President's Page January 2010

As I sit down to write this page the Christmas holiday season has not quite arrived, but as you read this it has possibly already passed. Both Chris and I hope everyone has or has had a very enjoyable holiday season. This is a great time of year when we get to spend time with our family, friends and a turkey or two. It’s also the time when we look back on the past year and plan for the next.
This past year has been a good year for our club as we have gained many new members and our meetings and events have been very well attended. I salute everyone that helped organize and carry out the clubs events of 2009. I congratulate Don and Myrna Stresman on receiving the annual award for the best attendance at all meetings and events over the past year. Congratulations to Lorne Troutman on being chosen for the “Old Crank” award and I hope we can possibly continue to award this plaque to someone each year. On behalf of the club and everyone who attended the ACCP Christmas Party at the Shady Nook Recreation Center, I thank Lorne and Myrna Troutman, Bob and Mae McCauley, the Antique Car Tunes and any other elves that may have helped to make the evening so enjoyable. It was easy to see that a good time was had by all. It was also nice to see long time members Ernie and Dianne Murdoch at the party. I’d also like to thank the outgoing executive for a job well done, during their term. We are indeed fortunate to have so many dedicated people in our midst.
As we usher in 2010 we also move into a new decade. It’s hard to believe that ten years have passed since the great Y2K. The year 2010 promises to be another good year as we already have a restoration project started and some events planned for the upcoming months. I look forward to working with the new executive and membership on our future events.
Chris and I wish everyone a Happy New Year and we’ll see you then.

Wayne Brohart

President's Page December 2009

Over the past two years, I have found myself writing this page and scrambling to meet Bob McCauley’s deadline of the third Friday of the month. It’s often been a challenge, but it has always been enjoyable to pull together news and notes stemming from our club family. In the forty plus years that Delores and I have been members of the club, family is as good a way to describe it as any.

Over the years, we as club family, have all shared in the joy of the birth of children, mourned the loss of many who have passed on, and we continue to go through our respective life experiences with a certain collectivity. It’s that group approach to things that makes the club a special part of our lives and, to a degree, defines who we are. It identifies us to all those people in the larger community with whom we interact. Besides the cars in parades or on tour, the benevolence of our members, whether it’s the breakfast boys, the Antique Car Tunes or the museum restorations, we’re out there. Folks may get the name wrong, but one way or the other it’s the old car club.

I am pleased to have had the privilege of being president these past two years and working with such a supportive executive and committee chairs. Thank you all! The two-year term allows us to have some continuity so that new ideas and direction can be tested and applied. And we have had some change, including the new The Flying Quail, the web site, signage, the mascot car, musical entertainment, tours all over the Valley and new members. It’s the new members that attest to the well-being of the club, in my opinion.
New members bolster our ranks and bring a wealth of energy and ideas and strengthen our team of people who get things done, within the club and out in the community. Their special vehicles add flair to our fleet and their dues help to keep the bank account in the black. In the past two years, we have had twenty-three members join or renew a former membership, including: John & Gail Hanson, Ralph Lemke, Ellsworth & Shirley Mullen, Dean & Anita Lapierre, Wally & Ann Cochrane, Ernie & Dianne Murdoch, Claude & Marie Fortin, Tom & Shannon Dunfield, Garfield & Pauline Stewart, Janice Visneskie & Leslie Moore, Kevin & Kaye O’Gorman and Glen & Margaret Coules. Welcome!

I look back on quite a list of tours including: Fort Coulonge, Calumet, Bristol & Norway Bay Quebec, Upper Canada Village, Golden Lake & Dore Bay, Braeside, Calabogie and many points in between. We’ve enjoyed meals and music on most of these forays and it’s of this that we will look back on fondly, as having been time well spent in friendship, in our hobby.

I am pleased that our nominating team has assembled a new slate of officers for the coming two years. I know that we’ll be continuing in a good direction under the leadership of our new president Wayne Brohart (and first lady Chris). Delores Lemkay (my first lady) as vice-president, Ed Lapa as our new secretary and Wendy TerMarsch carrying on the tradition of treasurer bodes well for our future. Good luck as you take on your responsibilities for 2011 and 2012.

Dave Lemkay

President's Page November 2009

I start this column with a tip-of-the-hat to Ron and Dawn Roy for the well orchestrated colour tour to Calumet Island on October 18th. Thanks also to John and Colette Pigeon for hosting all of us at their hillside ranch with our flotilla of 21 cars for an informative and pleasant afternoon. It was also nice to once again visit Auberge Mont Blanc!

We were pleased to welcome guests Terry Neville from Renfrew with his “new” 1972 Buick (27,000 miles) and Randy Hewitt and Yvonne from Pembroke with their sharp ’63 Chevrolet Impala hardtop. Terry’s Buick was bought new by John L. Hodgins from Purcell Motors in Cobden and serviced over the years at Barkers in Renfrew. Mike Cuff relates how he often picked up and delivered the car to the Hodgins farm on the South McNaughton Line just out of Renfrew. Terry has a penchant for Buicks it seems – he had joined in on ACCP tours in the ‘70s with a 1924 McLaughlin Buick touring car.

Over the years, people have occasionally asked ACCP members if they are welcome to join in on our tours. Isn’t it wonderful that they do? This has been the introduction to so many new acquaintances that, in turn, has resulted in growth of our club by some twenty new members in the past two years. It’s clear that our touring style of activity as a club is appealing to many old-car enthusiasts. Certainly we have a long list of interesting outings throughout the area and our future looks promising for continued intrigue on the roadways around the region.

The November meeting will be the venue for nominations for the coming two-year term for a new executive. The nominating committee has been in contact with members to build a slate of nominees for the various positions. Agreeing to take on a two-year position in any capacity is not a small decision to make. These nominees have been sought out based upon their talent and enthusiasm for the respective jobs. They each have given careful consideration to the challenge and come to their decision to stand for election knowing that they’ll be expected to do their best to run the business of the club. Please do your best to come out to this meeting to show the nominees your support and make this selection process work effectively.

As the ACCP heads into its 47th year of operation, our members look forward to stimulating meetings, more great tours, the opportunity of more acquaintances and continued growth in membership. Welcome to our most recent members, Glen Coules and his mother Margaret, proud owners of the 1950 Meteor sedan.

Once again, we will revisit a tradition of earlier years with our Christmas Dinner. In the past these were called the Ladies’ Night Banquet or the Christmas Shine. Either way, plan on another seasonal event on your Christmastime calendar.

The meeting will be held once again at the Champlain Trail Museum at 7:00 pm Wednesday November 4th. Don’t forget your treasures for our famous auction!

Dave Lemkay

President's Page October 2009

We’re now officially into fall, although Indian summer will be welcomed by us all for the coming month or so. Let’s hope that we have a nice fall season, as we look forward to a few special events, including the Oktoberfest Parade at Ladysmith (Oct 4), the Colour Tour to Pigeon’s ranch (Oct 18) and the mini-Plowing Match at Ralph Lemke’s on Barron Canyon Road (Oct 24). Details on these are elsewhere in the Flying Quail.

We have enjoyed a busy September with the 150th Cobden Fair Parade, good reports from Barrie and the triple play on the 19th with the Renfrew Car Show, the Popkie Mill Car Show and Renfrew County Plowing Match. It was a challenge to determine which to attend, however some members did take in more than just one. Comments I heard in Renfrew expressed regret that organizers hadn’t worked to separate their dates. With 170 cars in Renfrew and 100 or more at Popkies, one mammoth show or two events held on separate dates would have better success and not force owners to choose, in this case between three related options.

The Harvest Tour to the Coronation Cider Mill in Bristol was outstanding! Don & Sue Page organized this along with the hospitality of Garry & Norma Graham on one of the nicest sunny days of the summer. The “Thursday Morning” band and the “Antique Car Tunes” entertained all afternoon while guests enjoyed apple harvest treats. There were 21 vehicles - 22 if you count the neighbours’ two-mule team wagon. Two nice Studebakers, including a rare 1951 convertible, a mint 1951 Meteor, an original 1955 Oldsmobile and a 1970s continental kit Chrysler joined to add to our regulars. We were pleased to see Glen Coules and his mom Margaret from Renfrew again – we had met them at the Waterfront Festival and the Portage du Fort show in August.

Dinner at Pine Lodge was most enjoyable. Joan TerMarsch reminisced that her last time there was over 50 years ago for a family wedding reception. Don & Sue’s next door neighbour Mary Calvert-Gamble, Norway Bay’s historian emeritus, was our guest as well. Wrapping up September, our postponed Supples Landing residents’ cruise to the city’s timber crib at the waterfront came off well a week later, thanks to Troutmans, Roys, McCauleys & N. Videtos.

Looking ahead, we have struck a nominating committee, headed up by Ron Roy, to manage our upcoming elections to change the executive for 2010. The committee will have a slate of candidates to present at the November meeting. As well, nominations from the floor will be entertained and the collective slate will be voted upon in December. My two-year term is ending and I am committed to helping with a sound succession plan for an ongoing healthy club.

On that note, I take this opportunity to welcome new members Garfield & Pauline Stewart and Kevin & Kaye O’Gorman, bringing a 1959 Edsel Ranger and 1949 Oldsmobile 88 into the fleet. I am reminded of the saying in 1957 that an Edsel looked like a ‘56 Oldsmobile sucking a lemon.

The Sunshine file includes Rick Clayton who has returned from Toronto via Barrie where he tried chasing Jeff Videto’s scooter and Jim Rolfe who is feeling well. We were happy to see Joan TerMarsch along with Wendy to Bristol – and speaking of Bristol, a card of condolence has been sent to Barbara & Peter Haughton, our river boat friends, on her mother, Evelyn Clauson’s passing. Condolences too, to Kathy Videto on her uncle, Bill DeGrechie’s passing.

The October meeting will be held on Wednesday the 7th at the Champlain Trail Museum starting at 7:00. Vice-president Lorne Troutman will have the gavel, as I will be in Alberta and BC this week.

Dave Lemkay

President’s Page September 2009

Summertime – when the livin’ is easy – easy to miss that is. Where did summer go? I’ll tell you – it went on all around us as we were busy in so many enjoyable events. Overall, it was a great summer!

Pembroke’s Waterfront Festival was well attended with cars thanks to Graham who made calls across the region. The Blueberry Social went well with many of our vehicles. I wish to thank Claude Fortin and Don Stresman for their help to set up starting at 8:00 am. and close up at the end of the day.

Saturday August 15th at the Lakeside Hotel in Portage du Fort was another fun event. When not attending the vehicles, we held an executive meeting inside where the Pages, Weisenbergs, Broharts and Delores & I tightened up plans for the Apple Cider tour, polished trophies and met new friends.

The Marion Hill show & sing-along on the 19th was well received by so many of the residents. Thanks to Neil & Lori Videto for organizing this. Great weather, music (and popcorn and sodas). Many of the people recognized old cars and old friends. Marilyn’s Studebaker was reintroduced to Mrs. Lebine who had owned the car many years before.

I take this opportunity to say how enjoyable it was to have Ernie and Dianne Murdock arrive in their Austin Mini at the Strawberry Social. When members in the “honourary” category drive the farthest distance to join in, that is worth mentioning! Great to see you!

Looking forward to our fall shows and tours, there is a long list. Briefly, we will be on our cruise night (26th) when many will be handed the September issue. Bob McCauley likes to save on postage whenever possible. Thursday afternoon we will head to Cobden for the 5:30 parade that opens the Cobden Fair. We need as many vehicles as possible.

The Barrie Flea Market weekend is September 10-13. On Saturday the 19th we are invited to display our vehicles and other toys at the Renfrew County Plowing Match on Storyland Road. On Sunday the 20th we will travel to Norway Bay to experience the Commonwealth Cider Mill. Don & Sue Page are organizing a special afternoon with buffet dinner at Pine Lodge later. Dore Bay Pig Roast will be on September 26.

I once again open the well-wishes file. “Sunshine” Cards were sent to Graham Wall, Brian Black and Janice Visneskie and also her partner Leslie Moore. Cards of sympathy were sent to Lila Priebe, on the passing of her mother and to former member Mary Jane Blais on Roger’s passing on August 9th. Jim Rolfe is in Ottawa undergoing elements of his treatment regime and Richard Clayton remains in Toronto. Please know that you’re in our thoughts daily.

Our meeting will be held at Champlain Trail Museum starting at 7:00. Don’t forget to bring interesting items for the auction sale.

Dave Lemkay

President’s Page August 2009

July was eventful starting right away on Dominion Day with our buffet dinner and meeting at The Sands on Golden Lake. The boat cruise idea was good, but the weather dictated otherwise. A soirée at the cottage across the lake turned out to be a good plan B. Waltham’s 150th celebrations on July 4th came at a busy time for many, so our participation was limited. However, Bob & Mae McCauley’s 60th Anniversary party was well attended and such a nice afternoon it was! Our Antique Car Tunes had the honour to provide the music and the busy dance floor was a fine endorsement of their good work.

August is going to be a busy month. Pembroke’s Waterfront Festival is on the 7th through to the 9th. Graham Wall is looking after setting up a car show on the downtown streets. Also on Sunday the 9th, ACCP and the railroad group will have cars and memorabilia on display at the Champlain Trail Museum’s Heritage Blueberry Festival from 11:30 to 3:00. Please try to reserve this time on your calendar.

On Saturday August 15th, we are invited to the Lakeside Hotel in Portage du Fort for their annual car show. This has been an enjoyable event in past years. Plan for a mid-week cruise night on Wednesday August 26th and Cobden has their 150th Anniversary Parade the following evening to open the Cobden Fair – Thursday August 27th. The Premier of the Province has been invited, so along with other area dignitaries needing a perch in the parade, our vehicles will be put to good use.

I hate to bring up the Fall season, but there will be a lot going on then too. Aside from the Barrie weekend, we will have a special invitational tour on Sunday the 20th to Bristol and Norway Bay QC to sample apple cider at the newly renovated Coronation Cider Mill. Don & Sue Page are pulling this together with ACCC Rideau Lakes Region. They’re organizing a buffet dinner at rustic Pine Lodge. This promises to be a wonderful afternoon tour at a scenic Ottawa River site.

In the well-wishes file, Jim Rolfe is going to be involved with his special treatment regime through to late fall, so he won’t be participating at meetings or with any touring. New member Janice Visneskie has also undergone some surgery and is recuperating at their Golden Lake residence. Our best wishes go out to them and our other members who have recently had hospital engagements. Condolences have been expressed to Ron & Audrey Ruhnke on the passing of Ron’s father Oscar Ruhnke.

Our meeting is at Champlain Trail Museum starting at 7:00. Bring you lawn chairs just in case the evening is really conducive to us staying outdoors on the lawn. Auction items are always welcomed – for entertainment value and to add to our project coffers.

Dave Lemkay

President's Page July 2009

There are so many events staring us in the face these months that we’ll all be challenged to manage our participation in any of them. By the time you read this, we will have enjoyed the Dore Bay Country Club Golf & Steak BBQ, the Heritage Manor Father’s Day car show, the Red Hatters’ 50’s Rock ‘n Roll party, the Petawawa Civic Centre Days show, the Strawberry Social at the Champlain Trail Museum and Westmeath Fair.

With our July meeting falling on Canada Day, July 1st, we will meet at The Sands on Golden Lake for a dinner meeting that will be followed by a boat cruise and bonfire on the beach. The Sands is preparing a Prime Rib roast beef buffet that will be served in our own meeting room on the beach-side level starting at 6:00 - meeting at 7:15.

Looking ahead in July, we are invited to join in the parade and other festivities in Waltham QC on the 4th for their 150th celebrations. There will be lots doing in August too, with certain plans for a car show on downtown streets to coincide with the Pembroke Waterfront Festival on Saturday the 8th. Graham Wall has agreed to help coordinate this event with his long list of car buff contacts.


On Sunday August 9th, an afternoon invitational car show will be held again on the lawns at the Champlain trail Museum to coincide with their Blueberry Festival. On the heals of this will be the annual car show at the Lakeside Hotel at Portage du Fort QC coordinated by Wayne & Chris Brohart.

The special event to say “thanks” to Ron Nelson is now confirmed to happen on Saturday September 12th in Eganville. Car buffs are invited to join in a parade through Eganville and enjoy a buffet dinner at the Royal Canadian Legion that will both toast and roast Ron, who has given so much to worthy causes throughout that community for years. Proceeds from the dinner will go toward the village’s new Health Centre project.

Closer to home, it was great to celebrate the return of the Risto Delivery Wagon to the Ottawa Valley Historical Society after this winter’s restoration project. Thanks to the team, led by Lorne Troutman, including: Wayne Brohart, Ralph Lemke, Bob McCauley, Ron Roy, Ron Ruhnke, Don Stresman, Jeff & Neil Videto. Also Ghislaine & Colette Pigeon who graciously donated superb wagon wheels to the cause.

We welcome new members to the club - Tommy & Shannon Dunfield from Westmeath with a 1967 Fairlane convertible and 1969 Fairlane Cobra and Leslie Moore and Janice Visneskie from Golden Lake with a 1974 Dodge Duster. And in our way, we extend best wishes for members who are under doctor’s care for treatment at this time, including Joan TerMarsch and Jim Rolfe.

Dave Lemkay

President's Page June 2009

With our June 3rd meeting, we mark the half-way mark of the year - difficult to believe in some ways! In terms of tours, we’ve had a slow start, but heads-up, there’s a lot on the agenda going forward!

Following the great snacks many of you brought to the last meeting and the special dessert of ice cream and Stresman’s maple syrup, hot pizza and soft drinks is on the menu for a 6:30pm start to this month’s meeting at the Champlain Trail Museum in the train station area or inside depending on weather. Either way, bring your lawn chairs and auction sale goods.

Tuesdays have seen the Museum Project guys busy with the restoration of the horse-drawn Risto delivery wagon. Great job! The Dore Bay turkey fry was another superb outing for many and during May, the Antique Car Tunes folks practised at Ron & Dawn Roy’s for the highly touted live on-air gig on Victoria Day at Valley Heritage Radio 98.7 FM in Renfrew.

Speaking of that day, our tour down the Valley was blessed with sunshine and many new acquaintances were made. We had the opportunity to meet three new couples who have indicated their interest in joining ACCP. We will have the opportunity to welcome them at the upcoming meeting. To have a growing membership, as we have seen in recent years, clearly signals a healthy club.

Our calendar of events for the coming months is full! Three in June – Heritage Manor on Saturday June 20th ahead of Father's Day, the Red Hatters’ 50s Party at the Legion on the 22nd and the Champlain Trail Museum Strawberry Social on Sunday June 27th. On July 4th, we’re invited to the Waltham QC 150th Anniversary celebrations, and to our cottage on Golden Lake for an overnighter on July 7th. (There’ll be a full moon boat cruise & bonfire that evening).

The City of Pembroke has asked ACCP to coordinate a full-scale vintage car show in conjunction with the August 8th & 9th Waterfront Festival. Plans are to block off Pembroke Street and the side streets to grow the festival up into the city core. This will be a big undertaking, so we will need to recruit many of the other enthusiasts in the area. More details to be discussed at the meeting.

We have a few members who are convalescing and I take the opportunity here say that our club has much to offer besides the vehicles and tours. Our group has a fine social structure and it’s the elements of camaraderie and community that are so important when someone might have some difficulty. Our thoughts are continually with Joan TerMarsch, Ed Wodzak, Jim Rolfe, Stan Priebe and Lorne Troutman, each of whom is on the mend these days.

Dave Lemkay

President's Page May 2009

It was good that so many of us were able to get together at the Dore Bay Country Club for the roast beef dinner on April 18th. In some respects Dore Bay has become a great get-away for winter and summer events. As we head into May, our first tour of the year will be an afternoon trip on Victoria Day – the 18th leaving TerMarsch’s at 12:00 Noon and heading down the valley through Osceola to the Barr Line and Renfrew, staying on the old highway. From there we head along Burnstown Road to Valley Heritage Radio where the "Antique Car Tunes" will perform a brief live on-air gig. Afterward we will meander through the Renfrew Glen to Lochwinnoch Road making a visit at the Valley Carver’s shop. Dub Juby’s carvings depict our Ottawa Valley heritage and are found across Canada and all over the world. As well, Dub has a great collection of old motorcycles that will be on display. We will visit the lighthouse at Sand Point and Red Pine Bay where the squared timber crib arrived last June for a brief history of the area by Mayor of McNab-Braeside Township, Mary Campbell. We eventually arrive at Glen Dochart, 1118 Campbell Drive, Mary Campbell's century farm & B&B, where we will be entertained by 60s British Rock Invasion entertainer Simon Clarke. At the same time we will be served up a special BBQ dinner. Invitations are going out to old car enthusiasts from the Renfrew and Woodlawn areas, so this will be part car show, part reunion.

Thanks to resident auctioneer Don Stresman who skilfully handled the sale of quality hardcover books from the Biederman donation, we raised almost $150. Thanks also to many of you for your vigorous bidding. This, plus a kindly donation by a member nicely covers off the purchase of the new griddle for the breakfast team at Supples Landing.

We return for the May meeting to the Community Hall in Shady Nook. A springtime treat of ice cream and fresh maple syrup will be served afterwards thanks to Stresmans. Other snacks may be on hand and now that the hockey season is over, facilities at the hall will be available to us without restriction. See you there at 7:00 and remember this is our first driving month. While you’re extracting the old car from storage, look around in there for unwanted treasures for our auction sale. It’s a fun part of our meetings and also nicely puts money to good use within our club activities.

Also in May, the car show in Barry's Bay is on. This is always a fun event in a delightful Valley town. June events on the horizon include the Fathers’ Day Car Show at Heritage Manor on June 21st. The following afternoon, the Red Hatters Fifties Rock ‘n Roll party is on at the Pembroke Legion. June 28th – the last Sunday of the month is always the Strawberry Social at the Champlain Trail Museum. We want to fill the train station grounds again!

July 7-8-9 is our Thousand Islands Tour to Glen House Inn on the 1000 Islands Parkway near Gananoque. We have tentatively booked a suite of Riverview rooms that are together in a block. Note that by June, a valid Canadian Passport is needed to make any boat stops on American soil. However Glen House Inn has pontoon boats for rent and this will be a less complicated arrangement for those wanting a cruise on the St. Lawrence.

Dave Lemkay

President's Page April 2009

April Fools Day might add a whimsical tone to our meeting this first Wednesday of the month. We will venture out to the Santa Fe Grill & Beverage Company at 207 Nelson Street for a nifty dinner at 6:00 and followed by our meeting upstairs at around 7:00, which should conclude no later than 9:00.

As I write this on March 20th, the sun is shining for a full 12 hours directly at the equator. That makes this the first day of Spring, although it’s a wee bit cooler here in the Ottawa Valley on the 45th latitude than at zero in Uganda or Brazil or Sumatra. But let’s take what we can get. Soon we will be complaining about the heat.

Spring brings with it, increased activity with restoration of our old vehicles. Jim Rolfe celebrates his first drive on the newly completed 1970 Jeep rolling chassis. Lorne Troutman has the new upholstery and nickel-plated rad shell installed on the Model A. Marilyn Simpson and Ralph Lemke tell me that the’55 Studebaker Starlite Coupe sports a shiny new coral and black paint job with wide whites. Upholstery is next on the long list. Brohart’s Mustang is gradually coming to life and the winter facelift on our Cadillac is complete. It has been reassembled at Mike Cuff’s after new the paint job. It’s exciting that we will have our toys ready for touring with the first one planned for May 18th.

Events for 2009 are already filling the calendar, with the Dore Bay Roast Beef Dinner on Saturday afternoon April 18th followed on May2nd with the famous Turkey Fry. Our first road trip will be a Victoria Day Tour (May 18th) and first car show will be the Father’s Day Display at Heritage Manor in Pembroke followed the next day with the Red Hatters’ Rock ‘n Roll Party at the Legion. Then we will hit the road for the 2009 Tour to The Thousand Islands on July 7-8-9.

You may notice that the tentative Ottawa-area museum tour has gone missing… I take this opportunity to say that our tour promoter Jim Rolfe is dealing with some medical issues and although he fully intends to participate as usual, he won’t be organizing his usual tours for a while. Also on the under-the-weather list, Ed Wodzak underwent bypass surgery last week in Ottawa. I had the chance to pay him a visit at the Heart Institute and he says although this was a “big one” he’s on the mend and looking forward to heading home soon. So, keep these and our other members who are dealing with health issues presently in your thoughts and prayers.

See you at the meeting - April Fools Day at Santa Fe!

Dave Lemkay

President's Page March 2009

If you recall, in the February post, I mentioned about meeting up with folks formerly affiliated with our club. No sooner did that come out than I got an email from Ken Etmanski – using the nickname "Axle". He is now chief pilot with the helicopter firm in Calgary and besides raising a young family, he has gathered up four 1934 Pontiac hulks with plans to do a restoration into one good touring car. So the saga continues – all born back in the early days of our club. How many other second-generation stories might there be? Maybe this calls for a reunion!

We welcome new members – Dean and Anita Lapierre and their son Lucas – including their family of cars – a 1959 Ford Sunliner convertible and 1931 Model A Ford Tudor. Dean has demonstrated his musical prowess, playing with the Antique Car Tunes at the last meeting. There’s news also from Ed Wodzak who has acquired a 1958 Chevrolet convertible and maybe a 1957 Chevy too. Troutman’s Model A has all new upholstery installed by Bert Blok and once Lorne gets a new gas tank gasket in place, he and Myrna will be ready for spring-time touring. In our household, we can report that Mike Cuff has our ’71 Caddy all stripped to bare metal in most places and it’ll soon be ready for a new coat of Sea Mist turquoise paint. Phillip won’t be able to draw attention to the trunk lid now ha ha.

On a sad note, I regret having to pass on news of a former member who attended some of our meetings and tours in the '80s. Steve Broady passed away in Vancouver this month. He was national sales manager for Acme Seeley Ltd. that was headquartered in Renfrew in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Members will recall Steve’s huge Austin Princess Vanden Plas limousine, his Rover saloon and Jaguar and Spitfire - all significant British cars that he took great pride in restoring.

Our tours and other events are starting to take shape. For starters, there’s a roast beef dinner at Dore Bay following their annual meeting on April 18th. On May 2nd the annual Turkey Fry takes place there too. How about on Monday May 18th we will make our Victoria Day Calabogie to Clayton Tour winding up in Renfrew for a '50s-style drive-in supper at Odi's Kingburger. On Father’s Day, June 21st, we’re invited to display our cars at Heritage Manor and maybe offer some short drives to the older lads and ladies. June 22nd is Red Hatters‘50s Rock-n-Roll Night to be held at the Pembroke Legion. Fifties cars are requested. June 28th will be the Strawberry Social at the Champlain Trail Museum and tentatively, the Gananoque – 1000 Islands Tour will be offered in July. How about travelling down on Tuesday July 7th for a full moon arrival, staying overnight also on the 8th with a departure on Thursday the 9th? A block of rooms will be reserved at Glen Mill Inn and a 1000 Islands cruise will be part of the itinerary. This is a beautiful resort on the river.

The March meeting will be at Merrybells and Barclay is looking forward to our being there on the 4th. So we will see you at 6:00, ordering right away to be able to start our meeting as close to 7:00 as possible. As you know, the auction sale held after each meeting can be a good source of fun and funds. We are all sort of closet junkies and with a little forethought, we should be able to contribute to the cause while clearing out stuff that we really don’t need. Ladies – don’t hesitate to bring along non-car treasures too.

Dave Lemkay

President's Page February 2009

You never know who you’re going to meet that has a connection to old cars and in this case the ACCP. Skiing last weekend at Pakenham with Addie, I happened to go to the cafeteria for a snack wearing my new black ACCP hat. A gregarious fellow behind the counter piped up after seeing the hat to say: “my Dad belonged to the Model A Ford Club in Pembroke”, saying that he was Robbie Rantz, Bob’s son. For those of you a bit longer in the tooth, you will have fond memories of the Rantz family in their Model A on early tours and Road-A-Os. I gave Bob a call and he says that he has had some thoughts about the club and that he and Pauline will see about maybe attending the February meeting.

So “hats off” once again to Wayne Brohart for renewing our club identity with the snazzy black caps – as I have said before, we benefit from our calling cards in the form of the Flying Quail, the web site, our vehicles (with window decals) and our jackets and hats.


Congratulations to Don and Myrna Stresman who “hands-down” won the activity award for 2008. With perfect attendance at meetings and on club tours, the handsome plaque is theirs to showcase for the year. There were many others who had respectable scores and clearly, that is the mark of a healthy club. Thanks to you all for your commitment and participation. We look forward to a fun-filled and rewarding year to come.

So far this new year, we have attended the Dore Bay Country Club Spaghetti Feast and the old fashioned horse-drawn sleigh ride at Schmidts. The Antique Car Tunes have had a jam or two and the Risto delivery wagon restoration project is underway. Ahead on the calendar, we have prospects of some great tours! Already we have chatted about a summer tour to Ganaoque to tour the Thousand Islands. I would like also to suggest a day-long loop through Calabogie to Middleville, returning after a picnic lunch back through Pakenham to Burnstown and home via Renfrew. We could visit interesting sites, including the marble mine near Clayton, the historic Mill of Kintail, the waterfront park and the Waba Museum at White Lake and maybe early supper in Renfrew at Odie’s Kingburger that has that old drive-in atmosphere – this could be a great photo session too. Bring you ideas to the meetings and we can fine tune the details and lock in dates.

We have been asked by the Heritage Manor to consider bringing our vehicles on Father’s Day to assemble an impromptu afternoon car show. They feel that our presence there would be well received by the seniors, especially the men-folk, to be able to mingle and meet members and reminisce about their cars of yesterday. Of course, Father’s Day is a family affair for us all, but maybe in giving a little, we reap much larger rewards… we can talk about this at the meeting, as well as other suggestions you will have for tours.

Dave Lemkay