Pontiacs of Tennessee

Newsletter August 2013

In This Issue

President’s Message

Editor’s Message

POCI

Shop Tour

Experimental GP

Picnic 2013

Sponsors & For Sale

Happy August everybody . . . our newsletter is back and so is our Editor. Gary has an update for us on his recuperation.

For those of you who were not able to attend the POCI-GTOAA Co-vention a few weeks ago, we have a couple of photos and a few comments about it. Plus, we also have a short report on our June 29th shop tour in Columbia.

Gary wrote an interesting piece about GM that few if any people would ever know about. It is a “true story” about a Grand Prix loaded with experimental parts that “accidentally” got released to his company to be sold at auction. I think you’ll find this “fascinating” and I’ll also bet no one has every heard of such an occurrence!

R e a d t h e a r t i c l e a b o u t t h e “Experimental Grand Prix” and see for yourself.

Tom, Woody and I have discussed having another breakfast cruise this summer and we still want to do so.

Our original thought was to go to Marcy Jo’s. But after talking to them, they’re not able to guarantee that our group can sit together; so we felt a return visit to The Loveless Cafe was better for our needs. We can sit together at one long table.

This is a busy time for the folks at Loveless Cafe, with all the tourists in town for the summer season. The prices are reasonable and the food is very good which makes it a very attractive destination for everyone.

I guess that includes us . . .

Anyway, after working with them on a schedule, it seems that the 24th of August works best for our schedule and theirs; so make your plans to attend now.

As we did a few months ago, please let Tom Hart know if you can attend and how many persons will be with you. We need to let Loveless Cafe know how many to set our table for at least a day ahead of time. This is the only way we can make sure our members can sit together.

Please let us know no later than the 22nd so Tom can update his list. He needs to give the restaurant a head count on the afternoon of the 23rd so this gives him a few hours to make sure his list is “perfect”.

I’m sure Tom will also send out some email reminders as the 22nd deadline gets closer.

Oh, I almost forgot . . . There is a push by members of the Buick, Cadillac / LaSalle and AACA clubs to revive interest in the Saturday night cruise at KMart in Franklin. It will take some time for the word to get out, so come on out and show your support for their efforts. It starts about 5 pm each Saturday.

Also, don’t forget our picnic in September. We have some details and directions in this issue.

I hope to see another big group at our breakfast on the 24th.

Till then, be safe . . .

Tennessee’s Premier Pontiac Club since 1996www.pontiactn.org

pontiacinfo@me.com

President’s Message

Chris

Breakfast Cruise August 24th

at Loveless Cafe

8 AM RSVP Tom Hart

attomhart_37027@yahoo.com

Watch th is column for scheduled

August 24thBreakfast Cruise

atThe Loveless Cafe

8 AM(RSVP required)

September 21stAnnual Picnic

Gary Dickinson’s house(directions in this issue)

Coming Events

Club Officers

President: Chris Woodside: allard62@aol.com

Vice President: Tom Hart:

tomhart_37027@yahoo.com

Secretary / Treasurer: Woody Woodside

rjwme38@yahoo.com

When I wrote my June Editor’s Message, I had no idea how long I would be “immobile” and not able to work on the newsletter.

But time has been good to me . . . along with a great surgeon and a super Physical Therapist. While I’m still in PT, I’m already commuting to / from Oklahoma doing what I can within reason. I can do little things like “no lifting” - - “no carrying” - - “no nothing”, so I just supervise. Hey, somebody’s gotta do it . . .

“Thank You” to all of you who sent me a “Get Well” email or who emailed me to ask if there was anything Mindy or I needed done around the house. Your thoughts, concerns and prayers were much appreciated . . . it’s good to know so many people thought about me. I’m fine . . . not anywhere close to 100% but a lot further along that I thought I would be.

Since I couldn’t do anything outside (like mowing on my lawn tractor) for about 5 weeks, George Parrish kept the field behind my house mowed. He’s a club member and my neighbor; and he kept the field in great shape. If we get some favorable weather next month, everything will be ready for our picnic.

As you can tell, I have regained the ability to use my computer. My left arm has good range of motion but it has no strength. That will come with time. I can’t lift anything heavier than a full cup of coffee - - but construction supervisors need coffee. Somebody’s gotta drink it.

So for now, I’m relegated to watching other guys work on my house while I drink coffee.

Oh well . . . it’s good to be back!!!

E d i t o r ’ s

Gary

Mes s ag e

P O C I

The Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio was once again the host location for the July POCI-GTOAA Co-vention. This indoor arena was the perfect location to hold about 100 examples of “pure Pontiac”. (If this is what make a perfect location, just wait till next year’s POCI - - Editor)

We counted about a dozen Judge convertibles and three Super Duty cars displayed on the floor - - and all of them were impeccable examples of Pontiac “muscle”. The photo above was taken as the staff was continuing to fill the Center with cars. Outside in the cool temperatures, there were about 1,300 other examples parked all around the Nutter Center. It made for a lot of walking.

If there was a down-side to the layout, it is the fact that “spectator” parking is a long way off and there is not a “host hotel” within the confines of the convention that one can easily go back to their room to rest. Dayton was a lot of walking, walking and more walking.

Several of us went shopping early Thursday morning in the swap meet area. However, severe storms the day before had blown several tents down and flooded the parking lot. But by noon on Thursday, the swap meet was back to normal and everyone was back to shopping as usual in the very unusual cool temperatures. Mid-70’s is very unusual for a convention.

As several of our members shopped for parts in the swap meet area, we noticed one vendor who “showed-off his Pontiac fondness”. He had a Pontiac crest tattoo displayed on his right calf. Take a close look at the photo on the right . . . . This just proves that one can find just about anything at a POCI swap meet.

Next year is Wichita, Kansas . . . 100% indoors!

Terry Spear, who now lives in Franklin, may be new to Tennessee; but he’s not new to the world of Pontiac! When he recently moved to Tennessee from Florida, he brought his vast knowledge of Pontiac “go fast” work with him. That knowledge and experience comes from his long time association and friendship with none other than Arnie “The Farmer” Beswick!

Terry has lots of experience working on and testing the Tameless Tiger Pro-Mod GTO driven by Arnie. It takes a mechanic with special knowledge to work on a car as famous and fast as the Tameless Tiger! Not many people have that experience behind them.

On June 29th, a dozen members of our club visited Terry’s shop near downtown Columbia, TN. His shop is completely set up to perform whatever engine or body work necessary to return a classic Pontiac to the road or track.

As we can see from the photos, he is currently working on a ’73 Buccaneer Red Trans Am and several ’66 & ’67 GTO’s.

Terry also maintains a wealth of Pontiac parts, including lots of engine parts and other go-fast goodies.

Restorat ion Shop Tour

Terry can be reached at 407-361-1313. Be sure and tell him your with Pontiacs of Tennessee.

by Tom Hart

Editor’s Note: This is a true story. For those of you who do not know, my business career was spent in a senior position for the nation’s second largest auto auction company; selling over 1-million vehicles annually!

GM was one of our largest fleet clients and we sold 70+% of all GM’s employee owned, company owned and program vehicles. While we frequently sold Engineering Evaluation vehicles, we were never authorized to sell any vehicle that might contain “secret” or “prototype” items. Engineering rarely released those to sell. Most of them were crushed - - or the “secret” or “prototype item” was removed and the vehicle was then sold; but never with the “secret” or “prototype” item left intact.

Almost never . . . but one time, a Grand Prix that should not have been “released” was somehow “missed by GM” and “was released” for auction. It was sold as a “used car” (company evaluation unit) to a Pontiac-Cadillac-GMC dealer in a mid-west state.

When GM realized what had happened, they called the dealer to get the car back but were told it had been “retailed” to a local customer.

That’s when I was called . . . with some very specific instructions. I was told to repurchase the car, have it secured at the dealership and transported back to GM in Detroit “regardless of the cost”.

Of course, I asked why was this car so important to get back and what could I pay for it. I was told it contained a “prototype A/C system” and an “experimental transmission”, plus “a few other things”. My next question was what was meant by “regardless of cost”?

My instructions were re-told to me in a very clear and concise way . . . “do whatever it takes to get the car back” . . . without anyone knowing GM was the buyer. Only the dealer principal (owner) could know and he was called by GM ahead of my arrival - - but he was not told of my mission. He was only told to provide whatever assistance I asked and told how to “bill” GM for whatever I did. He was also told I would explain the details to him but he could never divulge any of this to the customer or anyone else! He promised GM his full cooperation.

When I arrived at the dealership, I asked for the owner and introduced myself. Behind closed doors, I told him the story and my instructions to get the car back “regardless of the cost”. He agreed to provide whatever I needed.

I then went to see the car’s owner. Both the husband and wife were at home when I rang their door bell.

Experimental Grand PrixI explained that we sold their car at auction but we were not authorized to sell the car and I wanted to buy it back from them. They must have thought I was a “nut”.

I offered them what they paid for the car plus all taxes and fees they had paid. They said “no”.

I offered them $5,000 more then they paid for the car, plus the taxes and fees; but they still would not sell. They said they loved their Grand Prix and it was not for sale.

I knew how much they had paid for the car and how much their payments were (the dealer gave me that information) and I made them another offer. I would trade them “even”; the Grand Prix for any car on the dealer’s lot.

That got their interest; they had a “used car”. The husband asked if that meant a new car; I said “any new or used car or truck on the lot”. The wife asked me “even a new Cadillac?” and I replied “Yes, any new Cadillac of their choice”. They must have really thought I was some kind of “nut” - - but I had their interest.

But they would not give me an answer and I sensed they needed to discuss it. So I asked to borrow their phone and I called the dealer. I told the dealer that the owners were thinking about trading their Grand Prix for a car on his lot and when they came down to the dealership, I “asked” him to give them any car of their choice; new or used!

The couple stood there “in disbelief”!! I thanked them and asked them to go to the dealership and look around. I said “you may choose whatever car you want to - - you heard what I told your dealer”. We shook hands and I left for the airport to try to get a flight back to Nashville.

I called the dealer from a pay phone at the airport and he told me that the couple was already at the dealership and their Grand Prix was safely locked up in the Service Department. He said they wanted a new Sedan deVille.

I told him to work the paperwork such that they did not pay “one cent” above what their payments currently were and to bill Mr. (name withheld) per his instructions from GM. I also authorized him to “pay off their car” and give them the Cadillac “free and clear of all fees”, but only if they got cold feet and started to change their mind.

They did not change their mind. They drove a new Sedan de Ville home that evening. They never knew why I wanted that black Grand Prix so badly . . .

I was later told the experimental and prototype parts were removed from the Grand Prix and it was crushed.

by Gary Dickinson

P i c n i c 2 0 1 3

Over the past 16 or so years, this has evolved into the single largest event this club has each year, with members of several other car clubs joining us. Members of the Buick, Olds and Cadillac clubs have told us that they really enjoy our gathering and they set their calendars around this picnic!

It is held in an open field behind Gary Dickinson’s house in Brentwood, just off of I-65. The picnic is a family affair, with wives, kids and grandkids all welcome, regardless of their age - - uh, that is “kid’s age” not wive’s age . . .

This is a “Bring-a-Dish” dinner served buffet style and our club furnishes just about everything needed for a picnic of this size. We furnish all of the tables, cups, paper plates, plasticware and napkins. In addition, we have a supply of large serving spoons to serve items brought like potato salad, beans, desserts, etc.

We also have lots of BBQ and the buns for sandwiches plus several different drinks like lemonade and tea. Members are asked to bring food to share - - and there is always plenty to go around. The dessert table is always a great place to “visit” once, twice or even three times . . .

We also supply the ice to keep our drinks cold as well as keeping any food cold that needs to be refrigerated.

Based on last year’s experience with the “bag toss”, it will be set up again - - but with an age restriction. No one over the age of 75 can play “bag toss”.

The large trees provide plenty of shade over the grassy field which is mowed frequently and sprayed regularly for bugs; therefore, crawly-critters are not a problem.

No reservations are necessary - - we don’t take them. We’re not that formal; as a matter of fact, this outing is just about as informal as any can be. Just come on out!

When: September 21st

Where: Brentwood, TN (behind 7033 Plantation Ct)

Who: Pontiac, Buick, Olds & Cadillac Clubs

What: Bring a Dish Picnic

There is no rain date in case of bad weather

Members are asked to:✓ bring chairs to sit on . . . and take them home ✓ bring food to share . . . and share with others ✓ drive whatever works . . . any “old” is good✓ come hungry . . . and leave full

We have room to park about 60 cars of “older vintage”, which we keep segregated from the “newer stuff”. All Pontiacs, regardless of year, are parked with the “vintage cars” located at the far south end of the field. The “newer stuff, SUV’s, etc” are parked at the north end of the field.

All cars are welcome . . . Stutebakers, Mopars or Fords; as long as they are “old”, they’re parked with everything else and enjoyed for what they are . . . classic iron!

As some of us are relaxing and visiting with friends we’ve not seen in a long time, others are roaming the field and “talking shop” - - there’s something for everyone.

Mark your calendar for September 21st . . .

Picnic DirectionsI-65 to Exit 71 (Concord Rd); go west to Franklin Rd

Turn south (left) onto Franklin for 9/10 mile to white frame farm house on left (at Wikle Rd West)

Turn left onto Wikle Rd West to third street on right; do not turn onto second right - - keep going to RR tracks and turn right at road at RR tracks

Follow road parallel to tracks 1/4 mile to open field

For info or if lost, call Gary at 615-330-8963

We’re only about 6 weeks away from our annual picnic.

SPONSORS & FOR SALE

Frank Patton Terry Steagall931-437-2229 615-895-3160

Steagall Fabrication614 Dill Lane Murfreesboro, TN 37130

Plastic Media Blast & Sandblasting, Sheet Metal Shaping & Fabrication Doug Bendle P.O. Box 100333 Nashville, TN 37210

Chris A. Woodside, President615-979-3058 allard62@aol.com

For All Your Classic Car Needs

Woodside Historic Auto Serving Middle Tennessee

Antique / Classic / Collector Car Appraisals / Pre-Purchase Inspections / Post-Repair Inspections

35+ yearsexperience

Your business card could be here also.

For information,

contact Chris Woodside at allard62@aol.com

HOW TO JOIN PONTIACS OF TENNESSEE

Club dues are $15 per year for our local chapter. Pontiac Oakland Club International (POCI) dues are $35 per year,

which includes the monthly Smoke Signals magazine. Although POCI membership is not required, we encourage new

members to also join the national club. Either way, your entire family is included in all club events.

Please indicate your payment and submit this application with the appropriate check amount to:

Pontiacs of Tennessee 2230 Oakleaf DR Franklin, TN 37064

_____ I am not a member of POCI and only wish to join Pontiacs of Tennessee for only $15 annually.

_____ I am not a member of POCI and wish to join both POCI & Pontiacs of Tennessee for $50 annually.

_____ I am a currently a POCI member & my membership number is ___________. Enclosed is $15 to

join Pontiacs of Tennessee only.

Name: _______________________________________ email: ____________________________

Address: _______________________________________ Phone: __________________________

City, State, Zip: _________________________________________________

Current Pontiacs* owned: ___________________________________________________________

Activities

Pontiacs of Tennessee2230 Oak Leaf Dr.Franklin, TN 37064

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

*Pontiac ownership is not required for membership

Breakfast atLoveless Cafe

8:00 amAugust 24th

Join us for another great breakfast at The Loveless Cafe on August 24th