Mini Forum get-together on Sat May 31 in Buffalo NY

[bamfordsgarage]

Right now its very mini... 40Phil41 with his 41 Dodge and me on a rented bicycle.

 

Phil is showing his Dodge in the HPOF class (Historical Preservation of Original Features) at the AACA Eastern Spring Meet on the University of Buffalo Campus. I'll be hanging around for a few days with my son Morgan in Niagara Falls where he is presenting at a weekend conference — I've reserved a bike in NF and am planning to ride the 21 miles each way to the event in Buffalo on Saturday.

 

Should be a fun time, with a flea market 08:00-15:00, and 400+ car show. I particularly enjoy the HPOF cars which are judged to a standard of originality, not of cosmetic condition. For example, original, ratty upholstery earns full credit whereas brand spanking new exactly-right-material and professional installation gets one nowhere with the judges. (Not to disparage Phil's '41 which is probably a lovely car.)

 

Event details at  AACA Eastern Spring Meet

 

So, who else is up for a get together on Saturday May 31?  Greg G, you're only 162 miles from Buffalo and it looks like Dan Hiebert is practically next door...

[greg g]

Might could make it. Let me take a look at the calander.

[bamfordsgarage]

Might could make it. Let me take a look at the calander.

Thanks, Greg — here's hoping it works out for you. 

 

I've edited the original post to show the Saturday flea market actually runs to 3 PM.

[40phil41]

 

 

 For example, original, ratty upholstery earns full credit whereas brand spanking new exactly-right-material and professional installation gets one nowhere with the judges. (Not to disparage Phil's '41 which is probably a lovely car.)

 

 

No problem Chris. My '41 has the original upholstery, in fact the interior is all original. The problem I see is that it has had one repaint in 1985 which will garner a large deduction. Just doing it to be part of the show. The first AACA show that  I have ever entered.

 

Phil

Edited May 25, 2014 by 40phil41

[bamfordsgarage]

...The problem I see is that it has had one repaint in 1985 which will garner a large deduction. Just doing it to be part of the show.

 

The repaint alone shouldn't keep you from achieving HPOF status. You'll recall we showed my heap at Hershey in 2010 and despite a 1975 repaint it lost very few points elsewhere and we got the HPOF recognition. One thing we got dinged for were plastic tire-valve caps, so if you have those its worth it to replace them with metal ones.

[40phil41]

The repaint alone shouldn't keep you from achieving HPOF status. You'll recall we showed my heap at Hershey in 2010 and despite a 1975 repaint it lost very few points elsewhere and we got the HPOF recognition. One thing we got dinged for were plastic tire-valve caps, so if you have those its worth it to replace them with metal ones.

Yes, I do have metal ones but the repaint does not have the wheel stripes which could also be a deduction?

 

Phil

[bamfordsgarage]

...the repaint does not have the wheel stripes which could also be a deduction?

 

I expect that if the wheels have been repainted, the presence or absence of stripes would be a non-issue. And maybe the wheel repaint will be lumped in with the body repaint and wouldn't draw any further deduction.

[Dan Hiebert]

_{I am practically next door, count me in!  What route are you planning to ride that bike?} 

[bamfordsgarage]

_{I am practically next door, count me in!  What route are you planning to ride that bike?} 

 

Good morning Dan, that is great news. The plan is for Phil, his brother-in Law Cliff, their brides and me to meet for lunch on Saturday, exact details to be sorted out that morning. Perhaps you could PM me and Phil your cell # and I will do the same for you.

 

Google suggested two bike routes from Niagara to U Buffalo. I will probably ride the longer one past Love Canal and along the river in the morning and return by the direct route, but am open to suggestion either way. It looks like good riding weather this weekend.

 

Greg G?

[Dan Hiebert]

Good morning Dan, that is great news. The plan is for Phil, his brother-in Law Cliff, their brides and me to meet for lunch on Saturday, exact details to be sorted out that morning. Perhaps you could PM me and Phil your cell # and I will do the same for you.

 

Google suggested two bike routes from Niagara to U Buffalo. I will probably ride the longer one past Love Canal and along the river in the morning and return by the direct route, but am open to suggestion either way. It looks like good riding weather this weekend.

 

Greg G?

Rudder steer - your point "B" is Buffalo State, the car show is at the University of Buffalo in Amherst.  Actually a shorter ride from Niagara Falls.  There's a nice bicycle route from Tonawanda along Tonawanda Creek right to the campus.  I'll PM you in a little while.

[bamfordsgarage]

Rudder steer - your point "B" is Buffalo State, the car show is at the University of Buffalo in Amherst.  Actually a shorter ride from Niagara Falls.  There's a nice bicycle route from Tonawanda along Tonawanda Creek right to the campus.  I'll PM you in a little while.

 

Oops. Thanks for that rudder correction!

[greg g]

Looks like I will be in the area around nine am. I looked at the aaca web site and they have a DRIVER PARTICIPANT CLASS, I think my repaint and interior will put me out of the HPOF considerstion, even though other than those upgrades and the latter engine. Mine is pretty much original. Please forward your cell number via Pm here so I will be able to get intouch.

Dan you ard past Amherst when arriving from the east??

[40phil41]

Greg,

 

I don't think that you can enter on the day of the show (entries closed on April 30 and you also have to be an AACA member). Better give them a call to make sure. I suspect that there will be a parking lot contingent of old cars though. Look forward to seeing you again. My Tempest is still in pieces so I won't be doing the Woodward cruise this year :-). How about your Studebaker truck?

 

Phil

Looks like I will be in the area around nine am. I looked at the aaca web site and they have a DRIVER PARTICIPANT CLASS, I think my repaint and interior will put me out of the HPOF considerstion, even though other than those upgrades and the latter engine. Mine is pretty much original. Please forward your cell number via Pm here so I will be able to get intouch.

Dan you ard past Amherst when arriving from the east??

Edited May 27, 2014 by 40phil41

[Dan Hiebert]

Oops. Thanks for that rudder correction!

Your welcome.  That's the bike route I would recommend, too.

Dan you ard past Amherst when arriving from the east??

A little west and north of Amherst, so technically "past" from your point of reference.  I'm only 5 miles from the campus.

[JerseyHarold]

Can't make it and I'm jealous....when I attended the University of Buffalo the Amherst Campus had lots of construction and only a few buildings open,...I bet it will be a great show and get-together.  

[Don Coatney]

My son Matt works as a carpenter at the University of Buffalo Amherst campus. He lives in Akron, New York and frequently rides his bicycle to work.

[Mark D]

Too far for a two day weekend trip for me. I'd get all the way out there and have to turn around and go home.

[greg g]

So make it three days, come here on Friday. And we will go to Buffalo early Saturday.

[Mark D]

No can do - closing on the place in NC friday! 

[bamfordsgarage]

Well it was a good day and a nice get-together at the car show — the only two negatives were Dan Hiebert got called to NJ today and couldn't make it as planned, and to describe the flea market/swap meet as "underwhelming" was being kind.

 

I rode my rented bicycle the 48 mile round trip from Niagara Falls ON to the U Buffalo campus, 40Phil41 was showing his '41 Plymouth in the HPOC class (brother-in-law Cliff showed his '64 Studebaker also in HPOF), and GregG made it a day trip from Syracuse in the '47 Plymouth Coupe. Greg was not pre-registered and couldn't show but snuck onto the show field after noon and parked near Phil anyway.

 

A big highlight for me was a chance to drive Greg's coupe—he didn't have to ask twice—a few miles on surface streets and onto the Interstate for an exit or two. That is a pretty nice driving car with a surprising, to me, amount of zip when goosed at 45 mph.

 

Phil kindly offered and brought me a spare hubcap for my '47 D25… seems we lose one every year or so and I was fresh out of spares until today. The hubcap is not quite right however and probably needs me to drive over it a few times so it matches the rest of the car.

 

Photos: There were some 430 cars registered for the show. They took up three parking lots with one space between each car—very nice for getting photographs and having a close look without crowding; Also without crowding was the Swap Meet… this is 2/3 of the vendors as of Saturday AM; Your reporter, Greg and Phil in front of Phil's very nice '41 Plymouth, all original except a 1985 repaint that doesn't look anywhere near that age; An uncommon Mopar—'37 Plymouth pickup—seen on the show field; Plymouth pickup looks as good inside as out.

[greg g]

Was good to meet Chris and Phil s brother in law, and get to see Phil again. Lots of interesting cars, many Canadian editions. MY p15 made the trip there and back with no drama. The 191.9 miles since the before trip fillup took 10.03 gallons to refill. So 19.1 mpg. But gas in Buffalo is 15 to 20 cents more than here 3.63 vs. 3.81 in Buff.

Didn t take any pics to speak of, perhaps the other fellows will put some up.

[RobertKB]

Looks like you guys had a great time. Always fun to meet forum members and see other people's cars. Greg, it sounds like your car gets very good gas mileage. Just wondering what kind of gas mileage Chris got. It would have to measured in FPM (Farts per mile).

[bamfordsgarage]

...Just wondering what kind of gas mileage Chris got. It would have to measured in FPM (Farts per mile)...

 

Robert, methinks you are confusing fuel consumption with tailpipe emissions!

[40phil41]

Looks like Greg and Chris beat me to report on our gathering. It was great to see these guys again and the cars in the show were amazing. One small correction to Chris' report, my car is a 1941 Dodge (not Plymouth). Although some people refer to it as a Plodge since it is really a Canadian 'Plymouth based' Dodge. Carol and I made it back home with no problems although can't say the same for our way out on Friday. We were on our way to Buffalo, only 4 miles from home, when the fuel pump failed. The infamous arm pin worked it's way out. Flatbed back home (after waiting 80 min. for the tow truck) where I installed a new pump and 3 hours later we were back on the road. The rest of the 135 mile round trip was uneventful. Haven't calculated the gas mileage yet but it is nowhere near Greg's.

 

Oh yeah, I did receive the HPOF certification for my car as did Cliff with his '64 Studebaker. I'll post some pics once I get them downloaded.

 

Phil

[40phil41]

Here are some photos from Saturday (plus the tow truck on Friday).

 

Phil

 

Edited June 1, 2014 by 40phil41