Messages From Your President
AS THE TIRES TURN
July, 2008
Ah . . . summertime. The past few days make us think that it really has finally arrived. The air is redolent of barbecue smoke, beach fires, fireworks (well, for one day or so, anyway), and of old cars being started up – some for the first time this year. I will not mention names here – you know who you are!
Our June junket to Port Gamble and then to the Harrises’ beautiful beachfront home was a perfect example of the fun we have at PSEB events. Many, many thanks to Tom and Susan for a great gathering.
T-Bird driving season is truly upon us and you won't want to miss the two July events. First is the July 13 trip to Vashon Island and the collector car parade, part of the 91st annual Strawberry Festival; information is on page 7. Then, beginning July 28, we get the treat of having the CTCI International Convention in Portland, practically in our own backyard. This should be something special.
Speaking of which, this is a reminder that PSEB has volunteered to staff the Hospitality Suite 6-11 a.m. Friday morning, Aug. 1, and we need several volunteers. Please sign up now and avoid the rush.
Kudos to Tanya Johnson (hip, hip, hooray!) for all her time on our new PSEB logo polo shirts. They will be ready in time to wear in Portland. Thank you, Tanya.
And kudos to Judy Roupe for designing and printing our new “introduction” cards. Packets of them will be available at the July 13 event. Thank you, Judy!
Finally, on a personal note, my deepest thanks to the many PSEB couples who attended my 70th Birthday Bash last Saturday at our house. I was both honored and touched by your presence. Days such as this remind us again of what are the most important things in life – family and friends. And Saturday, I felt richly blessed with both.
--Gordon Thorne. President
June, 2008
Snow met spring sunshine in the North Cascades as Judy and I motored along this past week in the family flivver, checking out the entire 360 miles of scenic highways, rivers, mountain ranges and colorful little towns we’ll visit on the Sept. 12-15 Cascades Loop tour. The mountain scenery was more spectacular than I had remembered, especially the portion from Diablo to Mazama. The words “stunning” and “breathtaking” come to mind.
A hugely large thank you to Michael and Christine Perry for their flawless May oyster shuck-andfeed event at their Belfair beach home on Hood Canal. It was the largest turnout of the year, with almost everyone showing up in their Little Birds. Michael really knows his stuff about oysters, including showing all of us how to speed shuck. It was a beautiful, sunny day, with good food, good times, good friends and great cars.
I have never been to a Civil War reenactment before, so am really looking forward to the June 21 PSEB event at Port Gamble, followed by another good potluck at Tom and Susan Harris’ home. This is an official, sanctioned historical portrayal and promises to be both entertaining -- and loud!
But first, this week Stan Liebenberg and I will ferry across to Vashon Island to plan the scenic route and classic car parade particulars for our July 13 tour to the town of Vashon, site of the 91st annual Strawberry Festival. It’ll be a day of hot music, warm sun, cool cars and cold homemade strawberry ice cream -- and a variety of other delicious eats. Sounds like a good way to spend a summer day!
-- Gordon Thorne, President
May, 2008
What a glorious day of Saturday spring sun we had for the April 12 one-day-a-year event at PACCAR’s testing facility near Mount Vernon. Weather-wise, it was hands down the nicest and warmest day of the year. The event -- and the sunshine -- brought out couples and singles in 10 cars -- seven Little Birds, a retro Bird and two Brand Xs.
After meeting at the Smokey Point rest area and having a short meeting, we were on our way, led by Bob and Martha Callard. It’s always a thrill to me to see a long unbroken line of colorful Little Birds underway. Thank you, Bob and Martha for planning this event!
We were surprised -- and delighted -- to see PSEBers Archie and Barbara Matthew, who came to the open house on their own.
Thank you to all who submitted slogan entries for PSEB’s new business card. And congratulations to Gretchen Liebenberg, who won with “Good Times. Good Friends. Great Cars!”
May begins with a bang-up weekend of fun car events, starting this Friday, May 2, at West Sound Technical Center in Bremerton. Consider joining the Thornes, Lowes, Liebenbergs, Niemis, Gilchrists and Perrys in going to this worthwhile and fun open house, with its display of some great cars and a luncheon.
Then on Sunday, May 4, we’ll have a grand oyster feed with all the trimmings -- which we’ll all supply in potluck style -- at Michael and Christine Perry’s waterfront home on Hood Canal. (See page 7 for details.) Bring a bucket, gloves, an oyster knife (if you have one) and your appetite, because this promises to be a great day -- for us, that is, not for the oysters. I hope you’ll join me in helping to decrease the surplus oyster population.
Let’s hear it for spring, for it has sprung! And for sunshine always, as Joni Bayler says. And for getting the Birds out for a romp to join friends at fun events.
--Gordon Thorne, President
'Cruising & Musing'
April, 2008
Recent medical events have caused me to muse about the care and attention we lavish on our 51- to 53-year-old Birds, their engines and their bodies. But what about the engines and bodies of those of us who drive them? Most of us are older (sorry to say) than our cars, and in need of much more TLC.
Those who attended the recent mini concours noted that although their husbands were there, PSEB navigators Judy 2 (Howard) and Judy 4 (Thorne) were absent. Judy 4 was recovering from double knee replacement and Judy 2 was feeling poorly; subsequent tests are leading to open-heart surgery sometime this month. Learning of such life-changing events should put our values -- and what's really important -- in the proper order: driver/navigator in first place, then family and friends -- with cars and toys way down the list.
At the March mini concours, Phil McCurdy walked us through the finer points of CTCI concours judging. He demonstrated how judges look for good body fit, authentic parts, clear/unblemished paint, etc. He noted that some people actually installed the side chevrons upside down -- a concours no-no!
Yr olde prez checked his Bird and the world as he knew it turned upside down -- matching his chevrons! To answer much snickering, he could only reply, "It's my #@%%#&^# car, and I'll wear the chevrons any way I want!" A pitiful comeback to be sure, but the best he could do at the time.
In all, the concours was a terrific event, well-hosted by the McCurdys, who treated us to a fun, insightful day. They even had dash plaques made for participants and winners. Thank you, Phil and Cheryl.
Kudos to Bob Callard, who is whipping the new Web site into beautiful shape. He and Martha are hosting the April PACCAR tour -- we'll be there with our upside- down chevrons and hope you and your right side-up chevrons will be there too.
March, 2008
A little of this, a little of that ---
By now you all should have received your new 2008 Puget Sound Early Birds membership directory in its new format. It's easy to read, has additional information and looks great! Our thanks to Judy Roupe who took on the task before she realized how time-consuming it would be trying new formats with a computer that rejected most of her efforts. But Judy prevailed and produced a fine document.
Deepest thanks to Fred and Helen Gilchrist, who did a wonderful job of organizing the February Red Wine and Chocolate Tour in Port Angeles and Sequim. Those who stayed home missed a good time -- the wines were plentiful and delicious, the chocolates decadent and the lunch setting superb. We even got to tour a whacky antique/collectibles store with an insanely eclectic variety of items. Thank you Fred and Helen for even arranging blue skies and sunshine, while it rained on all the folk who stayed home. We hope to see more of you at the McCurdys' on March 8 for the mini-concours and potluck.
This last week found yr olde prez registering for the May 23-25 delighful big and little Bird regional event in Kelowna. We went several years ago and enjoyed it greatly. On the way there, we'll be mapping out the route for the North Cascades September three-night loop tour, checking out hotels, wineries and lunch stops. Join us and help be a decision maker.
At the January meeting, the members elected to send a check to Rose City Thunderbird Club to help with expenses for the CTCI convention. We sent $200.80, a whimsical way of highlighting 2008. Lastly, you're receiving this March issue early because Judy Thorne, the editor and lady I share room and board with, is going into St. Joseph's for a delayed Christmas present of two new knees on Feb. 25, and will be a paying guest there for several fun-filled days of red Jello, mystery meat and forced exercise. Yippie-do.
--Gordon Thorne, President
February, 2008
KUDOS AND A BIG OOPS!
The January planning meeting was a terrific time for hot pizza, cold beer, and cool red wine, with lots of good conversation among the 21 PSEBers who gathered at The Howard Cafe to enjoy the Howards' famous hospitality. Our thanks to Pat and Judy for once again sharing their home with us.
Yr olde prez presided over an interesting planning session -- oversize paper displayed suggestions for activities for 2008, with comments invited from the attendees. Going in, I knew Ihad it made for November, December and January with annual events, and May-October's fine offerings, but what to do in February, March and April when little is happening outside except a lot of rain?
That's why I was so pleased when two members stepped up to the plate by offering to host March and April with new ideas. Thanks to Cheryl and Phil McCurdy for hosting a mini concours/potluck in March, and to Bob and Martha Callard for leading us to the annual PACCAR open house in April. Thanks also to Fred and Helen Gilchrist, who have graciously agreed to host the Feb. 9 Red Wine and Chocolate tour. I don't know about you, but visiting artisan wineries, sampling their fine red wines and savoring decadent dark chocolates will brighten my day, no matter what the weather! And the tour also includes lunch at a local favorite. So make plans to join us and swirl a glass or two.
Take a look at the rest of the schedule for the year on The Events Page -- you selected a good variety of fun events. And lastly, the oops (I put it last, hoping no one would read this far): Ye olde editor and yr prez need to brush up on how to save digital photos. Some unnamed person emptied the camera's memory card of January meeting photos before burning them to a CD. It was Past Prez Pat (PPP) to the rescue with a record photo of the meeting. We promise to get this stuff together, at least by the time I leave office,
--Gordon Thorne, President
January, 2008
Hello, everyone, and welcome to a brand-new PSEB board and a brand-new year! I've spent some of the holiday time researching date specific fun activities and events offered by cities and towns in western Washington, along with a variety of tours that we could take at any time. This list was sent to you by e-mail a few days ago in the hope you may find something you really would like to do.
The rest of the time has been spent sorting letters, memos, e-mails and past articles into folders in my own feeble attempt to at least pretend to be somewhat organized. As I now go through 15 separate
file folders, plus a three-ring binder full of correspondence and minutes given to me by Pat and Judy Howard at the Christmas party, I am beginning to really realize the tremendous amount of time they both gave to organizing the club and moving it forward.
Being a proactive leader of this club took a great deal of selfless dedication and determination, and we all are the fortunate recipients of the long hours and hard work they both so willingly gave. So, a huge thank-you to Pat and to Judy for a job very, very well done.
My deepest thanks to Judy and Der Roupe for graciously opening their lovely beach house to us for the annual Christmas party. It's a lot of work to be the host for this event, and I know I speak for everyone who attended when I say that the party was loads of fun!
I urge all of you to try to attend the January 6 fun and always-lively pizza and planning party for all the fresh-baked pizza you can eat, icy-cold beer and sodas, good red and white wine (aged at least since Thursday) and to decide which events we'll choose from a good lineup of tour and activities. Don't miss this annual opportunity to help us plan when and where we'll be going in 2008. I'm blessed with a terrific board: VP Ray Vingo, Treasurer Duane Niemi, Secretary Nancy Niemi and Past President Pat Howard. With their help -- and especially yours -- 2008 should prove to be a great ride for all of us! So hang on, everyone, and tighten your seat belts -- the road ahead looks perfect for a classic T-Bird.
--Gordon Thorne, President