Sassy Brass

December 2013 Volume 4 Issue 4

Upcoming Activities Schedule for 2014

February 10-14, 2014: 77th HCCA Convention and Tour—Sierra Vista, AZ

March 2, 2014: Spring Meeting at the AACA Museum 12:30PM

April 25-26, 2014: Centennial Celebration and Spring Dust-off Tour

Penn College Williamsport, PA

May 18-22, 2014: Brass in Berks County Tour

June 15-21, 2014: “Little Old and Slow” Reliability Tour

August 16, 2014: Tour to the 66th Annual Threshermen’s Reunion

October 8-11, 2014: Annual Hershey Fall Meet

October 12-13, 2014: Hershey Hangover

November 2014: Fall Meeting location TBA

Inside this Issue…

President’s Message pg. 3

Fall Meeting Minutes pgs. 4-6

2014 SVR Dues Renewal pg. 7

Hershey Hangover pgs. 8-10

Tour to Pool Forge pgs. 11

Brass in Berks Flyer pg. 13

2014 Reliability Flyer pg. 14

Creepy-Crawly pg. 15

Just for Fun pg. 16

Classifieds pg. 17

Announcements &

Resources pg. 18

Sitting pretty at Landis Valley Museum

during the Hershey Hangover II

2

Susquehanna Valley Region HCCA Contact Page

Join the Susquehanna Valley Region

Horseless Carriage Club of America:

Contact: Russell Martin

Email: russemartin@verizon.net

or Jeff Lesher

Email: lesh4@dejazzd.com Home phone: 717-336-3203

Officers for 2013

President Jeff Lesher

Vice President Ernie Spittler

Treasurer Don Barlup

Secretary Nancy Ladd

Web Master &

Newsletter Tracy Lesher

Membership Chairperson Russell Martin

Check us out on Facebook at

Susquehanna Valley Region HCCA!

Upload pictures of your brass car adventures

and projects to our page.

Your Susquehanna Valley Region HCCA Editor can be reached

via email at: edsvrhcca@gmail.com

3

President’s Message November 2013

The year is winding down and we just came back from a terrific tour,

meeting and dinner hosted by John and Joyce Rendemonti. It was a

beautiful day and the scenery along the Brandywine was beautiful. End-

ing the day at the Rendemonti’s allowed us time to view their collection

and enjoy a terrific Italian buffet. We had a very productive meeting and

we have very strong momentum heading into 2014.

The March business meeting will be held at the AACA Museum. We’ll do

a box lunch in the Rotunda, have our meeting and then get a guided tour

of the latest displays. Vice President Ernie Spittler is working with Penn

College of Technology and some Williamsport area collectors to plan

what should be a great Dust-Off Tour in conjunction with Penn College’s

100th anniversary celebration. Clay Green reported on Brass in Berks

and we updated the group on the 2014 Reliability Tour. Tracy is includ-

ing the complete 2014 Activities Schedule in this newsletter.

We did cover some important business during the November meeting

which benefits the region’s membership. First, we discussed the need to

recover the costs for printing and mailing the newsletters to those mem-

bers that do not receive the newsletter via e-mail. It was decided to in-

crease the annual dues for members wanting the Newsletter mailed to

them by an additional $12.00 per year. The regular dues for e-mail de-

livery of all correspondence will remain at $12.00 per year. We also

had a discussion on the status of our neighboring region, the Old Tyme

Car Club and if our board should look into the feasibility of merging our

membership. It was decided that our board would have an exploratory

meeting with the OTCC existing board to understand if there would be a

benefit to either organization.

I want to wish all of our members a very happy holidays. Tracy, the

boys, and I send our wishes for a happy and prosperous new year.

Happy Cranking,

Jeff

4

President Jeff Lesher called the meeting of the Susquehanna Valley Re-

gion HCCA to order at 5:00 p.m., November 9, following dinner at the

home of Joyce and John Rendemonti in West Chester.

Jeff read the treasurer’s report from Don Barlup which showed a new

balance of $2,327 after all bills from the Hershey Hangover Tour were

paid and the profit shared with Snapper’s Region AACA. Jeff said the

dues for 2014 would continue at $12 and a reminder would be out soon

with new membership forms.

There are no new members to report on at this time. Mike Romano’s

friend Barbara would like to join, but is not a member of HCCA. We will

use one of our yearly allotment of discounted new memberships for her

after January 1, 2014.

Jeff reported on the Reliability Tour progress. The tour will be held in

June 2014 out of Lancaster. Several of our members are on the planning

committee with some Hershey Region AACA folks since this is a com-

bined national tour. Tour routes are finished but still in need of refining

and registration opens in January. There will be a 60 car limit.

Gil Fitzhugh reported on his efforts to combine what he calls a “Creepy

Crawly Tour” with the Reliability Tour. This would be for one cylinder,

electric, high wheeler or tiller-steering cars. No day’s tour will be longer

than forty miles and where possible they will meet up with the larger

cars at some of the stops.

Clay Green reported on the Brass in Berks County Tour from May which

was a great success and said that next year’s tour will be headquar-

tered in Morgantown.

Susquehanna Valley Region HCCA

November Business Meeting Minutes

Continued

5

Bob Ladd reported on the Hershey Hangover Tour in October. It was

larger than last year and received rave reviews from participants. The

tour has an international flavor with participants from Australia, Eng-

land, Canada and the U.S. We had over $900 profit which we split

with Snappers. Clay Green made a motion to do Hershey Hangover

again next year with Snappers Region. It was seconded by Ernie Spit-

tler and passed unanimously. Bob said he would lead it but needs

some help including a registrar since Cheryl Vaughn is doing the Reli-

ability Tour this year.

Tracy Lesher reported on the newsletter and the need to charge an ad-

ditional $12 in dues for postage to people who cannot receive them as

email . A motion to do so was made by Bob Ladd, seconded by Bob Le-

fever and the motion passed unanimously.

A discussion of 2014 events ensued:

Clay reported that the new headquarters for Brass in Berks County in

May will be in Morgantown at the Holiday Inn. It has been recently re-

furbished and the lady we used to deal with at Inn of Reading is now

there. The parking lot is huge and will accommodate the flea market,

trailer parking, etc., all at one location.

The March 2, 2014 Spring Membership Meeting will be at Hershey Mu-

seum with a box lunch and a tour.

The Dust Off Tour this year will be at PA College of Technology in Wil-

liamsport, combined with a celebration of 100 years of teaching Auto

Mechanics at the college. There will be a series of events on Friday,

April 25th with our cars on display and a tour on Saturday, April 26 in

the Williamsport area.

Reliability Tour will be in June from the Double Tree Inn, Willow Street,

PA.

Hershey Hangover III is scheduled for October 12-13 at Lantern Lodge

in Myerstown.

Continued

6

Fall Membership Meeting November 8 –Location to be determined

It was mentioned that there is an auction of Herb Wessel’s collection

June 2 in Hampstead, MD and Bob Lefever will be hosting his Memorial

Day Open House again next year.

There was discussion about merging Old Tyme Car Club and Susque-

hanna Valley Region. Bob Ladd moved that we get the principals to-

gether to discuss this and report back at the spring meeting. That mo-

tion was seconded by Helen Turner and passed unanimously.

Bob Ladd reported briefly on the near resolution of the HCCA tax is-

sues.

Jeff made a motion for adjournment and Clay seconded. It was passed

unanimously. Thanks to John and Joyce for the wonderful hospitality

and great dinner we enjoyed!

Submitted by Nancy Ladd, SVR Secretary

Annual Dues Renewal Notice

This year’s renewal is $12 for members receiving region news-

letters via email. Members wishing to receive region newslet-

ters via mail the renewal fee is $24 (covers cost of printing

and postage).

SVR Renewal Form on next page

You may renew your National HCCA membership online

by visiting the web address below:

www.hcca.org/membership.html

7

Application for Membership or Renewal

Name: ______________________ Spouse: ______________________

Address: ____________________ Phone: (home)__________________

____________________ (cell)____________________

City: ___________________ State: ______ Zip Code: _______

Email:__________________________________________________________

HCCA #: _______________________ Previous SVR Member? __________

HCCA Eligible Vehicles Owned (pre-1916 manufactured date)

Year Make Model

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

If additional space is needed, please attach list.

Dues are $12.00 per calendar year and includes Quarterly Region Newsletter and

Touring Event Announcements sent by email. Note – If you wish to receive

your Newsletter and Touring Event Announcements sent via US Mail –

dues are $24.00 per year.

Forward completed application with payment to:

Jeff Lesher

475 West Route 897

Reinholds, PA 17569

lesh4@dejazzd.com

Make payment to: Susquehanna Valley Region HCCA

8

Continued

Hershey Hangover II

A Perfect Drive through PA Dutch

Country Day One by Bob Ladd & Day Two by Gil Fitzhugh the Elder

For those of us who were willing to tough it out through the tor-

rential downpours at this year’s annual Hershey Fall Meet in Oc-

tober there was a pleasant ex-perience awaiting. The original idea for Hangover, a two day Brass Age only tour, was hatched in 2012 when John McAnlis from the Snappers Re-

gion of AACA and Bob Ladd from Susquehanna Valley Region

HCCA discussed a way to en-courage more early cars to par-

ticipate in the Saturday show at the end of the Hershey event

each fall. Because of the ex-hausting nature of the Hershey experience the tour was named Hershey Hangover. This is an example of the good things that can happen when Brass Age en-

thusiasts from AACA and HCCA work together.

9

Hangover II started when the participants gathered on Satur-

day night for food and fellowship in the lounge of the Lantern Lodge in Myerstown PA, about

20 miles east of Hershey. This year an amazing assortment of cars assembled with drivers and passengers from four countries and ten states in the U.S. There were 25 cars registered but we

lost four because of the “fowl” (as in ducks and geese) weather at Hershey.

Sunday dawned with some ques-tionable clouds and a few sprin-kles, but cleared off nicely as we toured through Amish farmland,

across multiple covered bridges and through the beautiful Mid-dlecreek Wildlife Preserve on

some interesting “country lanes” to the Landis Valley Farm Mu-seum. This was the second year

at the farm museum and it coin-cided with their annual fall festi-val. Landis Valley treated us like

nobility by putting the cars on display in the grassy plot in the

center of all the activities while the tour participants were free to roam the grounds experiencing

the PA German culture and sam-pling the delicious foods. After lunch the tour continued to the magnificent Cal High collection just minutes away and then back through more of the fall splendor

to our host hotel.

On Sunday evening a scrump-tious buffet was served at the Lodge. We were honored to have

Mark Lizewskie share his experi-ences and challenges when tasked with the preservation of the Oldsmobile Limited pur-

chased by the Jack Rich Collec-tion of which he was the curator.

Continued

Cocalico Creek Covered Bridge Motoring via Hahnstown Road

10

This car had been part of the Bill Swigart collection for many years

and was untouched. It also had been under water in the famous Johnstown, PA flood.

The second day - half day, really - of the Hangover dawned bright and a bit chilly. After an excel-lently catered breakfast by the hotel - we were off to a brisk and

early start. After all, we had 35 miles to drive to our morning des-tination, and 35 more to drive to lunch, which was only two miles from the hotel and so well posi-

tioned for hitching up and whizz-

ing home in the af ter-noon. Dawdling was not on the agenda. It was foggy at first, enough to give beautiful landscapes but not

enough to be dangerous. The in-struction at mile 7.3 said: "Signs are confusing.” Yes, and so was the instruction, so some of us got a few extra scenic miles until we woke up. Then we got put onto

some delightful country lanes - I'm sounding like an Autoneer here, since that's what they call dirt roads. Some hills made me glad the entry-level Buick was given an intermediate gear in

1912. All in all, a great ride. Witmer Coach Shop is a Mennon-ite establishment that makes

wheels for buggies and old cars with fascinating ancient machin-

ery, which the proprietor and his assistants were happy to demon-strate. This place is well worth

keeping in your Rolodex (does anyone sti ll use a Rolo-dex?) Coffee and buns tided us over until lunch, so no one had withdrawal symptoms or hunger pangs for the second half of the morning ride. Which half was just

as nice as the first half. About 5 miles from lunch we came across a Ford that had Failed To Pro-ceed. It had exhausted its com-

bustibles. A quick ride to a gas station fixed that problem.

Lunch was truly superb at the Tulpehocken Manor, a stone house built between 1732 and 1741 and further expanded just before the Civil War. We got all manner of

homemade soups, salads, wraps and desserts. Table mates in-cluded Nova Scotians and Austra-lians, further enhancing the grow-ing reputation of the Hangover as

a truly international tour. And as

possibly the best part of Hershey!

Tulpehocken Manor

11

Continued

An Autumn Adventure to

Pool Forge

By Tracy Lesher

On Saturday, November 9th SVR

Club and Old Tyme Car Club

members ventured to historic

Pool Forge in Caernarvon Town-

ship for a brass car run. John

and Joyce Rendemonti provided

the tour route. Clay and Rene

Green, Ed and Anne Hillbush,

John and Joyce Rendemonti, and

George Hughes with Tony

D’Lonzo braved the crisp au-

tumn temperatures in their vin-

tage autos. Some of us less

hearty souls opted for modern

vehicles. We met shortly before

noon and were greeted by Pool

Forge staff in the Paymaster’s

House. There was a crock of

corn noodle soup that welcomed

us too! After a brief respite and

thawing out, Dr. Robert Owens

took the group on a tour

through the mansion and pro-

vided insights to the history of

the forge and preservation ef-

forts. The Forge is nestled along

the Conestoga Creek and fea-

tures several buildings dating

back to the 1700’s.

The Hillbushes and the Greens and their Buicks

12

Augie and Jack Lesher found a pile of leaves at the bottom of the hill where the Iron

Master’s Mansion sits atop.

The second half of the tour

route took us from Pool Forge

to Brinton Lake, Chester

County. The route was breath-

taking and precise. We mean-

dered south to into Chester

County via Parkesburg. Some-

how Clay and Rene got lost in

Parkesburg?! After passing

the Stotsville Inn (I now know

where that is), we continued

into the Brandywine Valley.

The drive along the Brandy-

wine Creek was a real treat.

Southern Chester County has a

rich storied past. Jeff and I

wondered how many of the co-

lonial era homes had been

raided by the Lenape and the

Wawaset prior to the start of

the American Revolution.

Once at Brinton Lake, we were

graciously welcomed to the

home and car collection of

John and Joyce Rendemonti.

The evening was topped off by

a sumptuous Italian dinner and

SVR business meeting.

A mid-1700’s era home Admiring Rendemonti’s Mercer

13

14

If you have any brass car ad-

ventures and announcements

that you would like to share

with fellow club members, send

your contributions to me. I am

always looking for material.

Send articles and pictures to

Tracy at:

edsvrhcca@gmail.com

Vintage Hex Sign Postcard

15

Do you have a Sears Highwheeler in the back corner of your garage? How about a tiller-steered steamer? A tandem cyclecar? A solid-tired

truck? Does it run? If you’re patient, can it climb a hill?

Would you like to do the Reliability Tour in it next June? Go through covered bridges? Ford streams? Visit Amish stores? Share catered

lunches with other tourists?

“TOUR in it?” “What are you, NUTS?” “It goes 16 miles an hour!” “A kid on a bicycle can outrun it uphill!” Well, yes, those hundred-mile days could be a bit challenging. But, how about 35-to 40-mile days? Just for

cars like yours?

Suppose you could have a great scenic tour, fun destinations, a wine and cheese social, an ice cream social, a gaslight parade, just like the big guys? Consider returning to the hotel, having a shower, taking a

nap, and sipping a libation while you watch the big guys returning from

their 100-mile runs?

COME TO THE CREEPY-CRAWLY!

You’ll be part of the joint 2014 AACA/HCCA Reliability Tour. Same hotel. Same evening activities. Same great scenery. Same banquets. Some of the same destinations. MUCH shorter routes.

You’ll be seeing more about this tour in the January/February Horseless Carriage Gazette, in the AACA’s online magazine, and in the discussion forums on both clubs’ websites. Meanwhile, if you want to know more,

call me at (973) 425-9010, or e-mail me at oldcarfudd@aol.com. I look forward to creepy-crawling with you!

Consider the Creepy-Crawly

By Gil Fitzhugh the Elder

16

Just for fun… the Uh-oh Edition

17

For Sale:

Classifieds

1914 Hupmobile Model 32 Touring: 32 HP with

three speed transmission—a very peppy car!

Electric start and runs good. $22,000

Contact: Clay Green 215-313-2734

cgreen3rd@comcast.net

1911 White: Equipped with 30HP—it is all

White from the fenders down. The vehicle was

rebodied with a 1919 Paige Roadster body at

some time in its life. Four speed (overdrive).

If you happen to have a White body hanging

in your barn your looking at $70K. Yours for

$21,000.

Contact: Clay Green 215-313-2734

cgreen3rd@comcast.net

1911 EMF Touring: Totally mechanically re-

built engine and transaxle with ALL the mod-

ern improvements. Starts easy, runs

great. Asking $50,000.

Contact: Clay Green 215-313-2734

cgreen3rd@comcast.net

Additional photos of all vehicles are

available upon request.

Next classifieds submission deadline is March 1 to be included in the next

newsletter. Ads should be 25-30 words in length and can include photos. Ads

maybe submitted by via email to edsvrhcca@gmail.com or mailed to Tracy

Lesher—475 West Route 897, Reinholds, PA 17569.

18

Happy Hanukkah Merry Christmas

Happy New Year

This link has an index of pure gas stations for Pennsylvania and all

50 states.

http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=PA

Brad-Penn Oil can be purchased at Cumberland Truck Equipment Co.

Locations in Ephrata, Carlisle, Chambersburg & Nottingham

http://cumberlandtruck.com/cumberlandtruck/site/

Announcements

Resources