SMOKE SIGNALS The Official Publication of the ANKOKAS, NJ Region AACA

May/June 2018 Volume 55, Issue 3

In This Issue: ÆÆ Ankokas Charter Luncheon ÆÆ Hankins Award Winner Profile ÆÆ Ankokas, AACA and Local Events Calendars ÆÆ Fun Holidays in May & June ÆÆ Car Is The Star ÆÆ It Caught My Eye ÆÆ A (Very) Brief HIstory of Comics ÆÆ Twilight Zone Puzzle ÆÆ AACA Bookmobile In This Month’s Issue:

At The Steering Wheel...... 1 News & Events...... 2 Calendars...... 4 Fun Holidays...... 4 Car Is The Star...... 5 Well the car show season is now all a bit disappointed with dessert! I Rummage Box...... 6 starting and I’m sure that most of you wish to congratulate our 2017 Hankins It Caught My Eye...... 7 are more than anxious to get your award winner Diana Antinucci. She was HIstory of Comics...... 9 cars cleaned up and out onto the quite surprised as she stood there with Puzzle...... 11 The Award Goes To..11 world stage again. We can start you camera in hand to take a picture of the AACA Bookmobile...12 out with a car display on Saturday winner! It is an award well deserved. Roadside May 12th at Avista Healthcare on She has done a wonderful job with the Ramblings...... 14 Chapel Ave. in Cherry Smoke Signals. It is now nice that Letter From the Editors...... 14 Hill. We were there last there are his and now a hers Hankins Marketplace...... 15 season, but during the awards that can hang side by week. I thought that we side—yes, Steve, you should hang would try a Saturday them! Also, for anyone who has this time and see if not heard, they are now also Mr. we can have more and Mrs. members come out. It At our next meeting is from 11:00 until 2:00 on May 10th we and they will supply us will have a lawyer, with lunch. Please Bruce Shaw for a arrive and be speaker. He gave parked by 10:45. a presentation at This newsletter is a publication of the If you are able to the AACA meeting Ankokas Region of the come, please let in Philadelphia and Antique Automobile Club me know as Avista Barry Goldsmith of America, located in southern New Jersey. will want a ball park thought that he was Material may be figure for a lunch very interesting and reproduced only if credit number. is given to the source President Kathy Petters. would be great for Photo by B. Petters and we are asked for The AACA Eastern Spring one of our meetings. He quickly permission to reproduce Meet is being held in found me in the hall, got the the material. If you have material Gettysburg this year on July 11 thru “that is a great idea” from me and ran that you would like to 14. Bob and I are already signed up with it. He spoke with him and made contribute or you have for the show and hotel room as I’m arrangements for our May meeting and comments or ideas about the newsletter, please sure many of you are too. Hope to we thank him for his efforts in making contact the editor, Diana, see many of you there. this happen. He will be speaking on what at newsletter@ankokas. We had a nice time at the to watch out for when buying classic com. Charter Luncheon on April 8th at cars along with other related topics. I’m Ramblewood. Their room was lovely hoping that we can have a good number and, of course, the golf course view of people present at the meeting. was a nice added touch. We had several of our luncheons there many Kathy Petters, President years ago—one other time that Bob was President. The food was very good, but I think that we were SMOKE SIGNALS Page 2

ghgh News & Events ghgh ghghghgh Ankokas Annual Charter Luncheon ghghghgh

article by Diana Antinucci; photos by S. Soppe and D. Antinucci This year’s luncheon was held on April 8th at the Ramblewood Country Club. The club would like to thank Kathy and Bob Petters for arranging the luncheon this year. The room provided to us was lovely and the buffet put out was very good. As usual, everyone had a fun time hanging out with friends. This year’s Frank Hankins Memorial Award was given to Diana Antinucci (see article below) and a special plaque was given to Tom Amendola as a thank you for sponsoring the club. You can see more pictures on our website at www.ankokas.com/events_list.cfm. P

Kathy Petters presenting a sponsorship plaque to Tom Amendola.

Bernie and Arlene Shuster.

Bob Petters enjoying the comradery of other Ankokas members.

Ankokas members after enjoying a delicious lunch.

Ed Jeffers and Allan Vogelson sharing stories of good times with their cars. SMOKE SIGNALS Page 3

Member Profile: Hankins Award Winner Diana Antinucci

article and photo by Steven Soppe way up to more modern horror films. On Saturdays, she Diana Antinucci, your Smoke Signals editor, was very would watch Creature Double Feature with her grandmother, surprised to receive the Frank Hankins Memorial Award this where she saw a lot of Hammer Horror. Slashers are the only year (just look at the picture). subgenre she’s really not interested in. Diana began editing the newsletter in Diana has enjoyed the company of cats January of 2016, after Mike Sisto’s run of continuously since age eight. Diana’s nine years. Over the last two years, she most recent companion is the editorial has added an expanded online edition supervisor, Blarp. He takes a more hands- and recurring articles such as The Car off approach than Jade did. If you don’t is the Star, Roadside Ramblings and her share your house with a cat, Diana loves newest addition, It Caught My Eye. dogs too. If you don’t like cats... well, just Diana also bakes cookies for the don’t mention that. monthly meetings. Her favorite cookie Almost all areas of history interest Diana, to bake (and the club’s favorite to eat) but of particular interest are ancient history, is chocolate chip. It allows variation the American Revolution, the Civil War (walnuts, milk chocolate chips, caramel (especially Gettysburg) and World War II. chips, etc.) and it’s fairly easy, so she can Her new article series, It Caught My make more of them. Eye, might give you some insights into If you want to get on the good side of the types of cars she likes, but among her the cookie lady (and who doesn’t?), start favorites are VW buses and small, sporty a conversation about horror films, cats Diana hears that she is this year’s Hankins recipient. cars like MGs and Triumphs. or history. Some of her other hobbies include Diana started watching horror films when she was a toddler, drawing, model-making, learning to play piano and collecting beginning with the classic Universal films, like Frankenstein comics and non-sport trading cards (mostly horror-related). and Dracula. By the time she was ten, she had worked her P Annual Ankokas Tailgate Meeting

June 8th, 2018 5PM Johnson’s Farm, 133 Church Rd., Medford, NJ SMOKE SIGNALS Page 4 ghghgh Ankokas Events 2018 ghghgh May 10: 7:30PM: Ankokas regular monthly meeting on the June 8: 5PM: Ankokas Annnual Tailgate Meeting at second floor of the Haddonfield Municipal Building, 242 Kings Johnson’s Corner Farm. Meet in the back lot at 4:45PM and Highway East, Haddonfield. After the meeting will be a special we will move as a group to the front lot. presentation about classic and antique car fraud. Sept. 15: 9AM-2PM: Annual Ankokas Haddonfield Car Show. May 12: 11AM-2PM: Ankokas car display at Avista Healthcare Limited to 200 vehicles; pre-registration only. on 3025 W. Chapel Ave, Cherry Hill. ghghgh AACA Calendar 2018 ghghgh May 11-12: Central Spring Meet. Auburn, IN. October 10-13: Eastern Fall Meet hosted by Hershey May 31-June 2: Greensburg, PA. 2018 AACA Annual Grand Region. Hershey, PA. Natiuonal Meet hosted by Western PA Region. Go to www.aaca.org/Calender/aaca_calendar.html for more July 11-14: Gettysburg, PA. 2018 AACA Eastern Spring Meet information and listings. hosted by Chesapeake Region. ghgh Fun Holidays to Celebrate in May and June ghgh May 3: National Paranormal Day June 1: National Doughnut day May 4: Star Wars Day June 4: Hug Your Cat Day May 5: Free Comic Book Day June 6: National Yo-Yo Day May 11: Twilight Zone Day June 7: National Chocolate Ice Cream Day May 12: National Train Day June 8: World Ocean Day May 13: National Apple Pie Day June 15: National Nature Photography Day May 15: National Chocolate Chip Day June 16: National Fudge Day May 16: Love a Tree Day June 18: International Sushi Day May 18: International Museum Day June 18: International Picnic Day (take sushi!) May 28: National Hamburger Day June 19: National Garfield the Cat Day May 29: Learn About Composting Day June 20: Ice Cream Soda Day May 30: Water a Flower Day June 26: National Chocolate Pudding Day ghghgh Local Events Calendar May-June 2018 ghghgh May June May 5: 10AM-2PM: 18th Annual Glory Days Car Show. Echelon June 2: 9:30AM-2:30PM: Judged car show hosted by Ford, White Horse Pike, Stratford, NJ. No entry fee. Contact Tom the South Jersey Camaro Car Club. 39 Phoenix Dr., West 856-524-2588. Deptford, NJ. Ice cream truck on site. All makes, models, May 18: 5PM-9PM. 25th Annual Cruisin’ Main Street in motorcycles, trucks welcome. $20 DOS. Contact Linda 609- Downtown Hammonton. Bellevue Ave., Hammonton, NJ. Contact 206-9765. Tony Sceia 609-561-3041. June 2: 12-4PM: Runnemede Fire Co. Annual Car Show. 26 May 19: (Rain date May 26) 11AM-3PM: Dterding’s Family East 2nd Ave., Runnemede, NJ. Rain or Shine. $15 DOS. Supermarket 3rd Annual Car Show. 506 East Gibbsboro Rd., Registration starts 10AM. Call 856-939-4390. Lindenwold, NJ. DOS $15. Contact Bill Deterding 609-870-9648. June 9: Pre-War Display at Historic Walnford. Hosted by May 20: 9AM-2PM: 8th Annual Shine in the Pines Car Show. AACA Mid-Jersey Region. All stock and modified Pre-WWII Batsto Village, Route 542, Hammonton, NJ. $15 DOS. Rain or vehicles welcome. Historic Walnford, 62 Walnford Rd., Upper shine. Contact Tony Sceia 609-561-3041. Freehold, NJ. No entry fee, no judging, grass parking. May 25: 5-9PM: Project Yellow Ribbon Car Cruise at Johnson’s June 10: 11AM-4PM: 3rd Annual Medford Wine & Shine Car Corner Farm. Make a donation to our troops. Johnson’s Corner Show. Main Str., Medord, NJ. $20 DOS. Contact Jim 856- Far, 133 Church Rd., Medford, NJ. Call 609-654-8643. Go to 979-7292. www.johnsonsfarm.com/event/operation-yellow-ribbon for more June 16: 5PM-10PM: Street of Dreams Car Show. Farnsworth info on the event and donations. Ave., Bordentown, NJ. Peer-judged. 1994 and older. DOS $15. May 26: (Rain date May 27, 12-5PM) 10AM-4PM: Annual June 24: (Rain date June 23) 8:30AM-2PM: Rain or shine. Collingswwod May Fair Antique & Classic Car Show. $20 DOS. 32ns Annual Red, White and Blueberry Car Show & Festival. Haddon Ave., Collingswood, NJ. Contact Tom 856-524-2588. Day Hammonton High School, Route 30 & Old Forks Rd., of show rain info call 856-858-9275. Hammonton, NJ. $15 DOS. Contact Tony Sceia 609-561- May 28: 8AM-12PM: 7th Annual Memorial Day Breakfast Show. 3041. Day of show call 609-839-2239. Silver Diner, 2131 Route 38, Cherry Hill, NJ. $20 DOS. Call 856- June 30: 9AM-3PM: South Jersey Street Legends 6th Annual 912-5200. Day of show rain info call 856-910-1240. Car Show. 323 East Charleston Ave., Lawnside, NJ. $20 DOS. Contact John Langford 856-617-2553. SMOKE SIGNALS Page 5 A series about cars from movies and The Car is The Star television “Is it a phantom, a demon, or the Devil himself?” article by Diana Antinucci

Inspired by such films as Duel and Death Race 2000, the other was destroyed in the barrel roll over the police The Car (released May 13, 1977) is a film about a cars. The “hero” car used for close-ups was auctioned menacing black car that goes on a murder spree in a off in 1983 and it is assumed to be in Europe in a small town. Unlike other pictures or TV shows where the private collection. car becomes famous just because it happens to be a cool The Lincoln Continental Mark III was introduced in or interesting car, the whole point of the movie is the car. April 1968 as an early 1969 model and was intended Designed by George Barris and built in his shop, it was as competition for the Cadillac Eldorado. It was a built on a 1971 Lincoln Continental Mark III chassis. The successor to the 1956-57 Lincoln Mark II. Interestingly, Mark III itself was based on a Chrysler Falcon concept* there had already been a Mark III, Mark IV and Mark V and Barris used this in his design, particularly the large between 1958 and 1960, but Henry Ford II did not view recessed headlamps, split front bumper, open wheel wells these as genuine Continentals and chose to use the and rounded front fenders. Mark III designation for this Twenty gauge steel was used new car. over the original body to shape The car proved to be a the fenders, a new grill was success and was relatively made from steel tubing and inexpensive to develop. Just bumpers were created from as the Eldorado was built on eighteen gauge steel. The top a Toronado frame, the Mark was four inches lower than a III was built on a Thunderbird Mark III and the fenders were frame. In addition, the side-rail made four inches higher and frame was the same as the longer. The frame was made Thunderbird and they reused from eighteen gauge steel and their Ford 460 cubic inch, 365 weighed 5,500 pounds, was bhp V8 engine. Lincoln was twenty feet long and just over 1971 Lincoln Continental Mark III. Photo taken by GPS56 and used able to use existing designs under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License. nine feet wide. The car was and parts and sell the Mark III also given windows that were and luxury car prices, $6,585 in laminated both inside and out, smoked on the inside 1969 (just over $46,000 today). and amber on the outside, so the stunt drivers could see At eighteen feet long, the Mark III weighed over out of the car, but no one could see into it. The car was 5,000 pounds and got 10.3 mpg. Standard equipment finished with twenty coats of black pearl lacquer. A crew included power steering, power brakes, power windows, of twelve men worked for ten months to build a total of vacuum-activated concealed headlights and split bench three cars, at a cost of $84,000. seats that were electrically adjustable. The interior had One of these cars was used for close-ups while the simulated wood in either English Oak or East Indian other two were used for stunt work. One of these had a Rosewood. Standard upholstery was vinyl with cloth steel tube cannon installed on the passenger side with a inserts and leather was an option. Another “option” was three-foot length of telephone pole. The car was required a twill vinyl top, but there are few examples without this to roll five times for the stunt. When the time came, a “option”. It was more difficult to piece together the two charge of dynamite and black powder was ignited to pieces of the metal roof without a conspicuous seam, so launch the pole and flip the car. Another stunt required the twill vinyl top was pushed. Other options included the car to flip into the air and demolish two police cars as air conditioning, a selection of radios and eight-track it rolls over them. This was accomplished with a ramjet, players, tinted glass and power locks. Additional options laid horizontally across tracks. Because of such stunts, were a limited slip differential, anti-lock brakes, cruise the two stunt cars were destroyed during the filming of control and an automatic headlight dimmer that would the movie, one was destroyed crashing into a house and dim the headlights for oncoming cars.

continued on page 6 SMOKE SIGNALS Page 6

The Car is the Star continued from page 5 now standard, the windshield wipers were concealed and The car went through several changes in its first year. Cars a locking steering column/ignition switch replaced the old made before July 1968 had a steering wheel with a larger dash-mounted switch (by federal law). Other changes due wood applique and Continental star logo. These cars also to new federal laws included the addition of red and yellow had a decorative stitch pattern on the rear seat. After July reflectors. The metal ring on the steering wheel used for 1968, the rear seatbelt retractors were relocated and another the horn in 1969 was replaced by a Rim Blow. The interior eight paint colors were added (for an ultimate total of 26 wood was changed to genuine walnut and the seat controls exterior colors, including four “Moondust” metallic paints). were moved from the seat edge to the arm rests. A power Cars produced before the second week in December 1968 sliding sun roof also became an option. 21,432 cars were had instruments with white needles and an electric clock sold in 1970. with Arabic numerals. After this, the instruments had orange 1971 was the fiftieth anniversary of the Lincoln Marque needles and a Cartier Chronometer with Roman numerals and the last year for the Mark III. Very little was changed on was used. As required by new federal laws, all cars made the car from 1970. Tinted glass was now standard, along after December 31, 1968 had headrests on both front seats. with air-conditioning, high back seats and anti-lock brakes. The public loved the car, buying 7,000 in the 1968 model A special order floor console was available. At a time when year and another 23,858 in the 1969 model year. the average cost of a new car was $3,560, a Mark II cost Only a few changes were made for 1970. One of the $8,421 (just over $52,600 today). Lincoln sold 27,091 Mark biggest was the addition of radial tires as standard III’s in 1971. In 1972, the Mark IV replaced the Mark III. equipment, the first US car to do so. The vinyl roof was *www.valiant.org/falcon.html P

ghgh From the AACA Rummage Box ghgh

article by Tom Cox, 2017 AACA President concours in Amelia Island and at The Elegance. We hope that THE YEAR IN REVIEW we have represented all of you well. My term as President has seemingly flown by overnight. 2017 was the first year for the new Zenith Award and Having been your President in 2013 I felt prepared going into something I take away as a special accomplishment for the the year for all eventualities, but life takes many different turns year. This was an idea I had for years and to see it birthed was and there were both unexpected good and bad issues to deal truly exciting. The foundation now has been laid and I hope with during the year. On the bad side, I know many of you still that the award becomes a very important part of the old car have questions and concerns regarding the relationship with hobby. I know the participants last year were thrilled. the museum we founded. At this time all I can report is that we While those of us at the Board level do our best to chart a simply want to do what is right for our members and coexist successful course for the Club on your behalf, AACA would in the same city without interference or without continuing to not remain the largest and finest organization of its kind in create a false impression about the relationship. Those issues the world without all of you. This is particularly evident to me are being addressed by the boards of both organizations. after reading thousands of newsletters from our local regions On the good side, we consummated an agreement to and chapters and attending their events. None of this would purchase the single best piece of property in “Hershey” and happen without you. Thank you for doing your part to keep all the due diligence necessary to ensure that there were no AACA strong. problems with the facility, land or title have been completed AACA remains stable with a firm financial and membership to our satisfaction. This was a massive effort that was led picture. We continue to exceed the success of many other by legal and real estate experts both hired by the club or clubs in the world due to the stewardship of an excellent who donated their services to us. Also on the good side was Executive Director and staff. I cannot overemphasize their our investigation of two new major initiatives for the club importance to this organization. They have a hand in all that that will benefit all members. We are hopeful to make those we do from executing events to bringing you our award announcements at the annual meeting. winning Antique Automobile magazine and continually Tammy and I have been honored to serve you and represent improving our Library and Research Center. All of us are our organization. It has been a special and humbling indebted to them. experience. This past year we traveled a lot with 12 meets With that said, I am proud to have passed the gavel to and tours on the national schedule. However, it does not end Chuck Crane as your 2018 President. Chuck and his wife there as there were many region and chapter events that June will have a busy year ahead of them certainly with their asked us to attend and we tried our best to honor as many own set of challenges and excitement. They have my support of those requests as possible. Forging friendships with other and I know you will give them your support as we move clubs in the hobby found us working with CCCA in Auburn for forward to making the coming year a great one. a very first ever meet between the clubs and then attending P SMOKE SIGNALS Page 7 ghghgh It Caught My Eye ghghgh

article and photos by D. Antinucci where green when the vehicle was in motion, yellow At one of the Silver Diner shows last year, I saw an when the driver’s foot left the gas pedal and red when AMC AMX. It made me smile and I knew it had a future braking. The AMX-II never went into production. in this article. The curvy lines of the car, the bright In January 1968, two specially-prepared AMXs set blue color and the look that just says, “Let’s GO”, all 106 world speed and endurance records at Goodyear’s grabbed my attention. test track in Texas, driven by land speed record holder AMC was the result of a merger of the Hudson Motor Craig Breedlove. There were extensive modifications Car Company and the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation in made to these cars. The 290 cu. In. engine was bored 1954. Struggling at first, they attracted attention when out to 304 cu. In. Exhaust headers were installed, in an AMC Rambler won the 1959 Mobil Economy Run (a addition to eight-quart oil pans, oil coolers, intake fuel efficiency competition). As a result, AMC focused manifolds, racing camshafts, larger carburetors, a on economy cars and by 1960, they were the third “panhard” type track bar in the rear, wide magnesium most popular US car manufacturer, behind Ford and racing wheels, the front ends were lowered, the hoods Chevrolet. were slanted down and spoilers were installed below When Ford sold 22,000 Mustangs on the day they the front bumpers. They differed markedly from the 50 debuted, the rest of the car industry took notice, special red, white and blue “Craig Breedlove” editions including AMC. After more than a decade of pursuing made available to the public. the economy car market, On February 15, 1968, the newly-appointed AMC press was introduced to the chairman Roy Chapin, Jr. AMX at Daytona International decided to go after the youth Speedway, where the car ran market and performance in excess of 130mph. AMC cars. By early 1965, they also promoted the new car were working on mock-ups by holding meetings at nine and by 1966, they were Playboy clubs and awarding touring the auto show circuit 1968’s Playmate of the with a couple of “Project Year, Angela Dorian, with a IV” prototypes. One was specially painted “Playmate a fiberglass-bodied two- Pink” AMX. seater AMX and the other The AMX hit the market in was a four-seater AMX-II. 1968 and was the first steel- Both were based on the bodied, two-seater American AMC Javelin. The two- performance car since the seater proved popular at 1969 AMC AMX at the Silver Diner. 1957 Thunderbird, putting the shows and AMC moved it in direct competition with the AMX into production. There were, of course, the only other American two-seater performance car, some changes made. The original concept car had the Chevy Corvette. Suggested retail price on the AMX a folding rumble seat for two more people that did was $3,245 ($23,678 today), over $1,000 less than a not make it to production. Also, the production cars Corvette and AMC advertised it as “the only American were steel construction, as one of the concept cars sports car that costs less than $3500.” was destroyed in a crash test and the designers The AMX was introduced to the public on February and engineers decided against moving forward with 24, 1968 and brought in the younger crowd in droves. fiberglass. With a 97-inch wheelbase, the AMX only weighed The AMX-II was designed by outside consultant 3,100 pounds. When paired with the 315 bhp, 390 cu. Vince Gardner and was a fiberglass two-door, four- in. engine, the AMX could go from 0-60 in 6.6 seconds passenger hardtop, featuring windshield wipers and run the quarter mile in 14.8 seconds (faster than concealed by a panel and a massive grille and bumper the Corvette). The rear suspension had a pair of trailing with hidden headlights. It also had additional safety arms that prevented rear wheel hop, eleven-inch front features in the form of doors that automatically locked disc brakes, ten-inch rear drum brakes, standard when the vehicle was in motion and rear taillights that four-speed manual transmission and dual exhaust

continued on page 8 SMOKE SIGNALS Page 8

It Caught My Eye continued from page 7 car or $1,900 more than a fully-loaded regular model). system. A “Shift-Command” three-speed automatic The AMX SS had no factory warranty. The AMX SS ran transmission capable of manual shifting was an optional the quarter mile in 10.73 seconds at 128 mph. along with a floor console mounted shifter. 1970 was the last year for the AMX. It was given a The “Go-Package” option came with a four-barrel 343 modest restyling, including a new front grill, longer hood or 390 engine, power-assisted front brakes, “Twin-Grip” with functional ram-air induction and restyled taillights. differential, red-striped performance tires, “Magnum The front suspension was upgraded. The “Magnum 500” steel wheels, heavy-duty suspension, heavy- 500” wheels became standard with new optional duty cooling. There were also many performance parts “Machine” slot-styled wheels. A wood-grained dash, available from the AMC center console, two-spoke dealer, collectively known “Rim Blow” steering wheel as “Group 19” parts. and taller bucket seats 1969 saw few changes with integrated headrests in the AMX. Base price were all new this year. The increased by $52. The “Big Bad AMX” colors were Magnum wheels were not still available, but now had chrome plated any longer chrome bumpers. The 290 and instead came with a engine was dropped and stainless steel trim ring. the 343 was replaced by a The “Big Bad AMX” option, 360. Base price increased costing $34, included to $3,395. After flagging vibrant paint colors (orange, sales, the two-seater AMX green and blue) with body was discontinued, but the colored bumpers. Racing AMX name continued to stripes were available in be used on the top-end five colors. The manual Javelins from 1971 to 1974. 1968 Playmate of the Year AMC AMX. Photo taken at Americam Motors The American Society of transmission was now Owners Association annual conventyion in 2015. Photo taken by available with a Hurst Christopher Ziemnowicz and used under the Creative Commons Attribution- Automotive Engineers voted Competition Plus shifter Share Alike 4.0 International License. the AMX “best-engineered for an additional $205. The car of the year” for both “Go-Package” was also still available ($233 on the 343 1969 and 1970. In 2007, Hemmings Classic Car listed engine and $311 on the 390 engine). Fifty AMXs were them among the “21 hottest cars”. Especially sought- modified by Hurst for drag racing and sold as an AMX after are unique versions, such as the California 500 SS for $5,994 (nearly twice the sticker price of the base Specials and the Hurst-modified AMX SS. Hemmings again included the AMX in their 2010 list of 32 best cars to restore. P ANKOKAS REGION, AACA ANKOKAS is a southern NJ Region of the AACA dating back to 1964. Ankokas Region PO BOX 343 Riverside, NJ 08075 www.ankokas.com [email protected]

BOB PETTERS, PAST PRESIDENT OFFICERS [email protected] 856-767-4438 KATHLEEN PETTERS, PRESIDENT [email protected] STEVEN SOPPE, DIRECTOR 856-767-4438 [email protected] 609-848-4843 CARL VILLONE, VICE-PRESIDENT [email protected] TOM MC LARNEY, DIRECTOR 856-227-3006 [email protected] 856-461-6688 JEFF SCHULTE, TREASURER NANCY DOUGHTERTY, DIRECTOR [email protected] [email protected] 856-234-1623 856-287-2310

BOB PETTERS, SECRETARY BERNIE SHUSTER, DIRECTOR [email protected] [email protected] 609-636-4324 856-429-7739 1969 AMC AMX at the Silver Diner. SMOKE SIGNALS Page 9 World War II gave superheroes a common villain. Superheroes were fighting the Axis powers before the US even entered the war. Captain America was the first character A (Very) Brief to get his own comic book without first appearing elsewhere with the publication of Captain America #1 in March 1941. The cover shows him punching Adolf Hitler in the History of Comics face. Heavy in pro-American propaganda, these comics were included in soldiers’ care packages. Superheroes encouraged kids article by Diana Antinucci to buy war bonds and to recycle resources, photos by S. Soppe including paper. Kids recycled their comic books and today this contributes to the Comic books began as reprints of comic strips scarcity of these comics. published in newspapers. Ironically, this was changed After the war, people wanted peace and stability. by a character that was turned down by every Comic characters became blander and therefore less newspaper in syndication. Written by Jerry Siegel with appealing, just as comic books began being attacked art by Joe Shuster, Superman first debuted in Action by the censors. In the 1950s, comics were a $100 Comics #1 in June of 1938. The book originally sold for million business annually. With the change in public 10¢. Today copies sell for up to $3 million. attitudes came a change in comics. Superheroes were In response to the success of Superman, Bob Kane somewhat diminished and made way for funnies, created Batman for DC mysteries and horror Comics, with his debut in comics, like Eerie Comics. Detective Comics #27 in Frederick Wertham, a May 1939. Other publishers psychiatrist, was studying soon joined in, filling in young people in prisons. the ranks of costumed One question he used superheroes and the genre was, “What do you read?” was off and running. Unsurprisingly, they all read Initially, comic books comics. Wertham drew his were written to appeal to own conclusions and began children. No publishing his fight against comic books. executive thought comics In 1954, “Seduction of the would appeal to adults. Innocent” was published. With this in mind, DC Written by Wertham, it was an gave Batman the first indictment of the comic book superhero side kick, Robin, industry and of horror and in Detective Comics #38 mystery comics in particular. in April 1940. Then there Bob Hoskins, owner of Stormwatch Comics, 449 Rt. 73N., West Berlin, NJ, It alarmed the US Senate invites you to come to his shop for comics and conversation. was a superhero that was enough for them to open a kid. Captain Marvel, introduced in Whiz Comics #2 hearings. In these hearings were introduced the “graphic” in February 1940, was a child that could turn into a depictions of sex and violence found in comics. Not wanting superhero with only the recitation of a magic word. governmental intervention into their profitable business, The big comic publishers took little notice of Captain comics opted to police themselves and set up the Comics Marvel until it outsold Superman. DC brought Fawcett Code Authority. Sex, negative portrayals of authority Comics (the publishers of Captain Marvel) into court in figures, zombies, vampires, werewolves and disobedience 1940, claiming they had created a character too close to authority figures were all forbidden. “Approved” comics to Superman in both appearance and abilities. After received a seal from the CCA. Between 1954 and 1956, twelve years in the courts, Fawcett settled and stopped comic sales fell 50%. Some publishers were pushed out of publishing Captain Marvel, paying DC $400,000. the business entirely. continued on page 10 SMOKE SIGNALS Page 10

A (Very) Brief History of Comics continued from page 9 about the evils of drugs. Stan Lee wrote a three-part In the 1960s, superheroes started teaming up, first Spiderman story in response, which was quickly with DC’s Justice League of America, then with Stan rejected by the Comics Code. Lee felt the story was Lee and Jack Kirby’s (Marvel Comics) Fantastic Four. important and went to the head of Marvel Comics. There were new story lines about superheroes that The decision was made to publish the comic without didn’t want to be superheroes, like The Thing and The the seal of approval. The books were a success and Hulk. There were more science-based and nuclear age the Comics Code began to lose its grip on regulating ideas introduced into the stories. comics. Fan mail began coming in from The late 70s saw the release teenagers and college students. Comic Book Ages of the Superman movies and Stan Lee went to his boss with The “Golden Age” of comics starts the invention of the X-Men, an idea for a teenage superhero, with Action Comics #1 in June 1938. outsider mutants with powers not a sidekick, but a hero in his The “Silver Age” of comics starts that manifest around puberty. own right, Spiderman. Now there with the revival of The Flash in This kind of story appealed were vulnerable, flawed heroes. Showcase #4 in October 1956. to everyone that considered In Jack Kirby and Stan Lee’s The The “Bronze Age” of comics is themselves an outsider: racial Avengers, Captain America is a minorities, gays, nerds. Comic conflicted character. For the first more vague and starts at about 1970 audiences swelled their ranks. time, Marvel surpasses DC in with changes in already established In the 1980s, Frank Miller sales. In the late 1960s, with its comics. reinvigorated Batman with new successes, Marvel begins The “Modern Age” of comics starts darker, more violent story lines. to push back against the Comics in the mid-late 1980s with Batman: Miller had started this kind of Code. The Dark Knight Returns and the comic with Daredevil, a very The 1960s also saw comics Watchmen and darker, more grim edgy, blind superhero. He come to television again. With went on to do The Punisher, a stories. the popularity of Batman on TV in superhero that (Shock! Gasp!) 1966, DC sold 900,000 Batman actually kills people. In The books every month. But it was a double-edged sword. Dark Knight Returns, Superman and Batman go to Just as comics were beginning to be seen as more adult, war... with each other. Lex Luther transforms from the show colored comic figures as campy kid stuff. mad scientist into a businessman (reflecting our Campy kid stuff was not going to sell in the new distrust of Reagan’s big business policies) during this socio-political environment in the midst of Vietnam, era. In A Death In The Family, DC put Robin (Jason Watergate and the Todd) in peril and let the 60s counter-culture. If readers decide his fate. comics wanted to hold The verdict was death. on to their more adult The Watchmen also audience, they had to came out of this era, with evolve. Different, more morally ambivalent or even current issues were psychotic superheroes. tackled in comics. Story lines in comics Racism was introduced included child abuse and into Green Arrow/Green alcoholism. Lantern comics, along In 1989, Tim Burton’s with environmentalism, Batman movie was religion, pollution and released. Comics went from Native American rights. newsstands to specialty Even so, comics steered comic shops. DC/Vertigo away from the war in began publishing the Vietnam. They also Sandman comics by Neil steered away from drugs Gaiman. Sandman made it until 1971 when the This is a sample of what you can find at Stormwatch Comics, everything from onto the NY Times best- government itself asked Golden Age to Modern Age. Come check it out. sellers list and won the comics to do a story

continued on page 11 SMOKE SIGNALS Page 11

A (Very) Brief History of Comics continued from page 10 crashed. In 1996, Marvel even filed for bankruptcy. World Fantasy Award for Best Short Fiction, received Sales fell from $48 million a month to $7 million a month. more than 26 Eisner Awards and a Hugo Award for Best Stores closed, comic creators lost their jobs. At the same Graphic Story. time, there was competition from the internet and video Over the next decade, sex came back to comics and games. Comics, having been dealt a mortal blow, almost the business saw the rise of the “graphic novel”. In the died. early 90s, there was a boom in the comics business. Today, comics are popular again, helped in no small Speculators began buying comics as investments. As a part by Marvel’s successful run of movies (Iron Man, The result, comics began to be marked up. With prices rising, Avengers), TV (The Flash and Supergirl) and internet- investors bought more comics. Greed took over and now based series such as Daredevil. If you haven’t read a there were special editions and variant covers. The whole comic book in a while or haven’t been in a comic store in thing snowballed. Eventually, investors and collectors ages, the first Saturday of every May is Free Comic Book found out the comics were never going to be worth what Day. This year, that’s May 5th. Stop into a local comic they hoped and they stopped buying. The comic market shop. You may be surprised by what you find. P

ghghghgh Puzzle ghghghgh

In celebration of Twilight Zone Day on May 11th, match the descriptions of Twilight Zone episodes on the left to the titles on the right. Answers are on page 15.

1. A salesman saves a little girl from Death with a great sales pitch. A. Third From The Sun 2. A street peddler with a special gift saves himself with a gift of shoes. B. It’s A Good Life 3. Neighbors accuse one another of being aliens, leaving the neighborhood in C. The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank chaos. D. Time Enough At Last 4. A shipwrecked astronaut is given an unexpected home by aliens. E. A Penny For Your Thoughts 5. Two families steal a spaceship to escape nuclear war. F. The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street 6. A family receives messages from the dead on a toy phone. G. Night Call 7. A man receives telepathic powers from a coin stood on edge. H. One For The Angels 8. A little boy with terrible powers holds the residents of a small town hostage. I. People Are Alike All Over 9. A woman has a chance to communiate with her dead fiancee. J. Will The Real Matian Please Stand Up 10. A man is finally free to do all the reading he wants, but he’s missing K. Long Distance Call something. L. What You Need 11. Police officers try to find an alien in a diner full of people. 12. A dead man revives at his funeral and frightens the townspeople. And The Award Goes To We’re on the Web! See us at: Sam Mento received his Repeat www.ankokas.com Preservation for his 1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT at the Southeastern Spring Regular meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month Meet in Charlotte on April 7th. at 7:30PM on the second floor of the Tom Veevers with his 1955 Ford F100 Haddonfield Municipal Building. Pickup and Steven Soppe with his 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T both won Top 50 Director meetings are held on an “as trophies at the Classics for Charity Car Show needed” basis as determined by the officers. on April 14th. Congratulations to the winners! If you NOTE: No meetings are scheduled in receive an award or trophy at a car show July, August or December. and want to appear in the newsletter, please e-mail the information to newsletter@ ankokas.com. P SMOKE SIGNALS Page 12 Introducing Your New AACA Bookmobile!

The Bookmobile before and after its restoration. Photo taken by S. Soppe at the Southeastern Spring Meet in Charlotte and used with permission from AACA Head Librarian Chris Ritter.

Photo taken by S. Soppe at the Southeastern Spring Meet in Charlotte and used with permission from AACA Head Librarian Chris Ritter. SMOKE SIGNALS Page 13

Photo taken by S. Soppe at the Southeastern Spring Meet in Charlotte and used with permission from AACA Head Librarian Chris Ritter. SMOKE SIGNALS Page 14

ghgh Roadside Ramblings ghgh Below is a variety of sites to visit to celebrate National Paranormal Day on May 3rd.

article by Diana Antinucci and offers several haunted tours of the surrounding area that are  The Battleship New Jersey is an Iowa class battleship with great for the casual enthusiast. 621 Cookman Ave., Asbury Park, more battle stars for combat than any other Iowa class ship NJ. Paranormalbooksnj.com. and was the only battleship to provide gunfire support during  Construction on Ringwood Manor in Ringwood, NJ was Vietnam. It served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the Lebanese begun in 1810, but the area itself has a rich history spanning much Civil War before being decommissioned for the final time in 1991. farther back. In 1938, the manor and its contents were donated The ship was donated to the Home Port Alliance in to the state and it now serves as a museum. The Camden and began serving as a museum in 2001. manor offers several tours, including a haunted tour Several ghosts are supposed to haunt the brig and that is offered at Halloween. Haunted activity includes reports all over the ship range from shadowy figures, footsteps, locked doors that open of their own accord whistling, people being pushed by unseen hands, and apparitions. 1304 Sloatsburg Rd., Ringwood, NJ. unexplainable cold winds down corridors, footsteps, www.ringwoodmanor.org. bangs and whispers. Occasional night time and Cape May is a wonderful place to visit for any haunted tours are offered. 100 Clinton St., Camden, reason, with a fine zoo, a bustling downtown area NJ. www.battleshipnewjersey.org. and a wonderland for anyone interested in Victorian The Burlington County Prison Museum was architecture. The town offers a plethora of haunted completed as a prison in 1811 with a maximum tours. www.capemaymac.org/ghost-tours. security cell on the highest floor to prevent I would encourage anyone visiting Fort Mott State escape. While paranormal activity is reported An example of Victorian Park to make an entire day of it and visit both Fort throughout the prison, it is this cell that has the architecture in Cape May. Mott, Finns Point Cemetery and Fort Delaware on Pea most stories surrounding it. 128 High St., Mt. Photo by D. Antinucci Patch Island. Both are important historical forts and Holly, NJ. www.prisonmuseum.net. both have their share of reported hauntings. Fort Mott  The Paranormal Museum in Asbury Park, NJ is a storefront is located at 454 Fort Mott Rd., Pennsville, NJ. http://www.state. museum located in a paranormal bookstore. The museum itself is nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/fortmott.html. Fort Delaware is small and not a major attraction, but the bookstore is interesting accessible from Fort Mott by ferry. P

ghgh Letter From The Editors ghgh Steven: Hey, I noticed that you started putting a fun Paranormal Day on May 3rd? holidays calendar into the newsletter. Diana: That’s easy. Just visit one of the places in Diana: Yeah, I thought it might be interesting to people this edition of Roadside Ramblings. Most of them and inspire them to try something they’ve never done are supposed to be haunted, some of them have before. special tours and one is a museum Steven: How’s that work? dedicated to the paranormal. Diana: Well, the first Saturday in Steven: Some of these sound like May is always Free Comic Book fun, but Learn About Composting Day. This year that falls on May Day? Really? 5th. Maybe someone reads this Diana: It’s a perfect opportunity to and remembers comics from their learn about a useful skill and maybe childhood, but they haven’t read a teach the kids or grandkids. You comic in years. On Free Comic Book know, they have special composters Day, they can go to a local comic for your kitchen now. You throw your shop, like Stormwatch Comics on garbage into this cool worm bin... Route 73 in West Berlin and choose Steven: Okay, we’re not doing from a selection of comic books to I asked the editorial supervisor to “think that. We’ll celebrate National read, absolutely free. outside the box”. His response was that Chocolate Chip Day instead. Steven: That sounds great. But how he “likes his box” and does his best Diana: I bet that’s probably going to be do you celebrate something like National thinking there. Photo by D. Antinucci the club favorite. P SMOKE SIGNALS Page 15 Ankokas Car Display at Avista Health Care May 12, 2018

11AM-2PM 3025 W. Chapel Ave., Cherry Hill Please call Kathy if you plan to attend. 856-767-4438

ghghghgh Member Marketplace ghghghgh For Sale: Aluminum System One ladder racks for pick-up truck. Good condition. Asking $300. Contact Rich Howey Has Anyone Seen This Car? 856-904-2359. It is a 1947 Oldsmobile with two front ends. It was last Wanted: ‘49 Buick Roadmaster 2dr. that needs restoring or a seen in the National Park/Westville area of New Jersey in 1963 Pontiac Tempest. Alan Coshland 609-801-1167. 2006. Please call Alan Coshland at 609-801-1167 with any For Sale: 1950 Plymouth, Special Deluxe 4 door sedan. information. $8500.00. New battery, and recently checked at garage. Runs well and in great condition. Call Donna Schuman 856-810-8254. For Sale: 2005 50th Anniversary Edition Thunderbird, metallic midnight black with sand color interior with removable black hardtop with porthole windows (includes stand and cover). 32,000 miles, kept in climate-controlled garage. Very well appointed car. Car comes with full documentation. Contact Joe Picogna 856-686-7587 or [email protected]. For Sale: USA 960-T Pro Trig-Blast Sandblasting Cabinet. New List price…$1200.00. My price $500.00, you pick it up. Call Tom McLarney 856-461-8084. For Sale: 1972 Chevy Custom 10. Odometer shows 79,000+, new tires but two have gone flat. Minimum surface rust. Has 283 or 327 V8, two barrel, three on the tree. Seat upholstery in good condition. Not running. Asking $3,000, but will accept reasonable offers. Contact Pam at 609-670-0488. Answers to puzzle on page 11: 1H, 2L, 3F, 4I, 5A, 6K, 7E, 8B, 9G, 10D, 11J, 12C SMOKE SIGNALS Page 16 The Ankokas Region would like to thank its sponsors and encourage its members to patronize these businesses whenever possible:

1708 West Marlton Pike, Cherry Hill, NJ

Independently owned NAPA stores with convenient locations in Hainesport 609-261-5070 and Mt. Holly 609-267-2360.

America’s most convenient bank 1701 Route 70 East, Cherry Hill, NJ Member Ads

www.toplinecompany.com 856-662-6400

[email protected] 856-375-5649