As we welcome spring to the valley it’s hard to believe the winter we have had . According to the statistics it has been the warmest on record. I’m sure global warming or as some call it climate change will have its downside, but I love the mild winter we just had. My snow blower was used only twice and I never plugged the block heater in on my truck once. It won’t be long until the old vehicles come out of storage. In fact I’ve seen a few on the road already. As we look ahead to our touring season lets hope this beautiful weather is just a taste of things to come.
So much has happened this past month. The Olympic games are over and our Canadian athletes did very well. Setting a new record for most gold medals won by a country at the winter games is something we can be very proud of, as even though Canada is a large country in size our population is quite small. To beat countries with many times our population is quite an achievement. How about the men’s final game with “Sid the Kid” scoring the winning goal in overtime? That has to go down in history as one of the most exciting games of all time.
Our club has grown a little with some new members joining in the last few months. Lets hope we continue to attract new people to our group as people are what make this club what it is.
On a personal note, aside from my day job fixing other people’s cars I have found some spare time to get a little work done on the old mustang. In fact if all goes well it just may see the road this summer. I know my wife’s honey-do list is getting quite long so I may have to take a break to do a little around the house. A number of our members are retired and I’m looking forward to those days myself. I know there will be lots of things to keep me busy and just maybe I’ll have the time to get most of them done.
Our next meeting is at the Champlain Trail Museum so if you can make it please do and hopefully we can make some plans for the upcoming season.
Wayne
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
President's Page March 2010
Hello everyone, it's that time of year when the sun seems to be getting warmer and the days are getting a little longer. Although this winter has been in my opinion quite mild and we haven't recieved a heavy snowfall for weeks, I can hardly wait for spring.
As I create this page the Olympic games are playing in the background. It's the first day of the games, lets hope our Canadian athletes perform to the best of their abilities and win some medals too! Unfortunately the games are off to a somber beginning with the death of a young athlete on the luge track. They estimate his speed at approximately 140 kph. when he crashed. I can't imagine travelling that fast without at least two wheels under me and brakes of some kind.
If you have travelled through downtown Pembroke recently you may have noticed the snowmen hanging from the lampposts on Pembroke Street. Thanks to Neil and Lori Videto the car club has a fine snowman hanging near the bridge. Thanks again Neil and Lori for your time and effort on behalf of the club.
Our restoration project is proceeding well and thanks to Mark Taylor we have acquired some additional items to add to the display when completed. If all goes well the Champlain Trail Museum will have it's own railway in operation this year. Unfortunately there may only be room for one or two passengers and the station will only be open on special occasions.
Our next event is the sleigh rides at Schmidt's farm and I'm looking forward to a great time, as the weather should be pleasant and I know the food and entertainment will be excellent. There was a day in years gone by when I worked on the family farm and we used a horse to skid logs in the bush. It's surprising what a horse can pull and how intelligent they are.
The recent death of our friend and fellow club member Jim Rolfe, reminds us all that our time on this earth is limited and we should make the best of each day. I hope his wife and family find some comfort in knowing Jim was such a well respected member of our club. We will miss him.
As we look ahead to our upcoming touring season I invite any suggestions from our membership as to events and tours you would like to have this year. Our March meeting will be held at the Shanloon restaurant but if you are not up for a meal please join us at about 7 pm. when the meeting will actually start.
So long for now.
Wayne Brohart
As I create this page the Olympic games are playing in the background. It's the first day of the games, lets hope our Canadian athletes perform to the best of their abilities and win some medals too! Unfortunately the games are off to a somber beginning with the death of a young athlete on the luge track. They estimate his speed at approximately 140 kph. when he crashed. I can't imagine travelling that fast without at least two wheels under me and brakes of some kind.
If you have travelled through downtown Pembroke recently you may have noticed the snowmen hanging from the lampposts on Pembroke Street. Thanks to Neil and Lori Videto the car club has a fine snowman hanging near the bridge. Thanks again Neil and Lori for your time and effort on behalf of the club.
Our restoration project is proceeding well and thanks to Mark Taylor we have acquired some additional items to add to the display when completed. If all goes well the Champlain Trail Museum will have it's own railway in operation this year. Unfortunately there may only be room for one or two passengers and the station will only be open on special occasions.
Our next event is the sleigh rides at Schmidt's farm and I'm looking forward to a great time, as the weather should be pleasant and I know the food and entertainment will be excellent. There was a day in years gone by when I worked on the family farm and we used a horse to skid logs in the bush. It's surprising what a horse can pull and how intelligent they are.
The recent death of our friend and fellow club member Jim Rolfe, reminds us all that our time on this earth is limited and we should make the best of each day. I hope his wife and family find some comfort in knowing Jim was such a well respected member of our club. We will miss him.
As we look ahead to our upcoming touring season I invite any suggestions from our membership as to events and tours you would like to have this year. Our March meeting will be held at the Shanloon restaurant but if you are not up for a meal please join us at about 7 pm. when the meeting will actually start.
So long for now.
Wayne Brohart
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tribute to Jim Rolfe 1935 - 2010
We are saddened with the loss of longstanding Antique Car Club of Pembroke member Jim Rolfe, whose passing came after a year of health issues. Jim’s approach to his illness was typical of the way he lived – prepared, pragmatic and punctual. During this time he calmly kept us posted with his treatment regime and held out hope, as we all did, for recovery and a return to enjoying life.
In the life of the car club, the vehicles that he and Muriel toured with, the 1966 Dodge Transit Van and more recently the 1953 Military Jeep M-38A1 with matching trailer, were examples of professional research and restoration reflecting his military career. It was a calculated decision they made, to sell off the vehicles including the Dodge motor home, as Jim didn’t want to leave this sort of business unattended should he not be able to manage in future. His plan was to find a mint Volkswagen with which they could turn the key and tour. In his words, there’d be no more restoration projects and more touring.
Jim took pride in organizing club tours and events. These were always done with planning and precision giving rise to the phrase “it’s tail lights” for anyone who wasn’t there on time. Jim also submitted articles to Old Autos that kept others in the hobby apprised of ACCP happenings.
Jim was a team player and a team spirit builder. On our 2009 Victoria Day Tour, Jim and Muriel turned out for the send off on a crisp sunny May morning. Jim had just undergone surgery days before. They joined in on our autumn Calumet Island Tour, enjoying dinner at Auberge Mont Blanc and at the Christmas Banquet Jim found the meal, the music and the acoustics just right. With Jim’s sensitivity to noise levels, that was quite an endorsement!
We’re proud that Jim was one of our members. We can take certain solace knowing that the camaraderie of our club family and our activities were an integral part of Jim’s life, especially so in these latter months and days.
In the life of the car club, the vehicles that he and Muriel toured with, the 1966 Dodge Transit Van and more recently the 1953 Military Jeep M-38A1 with matching trailer, were examples of professional research and restoration reflecting his military career. It was a calculated decision they made, to sell off the vehicles including the Dodge motor home, as Jim didn’t want to leave this sort of business unattended should he not be able to manage in future. His plan was to find a mint Volkswagen with which they could turn the key and tour. In his words, there’d be no more restoration projects and more touring.
Jim took pride in organizing club tours and events. These were always done with planning and precision giving rise to the phrase “it’s tail lights” for anyone who wasn’t there on time. Jim also submitted articles to Old Autos that kept others in the hobby apprised of ACCP happenings.
Jim was a team player and a team spirit builder. On our 2009 Victoria Day Tour, Jim and Muriel turned out for the send off on a crisp sunny May morning. Jim had just undergone surgery days before. They joined in on our autumn Calumet Island Tour, enjoying dinner at Auberge Mont Blanc and at the Christmas Banquet Jim found the meal, the music and the acoustics just right. With Jim’s sensitivity to noise levels, that was quite an endorsement!
We’re proud that Jim was one of our members. We can take certain solace knowing that the camaraderie of our club family and our activities were an integral part of Jim’s life, especially so in these latter months and days.
To celebrate Jim's life, a memorial visitation will be held from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Saturday February 27th at the Murphy Funeral Home, 296 Isabella Street, Pembroke ON.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
President's Page February 2010
Hello everyone, time for another issue of the president's page. Our club is off to a good start with a couple events already planned for the near future.
First on the list is a social get to-gether at Popkie's mill, set for Sat. Jan. 23, from 1 p.m. until whenever we leave. Don Stresman is doing a phone blitz to make everyone aware of this event. Last year we had a good turn out and hopefully this year we will have another great day.
Feb. 14 is the date set for the "Horse- drawn sleigh rides" at Schmidt's farm. Another great get-together for some good old-time fun. So bring your "Valentine" and dress warm for a sleigh ride in the great outdoors.
Hats off to Don Stresman for all his work in organizing both these upcoming events.
Our current restoration project is well under way. The guys have the old railway motor car totally disassembled and the plans are to have some parts sand-blasted and some new parts constructed before the re-assembly begins.
Plans are underway to revive the annual "A.C.C.P. Rodeo". I imagine this brings back some fond memories to those who remember this event from years gone by. The organizing committee hopes to create a fun filled day for all who attend.
Looks like we could have another busy year ahead of us, which bodes well for our club. Thanks to all those that make my job a pleasure.
Wayne Brohart
P.S. The image above is of my present project and as you can see it's quite a project!
Monday, December 21, 2009
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
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
Friday, November 20, 2009
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
Saturday, October 24, 2009
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.
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
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