Vol23_Issue4.pub (Read

CCM News
A Car Club for the Chrysler Corp. and American Motors Corp. Enthusiast (EST. 1992)
Volume 23, Issue 4
April 2015
SPRING FLING XXIX
All Mopar Show and Parts Exchange Van Nuys, CA
CPW Club hosts Spring Fling
29: April 11 & 12 2015
Events Coming Up.
 CCM General Meeting, April 7th, 7 PM.
 CCM Board Meeting,
April 21st, 7 PM.
On The Inside
Club Information
2
CCM Member Profile
3
Editorial
4
Miscellaneous BS
5
Maxwell Car Show Info
6
Ads
7
Club News
8
The Chrysler Performance West Mopar club of
Los Angeles will host their 29th annual Spring
Fling event this month at Woodley Park in Van
Nuys CA. While the show dates listed are April
11th and 12th, The activities tied to the show
actually start on Thursday, April 9th at the Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, about an hour and a half Northeast of the
car show park. For several years the CPW club
has hosted a "Track Day" at the 2.5 mile road
course. In 2014, CCM member Eric Seifert
raced his 1970 Barracuda on the track and had
a blast doing it. If you have ever wanted to really feel the thrill of road racing your car, this
venue lets you do it without risking an overnight stay at the "Gray-Bar" motel. For info on
Track Day, contact Tim at 310-227-3247 or
Tim@alltimeRacing.com
The Friday before the car show begins with a
cruise from the Woodley park site through the
hills of Malibu, ending at the gorgeous Southern CA coast. In years past, there have been as
many as 40 cars in this cruise, making it a great
experience for all involved. This cruise is free
to all. For more info, contact jphillips440@gmail.com.
Later in the afternoon, Ted Moser invites all to
join him at his Picture Car Warehouse facility
for the "Meet and Greet Kickoff Party". 8400
Reseda blvd, Northridge CA 91324.
There are usually several vehicles on site being
prepped for use in various TV and movie features. In years past, there has been the Fast and
Furious 70 Charger, Kenny Wayne Shephards
69 Charger "Extreme Lee", his 416 Duster and
72 Charger, The Fantasy Island Aspen station
Wagon, several motorcycles from the Nicolas
Cage "Ghost Rider" movies and many, many
others. Classic Mopars are often invited to park
inside the lot to form a small car show in their
courtyard. There has been food and drinks for a
small fee in the past.
Saturday the CPW club considers the event the
"Show and Shine" day where each participant
pulls in and parks at the first available spot.
Saturday evening the club hosts a cruise in at
the Bobs Big Boy at 8876 Corbin Ave,
Northridge CA 91324.
Sunday is the actual judged part of the show
and on this day, all vehicles are parked in the
class in which they will be judged.
The swap meet of the show is the absolute biggest on the West Coast, PERIOD. You will not
find another all Mopar swap meet of this size
unless you travel to Ohio or Pennsylvania for
the huge shows they have. They often have
several Mopar specific vendors onsite including
TTI exhaust, Laysons Restorations, Stephens
Performance and MrMoparts along with other
biggies like Gear Vendors and Classic Industries. Most offer a show discount and shipping
to your door if you didn't bring a truck with
you. Bring some bottled water and sunscreen or
a wide brimmed hat. It can get pretty toasty
even though the swap is held on grass.
For addional info on the Spring Fling event,
contact the CPW hotline 818-759-1779 or
email www.cpwclub.com. I hope to see some
CCM members there!
CCM NEWS
PAGE 2
VOLUME 23, ISSUE 4
Club Information
Board of Directors
President:
Vice President:
Treasurer:
Secretary:
Membership:
Newsletter Editor:
Webmaster:
Car Show:
Activities:
Members at Large:
Bob Berry
(916) 925-0336
Randy Pike
(916) 835-9605
Sheila Black
(916) 484-7759
Eric Seifert
(916) 448-4132
Larry LaDuc
(408) 221-9047
Greg Kern
(916) 204-4626
Norman Benedict
(916) 985-8523
Tom Pluth
(916) 283-6112
Floyd Black
(916) 484-7759
Jack Porter and John Gerson
Staff Members
Property Manager:
Norm Benedict
Competition Director:
Michael Moore
Historian:
Norm Benedict
Legislative Director:
VACANT
Publicity:
Norm Benedict
Sales:
Larry Pierce
Sunshine Coordinator:
Larry Pierce
The Capital City Mopars is a proud
member of the Association of California
Car Clubs and the California Automobile
Museum.
rdrnrbobberry@yahoo.com
rtmotorsports@yahoo.com
blacksm4@surewest.net
ntstlgl1970@yahoo.com
68signet@gmail.com
gregoryckern@aol.com
webmaster@capitalcitymopars.com
tpluth@surewest.net
blacksm4@surewest.net
What we’re all about
Capital City Mopars (CCM) provides a place to share
your enthusiasm and knowledge about Mopars and enjoy the company of other Mopar enthusiasts. CCM
membership is open to anyone interested in Chrysler
Corporation or American Motors vehicles who are
eighteen years or older and have a valid drivers license.
Annual membership dues are $36 for regular members
and an additional $6 per co-member. One co-member is
allowed for each regular member. The co-member must
reside in the same household and be eighteen years or
older. All members and co-members are required to
participate as worker/chairperson in at least one function per year, and it is desired that, in addition, work at
the annual car show.
Guest Speaker Ideas Wanted
We are looking for ideas and suggestions for guest speakers
to appear at our monthly General meeting. In the past we
have had insurance agents, oil industry experts, DMV officials, an expert from the WPC museum and various others.
These speakers provide information and entertainment for the
meetings and are always appreciated. or business
V O L U M E 2 3, I S S U E 4
CCM NEWS
PAGE 3
Kern’s Corner
CCM Member Profile: Bob Berry
When I was a kid, Summer was my
favorite time of the year. Being out of
school probably was the main reason,
but I really did enjoy the long days with the freedom to run
around for hours even after dinner. The heat never bothered me
then. Our family always had a pool in the backyard, first a
Doughboy then later a built in pool with a huge shallow end.
Growing up, I still liked Summer for many of the same reasons.
I'm not the type to sit inside much. I work outdoors and I enjoy
being active outside as long as the weather is bearable. Over
the last 10 years or so, I have found Springtime to be even
more enjoyable than Summer. I love seeing Winter in the rear
view mirror! Spring brings rebirth of the green grass, the
leaves on the trees and Car Show season!
I joined CCM a few years ago to meet people that shared my interest in classic Mopars. I’ve met plenty of nice people at our
shows and meetings, but it can be difficult to get to know each
individual when we only see each other for a short time. That’s
why I decided it would be nice to try a new feature this issue.
Years back when I was a Chevy guy, I rarely went to car shows.
I will say though that I attended a few events at Cal Expo and
also enjoyed the festivities at the Hot August Nights shindig in
Reno. In the Spring of 2001 I made my first trip to Van Nuys
CA for the Chrysler Performance West Spring Fling Mopar
show. Holy crap, I'd never seen so many nice classic Dodges
and Plymouths in one place before! Rows of Chargers, Road
Runners, Challengers, Barracudas, Darts, Valiants and Dusters
galore! I had stumbled upon Mopar Nirvana.
The swap meet was incredible. Classic Mopars were already
thinning out at the junkyards, but the Spring Fling had row
after row of fenders, doors, shaker hoods, 8 3/4 axles, exhaust
manifolds, seats and door panels, gauge clusters, taillights,
grilles, rally wheels.....I was amazed. They had booths with
companies that cater to Mopar restoration. TTI exhaust, Laysons Restorations, R/T garage, The Cuda Shop, Schumacher
Creative Services, Firm Feel and several others. What a great
show it was.
In the years since, I have taken part in some of the additional
activities that the CPW club sets up to compliment the show.
The Malibu Cruise, the gatherings at Ted Mosers place, Bob's
Big Boy in Northridge and Burbank. For several years I've read
and heard about their "Track day" at the Willow Springs International Raceway. This event allows any licensed driver to run
their car on the road course as long as you are insured and your
car passes a tech inspection. I've never been as interested in
Drag racing as much as Road racing, so this event sounds like a
lot of fun.
For 2015, the Track Day is Thursday, April 9th. The Malibu
Cruise is Friday, April 10th. I have been on this cruise 5 times.
The last Spring, they had over 35 cars in the group. The car
show is Saturday and Sunday the 11th and 12th of April. I really enjoy the show, but the social interaction from all the associated events makes this event a "Cant Miss" deal for me. This
year I'll be there as usual. I hope to see you there.
Our club President Bob Berry is one of our life members. He is so committed; he actually has a tattoo of our logo on
his shoulder. When I think of this club, his face comes to mind.
He wasn’t always a Mopar guy though. His first car was a 1959
Pontiac Catalina. His second car was a Mustang. In 1970 when
his family was expanding he started looking for a bigger car. He
wanted something sporty looking but still reliable and practical.
He considered a ’70 Chevelle, but ended up at a Chrysler Plymouth dealership. He ended up buying a 1971 Road Runner that he
still owns today. He has taken it as far as Las Vegas and Los
Angeles. 3 of his 4 kids were brought home from the hospital in
that car. He has owned 10 Mopars in his lifetime including a ’68
Plymouth GTX and a former CHP Polara with a 426 wedge. His
current car project is a ’65 Valiant convertible.
Bob is more than just a Mopar guy. He enjoys leather
crafting and home improvements. He enjoys the flavor of a good
tobacco in one of his many pipes. His favorite car movie is Bullitt. His favorite tools are his super sawzall and air compressor.
He is good with automotive electrical systems but would like to
learn more about rebuilding and setting up differentials. Of all
the cars he has owned, the one he would like to have back is the
’68 GTX. It was a 440 4 speed with a Dana axle. His ’71 Road
Runner is a desirable car though. Bob ordered it from the factory
in August 1970. He figures that if he would’ve checked the box
marked “426 Hemi”, he would have one of the 56 ’1971 Hemi
Road runners built. Imagine that!
While some may know Bob from his original 71 Road
Runner, for the past two years he’s more likely to be found behind the wheel of his Red Challenger R/T. Bob has logged almost 50,000 miles in this car and swears it is the best car he has
ever owned.
The next time you are at a meeting or a club function, come say
hello to Bob – he is quite a friendly guy.
www.cruisinnews.com
V O L U M E 2 3, I S S U E 4
CCM NEWS
PAGE 4
Restoration and Repair Referrals
Factory Facts & Figures
The three “R”s in building a car.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has stopped taking orders for the
Dodge Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcats so it can work
through a lengthy backlog.
Hey, who did your bodywork? Do you know of a good radiator
guy? Who did the machine work on your engine?
When it comes time to make a repair or start a restoration, it
helps to have a few options to pick from. I thought it might be
helpful to publish some "word of mouth" referrals for those
needing help finding a quality shop to use. This month we start
off with some businesses used by CCM Life member Cliff Fales, Followed by more from Tony Sarge. Body and Paint:
Brian Moore Restorations
2347 Gold River Road
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
916-635-3559
Front Suspension and Brakes:
Dave Clayton (Private party will work at your place,
price negotiable)
916-635-4587 H
916-494-2858 C
Upholstery and Convertible Tops:
Anino’s Upholstery
2347 Gold River Road
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
916-635-0486
Air Conditioning:
Hal’s Auto Care
2425 Tower Ave
Sacramento, CA
916-485-9215
Brake & Clutch Parts:
Capitol Clutch & Brake
3100 Duluth Street
West Sacramento, CA 95691
916-371-5970
Tony Sarge suggests the following vendors:
Engine & mechanical replacement parts: Year One and Classic
Industries
Transmission service and rebuilds: Prentice Engineering, Rancho Cordova
Drive shaft service: AA Drive Shaft Service Rancho Cordova
Wheel alignment: Big O Tires Eldorado Hills "Ralph".
Bodywork and paint: Collector Car Garage Mark Masterson,
Rancho Cordova
Trim polishing: Collector Car Garage
Convertible Top service and installation: Collector Car Garage
Vinyl Top installation: Collector Car Garage
Rear axle service: River City Differentials, Rancho Cordova
Auto Glass: OMEC Glass Rancho Cordova
Upholstery: Jims Upholstery, Folsom
Heater and A/C installation and repair: Tony Sarge!
Brake components and repair: Mark Masterson Collector Car
Garage Rancho Cordova.
Order-taking is expected to resume in August, according to Allpar.com.
FCA US confirmed the suspension but didn’t specify how long it
would last.
“Due to unprecedented demand for the 2015 Dodge Charger and
Challenger SRT Hellcats,” the company said in a statement, “we
are temporarily restricting orders while we validate current orders
that are in the system.”
Demand for the pair of 707-hp cars built in Brampton, Ontario,
has wildly exceeded company projections, and their limited availability has frustrated dealers and would-be buyers.
Several weeks ago, FCA’s top U.S. spokesman, Gualberto Ranieri, criticized “a handful” of dealers for engaging in
“unscrupulous” and potentially illegal behavior by taking orders
they may be unable to fulfill.Dodge dealers have delivered more
than 2,200 Hellcats -- some at well above sticker price -- but
Dodge brand head Tim Kuniskis told Automotive News last week
that the company had received more than 9,000 orders. That’s
double the annual sales for which FCA had planned. Dealers
started taking orders in September.
Most of Dodge’s 2,300 U.S. dealers were told that they may get
no more than one per month, yet some have taken orders for dozens, or even hundreds. Some have asked for nonrefundable deposits of up to $5,000
V O L U M E 2 3, I S S U E 4
CCM NEWS
New Cars are Slow!
I just recalled a moment from my youth that made me laugh.
My Mom and Dad were often angry with me for tracking
grease and oil into the house. I had a worn out 69 Dart and I
was always working on it to keep it running. A few years later I
bought a 73 Camaro that also needed routine "upgrades". I recalll my parents telling me that I should get rid of these old cars
and buy something more reliable, something newer.
No way. New cars are slow.
Back in the early 80s, that was true. The top Corvette was putting out 245 HP. The Mustang GT was putting out less than
200. There were no REAR wheel drive performance cars being
built by Ma Mopar, only front wheel drive stuff. This left me
with the only logical choice: Keep wrenching on the old stuff.
Even with the oil leaks and torn seats, the old stuff was fast and
cheap to own.
Years came and went. I became a Mopar guy again and wondered if Ma Mopar would ever build a fast RWD car ever
again. The LX Hemi Charger came along in late 2005. As cool
as they may be, I really prefer 2 door vehicles. When I saw the
concept prototype 2006 Challenger in Motor Trend magazine, I
was REALLY hoping that they would see the market wanted it
and that they would commit to make it happen. The 2009 SRT
cars often had a "Market Value Adjustment" added to the window sticker, making a $38,000 car right about $50,000. There
was no way I could afford or justify buying a $50,000 car. In
late 2009, the famous B-5 Blue became available just as Chrysler was falling into financial trouble. When Fiat merged with
Chrysler, the B-5 production resumed into the 2010 model
year. After that, the color went into hibernation.
I've always liked that color. As silly as it may sound, I actually
considered repainting my Charger in B-5 several years ago! In
the early Summer of 2014, News of the 2015 model redesign
started spreading. Reports of the 600+ HP Hellcat drew interest
from Mopar fans as well as NON Mopar fans looking to be
Top Dog on the street. I read that B-5 Blue would be available
again. Among all this advertising and hype were reports of an
upgraded interior, a Shaker hood option, a 6.4 Hemi in an R/T
(Not just the SRT) And numerous wheel options. The wife and
I had been saving a few bucks here and there, but right away I
felt an urgency to act. B-5 has been my favorite color on these
cars and I wasn't sure how long they'd offer it.
I recall seeing cars on dealers lots with options that I didn't
need or want. I figured the best way to get the car we wanted
was to place an order and wait. We ordered in mid January and
on March 10th, the car was at Auburn Dodge awaiting our arrival.
This new car is NOT slow. We did opt for the standard 5.7 R/T
model, but this car is a blast to drive. The 8 speed automatic is
a great transmission, far more sophisticated than the 3 speed
727 we all know and love. The steering precision is amazing.
PAGE 5
Point the wheel and you are where you want to be. Any time you
think you might be going too fast entering a turn, the brakes scrub
off speed as if I threw out a grappling hook. The Super Track
Pack option group added performance brake pads, Bilstein struts,
paddle shifters and adjustable steering frimness! No rattles. No
vibrations. The only complaint I can think of is that the car is just
too quiet!! This car needs a growl to match the performance capabilities. Flowmaster? Dynomax? Published reports from Dodge
claim a 13.2 1/4 mile ET and low 5 second 0-60 times.
We put over 700 miles on the car in the first week of ownership,
mostly with Mary behind the wheel. She has an "ear to ear" grin
when driving it. Mucho thanks to FCA and Dodge for making
this happen !
FREE Stuff
Can anyone use two
14" small bolt pattern wheels? No
charge. Have tires
mounted, but these
need replacement.
I can carry in to
April 7 club meeting if someone
wants both.
Let me know.
Tony Sarge
933-5765
V O L U M E 2 3, I S S U E 4
CCM NEWS
PAGE 6
Maxwell car show
Fellow CCM member Randy Wilson announces the return of the annual Maxwell Car Show on May 16th 2015.
This will be the 18th year of the show held in the small
farming town about 70 miles north of Sacramento adjacent to I-5. 515 Oak street west of "Downtown". As always, Randy hopes to see some nice Mopars to mix with
the other models that will be there. In years past, CCM
members have met before the show for a caravan crew of
guys and gals to travel together. Maybe we can plan to do
that again this year? This has always been a nice show in
farm country. In the past, there has been a rodeo event
next door to the show. Chances are, that will continue
this year as well.
As in years past, there are no entry fees to enter your car.
There will be trophies, plaques, a FREE raffle, a Reno
vacation package and the famous "Chuck Wagon" lunch.
Also, there is a parade through the town that precedes the
show. The proceeds from the show help fund programs
for Maxwell High School.
For more info or a show flyer, please contact Randy Wilson at 530-682-9915. You can also email at
Vicki-Wilson@hotmail.com
Funny Automotive Acronyms
Since I was a young kid, I loved cars. My Dad sold new
and used cars for 36 years and it certainly rubbed off on
me. One of my favorite things to do is to joke and tease
about the other makes and models as opposed to our beloved Mopars.
Hoblit Chrysler Jeep Dodge
Ram SRT
333 Main Street, Woodland, CA 95695
Sales: (844) 257-3092 Service: (844) 257-3092
Acura: Awful Car Using Recycle Aluminum.
Audi: Accelerates Under Demonic influence.
Jeep: Just Empty Every Pocket.
Ford: Fix Or Repair daily. Failed On Race Day. Fragged,
Old, Rusted, Dented. Found Off Road Dead. Flip Over
Read Directions. Forward Only, Reverse Defective. Fork
Over Repair Dough, Fast Only Rolling Downhill. Fragile
Overpriced Rusty Deathtraps.Fatally Obese Redneck Driver.
Chevrolet; Cracked Heads Every Valve Rattles Oil Leaks
Every Time. Cheap, Hardly Efficient Virtually Runs On
Luck Every Time.Car Has Extensive Valve Rattle Or Loud
Engine Ticking.
Pontiac: Poor Old Nimrod Thinks Its A Cadillac. Plan On
Neighborhood Trips In Another Car
Honda: Hacked Over Non Driveable Automobile. Hold On,
Not Done Accelerating.
Nissan: Nobody Imagined Such Stupidity And Neglect.
V O L U M E 2 3, I S S U E 4
CCM NEWS
PAGE 7
Sacramento Chrysler
Dodge Jeep Ram
3610 Fulton Ave.
Sacramento, CA 95821S
Sales: (877) 470-9987
Service: (916) 229-8901
Looking for a special gift to give to
your car guy or gal? How about a
“Gearhead” membership to the California Automobile Museum? Several
membership options are available.
Membership information and an application form can be
downloaded from the CAM website at
calautomuseum.org.
CCM Club Workshop
Looking back at some old newsletters, I see that we used
to have club gatherings where we all gathered to learn
about something technical. Jake Rosen held “Bondo—
Parties” where CCM members learned some metal working techniques along with the proper application of body
filler. I suggest that we consider bringing this back I’m
sure many club members have skills they would like to
improve upon.
Capital City Mopars
P. O. Box 340426
Sacramento, CA 95834-0426
|
www.capitalcitymopars.com
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
First Class
The Lunch Bunch
Several CCM members have been meeting for lunch at
various locations in town on the last Wednesday of the
month. They call themselves the “The Lunch Bunch”.
This an open invitation for anyone interested in attending. Time is usually 11AM. Larry Pierce is the organizer and you can call him at 353-0965 or mail at
kpierce569@aol.com to get on the call list. Larry will call
you a few days before to let you know what restaurant the
group will be going too.
Note: Free car club member complimentary passes to
the California Automobile Museum can be obtained from
President Bob Berry or Treasurer Sheila Black. Passes
can also be mailed with your newsletter when requested.
CCM Members!
Got a business?
Provide a business card and it will be printed in
the pages of CCM News free!
next meeting
Donate Raffle Prizes
Got any items you won at a previous raffle or
bought that you do not need? Consider donating
them to the club as raffle prizes for the general
meeting or the annual car show.
DMV Help Line (916) 657-6560
Tuesday, April 7th
at 7:00 p.m.
California Automobile Museum
2220 Front Street, Sacramento CA