CCBCA Fireball Flast.. - Chicagoland Chapter GSCA

CHICAGOLAND CHAPTER B.C.A.
P.O. BOX 6660
VILLA PARK, IL 60181-6660
March 2009
Issue
CHICAGOLAND CHAPTER, BUICK CLUB OF AMERICA
Monthly Meeting—except January
Chicagoland Chapter OFFICERS
The first Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.
at the VILLA PARK MASONIC LODGE, 26 W.
Central, Villa Park, IL
Director Jim Bloomstrand
CLUB MAILING ADDRESS
Secretary Brad Berger 630-904-6088 buddybrad1@aol.com
Treasurer Rick Schick 630-904-1950 buickman@wideopenwest.com
Chicagoland Chapter / BCA
P.O. Box 6660
Villa Park, IL 60181-6660
FLASH Editor’s MAILING ADDRESS
1337 Shagbark Ct.
Carol Stream, IL 60188-9183
robertbez@earthlink.net
National BUICK CLUB WEBSITE ADDRESS
www.buickclub.org
CHICAGOLAND CHAPTER WEBSITE ADDRESS
www.buickclub.org/chicagoland/
Asst. Director
847-359-6082 buicktruck@msn.com
Steve Kelly 847-464-1301 skelly48@comcast.net
Newsletter Editor Robert Bezingue 630-231-0868 (see address below)
Advertising, Newsletter Mike LaBrose 847-506-9991 buicks1616@aol.com
Regional Director. Steve Ledger 847-487-5340 buickbullitt@netzero.net
Web Master Rick Schick 630-904-1950 buickman@wideopenwest.com
Activities Chairperson: Jim Bloomstrand 847-359-6082 buicktruck@msn.com
————————————Appointed Positions——————————————
Newsletter Advertising: Mike Labrose
847-506-9991
Librarian: George Peska
630-964-1613
Historian: Ted Barkei
630-983-9899
Attendance Secretary: Melanie Mauser 630-852-0056
Regional Director: Steve Ledger
847-487-5340
Car Shows: Scott Mich Jim Bloomstrand Don Adams Rick Schick
Signage: Scott Mich 312-316-5435 scott@earlmich.com
Flowers: Marion Mich 847-566-7456
Technical Advisors:
1929
Joe Petrik
630-325-5530
1950
Jerry Michalek
630-231-0679
1956
Art Lostumo Jr.
847-455-9119
1957
Steve Kelly
847-464-1301
The FIREBALL FLASH is published monthly by the Chicagoland Chapter, Buick Club of America, Inc., a nonprofit corporation solely for the use
and enjoyment of its members and to present a forum for the communication of Chapter and Regional news, as well as the personal stories of the
staff and contributors. The Chicagoland Chapter does not endorse or warrant opinions or information contributed by any individual.
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March , 2009
March 2009 Director’s Message
Greetings from Your New Director:
Planning ahead, our BCA National is July 1-4 at
Colorado Springs and our Heartland Regional is August 1315 in Appleton, WI.
First, I want to thank Scott for his many years of serThere is interest in a fall tour to Auburn Indiana on
vice to our club. I would also like to thank those that took the
October 10 & 11. I would like to start making the plans for
time to vote in our recent Chicagoland BCA Election. Your
this tour and securing reservations, please let me know if
vote is appreciated.
you are interested in this tour. It will be similar to the tour
My goals as your Director are that we all have fun
that some of our members were on several years ago.
when we are together and that we can enjoy driving and
Until next time, Jim Bloomstrand
showing our Buicks. If you have comments (good or bad),
questions, or suggestions; please call or send me an email.
Since we are all members of the Chicagoland Buick
Chapter, I want to give everyone a chance to be more involved with planning, attending, and hosting activities. If
your interests are in the planning and business side of our
club, please attend the Steering Meetings as this is where we
will be working on those items. My goal is to have the meetings as a place where we can come together to share our interest in automobiles. The Flash will carry the Club information to keep all the members informed on what is happening
with their Club.
We have a number of activities planned as we move
into March. On March 7th, a South tour to Boroski’s Racing
Engines and Carriage House Restorations is planned with a
lunch stop at noon. On March 29th we are the hosts of the
BOPC Swap at the Wheaton Fair Grounds. This is our largest
fund raiser for the next three years, so your help and attendance is needed to make this a success for our club.
In April, I have planned a trip on the 25th & 26th to
Northern Indiana to visit the Hudson Museum, Studebaker
Museum, Amish communities, and other sites as time allows.
Please let me know as soon as possible if you can make this
trip so rooms can be reserved and other reservations made.
Our Spring Dust-off is planned for May 9th at Crossroads Chevrolet-Buick in West Chicago from 10 to 3. For
those interested in the GS and Grand Nationals, the GS Nationals will be May 12-16 in Bowling Green, KY.
BCA Spring Tour
April 25 & 26
On April 25 our chapter will have an opportunity to
spend 2 days touring North Central Indiana’s museums,
shops and Amish Culture. Some of the highlights will
be the Studebaker Museum, Hudson Museum, shopping
for local crafts and furniture, and plenty of home cooking. I need to know those who will be attending, as soon
as possible, to reserve enough rooms in a local Inn as
many rooms are already full. Please call me, Jim, @
708-212-6224 and leave a message if I am unavailable.
March Guest Speaker
Larry Claypool’s European
Automotive Experiences
See the video slide presentation at the
March 4th meeting. What happens when
a car & train enthusiast takes a vacation abroad?
Excellent high speed trains, motorways, beer, and
cars we rarely see here. Lots of rare micro cars
from the now-closed story museum and really
good beer. Volkswagen’s huge Autostat. Did I
mention the beer?
A fun review of Larry’s 2006 trip to Paris, Germany, and Austria.
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March, 2009
2009 Calendar
2009 Heartland Regional
MARCH
1
Petroliana Show—Peotone, IL
4
CCBCA Chapter Meeting—Automobilia & Literature
night. Members—Bring any interesting auto-related literature or models, or other artifacts to display .
7
CCBCA Winter Tour—10 AM. Borowski Racing, then
lunch, then Carriage House Restorations
8
Buick GS Club Chili Cook-off; contact Loyd Bonecutter, 4010 Raymond Ave., Brookfield, IL 60513 or go to
www.chicagolandbuick.org
15
Peotone Car Club Swap Meet, Will County Atrium,
Will Cty Fairgrounds, Peotone, IL. Call 708-258-6920
29
Buick-Olds-Pontiac-Cadillac Swap Meet at the
DuPage County Fairgrounds—hosted by the Chicagoland
BCA Chapter
August 13-15, Appleton, WI.
 Host Hotel is the Holiday Inn at 150
Nicolet Road, Appleton, WI., 54914
 Hotel Phone 920-735-9955
 Show information, contact
Fred Pennings
2201 Kavanaugh Rd.
Kaukauna, WI 54130
 920-427-9368 (cell)
920-766-1333 (home)
 Or email
April
1
CCBCA Chapter Meeting—At the lodge in Villa Park
19
North IL WPC Club—car show and swap meet. Larry
Roesch Chrysler, 200 W. Grand Ave., Elmhurst, IL
Call Guy at 630-721-0062
25, Spring Jefferson Swap and Car Corral—Jefferson
26 County Fairgrounds, Jefferson, WI. Call 608-244-8416
25, CCBCA Spring Tour— Shipshewana Inn and sur26 rounding area. Then, Hudson and Studebaker nuseum
con the 26th. Contact Jim Bloomstrand
May
3
AACA Grayslake Car Show and Swap Meet
6
CCBCA Chapter Meeting—FOOD Pantry Night; bring
a donation
9
CCBCA Spring Dust-Off car show; At Crossroads
Chevrolet in West Chicago, IL
12- 28th Annual GS Nationals—Bowling Green, KY
16
FPennings@New.rr.com
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March, 2009
FOR SALE— CARS
1938 Special, 4 dr, with side mounts, maroon, engine runs
but car is missing some interior parts.
$15, 000
Lester Johnson
847-358-4163
Des Plaines , IL
(2)
VINTAGE AD OF THE MONTH
by John Arpan
Buick ads in 1955 touted “a new kind of excitement and thrilling action that was never in any earthbound vehicle before.” No exaggeration here.
In the 50’s performance was of everincreasing importance in new car
sales and Buick had
much to offer in
1955. Ads often sung
the praises of the
new Variable Pitch
Dynaflow as a
“transmission
smooth to the infinite.” “Acceleration
is instant and in absolute smoothness a dazzling safety
surge of forward momentum that’s thrilling beyond past experience.” Horsepower was also up to
a record 236-hp
making the 55 Century one of the fastest car on the road at
no sacrifice to economy.
Highlighted in this add
is a “Buick SUPER
Rivera, the highfashion hardtop with
extra-generous roominess.”
Competition was fierce in
55 even within the financial colossus that GM was
the various divisions
fought as ruthlessly for
market share as though
they were independence.
Buick ads like this one
helped propel Buick to an
all time sales record in
1955 that would take
many years to surpass.
Maybe GM should have
kept that competitive zeal
between sister divisions
alive instead of making
them all resemble each
other and things might
look a lot better for GM
today.
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March, 2009
Happy Birthday
March 7
Bob Flint
March 16 Joan Lovering
March 9
Joseph Maikisch
March 20 Chuck Payleitner
March 9
Jerry Michalak
March 21 Betty Landers
March 10 Corrine Fredricks
March 24 Theresa Lucente
March 10 Emqanuele Lucente
March 24 Carol Lussky
March 12 Lance Basiorka
March 27 John vonBerg
March 12 George Peska
March 28 Judith Callera
March 12 Ron Washington
March 28 Jim Schaffer
March 13 Ted Barkei
March 30 Bonnie Flint
March 13 Mike LaBrose
March 30 Mary Schmidt
Member Profile
1956 Special & 1970 GS
by Bill Serviss
During the month of January, there is the CarQuest
World of Wheels 3-day car show. In the past 4 years, I have
entered my 1956 Buick Special in the show. This year, I also
entered my 1970 Buick GS 455.

March 14
John & Mary Baynes
Bill & the ‘56 at World of Wheels this January
To help people get an understanding of what these
cars were like in their day, I have set up displays for them.
The ‘56 Buick has a checkerboard tile floor underneath, and
a drive-up restaurant tray on the window. The tray is furnished with realistic-looking burger, fries, Coke, and a sundae. The GS has a black rug with painted road stripes to represent a highway centerline. Also, both cars have a display
stand furnished with related books such as an owner’s manual, car option catalogs, and vintage car magazines.
During the 5 years that I have had the ’56 Special in
the show, I have helped many show goers sharing my knowledge of what it took to restore my own car. I have also heard
many stories about a friend or loved one who owned a car
like mine.
This year, the Special took 2nd place, losing to a
1949 Rolls Royce. The 1970 GS took 3rd in its class.
The ‘70 GS is a recent addition to my collection. I
searched for over a year for a clean GS. I drove out to Pennsylvania to look at a GS 350, but, although it looked good in
pictures, it had a quick-and-dirty spray job.
A 4-speed car in Albany New York looked promising, but the engine had been decked and the numbers were
missing. This car needed new everything and was not a
numbers-matching car by any means.
(continued, next page)
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BCA
March, 2009
Bill Serviss’ Special & GS
(continued)
Finally, I found a correct, numbers-matching 455 with auto’ in California,
about an hour’s trip north of L.A. I flew out
there to check it out. It was real clean with
original interior, good, original chrome,
and strong drivetrain. But, was the 65,000
Tech Tip:
Damage to Tire Pressure
Monitor (TPM) Sensors Possible
During Tire Replacement
chine rotates and the tire bead is
stretched around the wheel rim, the
bead can come in contact with the sensor if it is not correctly positioned in
relation to the mounting/dismounting
head prior to tire mounting/
dismounting. This can also cause sensor damage requiring replacement.
Tell your tire dealer if you
have TPM’s on the car and be sure they
know how to deal with these devices
properly. The tire servicer should use a
tire changing machine in order to dismount tires. Do not let anyone use
hand tools or tire irons alone in order
to remove the tire from the wheel.
Damage to the tire beads or the wheel
Do you have a late-model vehicle with tire- rim could result.
pressure sensors on the wheels?
Bill’s ‘70 GS 455 at World of Wheels
showing on the odometer real? I told the
owner, “I want to see if it can spin the
tires, or the deal is off!” The owner agreed.
The car was the real deal! A 2-month negotiation occurred, but eventually, I
shipped it home.
It just needs new woodgrain on
the dash and trunk refinishing. Also, it has
the factory 12-bolt rear, a late-production
axle. Look for me in it this summer!
- Bill
Lake Zurich
Radiator &
Air Conditioning
Service, Inc.
The tire dealer should not
scratch
or
damage the clear coating on
All GM vehicles now in production
aluminum
wheels with the tire changand sold in the U.S. feature Tire Presing equipment. Scratching the clear
sure Monitoring Systems that have
valve stem mounted Tire Pressure Sen- coating could cause the aluminum
wheel to corrode and the clear coating
sors or Monitors (TPMs). When disto peel from the wheel. Inspect the
mounting and mounting tires, care
must be taken when breaking the bead wheels after tire service.
loose from the wheel. If the tire maNote—some late model cars
chines bead breaking fixture is posihave indirect tire pressure sensing; the
tioned too close to the tire pressure
computer monitors tire rotations and if
sensor, as the tire bead breaks away
one wheel rotates at a different rate,
from the wheel it may be forced into, or
this is assumed to be a reduced diamecatch on the edge of the tire pressure
ter caused by low pressure. Tire
sensor. This can damage the sensor
changes can falsely trigger these sysand require the sensor to be replaced. tems. These systems do not have in-tire
Care must also be taken when
transferring the tire bead to the other
side of the wheel rim. As the tire ma-
TPM’s. If you can monitor each tire’s
pressure individually through the instrument panel display, you probably
have TPM-type sensors.
785 Oakwood Rd., S 101
Lake Zurich, IL 60047
Tel (847) 438-4334
Fax (847) 438-8224
Owner: James French
BUICK CLUB SPECIAL
(847)438-4334
10% OFF ANY SERVICE WITH THIS COUPON
*RADIATORS* HEATERS* THERMOSTATS* WATERPUMPS* A/C REPAIRS*
*FLUSHING* BELTS & HOSES* GAS TANKS* A/C RECHARGING*
ASE Certified *** Computer Diagnostic Scanning***Free Estimates Repairing/
Recoring Vintage Radiators & Lining Gas Tanks for 32 Years
Directions: Rte. 12 to Rte. 22 (East) to Oakwood Rd. (North)
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March, 2009
Minutes by Brad
February 4, 2009
Meeting called to order by that Ol’ Sidewinder Scott Mich
at 7:39 PM.
The evening started out on a high note with free pizza,
salad, and drinks for the membership. Delicious pizza
was ordered from Dominick’s Pizza in Villa Park and
enjoyed by all (especially me). Long time member
Ray Ortell joined us for the evening and it was good
to see him.
BOPC Swap Meet:
Scott reminded everyone to sign the attendance sheet in
the back and that volunteers are needed to work not only the day
of the BOPC, but the Saturday before from 6-9 PM. Our Winter
Tour will be March 7th at 10 AM and there’s a signup sheet for
attending this. See details in this issue.
Scott asked everyone who frequents car related
Internet message boards to please leave a message about the
BOPC Sunday, March 29.
Jim Bloomstrand asked the audience for recent swap
meet info. Gene Johnson was at the Don McCue meet in St.
Charles and felt attendance and gate profits were down from last
year by 40-50%. He was also at the Bill Jacobs swap meet in
Joliet and noted that attendance looked to be the same as last
year.
April 25-26 is our Spring Tour. See details in this issue.
Thank you to Carol Lussky and her doggone dog group for again
sponsoring this year’s BOPC.
New Business:
Rick will be updating our website the weekend of 2/7.
Scott discussed the need to update our phone tree, email tree,
and roster. Debbie Anderson volunteered to assist with the roster.
Rick Schick presented the 2008 financial report and
straightened out our checking account so that we now get the
most favorable deal. Rick spoke about the 2010 BCA National
and said it will be in Ames, IA and managed by the BCA National organization.
Steve Ledger was destroying the environment on his
snowmobile up in the Yukon during the meeting so there was no
Regional update.
This was food pantry night and Steve Kelley collected
food and cash to deliver to the needy.
Steering Committee Meeting:
The February Steering Committee meeting was held
Tuesday, Feb. 24 sat Russell’s BBQ. The next one after this will
be April 25. Dinner starts at 6pm, meeting at 7. Everyone invited. A report will be available at the March meeting.
Monthly meeting was adjourned at 9:53 PM and there was no
raffle.
Brad
Election Results:
Scott picked up the election ballots on Jan. 26th and they were
counted this evening by Bob Bezingue. It was announced that our
new Director is Jim Bloomstrand and Assistant Director is Steve
Kelley. Thanks go out to Frank Tarpey for running for Assistant
Director and hope he will try running for a Board position again
in the future.
World of Wheels Review:
Matt and Debbie Anderson brought their laptop with
them this evening and showed slides of the World of Wheels show
held in January. Debbie also wrote a wonderful article with great
pictures of the show for the Jan./Feb. Fireball Flash. Matt spoke
about the show in detail and said they handed out club flyers
while there and new members are very likely to result from it. The
Anderson’s won 2 awards at World of Wheels for their stunning
1955 Buick and we congratulate them for it! Debbie and Matt
would like to see CCBCA participation in the show next year with
our own section of the show floor dedicated to us.
Larry Claypool will be back for our March
meeting with slides that he took during his recent visit to Europe.
They will include many unusually cars we don’t see around here.
It is also Model Car & Literature Night so bring something with
you.
Vintage Voltage
AUTOMOTIVE CHARGING & STARTING SYSTEMS
Joe Serritella
444 E. Roosevelt Road #303, Lombard, IL 60148
Telephone (630) 567-1775
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March, 2009
We Need Your Help, to run the BOPC Swap
Meet
This is OUR major fundraiser!
On Saturday, March 28th, we will open the hall to allow vendors to set up early.
We need members to assist with the following tasks:
 Help Set up tables and chairs
 Assist vendors in bringing in their items, if they ask for assistance
 Security Guards—make sure only registered vendors enter the hall. Watch for someone trying to steal something. It’s not a hard
job, just a lot of standing around and watching.
On Sunday, March 29th, we will open the hall at 6 AM to allow vendors to setup. Show starts at 8
AM.
We need members to do the following:
 Assist vendors in bringing in their items, if they ask for assistance
 Security Guards—make sure only registered vendors enter the hall. Watch for someone trying to steal something. Watch for people who didn’t pay who may try to enter through other doors. You are not expected to arrest them—just your presence is enough to
stop thieves.
 Cashiers (take money and give change at the door)
 Patrol the parking lot—we ask that those trying to display a car for sale pay for a car corral spot. WE spent time and money to put
on the event and advertise it, so we would like those taking advantage of the event to pay for the privilege.
 Man the Chicagoland table. In this job, you greet potential members, encourage others to join, answer questions, and just be
friendly.
 After 2 pm, help take-down folding tables and chairs, sweep the floor, and generally clean-up.
Generally, we break it up into the following shifts:
Sat 5:30 to 9, and Sunday 6-9 AM, 9AM to 12, 12 to 3.
Please—it’s not hard, and you get to see the show. Your officers cannot do it alone, especially the door-guarding (which is more important than you think)
CONTACT Bob Bezingue, Steve Kelly, Jim Bloomstrand, or sign up at the March meeting
(phone numbers & email of these people are on the front page of this issue)
BUICK
OLDS
PONTIAC
CADILLAC
SWAP MEET & CAR CORRAL
SUNDAY, MARCH 29th, 2009, 8am to 2pm
DuPage County Fairgrounds,
2015 W. Manchester Rd, Wheaton, Illinois
Indoor Spaces – Food – Free Parking
Donation - $4, Vendor fee - $35 per space (chairs, tables extra)
Setup: Sat. 6 pm to 8 pm, Sun 6 am to 8 am
Bob Bezingue, show chairman
robertbez@earthlink.net
(630) 231-0868 before 9 pm Central time.
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March, 2009
Winter Tour, Saturday March 7, 2009
This year we will be visiting 2 shops and 1 restaurant.
We will meet at Borowski Race Enterprises at 10:00 am.
Borowski Race Enterprises is located at:
1545 Mound Rd.
Rockdale, IL 60436
815-725-2727
www.borowskirace.com
This is located slightly southeast of I80 and I55 just outside of Joliet.
The lunch stop is at Williamson’s Restaurant & Bar at 12 Noon.
Williamson’s is located at:
1490 W. Maple St.
New Lenox, IL 60451
815-485-8585
The
3rd
stop will be Carriage House Auto Restorations at approximately 1:15-1:30 pm
Carriage House Auto Restorations is located at:
22002 So. Howell Dr.
New Lenox, IL 60451
888-485-6654
www.carriagehouseautoresto.com
Borowski’s is a high performance race engine builder, and offers restoration of engines, nitrous, turbo charged and supercharged engines. They sell crate engines, offer dyno testing, and also offer complete engine machining services. They
have been in business since 1968.
The Carriage House is a complete auto restoration shop, specializing in frame off restorations, engine & chassis rebuilding, and complete metal fabricating services.
Please place your name on the sign up sheet at the March meeting,
or contact Scott Mich
at 312-316-5435 scott@earlmich.com to be added to the list.
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March, 2009
Winter Tour, Saturday
March 7, 2009
A Borowski Race Ent.
1545 Mound Rd
Rockdale, IL
1490 W. Maple St.
B Williamson’s Restaurant
New Lenox, IL 60451
C
Carriage House
22002 S. Howell Dr.,
New Lenox, IL