Spring Tour 2009

Ludington Spring Tour 2009

from our photo album

 Enjoy!

 

 

What Are You Working On?

One of our West Michigan HCCA members is working on his winter project - a C Cab Wrecker. Each winter this Model T guy starts on a new project restoring a 'new' Model T.
 

 After finding what he needs, he strips the entire body down to the chassis removing every nut and bolt. Knowing that he wants to drive the Model T fifty miles one way and return without a break down, he goes through the engine, transmission and rear end taking care that everything is in proper working order.

Starting with his C Cab Paddy Wagon, he removed the body from the chassis. This time he is building a C Cab Wrecker on the same chassis. After searching for years for a Weaver Wrecker, he finally found one and stored the wench for a few years until he completed a few other Model Ts.

The Weaver Wrecker is a 3 Ton Hand Crank. Knowing that the weight of the wrecker's angle iron would pick up the front end of his Model T, he replaced the angle iron with aluminum. With the hand crank wench completed, he is working on completing the new body.

And yes, the boom is RED instead of green just to please his other half.
 
The box bed is hand crafted of clear maple. After milling the 4/4 board down to 3/4 and sanding it to a finish that is smooth as a baby’s behind, he applied four coats of clear finish. He is now waiting for a little help to finish the seat and knowing that if he presses too hard, she won’t help him. So he waits patiently.

So what are you working on?

ROMEO

We had a lot of fun at our last ROMEO, it was great to see everyone and we look forward to seeing lots more at our February 9 ROMEO.

So come out and join us Saturday, February 9 at NOON, at  @ Cascade Gatherings, 6886 Cascade Road SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Be sure to bring pictures of your latest projects and/or your new acquisitions or of anything you want. Who knows - it might be a picture of your CAR, your newest BASKET, or some golden oldies! What ever it is, join us.

Invite your family, your friends, and your neighbors. It is always good to get out and meet others, especially in Michigan where our touring season is limited to just a few months.

PLEASE - Let us know if you are coming so we can save you a seat.   

 
See you soon! 

ROMEO & Doc's Cars

The sun was shining and the temperature had already climbed to 50° by 10:30 AM making the idea of getting out the Model Ts, the White and the REO very tempting! Especially since the overnight rain had removed the last traces of snow. 

That meant we had to do a bit of moving vehicles around, uncovering them, putting in the battery, and then filling with gas, water and oil … hmmm, on second thought, better wait till spring.

Our January ROMEO brought several out to Germaine’s which is just a few blocks from Doc & Cheryl’s.  Everyone traded stories on who’s working on what, what we need help on, our latest acquisitions and our newest projects, along with some of our absentee members’ health issues. 

It seemed like we all had digital pictures to share! Some more than others as phones and cameras were passed around. 

There was a lot going on and the stories started to grow, so off we trouped over to Doc’s place to check out his rare beauties. And it didn’t take long for everyone to gather in Doc’s heated garage built for his collection. 

The rare 1914 Cadillac Landaulet Coupe has many different unique features and is one of only three known to exist. Doc told us the Cadillac Landaulet Coupe was known as a “Tulip cars” because of their body shape. 

 

The 1933 REO Sedan, a six-cylinder automatic transmission with wood-spoke wheels. Doc affectionately refers to this car as Cheryl’s car because it is easy to drive. Or so he says, Cheryl is not too sure. 

Doc recently sold his 1914 REO to another club member, and several of us had the privilege of seeing the REO on tour in the early spring of 2012. 

The 1905 red REO Runabout, one of the oldest REOs known to exist has finally been delivered to its new owner. Some of us remember that story of how Doc would not part with the REO even though the buyer was already well on his way driving to Doc's to take possession of the car. The 1905 REO went to a gentleman in New York and will be in a museum.

The Grand Rapids Press ran a detailed story about Doc and his love of cars in April 2012 along with several photos.

We hope you can join us at our next ROMEO. Getting together proves that it boosts our morals and gets us excited about working on our cars. Sigh, spring can't get here fast enough for us Michiganders.

Spring Tour June 5-8

Budladi’s Spring Tour June 5-8

Touring the Great Lakes Bay Area

Join us as we step back in time to travel rural country roads with farm lands a plenty. We will be visiting several Historical Sites in the Great Lakes Bay Area, June 5-8, 2013.

Out in the middle of nowhere, stands a round octagon barn with all kinds of farm machinery, many which will be in operation to observe.

Step into another world as you walk through a timeless masterpiece showcasing the beauty and inspiration of modern design.  Step onto the floating conference room… situated eighteen inches below the pond.

You will be intrigued and in awe that "the gardens never end and buildings never begin."

Keep your eyes open for two very large mice, one on the roof and the other eating cheese as we travel to the Cheese Capital of Michigan, where they make super sharp cheese aged 120 months. Even the water tower is cheese colored! Save room for some of the best ice cream and ice cream cones larger than life! Oh - and FUDGE!

 

For all your motocross and dirt bike fans, get ready to take in a collection of vintage motocross bikes and a custom manufacturing plant that produces plastic parts for almost all dirt bikes from 1970 to 1990. They also take care of the seat foam and covers, as well as the air filters, pipes and graphics; a one-stop shop for vintage motocross bikes. They handle vintage plastic and in their spare time, race with it as well. They sponsor riders that race the east coast AHRMA nationals.  

View the largest firetruck collection in the world and home to over 70 full sized motorized fire trucks; more than 12,000 antique and collectible toys and more. Home to the New York Super-Pumper, the biggest fire truck EVER built. The Super Pumper could deliver 8,800 gals per minute for a distance of more than a quarter of a mile. Take in the Snap-On Tool Room, the Coca-Cola Room, the largest collection of Tonka Toys and Trucks in the World. And in the NASCAR Room, almost every model collectible toy car ever raced along with the NASCAR Monte Carlo driven by the late Jeffrey Dobson. All this and much more. 

Climb a board the USS EDSON and learn the history of ship building in Bay City. The USS Edson Destroyer, designated a national historic landmark, was built by Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, in 1956, and is a living memorial to all who worked at the various shipyards and sailed on Navy vessels. Bay City’s Defoe Shipbuilding Co. built seven destroyers and closed its doors in 1976, ending a 200 year era of shipbuilding in Bay City.

Stroll across a three-way wooden footbridge above the confluence of the Chippewa and Tittabawassee Rivers. Drive along historical streets to see over 250 historical structures, many that date to the late 1800’s and were mansions of lumber barons and shipping industrialists.

Take time to visit “Hell’s Half Mile” with the largest and finest antique mart in Michigan, a block long showroom filled with magical memorabilia, glassware, clothing, furniture, jewelry and much more. Be sure to take time to walk across the street to visit St. Laurent’s Nut House and satisfy your cravings for all things nuts as well as chocolate and a huge variety of old fashioned type candy. 

 

And if you’re still hungry, take in one of several of the restaurants along the water, including a wonderful little restaurant, Heather’s. Heather’s serves amazing food that will suit everyone’s needs, be it vegan, vegetarian, or meat eater!

Interested? So are we! From ages 1 to 101, male or female, there is something for everyone on this spring tour. Take time and be a part of our traveling museum! 

Reservation forms coming soon. Be sure to check back!