Volume 19 Issue 2 February 1, 2019 My Pride and Joy Matt, Katie and Margaret Foley’s Mark II As told by Matt Foley, who dearly loves his Mark II. Like many of you, I will never forget the first time I saw a Continental Mark II. I was filling my gas tank when a distinguished looking gentleman pulled up to the pump ahead of me in a pristine black model. Although I had seen pictures of the Mark II, this was the first time I had ever seen one in the flesh, and it literally left me speechless. Perhaps what makes this anecdote unique is that it occurred in the twenty-first century at a Costco because I was born almost a quarter century after the Mark II was first introduced to the public. Welcome to the At that point in my life, I was the proud owner of a 1955 Cadillac Fleetwood 60 Spe- Northstar News, the cial. For years, it was the car I dreamed of owning and to this day it remains my first monthly publication of pride and joy. I have loved the “big boat” luxury cars of yesteryear since I was very the Northstar Region young, and when my friends and I talk about what we have come to call the “short list” of cars we hope to someday own, my list has always been filled with vehicles that fit that of the Lincoln and description. Up until that fateful day at Costco, though, I had always said that if I ever Continental Owners owned a Lincoln it would be an early “slab side” or a postwar Mark I. Then a few Club. We value your months later at Back-to-the-Fifties, I spotted another Mark II. Impressed by the sleek opinions and appreciate lines as I watched it make a graceful turn at a distance, I said to myself, then and there, your input concerning that I had to own one someday. A couple of years later, when searching Craigslist for cars on my “short list,” I came this newsletter and the across a listing for what I later came to learn was the auction of North Star LCOC mem- operation of the club. ber Frank Warner’s car collection. The photos in the ad made the whole thing seem like This is your club. (Continued on page 4) This Issue Contains Feature Story 1 Directors Message 3 Club Information Page 4 Northstar Monthly Board Meeting Minutes 5 Editors Message 2 North Star Events 15 Trivia 2 NORTHSTAR NEWS Trivia from the Editors Message February 2019 Internet Gentle readers… We have turned the the LCOC. There is no good reason why corner; it is now February, the days are we should not have 5-6000 members or longer, the sun is a little higher in the more. In a country of over 300,000,000 sky, another 45-60 days left of this winter people, 6000 members is not a large nonsense. It is my sincere hope that we number. It is just that we are all to busy have a nice long spring and not one like with other things to take a little time to what we had in 2018. sign up a new member Spring and fall can be or two each year. Any- two of the nicest times thing is possible; we of the year for those of just have to invest the us who live in the Mid- time and try a little bit west. Let us all keep our harder. fingers crossed for the The annual North best. American International Carol Channing As I write this, I am Auto Show, held in “Hello Dolly” struggling to get the January each year in 1921 - 2019 newsletter finished and Detroit is over. Of in the mail. My normal course, Lincoln exhib- Carol Channing, cycle was interrupted by ited their new special whose incandescent a six day visit to Tuc- edition Continental with performances as the son, Arizona to attend Every now and then, Olga needs to the center opening gold-digging Lorelei the annual Lincoln and go outside to do things that dogs doors. It was very well Lee in “Gentlemen Pre- Continental Owners need to do (hopefully outside). She received, the people fer Blondes” and the Club board meeting. As is looking at her dad ...Asking... were 10 deep, and you matchmaker Dolly a national director and can I come in now? It is 3 degrees could hardly get close Gallagher Levi in the publications/ and I am cold and I have no one to to it. This one car alone “Hello, Dolly!” made communications point play with. has created literally her a Broadway leg- person, I am obliged to millions of dollars worth of buzz for our favorite brand. In end, died this past attend. We spent two and a half days in addition to the 80 Continentals scheduled January at her home meetings, desperately trying to get a good handle on the problems facing the club for production this year, it looks as in Rancho Mirage, and come up with good, simple ways to though there will be more produced in Calif. She was 97. deal with them. Things often have a way 2020, perhaps at a somewhat lower price Ms. Channing was of making them seem more complicated than the $110,000 plus each for one of bringing audiences to than what they need to be. Quite often, the first 80 made available this year. Also their feet night after we will rely on the most difficult, bizarre making quite a stir was the new Lincoln night in a revival of solution to resolve them. Frequently, Aviator. Somewhere between the Nauti- “Hello, Dolly!” when fresh eyes and an outside opinion will lus (formerly the MKX) and the uber ex- she was 74, singing, come up with a much more simple and pensive Navigator, the Aviator will find a “Wow, wow, wow, fel- elegant way of doing things. We are hurt- real sweet spot in the Lincoln lineup. las, / Look at the old ing for more new members for the Priced around $55,000, add-on’s should girl now, fellas,” re- LCOC. For this problem, the solution is be able to drive the price up to the $70s. splendent in her scar- simple, but one that is hard to implement. But it will be such a sweet vehicle, three let gown and jewels, Personal contact is the best way to get rows of seats, a lot of creature comfort her platinum hair new members. We all need to reach out, inside; this model will not spend a lot of crowned with red buttonhole that person, tell him/her just time on showroom floors. plumage. how nice the Lincoln club is, convince Till next month, David and Sweet Ten years later she them to join and make the sale by having Olga, the Samoyed…. was still getting ap- them contact Bob Johnson or by calling (Continued on page 3) Cornerstone Registration as soon as pos- sible. We have about 2400 members in 2 NORTHSTAR NEWS (Continued from page 2) plause, this time for a Directors Message by Bob Johnson February 2019 cabaret act. Nine years Last year at this time, I announced that I was re- after that, just a few tiring from the LCOC National Board, today as I days before her 93rd write this column, the 2019 LCOC Board meeting is birthday, she appeared going on in Tucson, Arizona, and I’m here in Shafer at Town Hall in Man- with the temperature at -4 degrees. The furnace is hattan as part of a cele- working, so all is well. Yes, I will miss being on the bration of the 50th anni- LCOC National Board, but the real action is here with versary of the night the North Star Region. We have the best group of “Dolly” opened. members in the LCOC from Maine to California. “Performing is the Dave Gustafson has reported back to me about only excuse for my exis- some of the 2019 LCOC Board actions, and I will comment on one of them, dwin- tence,” she said during dling LCOC membership. My thoughts are that we the members are the ones re- her last Broadway ap- sponsible for the growth of LCOC. While multi-media sources are many, it is us pearance, in the 1995 re- the members of LCOC that really can do something about it. We need a theme for vival of “Hello, Dolly!” 2019 to grow the Lincoln CluSb membership; My theme is: "Only You Can Do It"; “What can be better Fellowship Plus Friends Equal Fun in the LCOC! WE NEED YOU TO RECRUIT than this?” ONE NEW MEMBER IN 2019! How simple can it be, again, it is up to you? Can Ms. Channing was you recruit just one member for LCOC in 2019? one of the most recogniz- Our February activity: the Upper Midwest Region of the Classic Car Club of able presences in the America has once again invited the North Star members to attend their annual pot- theater world. Her tou- luck and auction Saturday, February 16, at 5 p.m. It will be held at the Firefighter's sled hairdo, headlight- Museum, 664 22nd Avenue NE, Minneapolis. RSVP to Tom Brace size eyes and exagger- (651)644-1716, email: [email protected] now. Please call Tom to let him know ated mouth were the sub- what kind of potluck food you will bring or that he needs you to bring.