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| | FEBRUARY
2002, Volume 5, Issue 2
General
Meeting-February 5th, 2002
The meeting was called to order by Sgt. At Arms,
Dante' Higgins, President Ted Klein presiding.
Guests for the evening were
Sarah and Brandon Cooper, and Denise "Mom" Cooper. They have a 2001
Trans Am. Also joining us was Brain Yates. He does not have a car as yet but is
looking for one . He would like to find one in fair condition that he can restore.
If anyone knows of such a vehicle please let Brian know at (916) 631-9456.
Ted
asked if there were any corrections to last months minutes. Frank Brown made the
motion to accept the minutes as printed, seconded by Tim Singleton. Minutes were
approved as printed in the Trans Script.
Treasurer's report can be found
elsewhere in this Trans Script. J.O. reported we have received a refund from the
State for $20. It stated that we did not have to pay for our non profit registration
renewal any longer.
Ted reported we have had an addition on our Club banner
for Auto Rama. There is now a small eight inch strip across the bottom saying,
"Thirty-Five years of Pontiac excitement".
Old
Business:
The Super Bowl party was held at Arlyn and Cindy's home.
There was more than enough food to go around. Party trays, ribs, veggies, shrimp,
cookies, etc. There were two football pools going, one for 50 cents and one for
$1. Winners -- Leo won a couple and Pat won one. Our hostess, Cindy won four out
of eight. She won two of the .50 cent ones and two of the dollar ones. C.C. was
on the bubble in the fourth quarter for the pot and then the Patriots kicked a
field goal. Sorry C.C., maybe next year.
Ted said that our yearly dues
are now due and payable. They must be paid by the first of March or membership
will be terminated and names dropped from the roaster. Trans Scripts will not
be mailed to those who are no longer members.
Ted Bechtel, our, Trans Script
Editor, had a presentation to make. He printed some very nice certificates of
appreciation for last years service to the Club. J.O. Raff, Treasurer; J.J. Apilado,
Historian; C.C. Coppage, Membership Director; Jim Prinzivalli, Web Site Director;
Dante' Higgins, Sgt. At Arms; Dave Gershon, Major Events; Ray Howe, Member at
Large; Frank Brown, also Member At Large; and Irene Raff, Secretary. A 'Big Thanks'
also goes out to Ted, not only for the certificates but for his service to the
Club as Vice President and putting out a beautiful Trans Script each month.
Up
Coming Events:
February
8, 9 & 10: Auto Rama at Cal Expo.
The cars that are to be
displayed need to be in the building on Thursday, February 7th by 10am. We will
have eight cars on display with plenty of room for them to be seen. Last year
we had three cars that were pretty close together and all you could see was just
one side. Cars need to be as clean as you want them because there is no "touch
up" when the show begins. Dave had the framed pictures of the "car year"
for those displaying. They will look sharp setting by each car.
February
17th: Valentine Brunch
Brunch will be at 10:30 at the Sunset
Whitney Country Club. For those "all you can eat", guys, it will be
a buffet, so dig in. We will meet at Levitz parking lot on Watt Avenue at 9:30
am. We need to be on the road by 10 am. Cost will be an even $16 for adults, $7.50
for kids, 5 years to 12 years and under 5 are free. The Club will pick up $5 for
Club members. Guests will need to pay the full $16 plus tax and gratuity. If you
can't pay this evening try to get it in the mail as soon as you can. If necessary
you can pay at the door and come in and sit with the Club.
Note
on Trans A Rama:
Mather is not allowing any racing
because of security. They also have many air transport planes coming and going
from the runways. However, the auto crossing can be held at Cal Expo . This is
not a bad thing as the course is very visible from the freeway. We may have some
curiosity seekers that would like to drop in just to see what's going on and that
is visibility for our Club.
Also, because we haven't had much luck pinning
down our guest speakers, we are moving our Trans A Rama dates back to what they
were originally. That will be on July 13th, 14th, and 15th. Our Friday night run
to Jasper's will be the 13th, car show at Reliable and awards dinner on the 14th,
and auto crossing on the 15th. Reg Harris was our speaker last year and really
wants to come back this year.
Bruce Westrup, owner of Reliable Pontiac
/ Cadillac will be helping us with advertising along with his regular dealership
advertisements. This is a very large tool in building this event. Dave is hoping
to have 100 cars showing this year. That means we need 29 more than last year.
Ted
said there has been an interest in new Club T-Shirts. He had a black one and the
white sample should be ready tomorrow. The logo will be just across the left front
and will run about $25 dollars each.
Web
Site:
If any one has not as yet checked into our Web Site,
you should do so because there has been some great new additions.
Top
Gun:
Ted gave a brief explanation on the Top Gun Award. With
no further business, Frank Brown made a motion we adjourn, Denise Trimble seconded.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:07pm.
Respectfully submitted: Irene Raf - -
Secretary
PS: Because February 6th was President, Ted Klein's birthday,
we had a big chocolate cake to devour
The
Starting Line
There is an old saying that goes "March comes
in like a lion and goes out like a lamb". Well that certainly is true for
me this year! Last weekend I received a call from one of my friend's wife telling
me that my best friend had a heart attack! Now while everyone was probably expecting
this to happen to me, no one was really expecting it for Devon.
This event
has definitely changed my perspective on life. I have always been prepared for
my own death, I am not afraid of dying, however my friends would always get annoyed
when I would say this because they felt that I am important to them, and their
lives would not be the same without me. However I have always felt that because
they have their own lives, while they might miss me for a while their lives would
go on. After a while the memory of me would fade and the sadness would go away.
Last
weekend showed me how wrong I would be. I could not imagine my life without my
friend to turn to for advice. I would not have him to make an embarrassing joke
at my expense at an inopportune time. I don't see Devon as much as I used to,
but he is and always will be my best friend! So never again will I doubt the effect
that we as an Individual can have on someone else's life. And to my friends I
would just like to say I'm sorry for the callous way in which I talked about life!
My
new job has also helped me with my attitude. I have finally found a job where
I can have an effect on people's lives. A job where a little consideration can
make a persons entire day. Saturday was just such a day. In case anyone does not
know I am now a customer service rep for a wireless telephone company. It was
the last call of my day, and the young lady was crying, because she had called
in a few minutes earlier and had not had a very good experience. She had been
made to feel stupid, and according to her had also been told she was stupid because
she could not program her phone to get her voicemail. I talked with her a little
while and got her calmed down, told her she was not stupid and that I too have
had problems figuring out voicemail. Needless to say, with her feeling better
we got her phone working, and she no longer felt stupid.
I can not stress
enough that day to day life is bad enough, we as people do not have to make it
worse on each other by making fun at someone else's expense! Unless you know for
sure that they can take it and that you are just joking, keep rude comments to
yourself! It really is not necessary and quite frankly it's not that funny either!
Anyway,
I wish you all a nice month, have fun!
Ted (Theo) Bechtel
Attention
Club members!!!
It's that time of the year folks, let's get those dues paid
as soon as possible!
The Club meeting night has been changed to the first
tuesday of the month, see you there!
2002
AutoRama, February 7th - 10th
The Autorama a chance for the true
car nuts in our club to shin.... And polish and shine some more! This year's entry
included JJ Apilado with his 72 Trans Am. Mike and Christy Smith's 79 10th anniversary
TA, and Dave Gershon showing his 89 20th anniversary turbo TA, made up our anniversary
contingent. Frank Brown was a nice addition with his 86 convertible conversion.
Dante Higgins' entry was his 96 Harley-Davidson TA. Dave Karnes had his 97 Black
TA, Duane Cleveland displayed his 2001 white TA, and Terry TrimbleÕs entry was
her 2001 Metallic blue TA.
And several other club members donated their
time to man the clubs booth handing out fliers for Trans-A-Rama, and taking down
names of people that might be interested in our club. This year our theme was
The Firebird 35 years off Pontiac excitement. Dave Gershon and the rest of the
group did an outstanding job of putting together the display along with posters
of original advertising for each car on display.
Another nice addition
to our display was a 1973 Super Duty 455 engine. IÕm not sure but I think Dave
Gershon supplied the engine. Hey Dave, is this what's going into your 74 TA, and
when are we going to see this car on display?
While I manned the booth
during the last hours of Saturday night, the cars definitely drew a lot of attention.
I would have to say that Frank Brown's and Dave Gershon's were the hands down
favorites. Although each car seemed to have its group of people who wanted to
know more about the cars, and the people that owned them!
I did not get
a chance to wander around the rest of the show, but judging from the pictures
JJ took it really looks like there was something for everyone's taste this year.
From our clubs Firebirds, to GTO's to custom rods, street machines and even motorcycles;
everyone should have found something that they liked.
I would personally
like to thank all of the people that put time into our club being able to have
a display at this event. It really took a lot of planning by all these people
to have their car's ready to be put on display for thousands of people to admire,
point at, and talk about memories these cars bring back! You all did a fantastic
job, keep up the good work!
Thank You, Ted (Theo) Bechtel
Valentine
Brunch
February
17th, 2002
The Trans Am Clubs' Valentine's
Day Brunch at the Sunset Whitney Golf Club was a big success, with 32 people in
attendance and close to 15 Firebirds making the drive from Levitz on Watt Avenue
to Rocklin. The weather was a scattered showers which made visiting at Levitz
a little difficult but we left right on schedule at 10:00 with me having the lead
and my evil twin brother (Ted Klein) in the last position in his mini-van.
The
drive up was quite a sight to see apparently as we kept getting looks from people
driving next to us on the freeway. A gap had developed in our caravan due to some
stoplights on Watt Avenue, but by Madison we were all formed up again. Dante'
and Rebecca, were taking pictures with their video camera. Although Leo feels
we need some work on our caravaning skills. Prior to leaving JO and I had a discussion
on how long it would take to get from Roseville to Rocklin Road driving the speed
limit. For those of you that are curious it is three minutes.
Gary and
Gayle were to meet up with us at Rocklin Road, however Gary figuring we never
leave on time had decided to catch the beginning of the Daytona 500. However through
the use of the 2 way radios we were able to hook up with them for the drive through
the neighborhoods to get to the golf course.
We arrived at the Sunset Whitney
Golf Course at exactly 10:30, and for those o you have never seen this place let
me just say one word...WOW...it is incredibly beautiful, and so is their club
house. Having both an Oriental and American look to it, in my opinion makes it
a structural work of art
As we went inside I was stunned by the amount
of differing food they had laid out as part of the buffet. We were led down to
the section where our club had been set up. After a few minutes of playing musical
tables to make room for everyone that came, the feast began! And I do mean feast,
not only was there the normal wide variety breakfast food, but they also had an
omelet bar, lamb chops, chicken, and seafood (including shrimp and crab legs)!
I wonder if there was anybody who did not get his or her moneys worth.
Ted
Klein surprised us all by having a raffle with some nice prizes and having a quiz
of Firebird questions. Although I still dispute number 10, there were two firebirds
used in NightRider Kitt (Knight Industries Two Thousand), and Karr, Kitts evil
prototype that appeared in three or four episodes. Anyway it was a very fun game
and really capped off a great breakfast. Thanks Ted for coming up with these great
ideas!
The morning closed out by everyone saying their good-byes, and some
picture taking. In my opinion this was the best Valentine's Day Brunch yet, and
I hope we keep using the Sunset Whitney Club House.
Ted (Theo) Bechtel
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