January - February 2017 Now is time to pay your 2017 Dues Volume Nine Number ONE Old Cars Weekly Golden Quill Award AACA 2016 Master Editor Award Ann S. Eady Memorial Award Don’t Forget to pay your OPW & AACA 2017 Dues 1929 Pontiac Competes in New Zealand’s Irishman Rally 2 Vintage Voice Volume Nine Number One Jan - Feb - 2017 Oakland Pontiac Worldwide AACA Region Officers President Tom Meyer 5024 Meadowbrook Lane Flushing, MI 48433-1388 [email protected] 810-659-1697 Vice President: John Calianno 8281 Shaw Road Oakland-Pontiac Worldwide AACA Region Imlay City, Michigan 48444 Our Mission Statement [email protected] The Oakland-Pontiac Worldwide Region of the Antique Automobile 810-523-5191 Club of America promotes and supports the education, restoration Secretary: and preservation of the Oakland and Pontiac Automobiles from its Carol Barlup years of conception in 1908 to and including 1958. Furthermore the 228 Oak Road Oakland-Pontiac Worldwide Region, its Executive Board, Officers, New Bloomfield, PA 17068 Committees and Members strive to support each other in caring out [email protected] the Regions stated mission and goals. 717-582-3209 Treasurer: Ann Marie Calianno Goal 1 To provide a supportive environment and atmosphere that promotes enjoyment for the membership and their families. 8281 Shaw Road Goal 2 To provide members a minimum of one annual event to include Imlay City, Michigan 48444 education, recreation and touring activities for the entire family. [email protected] Goal 3 To provide Oakland and Pontiac members balanced coverage 810-523-5192 in a quality bi-monthly newsletter that promotes and supports Directors the mission and goals of the Region. Goal 4 To develop programs and activities that educates and Oakland Director encourages youth participation in the antique and classic car Chris Garlitz hobby. 934 Belknap Street Goal 5 To provide technical support for the restoration and preservation Grand Ledge, MI 48837-2019 of members automobiles. [email protected] Goal 6 To educate members and others in the hobby of the Oakland and 517-449-5525 Pontiac historical relationship. Pontiac Director Goal 7 To treat all members fairly, with dignity and respect for their Wade Cleffman service and contribution to the hobby. 2351 Morrris Road Lapeer, MI 48446 [email protected] 810-245-6032 Newsletter Editor: Webmaster President Emeritus John Armstrong Fred Lewis Ralph N Proscia 3520 Hatter Road 603 South Drive 709 Ragsdale Road Jamestown, NC 27282 Lancaster, OH 43130 Marissa, IL 62257 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 336-454-6242 740-756-4017 618-295-3384 International Liaison Ray Ellis The opinions expressed by the authors who contribute to Vintage Voice are their 14 Park Road own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of Oakland Pontiac Worldwide Corrimal N. S. W. 2518 Region or the Antique Automobile Club of America, Inc. Likewise ad copy is submitted by the advertisers and does not reflect an endorsement of Oakland Australia Pontiac Worldwide or the Antique Automobile Club of America, Inc. [email protected] 33 Vintage Voice Volume Nine Number One Jan - Feb - 2017 President’s Message As I write this column, our country is commemo- tooled to build engines for the B-24 bomber, churning out rating the 75th Anniversary of the Japanese attack on 2000 a month. Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. That date marked the beginning of our country's involvement in World War II GM's Chevrolet Division plants made trucks of all and we would remain at war until the end of 1945. kinds; shells; gun parts; aircraft engines; and around Being from Michigan, I am well aware that our 3,000 armored cars. GM's Oldsmobile Division plants pro- large automobile industry was immediately called upon duced 148 million rounds of ammunition; 140,000 aircraft to retool their factories for war production. Consequent- machine guns; and millions of pounds of forgings for mili- ly, civilian auto production was essentially scaled back, tary trucks, tanks, guns and aircraft. almost virtually ending production by February 1942. Last, but definitely not least, our beloved Pontiac I am sure most states all had their share of some- Motor Division of General Motors was heavily involved. thing they did for the war effort, but after some research, Pontiac made anti-aircraft guns for the U.S. Navy and I was amazed at just how much Michigan's auto compa- also the Swedish-designed Bofors automatic field guns for nies produced to supply all divisions of the armed services the U.S. army. Pontiac also built front axles for the M-5 for the war effort. The following is a very condensed list tanks and air-launched torpedoes for the Navy. The tor- of just some of the things built by the auto companies at pedoes were very challenging to manufacture because their plants in Michigan. each one had 5,222 parts and 1,225 assemblies that all In Ypsilanti, Michigan, Ford's Willow Run plant had to fit in a slim tube that was twenty feet long. was converted to make the B-24 bomber. Eventually pro- Most of us were not around when the war start- duction at the plant was one bomber produced every ed, but I am sure many of our parents and grandparents hour, very impressive for sure. Chrysler's plant in Sterling had much to do with the war effort. It's truly mind bog- Heights, Michigan made tanks. The Hudson plant in De- gling to think about how much took place, by so many troit also made bombers. General Motors Cadillac Divi- people, in such a short amount of time. Those civilians sion built the M-5 tank and also engine parts for the who worked and sacrificed for the war effort, as well as turbo-charged V-12 which was the most advanced aircraft the millions of veterans of WW II deserve our respect and engine of World War II. admiration for what they accomplished during that diffi- Fisher Body in Flint, Michigan assembled the fa- cult time 75 years ago. Without their sacrifice, we proba- mous M-4 "Sherman" tank at Plant number 1 eventually bly wouldn't be enjoying the wonderful hobby we have moving the operation just down the road to Grand Blanc, today. Michigan. By the wars end, 11,358 tanks had been pro- duced by Fisher Body at those two locations. Also in Flint, Happy Motoring, General Motors Buick Division produced over twelve mil- lion rounds of ammunition at it's plant. Buick also re- Tom As time flies by we often forget to Pay our 2017 OPW & AACA Dues! Don’t procrastinate - Pay them NOW! 4 Vintage Voice Volume Nine Number One Jan - Feb - 2017 Meeting Room By Fred Lewis Greetings everyone. Can you believe that we are beginning our ninth year of the Oakland Pontiac World Wide Region of AACA. I am pleased to announce that once again Vintage Voice has received a 2016 Master Editor Award from AACA. I hope several members will join us at the Be sure to service your car before Annual AACA Meeting in Philadelphia, Pa. to pick up the award. The Annual Meeting is filled with taking it out for the spring tours HOSPITALITY, interesting seminars, and historic tours. I may be retired from public education, but I am still assigning homework to our members. In a couple of months OPW will publish a new Membership Roster. It is of the utmost importance that it contains correct information. As you send in your dues to Anna Maria *** Please make sure your phone number, email, and cars owned are current. Thank you, With the current internet hacking mess, many have changed their email addresses. If you receive your This is a post card sent out to Pontiac customers in Vintage Voice by postal mail we cannot be sure that this dealer’s area. Not sure of the year. Notice the your email is current. Often times during the year phone number is only two digits. I would assume items come up which can’t wait until the next you picked up your phone and told the operator the newsletter. So we send that information out by number you were calling. Does anyone in PA area email. remember anything about Heffner’s Pontiac More Homework: Last issue I made a plea for more member articles. Several members came through as you can see in this issue. But we still need more (especially Oakland) articles. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Marilyn has already received several Homecoming reservations. John and Dan have planned a memorable event for this coming June. Put the Homecoming in your travel and vacation plans - you won’t be disappointed! My Pontiac is almost ready for summer touring. Hope to have it finished by end of the month. It is A vacation courtesy card for Oakland owners the time to get back to work, year Is uncertain, but certainly after 1926 since Meanwhile ...... Pontiac is In the name. In that era cars needed Enjoy the Ride service every couple of thousand miles. Tires, oil change, and tune-ups were necessary. Fred This card would get you to the front of the service line. 5 Vintage Voice Volume Nine Number One Jan - Feb - 2017 Calendar of Coming Activities OPW Tour Calendar for Upcoming Events 2017 Homecoming Tour - Kalamazoo, Michigan June 21-24 (Dan Karczewski) Regional Summer/Fall Regional Tour - National Events FOR 2017 Central Pennsylvania (Don Barlup) Nine National Meets 1. AACA Annual Meeting, February 9-11, Philadelphia, PA 2018 Regional Winter/Spring Tour - 2. Winter Meet, February 23-25, Ocala, FL North Carolina (Ralph Proscia) 3.