Rustbuster`s Gazette

RUSTBUSTERS GAZETTE
Indiana Military Vehicle Preservation Association
November 2010
PRESIDENT’S NOTE By Don Hartzell
The 2010 show season is now history—and what history it has made! Members of our club have had rewarding
experiences at many different shows across the Midwest, at places like Iola, Findley, Marengo, Muncie, Portland, and
many others too numerous to mention.
One location stands out from the rest as especially rewarding, and that is Crawfordsville and the Ropkey Armor
Museum. Here in September we had one of the most successful club rallies in recent history. According to vendors and
attendees, the venue was right, the time was good, and the displays and merchandise were top-notch! All in all, we could
not have asked for a more successful event, and we could not have had better hosts than Fred and Lani Ropkey. I want to
extend a heartfelt and sincere thank you to them for their hospitality and hard work that made this event the great one it
was.
We are now entering into the season of rest, rehabilitation, and planning for an even better season in 2011. Let’s
keep up the enthusiasm, and let’s remain dedicated to keeping those MVs rollin’!
INDIANA MVPA OFFICERS - 2010
PRESIDENT:
Don Hartzell
765-643-7059 /
tractorman7 @ hotmail.com
TREASURER:
Deb Rood-Woodward
317-758-4215 /
lil.deb @ hotmail.com
VICE PRESIDENT/
Mike Lusty
PRESIDENT-ELECT 765-664-3380 /
mlusty @ indy.rr.com
NEWSLETTER TEAM: Mike Lusty & Lani Ropkey
SECRETARY:
NEXT MEETING: 13 November 2010 – 10 AM,
welders inc., 2702 S. MONROE ST, Muncie, IN
Lani Ropkey
765-794-0238 /
ropkey @ hughes.net
WEBMASTER:
Mike Lusty
$25 Door prize to be awarded
Minutes from last meeting – September 18, 2010
The September 18, 2010 meeting of the Indiana MVPA was called to order at 10:05 a.m. by President Don Hartzell. The
Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Don announced that this would be a short meeting so that everyone could get back to
the rally that was taking place that weekend at the Ropkey Armor Museum. Don asked Lani to read the minutes from the
last meeting. She said they were in the newsletter so that action was suspended.
Deb Rood Woodward gave the treasurer’s report and they were approved and seconded.
There was no old business to discuss. We had 6 people who were attending the rally join the club.
Don then asked for rally updates. Fred commented that the last rally held at the museum was in 1991 and praised current
club members for all of their help and support in getting ready for this rally.
All in attendance agreed that this weekend in September, 17-19, was a really good weekend to host the rally. It is a good
time of year, not too hot, not too cold.
Larry commented that it is important to make all guests and vendors from out of state to feel welcome.
Mike Lusty commented that we had had 47 people come through the gates in the first hour and a half on Saturday.
Tom Emerson was introduced as the caterer. He owns Hawg Wild Catering Service and served guests and vendors all
weekend long.
Gary Bussell was introduced and thanked with a round of applause for his efforts in bringing a group of guys from The
Wright County Fliers over for the rally with their radio controlled airplanes. They were at the rally on Friday and
Saturday flying their aircraft to the delight of those attending the rally.
It was announced that the Museum of the Soldier was having their open house on Saturday, October 16 from 10 a.m. to 7
p.m. Jim Wachter announced that they would be serving breakfast, chili for lunch and a BBQ Chicken Dinner. Tickets
for the dinner needed to be purchased in advance and will cost $8.00. Dinner will include a quarter chicken, sides and a
drink. All are welcome to attend.
Lani made a motion to adjourn the meeting and that seconded by Larry Dorsey.
The meeting ended at 10:45.
Respectfully submitted,
Lani Ropkey
WELCOME new IMVPA MEMBERs: Tom Emerson, Crawfordsville; Leonard Grummell, South Bend; Joe Nichols,
Greenwood; Bob Rainville, Indianapolis; Kevin Hinote, Veedersburg; Gary Saucerman, Monrovia; Bruce Satterfield,
Eaton; John Freeland, Indianapolis; Dan Rose, Catlin, IL; and Robert Duff, Lebanon.
Museum of the Soldier review By Lani Ropkey
On Saturday, October 16, I discovered one of Indiana’s hidden treasures tucked away in Jay County. The Museum of the
Soldier is an incredible museum located in Portland, IN.
It houses some of the most moving displays of artifacts from so many unsung heros from World War I thru the conflicts
of today in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of them are from Jay County, Portland and the surrounding area. The stories
behind the displays can move you to tears! Jim Waechter and Brian Williamson and their staff have done an amazing
job. If you’re looking for something to do on a beautiful day, hop in your car and drive to Portland. It’s a great road trip
with beautiful scenery. You won’t be disappointed!
For more information, check out their website: www.museumofthesoldier.com
Two Rides of a Lifetime By Don Hartzell
For some, military reenacting is baffling and
maybe even foolish. For even more, it seemingly has
no connection with military vehicle preservation and
collecting. I happen to be one of those who has
discovered the rewards of both worlds. This reality
truly hit home with two once-in-a-lifetime experiences
that came my way in August and October of this year.
In mid-August I was contacted by Bob
Haverstick, director of an organization called Never
Too Late, a “make-a-wish”-type organization for
senior citizens. He asked if I could make the wish of a
terminally ill 90-year-old French war bride named
Suzanne Teachnor come true: to take one last ride in a
WWII jeep driven by a man dressed in WWII uniform. I
said yes, since I was able to fulfill both requests as a
reenactor and jeep collector.
On Sunday, August 22, I took Suzanne, as an
article in the Anderson Herald-Bulletin put it, for the “ride
of her life.” We went for a short drive out in the country,
while she shared stories of how she and her GI husband
took rides across the French countryside in the jeep
assigned to him as a combat engineer at the end of World
War II. Tears often welled up in her eyes as she told me
that this ride brought all those wonderful memories back.
The second opportunity I had to help someone relive treasured moments from the past occurred in October. An
87-year-old friend of mine, former Army sergeant John Bryant, was given another opportunity to drive a jeep 60-plus
years after his service as sergeant of the motorpool for a medical outfit in Italy.
At John’s request, I put on a WWII
uniform and provided the services of both
of my WWII jeeps. He put on his uniform
and we each drove a jeep to a car show that
his car club was sponsoring on Saturday
afternoon, October 9. The smile never left
John’s face as we spent the afternoon
talking about jeeps and WWII with the
public. John said he was never prouder, and
that he considered me an honorary
“comrade in arms.”
I have collected and restored jeeps,
and reenacted, for about 10 years now, but
the experiences of these couple of months
have given a special purpose to both of
these hobbies for me. My local
newspaper’s coverage of Suzanne’s
experience brought some attention to me,
but most importantly, it gave recognition to the mission of MV preservation and the purpose of WWII reenacting and
living history.
Upcoming Events (Watch for updates on www.indianamvpa.com)
November 13, 2010
Muncie, IN
Welders, Inc. 2702 S Monroe St.
Indiana MPVA Meeting
Contact Sam Norris: 765-289-9074
May 12-14, 2011
Aberdeen, MD
Ripken Stadium.
38th Annual East Coast Military Vehicle Rally
8AM-5PM Daily, Free Admission.
May 20-22, 2011
Findlay, OH
Hancock County Fairgrounds
24th Annual Armed Forces Day Celebration
August 4-6, 2011
Dayton, OH
Nutter Center, 3640 Col. Glenn Hwy.
36th Annual MVPA Convention - It's back!
Look for details in the February/March Supply Line.
September 16-17, 2011
Crawfordsville, IN
Ropkey Armor Museum
Indiana MVPA Rally and Swap Meet
Watch for more details.
Tech Tip: field expedient winch shear pin fix
From Army Motors, Volume 5, Issue 3, 1944.
(Editor’s Note: Historical reference-this information is for combat/emergency
use only)
Club News (Keep current at www.indianamvpa.com)
2010 Indiana MVPA Rally & Swap Meet. We have many people to
thank for the success of this year’s Rally as mentioned in the
President’s Note. Additionally, we appreciate the club members who
volunteered their time and staffed the Rally to include Don Hartzell,
Lani Ropkey, Deb and Roger Woodward, Larry Dorsey, Tom Zehr,
Jim Carter, and Mike Lusty. We had vendors come in from Michigan,
Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, as well as many locals. The Henry County
Wright Flyers (RC Aircraft) flew most of the weekend and drew in
some local clubs to share the sky. We welcomed several Viet Nam
Reunion (Kokomo) attendees and Saturday’s motorcycle fund raiser
was a sight to see. We also had a surprise visit from a WWII Iwo Jima
veteran. Meanwhile, another WWII veteran, a German Swimmwagen
went for a swim in the pond and a large Polish biplane finally took to
the air again.
Historic Military Vehicle Preservation Week was proclaimed by the
Indiana Governer during 13-19 September 2010 in honor of our
hobby. A copy of this document is available for download on our
website.
On 9 October, the board members conducted an informal internal
review to help with next year’s rally. Some changes were
recommended and some of those will be brought up as new business in
the coming meetings. It was quite a Rally and we are already looking forward to next year’s fun. Hope to see you there.
Next IMVPA Meeting. Our next meeting will be at Sam Norris’ welding shop in Muncie. When: 13 November, 10AM.
Where: WELDORS INC., 2702 S. Monroe St., Muncie, IN.
Program: Live fire demonstrations of the MIG, TIG, Stick, Torch & Plasma Cutting. These are the main welding
processes that you could use in restoration & maintenance of your military vehicles. There will be time for welding
Q&As and tryouts. Lunch will be available, so plan to stay as long as you like. Dress appropriately for welding if you
would like to try your hand. Some equipment will be available but if you have welding goggles, helmet, and gloves, bring
them to ensure your can safely participate.
Directions: In Muncie, take Madison St. (4 lanes north/south) to 20th St., then 1/2 block east to Monroe. Shop will be
just south of 20th & Monroe, east side of street. Note: 2700 block is NOT at 27th St., but 20th St. There is a map link on
IndianaMVPA.com. Parking: Our parking lot is small, but tons of parking available down the hill in front of gray
warehouse (north of 20th & Monroe). Contact point: Sam Norris, 765-289-9074.
Museum of the Soldier Open House. The MoS held an open house on Saturday, 16 October in conjunction with a fund
raising dinner. Besides the Museum staff, several IMVPA members were spotted roaming the grounds and partaking in
the dinner. There were a few vendors on the east side of the building and the parking lot overflowed into a second lot
with static military vehicle displays. A few blocks away, at the county fairgrounds, the Fall tractor swap meet was also in
progress where a gorgeous M105 trailer with bows was spotted on sale for $600 (not mine). See Lani Ropkey’s review of
the museum on page 2.
Scenes from the 2010 Rally & Swap Meet
Visit www.indianamvpa.com for more club updates, events, ads, and the latest news.
For Sale / Wanted (Also posted at www.indianamvpa.com)
For Sale: Submit your ads by sending to Mike Lusty via email or the website “Contact Us” page.
1. WWII era Willys and Ford Jeep parts. About 50 different parts including fuel pump, oil pump, hand rails, Ford
pistons, Ford bolts, and many more - too many to list here. Some F marked, some not. All usable and original stock.
Worth $2700 in value, $2000 for all. Call for complete list.
2. Bendix Aircraft Radio Set. 1942 dated, marked with US Navy and RAF markings. Complete set-includes
transmitter, receiver, shock mounts, cabling, and antenna assembly. Inner workings in clean condition, outside could use
some work from handling and storage. $400.
3. U.S.S. Hornet Kapok Life Preserver. Very rare item; marked U.S.S. Hornet and has the original 1942 dated label.
This vest was on board the Hornet during the Doolittle Raid and used when the ship sank in 1942. Brought home by the
sailor. Sought after by the USS Hornet Museum and by the USAF Museum for their displays. Call for more information.
4. Norden Bombsight. US Navy marked, complete in original wooden case. Logbook intact, excellent condition. $1500
5. Autographs from WWII Air Aces. American, British, and German combat fighter Aces’ autographs. Call for
selection.
Contact Larry Wells - 219.996.5607
1958 M56 Contact Maintenance Truck. Complete with heavy duty 3/4 ton chassis & box, good NDT tires, winch &
cable, and generator/arc welder set up. VN era OD paint scheme with Signal Depot (39th SIG BN) markings. 3000
miles, good title, will meet requirements for IN BMV permanent Military Vehicle registration. Will include ¾” drive
socket set and a case of oil. $9000 - Located in Indianapolis,
Contact Jeff Niese - 317.244.3630 after 6PM.
1954 M38A1 Jeep. Very good body tub, with little rust on rockers and tool box floor. Mostly complete except for seat
frames, tool box lid, one 16in wheel, generator, regulator, and battery lid. Most of the straps, reflectors, some extra gauges
and lights are included. Has windshield for a "C" series recoilless rifle jeep. Engine stuck. Came from Crane Naval
Base in mid-70s; stored inside since 1977. Illinois title. $2000 – Located in Mt Carmel, IL.
Contact Ed Jamison - 618.262.6443 or 262.5472
Wanted:
1965-1982 M35A2. Looking for basic diesel deuce, good running condition, without troop seats and without cargo cover.
Prefer less than 50K miles, for Waterloo, IN area. Contact Dave Gagnon – davgagnon @ hotmail.com.
Articles for the Rustbusters Gazette! Send in your articles, tech tips, bios, information about your vehicle, or anything
you would like to share with us by sending it to Mike Lusty via email. Photos are welcome!
NEXT MEETING: 13 NOV 2010 – 10:00 AM, welders inc., 2702 S. MONROE ST, Muncie, IN
$25 Door prize.
INDIANA MILITARY VEHICLE PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
NAME
PHONE (
ADDRESS
EMAIL
CITY
STATE
TODAY’S DATE
Dues per year: Free for 2010.
YOUR MILITARY VEHICLES
NEW / RENEWAL
(circle one)
)
ZIP
MPVA MEMBER?
, MVPA #
2011 Indiana MVPA dues: Single $10, Family $12.
(Military Vehicle not required to belong.)
1.
3.
2.
4.
Benefits:
Access to information on Indiana Military Shows and events.
Connect with individuals that are versed in military vehicles and can help with your problems and fixes.
Enjoy the support of local members and events.
Help protect your rights to own and operate vintage military vehicles.
Receive quarterly newsletter with free classified ads.
Send completed application and dues to: Lani Ropkey, 5649 E. 150 North, Crawfordsville, IN 47933-8089
Memberships are for one calendar year. Please do not send cash.
Indiana MVPA
The Indiana Military Vehicle Preservation Association
714 High St.
Anderson, IN 46012
www.indianamvpa.com
[Member Mailing Address Here]
NEXT MEETING: 13 NOV 2010 – 10:00 AM, welders inc., 2702 S. MONROE ST, Muncie,, IN
$25 door prize