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1963/1964 Cadillac Chapter Cadillac LaSalle Club July 2012 Newsletter Chapter Website www.6364Cadillac.com Chapter Facebook Page www.facebook.com/6364cadillac Renaissance Resort in St Augustine, Florida Host of the 2012 Cadillac LaSalle Club Grand National

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Page 1: 1963/1964 Cadillac Chapter Cadillac LaSalle Club July …api.ning.com/files/5tbl8MNVxTvMJDCLAkrZ47PYBbVnJPp5KZwCEZ8G… · 1963/1964 Cadillac Chapter Cadillac LaSalle Club ... wanted

1963/1964 Cadillac Chapter Cadillac LaSalle Club July 2012 Newsletter

Chapter Website www.6364Cadillac.com

Chapter Facebook Page

www.facebook.com/6364cadillac

Renaissance Resort in St Augustine, Florida

Host of the 2012 Cadillac LaSalle Club Grand National

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Jason at Daytona Speedway during Grand National

Director's Message Hello All, I hope you are all staying cool from the blistering summer heat we are experiencing here in the east! I wanted to get the next newsletter out while the 2012 Grand National is still fresh in my mind. Speaking of the Grand National (I’ll abbreviate as GN going forward), it will be the focus for this newsletter as I have quite a bit to share. I also wanted to provide an update of the chapter, maybe talk a bit about my recent engine rebuild project and cover a few other items, but will cover those in future newsletters. Our Chapter continues to grow with 178 current members and have to say we had a good presence at the 2012 GN in St Augustine with 17 members on hand. With chapters we are tied to the website, emails and snail mail to connect with other members since we are spread out geographically and the GN is really the main event where we can come together. This is a topic I wanted to cover quickly before I jump into the “meat” of the GN. The big advantage of a region is in the personal interaction at local club meet-ups and being able to show off and admire your cars as a group. The disadvantage of regions is that you are indeed tied to that specific region. I realized this at the GN since I was open to solicit new members for our 63/64 Chapter regardless of the state or country someone lives in. With chapters you can join with others that share your interest in specific years or body styles regardless of where you live. I have also observed that regions connect primarily through periodic meet-ups while chapters such as ours use online websites and social networks, along with email and regular mail to connect. This online connectivity allows instant information sharing which in some respects keeps us closer than regions. The point is that I support & encourage all CLC members to join your local region and to look for chapters that cover your specific year or body style. It truly is the Best of Both Worlds. With that said, I will leave you with my 2012 Grand National Report. Jason Edge

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Introduction how to present the Grand National? This being my first Grand National I knew I wanted to include it in our next newsletter but didn’t quite know how to present it. I could write a formal description of each event, and throw out pages of pictures but thought it might be better if I “serve this one up” in a more free hand style. There is a lot I came back with and things I want to share and will try to weave my GN story with pictures and text and try to not get too long winded. I’m sure I will ramble and jump around a bit but hope you get a glimpse of my enjoyment in attending my first Grand National in St Augustine. I will also preface this to say that the biggest thrill I took away from the event was meeting our chapter members and if I do forget to mention, it is definitely not intentional. I will also add that I took at least 1300 pictures and so far have loaded over 8 hrs and 50 Gb of HD video to my pc and at this point most of the pictures have been posted, and some of the video is starting to make its way to YouTube but it will take some time to go through everything.

Getting ready for my First Grand National My 64 Coupe DeVille had been leaking oil pretty bad and with 160K miles I knew it was time for a rebuild. I started a couple months ago pulling and rebuilding the engine myself with the intention to have it ready for the GN. Of course having the engine out I wanted to clean and paint everything so it would look like new and in the end ran out of time. The engine was installed about 2 weeks before the GN, but the hood was in the shop, splash aprons needed to be installed on the fenders, and more importantly no AC installed. Not to mention by the time of the GN the engine had just over 100 miles on it so a 500 mile, 8 hr drive in an engine not broken in was out of the question. I can say I definitely gave it my all even taking off a few days from work and putting in some back to back 12 hrs days. In the end I am very glad I went to the GN without the 64 CDV. It allowed me to really take in the event, do the local tours, and not worry about competing for an award. It also allowed me to pull for fellow chapter members Thomas Haidinger and Frank & Martina Butler. I think I enjoyed the win for the club “almost” as much as a win for my own car.

Cheryl and Jason at the Renaissance Hotel Bar enjoying a cold one after drive from North Carolina

My First Grand National by Jason Edge

Rebuilt 429 engine ready to go in Jason’s 64 CDV just before the Grand National

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CLC Members Checking in! The term “kid in a candy store” comes to mind when I think of the experience watching all the cool Caddies coming in the first days of the event. In this picture we have Frank Butler just arriving with his & Martina’s 64 Eldorado.

What a Fantastic Host Hotel! The luxurious Renaissance Resort at Golf World in St Augustine was the perfect place to host a Grand National. It is part of a Golf Complex on the ground including a Golf Hall of Fame, restaurants, shops, and

even an IMAX Theater. It is literally right off Interstate 95 and getting to and from the historic St Augustine downtown area was a snap. (I’m sure traveling up and around Boston next year will not be so easy!).

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Wednesday, June 13 - Grand National Officially Begins with 3 Seminars With this being my first GN I wanted to take in as much as I could and went to all 3 seminars. Just to back up a bit I am also a member of the CLC IT Committee and had volunteered to video GN events so I ended up with HD video of all three of these and will definitely be going back to these in the future. All three seminars were very informative, and Bill, Craig and Greg were very prepared and it was a good learning experience for me. I think I could have listened to Bill in particular talk all day long. I do have one negative about the seminars in that I was a bit surprised at how thin the audience was. I know this was “check in” day for most, but I noticed many just “hanging out” around the hotel while the seminars were going on. These guys take the time to prepare and present these seminars on their own time and all we have to do is go in and sit down and take it all in. I definitely encourage all CLC Members to at least attend a couple of these and show your support and potentially learn some good information about your car along the way.

Bill Anderson covered Authenticity Manuals. This was a very interesting seminar for me given the fact I have a vested interest in the “in progress” 63/64 Cadillac Authenticity Manual, and there was some fun lively discussion about judging, originality and other topics. I would later have the pleasure of driving Bill to the Daytona Speedway Tour event and having some more one-on-one discussion about Cadillacs with someone I respect and look up to as a mentor.

Greg Surfas’ seminar covered the Basics of Cadillac Air Conditioning Systems. Having the first year Cadillac with Automatic Comfort Control, I was also very interested in this overview. Greg covered a lot of ground and thankfully he provided a handout and of course I have it all on video.

Craig Wood gave an

enthusiastic

presentation on

Speedometers,

Clocks, and Gauges.

He is someone that

knows his stuff and

made this a fun

presentation.

I even applied one thing Craig taught about using mile markers to determine the % your speedometer is off! My Escalade is off 2.6% due to the bigger tires I am now running…thanks Craig!

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Wednesday, June 13 – CLC Welcome Reception and Auction The reception and auction in support of the CLC Museum and Research Center was when the fun really started. With all of us “Cadillac Maniacs” in one large room and cocktails flowing, we truly had a festive and fun evening. To be honest I had this preconceived notion that this might be a formal stodgy affair but have to say it was really a blast. Everyone was there to have fun and show support for their regions, chapters and our great Cadillac Club. The reception was a time to unwind and meet-up with old friends and make new ones. It was indeed a coming together of our “Cadillac Family”.

Having come to my first Grand National as director of the 63/64 Cadillac Chapter it was my first opportunity to meet some of our chapter members that I had come to know online and via email. As an officer in the Eastern NC CLC Region it was an opportunity to mingle with friends and share conversation and laughs. In support of the fund raising effort to build the new CLC Museum & Research Center at the Gilmore Museum

in Michigan, an auction was held. Richard Dormois conducted the auction which included a variety of items, with the highlight being a 1996 DeVille Concours donated by Rob Robison and Ronnie Hux. To add to the atmosphere, Cadillac provided two new 2013 Cadillacs - an ATS4 and XTS for display.

Eastern NC CLC Region Members, Jason Edge, President Grady Davis, Cheryl Edge, VP Bobby Web, Jo Webb, and Craig Ashby

63/64 Chapter Members Same Jackson, Cheryl Edge, Karen Jackson, Elaine Meloan, Doug Meloan, Lanch Hirsch

2013 XTS on Display at Reception 2013 ATS4 on Display at Reception

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Wednesday, June 13 – CLC Welcome Reception and Auction Continued The camaraderie and fellowship among the members and friends was “in the air” at the reception and have to say it was definitely one of the highlights of my first Grand National. It was also a great opportunity for our wives to participate and I know my wife Cheryl enjoyed it and the other events set aside for the ladies and definitely encourage “the guys” to bring the ladies to the Grand National. Here are a few more pictures and comments from the reception and auction:

Cheryl Edge enjoys the “refreshments” at the reception

Hey! Who Are these Guys?! Lars, Bill and Steve taking it in

The Auction Gets Underway with Richard Dormois as Auctioneer

Martina Butler helping with the Auction Effort President Lars Kneller taking the Podium

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Thursday, June 14 – Daytona International Speedway To be honest I’m not the biggest NASCAR fan but do understand and respect the popularity of the sport, not to mention I am from North Carolina, home of many NASCAR legends. I do have a fascination with the technical aspects of both the cars and the raceways and the vast size of everything at these super speedways. In addition my dad was always a big fan of NASCAR and remember the day his favorite driver Dale Earnhardt crashed and died at Daytona, so it was pretty much a no brainer that I would be doing this tour. I did mention the ‘vast size’ of these speedways and have to say Daytona Speedway is like a small city unto itself with its own hospital, gym, restaurant, shops, and an endless list of buildings and facilities to support the races they put on. We left the hotel around 9am and arrived at the speedway around 10am with a guest on board.

A Special perk for me was having Bill Anderson ride along with me and Cheryl and getting to chat about the authenticity manuals, his personal experience and Cadillacs in general. I will also add that I think it was great to tour the facility while absolutely nothing else was going on as we basically had the entire place to ourselves. This was a fun day for me and Cheryl and encourage everyone to take one of these “off day” tours of a super speedway. We have Charlotte Motor Speedway here in NC, but the crown belongs to Daytona!

Bill and Cheryl have a laugh inside facility Bill Anderson on the Finish Line

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Thursday, June 14 – Route 66 Presentation After the wonderful tour of Daytona Speedway we headed back for the hotel and had a few hours to kill before the next event, the Route 66 Presentation by Bob Walton and Sal Santoro. This was a slideshow presentation of their travels tracing old Route 66 from one end to the other in a 1968 Cadillac. They met a lot of interesting people, saw some fascinating landmarks and towns, and had some unique experiences by the time they reached their destination Santa Monica. I never thought I had been on Route 66, however, after watching the presentation it dawned on me that I had since I had been to Santa Monica a few years back. This was a very well attended event and well received with my only complaint that after a few hundred pictures into it your eyes start to gloss over…especially after a day at Daytona Speedway, and I believe a little editing might have made it a bit more enjoyable toward the end. I guess I was a little let down too because this presentation went over considerably and me and Cheryl missed going out for dinner with our Eastern NC Chapter members who had already left by the time the presentation had completed.

Friday, June 15 – Host Hotel Parking Lot

– A Birds eye View I wanted to share a few pictures from the day before the car show of the parking lot. It was a lively place with members tinkering on their cars, polishing and cleaning their rides, and of course lots of conversation and mingling about. Here are a few pictures captured from our 9th floor balcony.

Lance Hirsch (left) and Jason in Heavy Cadillac Discussions!! Glenn Brown in his 72 Caddy trunk at bottom & Joe Slifer digging through XLR trunk at top while others mingle.

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Friday, June 15 – Tour of Castillo de San Marcos Fort To say the Castillo de San Marcos Fort has a lot of history is a huge understatement and encourage everyone interested in the struggle between the Spanish and British to establish a foothold in America to go to the Wikipedia link at www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castillo_de_San_Marcos and check this place out. Built between 1672 and 1695, with an almost impenetrable mix of coquina (limestone mixed with sea shells and coral), this fort held the British Navy at bay not once but twice defending the Spanish Fort. This was also an opportunity to learn about the rich history of St Augustine and why and how it came to be.

Aside from the historic relevance and beauty of the fort, it was a great chance for me and Cheryl to do some non-car stuff. Events and tours like this, really differentiate the Grand National from a “Car Show” in that it provides a multitude of different activities to take part in with our spouses and other CLC, Region and Chapter Members. It is also an opportunity for the hosting regions to “show off” local attractions.

Cheryl with a couple of new friends

It was great to see Doug & Elaine Meloan at the Fort Tour

Jason and Cheryl … I like Cheryl’s wind blow hair!

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Friday, June 15 – Tour of Lightner Museum Opened in 1889 with its huge indoor pool with retractable roof, casino, spa, movie theatre, and all the amenities of a premier luxury hotel, Henry Flagler’s Alcazar Hotel was truly a majestic hotel. Turned into a museum by Chicago publisher Otto C. Lightner in 1948 and donated to the city, this is a must see site if you visit St Augustine. I also recommend reading about its fascinating history at the following Wikipedia link: www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightner_Museum . A highlight for me was having lunch in the café that was once the swimming pool. They have converted the side areas into shops and can see the slope of the pool walls.

Room filed with Crystal Glassware Cheryl after seeing the Egyptian Mummy

Original Alcazar Hotel Pool

Pool area now serves as café and shops

A Very Unique Steam Room

Out in the Middle Terrace

Whose that in the Mirror?

Cheryl’s Date for the Tour??

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Saturday, June 16 – CLC Grand National Car Show

After three fun filled days of socializing with our Cadillac Friends, and touring the beautiful and historic St

Augustine area it was now time for the car show. With 166 cars on hand it was a thrill for me to see all the

models and body styles from 1912 to present lined up in chronological order! This was definitely the day I

would give my new Canon Rebel T3I DSLR camera a workout. Having volunteered to capture some of the

events on video, I also wanted to document the event in

pictures …especially the car show!

Just to back up a bit and preface the car show, it was bittersweet going out to the area where the 63 and 64’s were parked and seeing empty spot #68 which had been reserved for my 64 Coupe DeVille. But again, it worked out better for my first Grand National that I did not have my car there competing in a judged competition and instead could take it all in, and also check out Frank & Martina’s 64 Eldo and Thomas’ 64 Deville Convertible and the others on hand. It also turned out that I ended up setting up a vendor booth inside thanks to Bob Winchell who had given me

his table after he had fallen from a ladder and broken his wrist & ribs and couldn’t make the GN. I had brought a few odds and ends for Bob to put out, but he called and said I could use his table so I “set up shop!” Bob, we are all thinking about you wish you a speedy recovery! Thomas Haidinger’s friend Sudina volunteered to cover the vender table most of the time which allowed me to photograph the cars and take in the car show. So a Very Big Thank You to Thomas and Sudina for looking after the 63/64 Vender Booth! Did I mention that Thomas was driving the bus that took the ladies, including my wife Cheryl, to St Augustine for the Ladies tour, while also showing his 64 Convertible in the car show! He was also doing double duty that day! I have loaded hundreds of pictures from the car show to our website, so in the next couple pages will post a few favorites of mine and provide links to others at the end of the newsletter.

Sudina Holding down the Vender Table

Jason and Thomas at our Vender Table inside the Renaissance

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Saturday, June 16 – Chapter Member Cars

Franks and Martina Butler’s 1964 Eldorado First Place Finish Primary Class #20

Thomas Haidinger’s 1964 DeVille Convertible

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Saturday, June 16 – Other Cadillacs

The New Breed! Jason Edge’s Escalade between Joe & Genie Slifer, and Lamar

Morgan’s XLRs!

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Saturday, June 16 – CLC Grand National Awards Banquet With 4 days of fun in the sun (and just a bit of rain) it was time to attend the Grand National Awards Banquet and honor those members that had made outstanding achievements throughout the year and to reward those with the best cars on hand at the car show! Since I had voluteered to do video I was in the banquet room before it filled to setup the camera and help get the slideshow going. When it started we sate with a few of our 63/64 chapter members, Bill Ludwill from the Eastern NC region and IT committee

VP Dave Rubin. The program itself begins with Master of Ceremony Richard Dormois, invocation by reverand Phil Compton, and introduction by CLC President Lars Kneller. The awards show is split into two sections. The first is the Achievement Awards for individual efforts during the prior year, and then the judged Car Show Awards. It is a long afair, but a fun affair especially if it is your first Grand National. In essence it is a chance to recognize members for what they do for the club through personal contributions, and to recongnize the preservation of our cars and the “Cadillac Dream.”

After the last Car Show awards were presented, a nice presentation of the 2013 Boston Grand National was presented which included a slideshow and a video which is now available on YouTube. It was announced that tickets for the Boston Quincy Marriott goes on sale on August 4th and they have arrange for members to get the $119 per night room rate the Saturday before the event through the Saturday after the event so I strongly encourage everyone to plan on booking your room early before they sell out. At the end of the presentation President Lars Kneller made his final remarks and that was the official

end of the 2012 Grand National.

Doug & Elaine Meloan, Dave Rubin, Sam & Karen Jackson, Cheryl Edge

Eastern NC CLC Region Members and Friends

Dave Rubin and Sam Jackson scoping out Cadillac Auctions on the Ipad

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Sunday, June 17 – Checking Out and Heading to the Beach! This was indeed a great first Grand National and have to say I am a GN junkie at this point. If it tells you how much I enjoyed this event, I immediately put two alerts on my iphone when they told us when we could book rooms for the 2013 GN in Boston – one the day before and one the day we can book – August 4th. For all of my 63/64 Chapter Members I encourage you to make the trip to Boston next year and take advantage of all that the club has to offer. I hope my enthusiasm for the 2012 GN jumps off of the pages and gets our CLC members to come join me and Cheryl in the fun next year. For those Cadillac owners and enthusiasts that have not joined the CLC and our chapter, and your local region…..WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR! The excellent monthly Self Starter alone is worth the “price of admission” but better than that the friendships and contacts you will make through this great club are simply priceless. With that I will wrap up this newsletter and insert some links that point to pictures and video I have posted on the web. There are 3 slideshows I created using the pictures from the car show. I will remind all of you that have not joined our website to be sure and go to www.6364Cadillac.com and sign-up. You will need to get a username and password to join in and post new content. Also for those of you on Facebook be sure to “Like” our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/6364cadillac .

2012 CLC Grand National Pictures and Videos Pictures & Blogs on 63/64 Site: http://6364cadillac.multiply.com/tag/2012%20grand%20national

Pictures on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jason.edge1#!/6364Cadillac/photos

Videos on the CLC YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/cadillaclasalleclub

Note: All 3 seminars and the awards banquet were recorded and will be uploaded

to the CLC YouTube Channel in the coming days.

Elvis (and Jason) Have Left The Building