. The die 1973 Brewster Green 4 -speed Trans Am with a shaker was now cast, although I didn ’t join SVGTO immediately. hood that said SD -455. We had long ago sold what re- In early 2004, I looked at the new -gen GTO ’s, but was dis- mained of the car for scrap, it was pretty bad, gruesome appointed by the lack of room and the fact that it had no would be a better term. Today that car might have been trunk. So, I kept driving the ’98 GP until I saw an adver- restorable. Hindsight, etc., etc. tisement for the new G8, that ’s when I knew that I needed I had kept that 455, ‘just in case ’. So, into the freshly - a new Pontiac. Sure, the name was goofy, and Pontiac Mo- painted green Grand Prix went the Super Duty 455 and the tor Division was no longer making any of the old Pontiac rebuilt THM400. Even with a 3.08 open rear, this thing “names ”—but it was a rear -wheel drive big car with an LS went 14.4 at 101 on street tires at Atco. I still have that motor under the hood! time slip somewhere. Yep, Pontiacs ARE fun! Shortly after this I went to work at FMC -Material Handling Systems in Colmar (near Lansdale) in the Water Treatment department as an inside sales rep. I was tired of smelling like burnt transmission fluid and with being dirty all the time, so I decided to make a change of career. The Grand Prix served me well for several more years, I sold it and bought an ’86 Grand Am when I married for the 2nd time (the first one ended in divorce, but DID give me my son Rob. Most of you have met him at our functions at some point). I had a short stint in the 80’ s with Ford products, an ’86 Ranger STX V6, 5 -speed manual, extended cab, then Tom, my 2 nd son, was born and I needed a real back seat, so I spied an ’89 Taurus SHO at Red Hill Ford that needed a home. This car made a lot of people sit up and take notice at just how fast a 6 -cylinder, 5 -speed manual, fleet -car - looking Taurus could be. That Mercury Marine -designed engine was a jewel, but I wanted another Pontiac. Driving past Jones Pontiac one July afternoon, I spied a One day, after divorce #2, I was driving past JL Freed & lineup of four new G8 ’s. Three of them had SOLD signs on Sons in Lansdale and saw a shiny new, silver ’95 TransAm. them, the last one in line, a 2009 Stryker Blue GT, already This was the first year for the new LT -1 engine, and I had 400 miles showing, and paperwork revealing that 3 wanted to drive it in the worst way. I went back later that dealers in 3 different states had attempted to sell it for night and bought that car, it seemed scary fast at first as almost a year before it got to Jones. I could see nothing the 4 -speed automatic clicked off crisp, no nonsense shifts. wrong with the blue beauty at all, so I took the car on a My first priority, after stopping to see my parents, was to long test drive and fell in love, I couldn ’t find a thing go and pick up my grandmother —who still LOVED Ponti- wrong, other than that 400 miles showing. Was it a demo? acs, and take her for a ride. With the T -tops out on a warm Was it just an orphan because of the unpopular color? summer night, she smiled the entire time and kept saying that it was a beautiful Pontiac and that Charlie Pop -pop We ’ll never know, that was a long time ago, and I ’ve would have loved this car. owned that car for almost 10 years now. Somewhere during all of this confusion, I managed to go back to school and obtain my BS in Mechanical Engineer- ing. I was finally ready to be a better student!

Not very long after that, I changed jobs again and was working with a conveyor manufacturing company based in Telford. I was a newly -graduated mechanical engineer from Spring Garden College (now closed), and I was the field service coordinator and setup guy for the systems that were sold. That job led me to Lancaster County and to wife #3, Cindy. Page 8 PRESENTS: 2019 GTOAA EAST COAST REGIONALS 12 th ANNUAL DATE: August 16 &17, 2019 All Pontiac Show A: Stock GTO 1964-67 Reg. 8a 11a B: Stock GTO 1968-74 FRI: Noon-6 SAT: - TIME: Show 9a - 3p C: Stock GTO 2004-06 Amos Herr Park 1670 Nissley RD D: Stock Pontiac thru 1964 except GTO/TA/FB PLACE: Landisville, PA 17538 E: Stock Pontiac 1965-79 except GTO/TA/FB NEW F: Stock Pontiac 1980-99 except GTO/TA/FB COST: Pre - reg: 15.00, DOS: 20.00 CLASS G: Stock Pontiac 2000-09 except GTO/TA/FB **Rain or Shine Event** LINEUP! H: Stock Trans Am & Firebird 1967-81 I: Stock Trans Am & Firebird 1982-2002 All Pontiacs welcome: Any Year, Any Model. J: Modified Pontiac All Years except GTO/TA/F B  Popular Vote By Registered Show Participants K: Modified Trans Am & Firebird 1967-81  Best Of Show Awards L: Modified Trans Am & Firebird 1982-2002  Longest Distance Award M: Modified GTO 1964-74  Raffles / Door Prizes N: Modified GTO 2004-06 s Custom Catering  Catered By Enck ’ O: G8  Showfield On Grass / Abundant Shade P: Under Construction/Driver  Music By Jeff Primaldi Q: Pontiac A-Body 1973-77 including Can Am  Trailer Parking ** Modified: Up to 3 minor modifications permitted for stock class SVGTO is a Regional Chapter of the GTO Association of America SVGTO reserves the right to re -class accordingly

2013 Chapter of the Year Model Car Contest: -Classes for Adults & Kids Family of Dealerships -Pontiac & Open Classes -Model cars limited to plastic assembly, NO diecast. -Model Car contest is FREE to show registrants *Special group hotel rates here : -Registration day of show. Sleep Inn & Suites 310 Primrose Lane Questions? Email: [email protected] Mountville, PA 17554 Or Call: 717.778.8102 - 717.521.8277 - 717.880.0607 (717)285-0444 717.615.7117 - 717.880.5692

Register online: www.svgto.com ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Name:______Street: ______City: ______State: ______Zip:______(email address is used to nofy Phone: ( ____ ) ______Email: ______you of next year ’s show, we will never share your email) Model Ponac: ______Year: ______Class: (Leer from above )______Children Parcipaon: (age limit 15 ) # of Children ______Ages: ______

Signature: ______** I understand; SVGTO, Jones Dealerships, & East Hempfield Twp will not be held liable for any damages, thefts, or injuries to show cars, or participants. Checks made payable to: Susquehanna Valley G T O Mail registraon with remiance by: August 10, 201 9 To: SVGTO ALL PONTIAC SHOW >>> ATTN: Bob Krewson: 950 Driver Avenue, Landisville, PA 17538 Poron of proceeds to benet: Ronald McDonald House Charies of Central PA