Professional Documents
Culture Documents
PUBLICATION
2015, G. DAVID
YAROS. ALL
RIGHTS RESERVED.
Car Collector
Chronicles
Exploring:
Ca
High RPMs
Classic Rides
Reports From the Field
Oldsmobile (1897-2004)
Cadillac (1902- )
Allant (1987-1993)
Corvair (1960-1969)
= Clickable Link
IN THIS ISSUE:
High RPMs
GDY Nets
On the Web
Milwaukee: They
Have Come and
Gone
OldsD88@gmail.com
Arbroath, Scotland
9/18/1886 Powel Crosley Jr. born;
Cincinnati, Ohio
9/19/1919 Buick founded
9/19/1937 Duesenberg closes
9/23/1969 Dodge Challenger debuts
9/26/1967 AMC's Javelin debuts
An Oldsmobile of
Note
September 2015
Page 2
[T]hreequarters of
what these
meets are
about is being
with like
minded folks.
CCC readers already know that Milwaukee hosted both the Cadillac and Oldsmobile
national meets this summer. They also know that yours truly attended both events and
was an active participant (greeter, parking attendant and show judge).
I have already remarked that as a daily commuter my perspective and level of enjoyment of these events differed significantly from that of folks traveling to Milwaukee and
staying at the host hotel. I still maintain the commuter misses out on a lot of just what
makes a national meet a memorable experience.
That having been said, permit me to comment on the two meets from my perspective.
Both were well worth all the time and effort required. I recommend that all old car buffs
take part in a national meet at least once. I recommend that you do so, even if you
choose not to have your car judged. After all, three-quarters of what these meets are
about is being with like minded folks.
Probably what surprised me the most about these meets was the difference between
Cadillac people and Oldsmobile folk. There is/was a readily discernable difference. It
is hard to describe, as it presents more as a feeling than anything else. Also, I am not
sure how much my own background contributed to what I felt? However, I do know that
my feelings were both shared and confirmed by others.
Cadillac people present themselves as being serious about their rides and the pride of ownership.
They focus on maintaining the status attached to
the Cadillac name. At a Cadillac national meet one
cannot help but get the feeling that this is indeed
serious business. This was most apparent from the
way outsider interest was handled. Onsite inquires
from non-Cadillac owners were responded to with
the statement, This meet is for Cadillac owners, if
you want to look we will let you.
Different strokes for different folks:
CAD PEOPLE
OLDS FOLK
Registration table open all day
Registration table kept limited hours
Tailgate Party
Welcoming Reception
- Beer & Brats
- Cocktails and Hors doeuvres
All/Anything Oldsmobile celebrated
Only non-modified Cadillac permitted
Most cars on display every day
Most cars trailered until judging day
Spectators welcomed
Spectators permitted
What I do know is that each meet had its own atmosphere, ambience, whatever term
you want to use to characterize it. That it did surprised me. Having experienced both, it
is hard not to be drawn to the merry men and women of Oldsmobile!
This came to my attention and I initially thought it might have potential. CCInfo is a
smartphone app that permits people who have downloaded it to get info on your ride
while at a car show. It requires the car owner to add a special low-energy device to their
vehicle which broadcasts a sensing signal that is recognized by the mobile app.
you have had to have uploaded your car info to a master database.
For it to work
While at first blush this seemed like a neat idea, going to the retailers website revealed it is more commercially oriented than consumer focused. To get the transmitter,
database access and the mobile app costs $195 the first year, and then $60 a year going forward. The master database listing incorporates five advertising slots which I
could sell at whatever price I want. To whom I would sell them, I have no idea. Nor do
I have any interest in doing so.
What started out for me as a neat idea with potential ended up being a non-starter.
Page 3
An Oldsmobile of Note
This baby showed up at the 2015 Milwaukee Masterpiece. A thing of beauty she is, no
doubt! The color combination is notable simply because it is not the usual white/red that
most seem to be. It is owned by Robert Cattelino from Jefferson, WI, has 50K on the
odometer and sports a wonder bar radio. She wears factory colors of Capri Blue over
Royal Marine. Here are more pics. Moreover, she can be yours for a mere $89,995!
She wears
factory colors
of Capri Blue
over Royal
Marine.
This car also appears to blow out of the water the previous assertions made to me at the
OCA Nats that there are only ten 1954 Oldsmobiles known to exist. I say that as the
owner/seller of this ride is also offering another 1954 for sale. That being so, I am able to
account for at least twenty 54s without too much effort or research. Over 354,000 were
made. How many still exist, I do not know. I shall continue to investigate.
Ever wonder what others think of us car nuts/gear heads? One take on this recently
appeared on my computer. It struck my fancy. I present it to you in the hopes you too
shall be entertained by it:
What a Car Enthusiast Looks Like to Everyone Else
Ian Duer
11/14/13 5:20pm
I used to take it as a given that an interest in vehicles inherently made sense. People
were either into cars or they were not. I assumed that even someone who wasn't into cars
understood the fascination, even if they didn't share it. When I took the time to really look
at the world around me, I had a realization. I WAS WRONG.
To understand how a car enthusiast must look to anyone else, I needed an angle. I initially thought of using the perspective of a "car hating Millennial," which seems to be a
popular bogey-man. There were problems with this. For one, no one seems to agree on
what a Millennial actually is or if they really all hate cars. Secondly, I wasn't looking for an
antagonistic perspective. Instead, I decided to work from the mindset of someone who
views cars as another appliance, like a washing machine. Frightening.
Page 4;;
Page 5;;
Apparently, all three washing machines have a bottom mounted drive attached to the wash drum, while
most modern washing machines (like his wife's) have a side mounted drive. I had thought side mounted
was better, even though I rarely consider it at all. He informs me that it was all clever advertising to hide the
fact that they were cheaper to manufacture that way. I then ask about models with dual drive that have
both bottom and side. Once again I am apparently wrong; Steve says those dual drive machines lack soul,
and detergent is far more important than extra driven parts.
Steve often washes clothes that are already clean because it helps him relax. I can kind of understand that.
Sometimes a load of towels is kind of meditative for me because it requires almost zero effort and lets my
mind wander. This, I am told, is not what he meant. For some reason he picks the most technical garments he can find to wash, because it requires full attention and really lets him test out the capabilities of
his machines.
I learn about washing machine shows. Steve apparently hates something called the "Pantz" movement.
These guys modify the stabilizers because it makes the machine look "cool" somehow. I'm told the result is
a machine that can only be operated on the gentle cycle. "These guys are ruining otherwise good machines," he says. Honestly I remember most of those models from high-school. I never thought they were
very impressive, but I don't tell him that.
At this point my brain is overflowing with technical jargon and details I once considered irrelevant. My head
is spinning faster than the drum in the strange olive green number which he fired up so I could see it in action. Now that I look at it, I notice it has had a bulge molded into the access panel to allow clearance for a
larger motor. The obnoxious whine it emits does nothing for me. It looks kind of silly. In short. I just don't
get it.
I resolve never to bring up the subject again to him. I may, however, ask him for advice next time I buy a
washing machine. I probably won't follow it.
Ok, Ive had my say for the month. Now its your turn! I invite/encourage submission of
your comments, opinions and article contributions. I also ask that you please help spread
the word about our publication. Everything sent shall indeed be reviewed by me. Submissions should be sent to CCC at OldsD88@gmail.com.
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