September 2020 the next meeting president’s message bob harbicht General Meeting Our editor has a number of stories The September Meeting has been canceled due to about members and their A’s in this concerns about our state government. month’s issue that I think you will find Program interesting. It got me thinking about my The program for September will be the same as the introduction to the Model A Ford. previous March through August 2020 programs. When I was about 18, best friend Larry announced one day that he was going to News Bits restore a Model A. As always, I jumped in with both feet. After all, we had built many soap box racers; Report on Census even once built a motorbike, which included my sister’s mostly unused bicycle as a principal component What started out as a suggestion by Mark Henzel that we (unbeknownst to my sister or parents, until one day she try to identify the oldest and newest Model A’s in our club decided to take a bike ride and couldn’t find her bike. But has morphed into a full fledged census of our members’ cars. that’s another story). A good portion of this newsletter is devoted to a report I don’t know where Larry got the first Model A, but little on the results of the census. of it ended up in the final version. I can’t even recall the body A summary of the results of the census is shown on page style of the original; we had three different bodies on it 3. A listing of all members who responded to the census and before we finished. The final body was a coupe, the roadster their reported data is shown on page 4. that had resided on it for a time discarded for some reason. Board to Meet - Finally This was in Duarte. Larry grew up in a very large home on Royal Oaks Drive that took up eight full lots between The Santa Anita A’s Board is scheduled to meet on Royal Oaks and First Avenue. It’s still there, 1632. The point Wednesday, September 23. This will be the first board is, we had lots of room to work, store parts, etc. In fact, there meeting since March. The meeting will operate under all was a huge oak tree that we attached a block & tackle to and past, current and future city/county/state/Federal/United used to lift bodies, engines, etc. into and out of the car. Nations proto calls for holding such gatherings, if it matters. In those days Model A’s were easy to find. We would drive around the city and see them sitting in the street, Jack Dawson Passes looking almost abandoned. We’d go up to the door and ask if they wanted to sell it. Usually $25 would close the deal. Club Member Jack Dawson died at We’d scavenge it for parts. home on Tuesday, September 15 from One guy said he’d sell us the body but he wanted the respiratory problems. Jack and his wife rest of the car back. So, we towed it home and removed the Barbara have been members of the body. Fortunately, the guy lived downhill from Larry’s house. Santa Anita A’s since 1997. We put a couple of apple crates on the frame, pushed the Jack was a strong supporter of our car up to Royal Oaks and started coasting down the street. club activities and had participated in That’s when we discovered that the brakes didn’t work. I fell many local, regional and international off when we bumped over the railroad tracks. It then jumped tours. the curb on the south side of Orange Avenue, and stopped No information about services are by running into the curb on the north side, right in front of available at this time. Continued on page 2 1 Calendar of tours & events 2020 officers, board & chairs Here’s what is on our scheduled “not to do List”. OFFICERS Raffle – Men’s: Mickey Fruchter 818-512-2556 September President: Raffle - 50-25-25 Bob Harbicht 626-484-4214 25 - General meeting - Canceled Nancy Sharpe 626-359-1751 Vice President: Refreshment Host: October Bob Travis 626-574-0665 Vacant 3 - Ticket to the Twenties - Canceled Secretary: Refreshment Sign-ups: Elaine Perry 626-443-0638 12 - Ladies Brunch - Canceled Vacant Treasurer: Restorer Articles: 14 - Board meeting, - Canceled Chuck Davies 323-786-4778 Keith Smith 661-977- 15 - Men’s Breakfast - Canceled BOARD OF DIRECTORS 1145 30 - General meeting, Canceled Jim Kroeger 626-710-6592 Roster: Marlin Perry 626-443-0638 Joe Wilson 818-790- new members Janet Beggs 626-773-2806 0995 Chris Wickersham 626-639-3141 Seminars: Joe Wilson 818-790-0995 Bob Travis 626-574- Benjamin Stone 0665 714-843-2010 Cell 714-408-8405 COMMITTEE CHAIRS Southern CA MAFCA Rep. (SCRG): 18891 Clearview Le, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 Activities: Marlin Perry 626-443-0638 [email protected] Janet Beggs 626-773-2806 Spoken Wheels: Advertising: Editor-Joe Wilson 818-790-0995 Sheri Johnson 626-446-3367 Proofer- Olive Moore 909-982- Fashion: Coordinator: 7790 Gary and Sheryl Hunter Susan Homet 909-360-3030 626-688-0798 Gary, 626-688-7355 Sheryl Sunshine Lady: Ladies’ Day: Sue Chandler 626-898-3142 1421 Carmelita Pl. Arcadia, CA 91006 Vicky Balmot 626-303- Technical Director: [email protected] 3111 Chris Wickersham 626-639-3141 Low End Boys: TourMeister: Mickey Fruchter 626-797-2048 Vacant Scott & Sandy Johnson Chuck Davies 323-788-4778 Webmaster: Membership: Eric Sandberg 818-330-9311 626-241-6905 cell Randy Harper 626-357-6442 8809 Longdon Ave., Temple City, CA, 91780 Merchandise: Santa Anita A’s Mailing Address: [email protected] Joe Wilson 818-790-0995 PO Box 660904 Arcadia, CA 91066 Raffle – Ladies’: Website: www.santaanitaas.org Bea Fruchter 818–807-7143 COMMITTEE CHAIRS - Continued President’s Message - continued from page 1 the guy’s house! We both picked up our apple crates and birthdays & Anniversaries walked back to Larry’s house. October Birthdays October Birthdays -Cont. I don’t know what happened to that car. After all, it 1 - Tony Catroppa was Larry’s! We finished it and drove it a few times. Then 25 - Sue Chandler 2 - Kathy Catroppa 25 - Joyce McCullah I headed off to college and never saw it again. 2 - Toshoko Favela 25 - Jean Ware About 45 years later – having gotten college, career, 4 - Salvador Diaz 28 - Lisa Henzel children, etc. out of the way – I rekindled my interest in the 7 - Larry Butkus 30 - Jim Dolan Model A and bought one of my very own. 11 - Marlys Cleland 30 - Jim Frick 12 - Rob Johnson 16 - Mary Ann Sepulveda 17 - Ann Pam October Anniversaries news bits - more 17 - Chuck Davies 7 - Rob & Judy Johnson 19 - Peter Gutierrez 20 - Eric & Jennifer Sandberg A Thank You From Sheri Johnson 21 - Vicky Bartlett 22 - Charles &Myriam Davies Despite everything that is happening in the world Public notices in 2020, I had a wonderful birthday surprise visit from the two Model A clubs. I feel truly blessed that 22 Sunshine Lady - A sympathy card was sent to Barbara Dawson people came to my house, in the heat, to help me Cookie Bringers - Can’t find any cookies or bringers celebrate my special day. The banjo accompaniment was great-thank you Mickey and Bob. My thanks to all Photo Donors - Mark Henzel, Chuck Davies, Bryan Thompson of you for showing up! Sheri 2 Club Census Santa Anita A’s Car Census Results We have 120 “Family Unit” members in our club. Of that Santa Anita A’s Car Census number, we had 48 respond to the survey. These numbers reflect what was reported, not our entire club. Included in this report is a summary of the information received from 48 of our 120 club members. Number of Model A’s owned by members: The award for the oldest car in our club goes to Mark and 27 own only one Model A Lisa Henzel who own a 1928 Phaeton Model 35A with a serial 9 own 2 Model A’s number of 115690. 5 own 3 Model A’s We have determined that we have a tie for the members 1 own 4 Model A’s who have the newest Model A cars in the club - Chuck and 2 own 5 Model A’s Myriam Davies, and Bryan and Wendy Thompson. Both have 1 owns 6 Model A’s 1931 closed cab pickup trucks manufactured in September 3 respondents did not own a Model A or later in 1931. 87 total Model A’s owned by members responding More to Come This works out to be on the average of 1.8 Model A’s per responder. If you do not have at least 1.8 Model A’s you From the response to the club car census, in addition to are not doing your part.) the oldest and newest cars, we have identified eight vehicles of special interest. I will include a report on these vehicles Most popular Body Styles: in the next issue of Spoken Wheels. These “special Interest 15 - Fordor (all models) cars” include several with special bodies, one that has been 15 - Pickup’s (note - There were almost twice as many driven the most miles, one that has been owned the longest Fordor Sedans made than Pickup’s). and one that has passed down through multiple generations. 13 - Coupes, (all Models) You will find these to be interesting stories.