JUDGING & TROPHIES  by Duane Wilson First, I’d like to introduce myself for those of you that don’t know me yet.  My name is Duane Wilson and I’m your Technical Judge.   I’ve been tinkering with cars most all of my life and have some technical knowledge as well.  I have three years of auto body experience gained while working at an area Chevrolet dealership.  I presently have ASE certification in the categories of painting/refinishing and nonstructural analysis/damage repair.   Also, my wife and I are both Licensed Auto Damage Appraisers for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I consider our club to be an outstanding organization and I am very happy to be involved in judging your automobiles.  Although I have noted my technical background, I know there is always something to learn from each of you who have something to share about your specific car or ones of the various eras that our club represents.  Thank you for all the support that you have given me this year as I had some pretty big shoes to fill.  I realize there is still plenty to learn about your automobiles, so please continue to be patient with me. Well, let’s get down to business.  Judging your cars is a very important part of our club’s criteria.  It not only rewards the owners for their hard work, but also helps improve the quality of our organization.  When members keep up the appearance of their cars, the club is brought to a higher standard.  The club acknowledges members that have done a superior job in showcasing their cars by annually awarding trophies and medals.  In the 29 classes that our club represents, first, second and third place medals are given if cars are worthy.  In a future article, I will write about the criteria used to judge the cars.    Here I will give you some insight about the perpetual trophies which are given each year.  These trophies are the ones that need to be returned to the club so they can be given out the following year.  Your name is engraved on the trophy.  It is a great honor to receive one.   There is one stipulation-you cannot receive the same trophy twice for the same car.  The officers and the Board of Directors make the final decision as to who are to be given these awards with input provided by the judging staff.  Each perpetual trophy is briefly described below:

Springer Trophy—Donated by Mr. & Mrs. O.F. Springer, this award is given out to the member with the most outstanding service to the CVR organization.  Merrill Davis Memorial Trophy—This trophy is awarded to the best 1931 and older car.  It can be any make, but it must be restored by the owner. Duryea Trophy—This trophy is given to the best owner restored car.  The owner must have performed all work considered possible.  Some work, such as painting, striping and upholstery, can be performed elsewhere.  Buick Cup Trophy—This award was donated by Cliff French and Joseph Wyatt and is presented to the best Buick for that year.  It is based on the point system used for judging that year. Anderson Trophy—Mr. & Mrs. A. Gilbert Bissel, Jr. donated this prize to be awarded to the owner of the car with the best professional restoration. Walter O. Macillvan Trophy—The author of the best Winding Road article of the year is the recipient of this award. When these trophies are handed out at the Holiday Party, please join me in congratulating the winners for 2005! ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE The Annual Meeting of the Connecticut Valley Region of VMCCA and AACA will occur at 12:30 PM on Sunday, December 11, at the Country Club of Wilbraham.  The purpose of this meeting is to hear the reports of the various officers and committee chairs, to vote on the proposed nominees for office in 2006, and conduct any other business that may be brought to the attention of the meeting participants. DUES December, at the Holiday Party, is a good time to pay your dues to the Treasurer and save yourself 37 cents on a stamp since the dues are payable January 1st anyway.  The dues remain at $20 for the year and are payable to CVR.  Don’t forget, as a member of CVR, you must also join either the AACA or VMCCA. If your dues aren’t paid, you cannot attend the exciting activities we have planned for 2006, including a “FREE PICNIC”.  So, please remit.

MEMBER’S NEWS  CVR was recently saddened by the November 14th death of long-time member Victor Banis.  We send our condolences and best wishes to his wife, Helen, and the entire Banis family. CVR’s grape vine has been active this month identifying two members who are “under the weather.”  We wish both a speedy recovery and the best for the upcoming holiday season. Sharyne Benedisuk, wife of Dan, is recovery at home from major surgery. She would love cards and letters form members. Ken Wilson recently spent some time at BayState Medical Center.

LOST CHAIR AT BIG E Please pass on to all the CVR members who attended the Big E on the last Sunday—I lost my green folding chair from behind my car. I am sure someone else picked it up in error before I could get to it.  Now, all I have is the green bag.  I can't sit in that very well!  Some of the other members around me had some green chairs, so they must have picked up mine by mistake.  I'll check with every one at the Holiday Party.  If you happen to have an extra chair from that meet, please bring it with you.  See you then.  Happy Thanksgiving!!    Paul Hanson HILDENE  Come celebrate the Hildene Antique and Classic Car Show's 20th Anniversary.  It will be held on June 10-11, 2006 in beautiful Manchester, VT.  This year's feature car will be the MG.  The Hildene website will be ready for registration in November.   So, register to display your car.  CVR Club details will follow at a much later date. LEGISLATION:  HOBBYISTS MAY BE BANNED FROM BUYING PAINT If you're planning on refinishing your car somewhere down the line, you might want to think about buying your paint today. Addressing the Collision Industry Conference on November 1, 2005, held at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Los Vegas in conjunction with the SEMA show, EPA Environmental Protection Surface Coating Specialist Kim Teal outlined some of her agency's plans for their next air-pollution rule from automotive surface coating. The last version of this rule, issued in February, 2004, was focused primarily on body shops, but the new regulations, scheduled for release in 2007 and adoption in August, 2011, are far more sweeping. "The rule will impact everyone, no matter how much you use," she is reported as saying in Automotive Body Repair News.  That may have a major effect on the hobby, as "the rule will attempt to restrict sales of paint to people who are not certified users." This language has some powerful support.  In a letter to Teal dated October 26, 2005, representatives from the Automotive Service Association (ASA) and National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), recommended steps that sound uncannily like Teal's remarks just a few days later.  The letter, which suggests measures to be incorporated in the proposed rule, suggests that "Prospective purchasers and users of automotive refinishing products would need to be employed by a certified shop...Clearly, reasonable controls on the purchase and use of automotive refinishing products is key to helping eliminate unnecessary VOC emissions..." We'll let you draw your own conclusions about the EPA's, ASA’s and NADA's intentions, but if there was ever a piece of car-related legislation about which to write your legislator, this is it.  Kim Teal's contact information can be found at www.epa.gov  and your legislators at www.senate.gov and www.house.gov .  The original letter from ASA and NADA is available at www.asashop.org.

2006 NOMINEES FOR OFFICERS & COMMITTEES LORI BARONAS, President / Director      RICHARD SITNIK, Vice Director TONI PHILLIPS, Secretary                       JOE PEREIRA, Treasurer ARTHUR BASKIN, Membership               EDITH LOSAW, Activities ART COOPER, Publications                       STEVE LOSAW, Webmaster DUANE WILSON, Technical Judge           FRANK MORO, Technical Editor KEITH KORBUT, Historian                       BILL HICK, The Winding Road Editor

NOVEMBER MEET REPORT             by Steve Losaw The November Meet is usually referred to as The Frost Bite Run, but November 6, 2005 was anything but frosty.  On my way down to the Golden Age of Tucking Museum, I encountered a little fog and mist.  The weather must have known that we were on the road.  As I arrived, the day just got nicer. There were 41 other members that met me at the Golden Age of Tucking Museum where we took a self guided tour of the museum.  The Museum was founded in 1998 by the late Richard Guerrera and opened in September of 2002.  The museum had many trucks of different sizes and types.  Along with all the trucks, there were a couple of antique autos, boats, pedal cars and toy cars on display.  Oh, there was also a display of old kitchen furniture and refrigerator!  The staff and volunteers were very polite and helpful with any questions we had.  While there, we were treated to complimentary beverages and cookies.    After two hours of touring the museum, our appetites were ready for some good food.  We returned to our cars and headed to Maggie McFly’s Unique Eatery, which was one exit away on route I-84.  As we turned into the parking lot, everyone knew they were in for something different.  I was greeted by the manager and we were shown to our area to enjoy some liquid refreshment and to order food.  The décor of the restaurant was rustic with an old sort of charm.  There was an airplane hanging from the ceiling along with an antique bicycle and other items.  Some of the windows had stained glass and etchings.  The bar was a sports-type bar with big TV screens to watch the game.  Well, our food came and it was delicious!  From what I could tell, everyone was enjoying it and having a grand old time.  After we were done, it was time to head for home.  The skies were clear for the ride with no sign of rain. To the members that couldn’t make the trip and the ones that didn’t sign-up, you missed a great time and maybe you should consider going there on your own sometime as it was well worth it. It’s 7:30 PM on the night of the meet as I write this review.  A look out the window indicates that all the rain that threatened during the day is now coming down.  I’m sure glad it held off until this evening! Almost forgot, there were six old cars present today:  my Mercury CP, Sitnik’s Firebird, Baskin’s Lincoln, Daris’ ‘57 Chevy, Moccio’s Model A and Bajurny’s ‘34 Ford Streetrod.

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RENEW MA REGISTRATIONS! From the Massachusetts Association of Auto Clubs (MAAC):  The Registry has a new form for inspections which are late or not preformed by the due date.  This allows one to avoid the revocation of a cars registration for late inspections (yes, they plan on doing this).  They also plan on issuing any non-assigned plate to anyone.  The solution is to renew your registration on the car in the barn or shop for the winter if you have a plate you wish to keep/not lose.  This includes year of manufacture.  The form can be found at http://www.mass.gov/rmv/forms/21646.pdf

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