2022 DUST OFF ON JUNE 11TH

 

The Little Rhody Model A Club “woke up” on this delightful day in June for a belated (again) dust off tour.  Again, it was called a dust off wannabe because of the unknowns related to the dreaded Covid virus statistics as it was being planned.  Bob Osborne decided to take advantage of an outdoor venue destination with an abbreviated tour.  The New England Wireless & Steam Museum in  East Greenwich Rhode Island was having a car show on that day to do some fund raising for the museum.  It was hosted by Cruisin Bruce – well known to us as an event organizer.  We met at Richard’s Pub – also one of the club “haunts” and lined up for the tour through East Greenwich and North Kingstown and along Frenchtown Road to the Museum.  One could park and sit or walk around to see all the cars that were being displayed.  Eight of our members were able to show off the cars.  We were able to purchase food from a food vendor or elect to just get coffee “and” in one of the museum buildings.  Touring the wireless and steam engine displays was also an option.  Great weather, good company, and it was so nice to be together! 

Line up at Richard's Pub

Sandy in a 1920's pose

Richard Preliasco on the go! 
photo courtesy of Josh & Anna Gilman

On the field at the Wireless and Steam Museum

The food "court"

Impressive line up of Little Rhody cars
Photo courtesy of Josh & Anna Gilman

Little Rhody's Long Awaited Christmas Party

 

On December 4, 2021, the club went forward with its Christmas party plans. We again went to Richard’s Pub and had our same delightful waitress/hostess Kristin take care of us.  Party arrangements were managed with care and competence by Marie Penta, our Hospitality person extraordinaire.  She was assisted Marguerite Pakuris with planning and obtaining Santa Gifts for the crowd.  Although we only numbered 25 this year, we were a jolly group – especially those sitting over there in “that” corner!  The food was very good, as usual – and since we did not come up with the magic 35 in attendance, we were accorded a lot of left overs to take home – YUM!  Sparky Pakuris did the honors again playing Santa – and Kristin arranged a special chair for him to sit in. He distributed the gifts, and some lucky recipients got a cash surprise inside! Marie Penta had made Christmas wreaths as special prizes, and every table had a centerpiece which was awarded to certain persons at each table.  We missed those folks who could not attend but had a nice time and made new memories to cherish.  As in years past – the members brought gifts to donate to Toys for Tots and these were taken to the local Cardis for distribution by John Mennucci – they even took a picture of him to share with us!

Sandy, Marie and Tom Cash

That table - what were they laughing at?

Meet and greet

Kristin serving all of us

Bob and Moe

Evie and Jan

Marguerite and Sparky

The Mennuccis and Marguerite

Sparky now a lifetime member!

George, Richard and Patricia

Marie happy about all the toys

Toys for Tots gifts and Santa's chair

Santa in his special chair

Bob gets his gift from Santa

Dottie shares her wishes with Santa

Jeff wins big!

Marie and Jan with a wreath

Patricia wins a wreath

John delivers!

October and November 2021

 

The club was able to actually have these two monthly meetings!  We decided that all present officers would retain their positions for the next year.  Also a big decision was made to allow all those who had paid dues in 2021 could be excused from dues for 2022, and those who did not pay dues could pay dues as usual in the beginning or 2022.  Anyone who elected to go to the annual “Chicken Run” could do so, but we would not make reservations for the club this year.  We were happy to go ahead with plans for the Christmas Party at Richard’s Pub on December 4^th.

Cancelled Plans for September 19, 2021

 

The Little Rhody Model A Club was scheduled to have its “annual” picnic and meeting on this date.  However, as in so many plans during the last nearly two years, COVID got in the way.  Some of those folks who were to set up the tents, get food and supplies and do the cooking tested positive for the dastardly bug – hence, we cancelled…

Meeting August 8, 2021

 

In August, we had our first meeting in awhile.  Still COVID shy, and missing some of the leadership due to other illnesses, it did happen!  Though few were in attendance, we were able to do some of the business that had been laid by the wayside.  As the photo shows, we were prepared to clean hands and surfaces and were able to social distance….nice!

2021 BELATED WANNA-BE DUST OFF TOUR

 

 It was a cloudy and breezy day on June 26^th as we took off on our belated dust off tour for 2021.  The Pandemic has kept us from gathering for events and meetings for about 18 months.  Bob Osborne planned a tour from the Water Treatment Plant in Scituate, RI along many country back roads.  We had   thirteen people cruising along in 6 antique A’s & one modern.  Instead of our usual April Tour – watching the daffodils and forsythia blooming and new spring green buds forming everywhere, we enjoyed day lilies, rhododendrons, & lush green lawns and trees.  The tour was the most eventful in years! Al Bowder got his “A” all ready to go, taking pains to get her looking good – and it failed to start – so he brought the truck.   Jeff Barnes’ “brand new” Woodie had a stuck starter and had to be pushed at each stop to get her going.  Bob’s 1929 Coupe overheated.  Everyone and his “cousin” tried to loosen his radiator cap to no avail.  Jeff Barnes knew the farmer who ran the Ekonk Turkey Farm where we had a scheduled stop.  The farmer had the right tool to get the cap off and after adding antifreeze, we got on the way.  Sean Fay’s car suffered a plugged gas line after our stop at Buttonwoods Ice Cream (where the ice cream was delightful) and David Peck was able to walk him through how to unplug it – they were successful, so again we went the several miles to end the tour at Beach Pond in Exeter, RI.  And the rain held off!

Admiring Jeff's "new" Woodie

Sean and Gretchen arrive at WG Town Hall

Jeff and Deb's new car

David Peck, Joyce and Dennis meet up at the Water Treatment Plant

Deb's scarf matches the car!

At the water treatment plant

Discussing that stuck starter

Solving the problem, well almost...

Line up at the Turkey Farm

Ekonk line up from the back

Evie is the Turkey

Sean tries the radiator cap

It's Dennis' turn

The farmer's daughter tries her hand

Pouring in the antifreeze...

And Some More Antifreeze, thanks Al!

Buttonwoods Farm Ice Cream

Up under the Pagoda

Also up under the pagopda

Clearing the gas line plug, David Peck instructs, step by step

Radiator Re-Coring Presentation by Dennis Allsop

On March 8th at 2:00 pm, Dennis Allsop, a long time member, did an amazing presentation for us on Re-Coring a 30-31 radiator.   The project started in Hershey in 1991 when he could not find a radiator with a perfect core for his second Model A restoration. He actually did this project over a two year time frame which included about 120 hours of work.  It definitely was a labor of “love” by a guy who is a perfectionist and a very talented and patient machinist/mechanic.  He researched and connected with companies that produced brass tubing both here and abroad. Then he ordered copper fins from a Connecticut company. He had to order enough material to produce five radiators to get the companies to agree to produce materials to his plans.  Finding a machine shop to produce four die plates to form, dimple, and punch the holes needed proved difficult and took about a year.   In order to complete the project, Dennis had to make a jig to press fit all 132 fins and then solder each one to the tubing.  After a labor intense re-assembly of the core to restored tanks, the radiator was tested 3 pounds of air in a tank of water.  Each step of the process was demonstrated on a board for all to see.  Dennis actually wrote an article about this project in the MAR/APR 1994 The Restorer magazine and distributed a copy to supplement his presentation.   

Folks at the meeting

 

Dennis Allsop presents

 

Getting into the finer points

 

Answering questions & show and tell

 

We were very impressed!