STORY LINE:  SNOW TO SUN AND CRUISING

It’s here … summertime good weather and the cruise season is open. Fun time of bringing out the old cars, custom cars, street rods and modifieds'. Drag racing season is here also, and at the AUTORAMA Bill Kapolka of Milan Dragway had asked me if I’m coming out this year …yes!

Bringing that old car out requires a little preventative maintenance; Did you change the oil and filter before putting the car away? If not it should be done along with a chassis lube and cooling system check along with the charging system check too. Tire pressure is important and check the spare, that should also be the same type as-radial or bias-the rubber that meets the road. And commenting on the drag racing, Milan has a heads-up racing night and the Friday night specials look pretty interesting … if you haven’t already been there. Good entertainment.   

BEEN their, done that. Autorama 2006 was another great indoor car show that marks the start up of enjoying the too short Michigan cruise season, and a good one it was. The Bentley and Bugatti cars may have been out of place, but what a pair of fabulous collectibles, certainly valued in the millions. The 1958 Mercury, that Green Monterey two door sedan … remember the one with three on the tree, a 400HP/430CID 3x2 barrel Lincoln powered … Green Mercury, sedan?  I have used a trivia question in many shows that I have emcee’d, “What was the highest horsepower 1958 American made automobile?” Rare did anybody ever know the correct answer and here was the car. The ONLY ONE I HAVE EVER SEEN!!! It was a one year only option available on Mercury and Lincoln cars for 1958. Reportedly three Continentals had this option and I have seen two of those. Interesting that the guy who owns this Merc, also has a pristine 1964 Marauder-Green- with the 425HP/427 4-speed/4.11 gears, and he races it hard at the PURE STOCK MUSCLE CAR DRAGS held at Mid-Michigan Motorplex Dragway every September. Other Autorama cars I personally liked; The ’59 Impala with ’56 Bel Air style trim, the ’63 Impala with the 1960 Plymouth Fury roof that looks akin to a 1960/61 Ford Starliner-even the interior trim harkened of ‘60/61 Chrysler cars. Al Berglers ‘MORE AGGRAVATION’, Larry Payne’s Green Ford STREET ROD. And those RAT RODS, all good ‘stuff’.

AND a pretty cool show coming up May 18-21, the 9^TH Annual Gathering at Camp Dearborn of THE TIN CAN TOURISTS, a convention of over 100 old time vintage house trailers to motorhomes of the classic and antique variety. The theme for this years gathering is “THE NIFTY FIFTIES”, where trailers from the ‘50s and earlier will be featured during the Gathering and singled out during the Open House and Concours on Saturday May 20^th from 12 noon to 4pm. Classic Cars from the ‘50s are invited to join with parking available for 100s of cars right with the classic vintage house trailers and motorhomes. The days activities will culminate with a ‘50s style dance harking back to the “Old Days” at Camp Dearborn Historic Canteen.

Trailers that will be shown during the Open House include a 1947 Westcraft, full of polished wood and art deco curves, 1932 one-off rear porch trailer, a rare 1937 Curtiss Aerocar towed by a custom built 1938 International truck, a 1949 Airstream Southwind Liner towed by a 1949 Buick Sedanette, as well as shiny 1960s Airstreams and spiffy Scotty Sportsmans. The show is always fun and entertaining and in a park atmosphere. Bring out the old car, grilles for a cookout and spend the day with the TIN CAN TOURISTS … you might even win an award for your car or for what you wear to match the fifties festivities. 

A little history … The original TIN CANNERS blossomed about 1920, in the early days of auto travel from the North to Florida. The group took its name from the camper’s bring-along tin-can cuisine. Members sometimes fastened empty cans to the front of their Tin Lizzies to announce themselves to kindred spirits on the road. 1932 saw the group grow to some 30,000+ members and last as an organization until 1968 when its last reunion was held in Eustis, Florida. In 1998 Forest Bone, a retired high school teacher and his wife, Jeri, renewed the TIN CAN TOURISTS  group and held a renewal gathering at Camp Dearborn where 21 rigs attended. They are now virtually worldwide with gatherings held internationally. See you May 20^th at the TCT Classic Vintage Trailer/Motorhome and Car Show in Camp Dearborn. For more info on the TCT visit tincantourists.com  or e.mail at  f23bone@earthlink.net or call 248-684-0393.

Remember, Man who drive like hell … is bound to get there.