March 2022

PREZ SEZ

Greetings GSMR members,

It is my privilege to serve as your new President. Many of you have supported and encouraged me these past couple of months as the GSMR/LDC boards have met collectively and individually to plan for this year. Thank you so much. I am relying on our more experienced members and all of you to help me grow in this new role.

2021 has been a tough year, for the world, our nation, and for many of you personally. Within our club, we have felt the loss of two beloved members, Mike Perry and recently Ray Robertson. Please continue to pray for those families and let me know personally if I have left someone out. For those of you who sent checks for the GSMR Memorial Fund in lieu of flowers to honor Mike and Ray, THANK YOU. For those who haven’t yet and would like to, you can bring a check to our monthly meeting. Please make your check out to GSMR with a notation,  “for GSMR Memorial Fund”. Or mail to:

 GSMR

PO Box 6155

Hendersonville, NC

28793-6155

 As a reminder, funds will be awarded to Blue Ridge Community College’s Automotive Scholarship Fund.

 As far as our Club and our passion for old cars and trucks, I am looking forward to events we are planning for the coming months such as the Antique Boat and Car show in May and the BRCC show in June. You can keep up with GSMR and LDC events by going on our newly designed Website at “gsmr.club”. Also in the planning stages are monthly garage tours and even a wine tour (including lunch). Please consider how you can, as you are able, exercise your gifts and talents in helping in some way with these events. I would love to hear any ideas you have to help make our club a fun and welcoming group.

 Blessings to you and your family.

 David Parker,

GSMR President

Recent Events

AACA WINTER NATIONALS FEB. 24-26 2022

Hulon McCraw

Hosted by the Cape Canaveral Region in Melbourne, FL they dialed up a splendid weekend for all attendees. The weather was in the 80’s with bright sunshine the entire time. The events scheduled for us included an airboat tour of the marsh and tours of personal collections by members. OH, not to mention the American Muscle Car Museum where the Nationals were hosted.

The American Muscle Car Museum is only five years old. It is a 123,000 square feet complex and is home to the collection of Mark Pieloch. Mark has been a car enthusiast for over 40 years and has compiled over 375 cars that range from classic 1950s to 1970s American muscle cars, to modern muscle like a 2019 Ford GT and several versions of the new CB Corvette.

Located on 42 acres, includes 90,000 square feet of vehicle display area, an 18,000 square foot showroom, and an adjacent 20,000 square foot maintenance and restoration facility for the collection. It is not open to the public but is open to hosting numerous non-profit fundraisers, car activities, and educational tours for assisted living communities and school-age children. For more information CHECK OUT: www.AmericanMuscleCarMuseum.com

Thursday evening began with a Sea Food Buffet and a tour of the showroom of the AMCM. The food was great but the atmosphere in the showroom surrounded by over 30 great specimens of American Muscle cars was even better.

Friday evening was the Ice Cream social, you know how old car folks love their ice cream, including.  It too was held in the showroom of AMCM.

Finally, Saturday arrived with over 270 vehicles registered for the Winter Nationals held on the premises surrounding the American Muscle Car Museum. Needless to say, the beauty of AACA members’ restored vehicles complimented the grounds exceptionally well. The community turned out in droves to view the display of beautifully restored automotive history. Personally, I have never seen a larger crowd at any Regional event other than Hershey. Over 250 judges had their jobs cut out for them Saturday morning after the judge’s breakfast.

The Saturday evening banquet theme featured Hawaii. Entertainment was the Brevard Hawaiian Dancers. These ladies entertained the crowd of over 400 to a special evening of Hawaiian dances describing Hawaii and the beauty of their islands. Capping off the evening over 250 smiling awards winners walked out of the convention room with their treasures.

Needless to say, the Cape Canaveral Region raised the bar of dedication and work ethics achieving the success of, if not the BEST, surely among Regional shows that I have ever attended. 

NOTE: the file of photos from this event cannot be shared here

Winter Volksfest 2022 

Sam Farance. 

On February 26th, the Winter Volksfest 2022 was held at the NC State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, NC. This was the 16th year of the event with it being the first year it was held inside the Graham Building on the fairgrounds. There were a variety of classic VW beetles, Things, Rabbits, vans, and modern Golfs. The whole building was packed full of automobiles and I heard there were 178 inside. It also hosted swap and other vendors inside as well. I originally planned on taking my 1971 Super Beetle over but something went wrong while leaving my house and it was unable to make it to the event. So after having a rough drive over in the WRX, eating a curb with the front bumper for the first time, and finding out the next morning that my shower did not work, I could say I was not in the mood for this event. Yet, after getting inside, looking at the cars, chatting with amazing VW folks, and having a therapeutic spending spree on parts and swag, I was having a blast. Sometimes you gotta push through all the bad, crappy moments to find those enjoyable, fun moments that always outshine the bad. The event organizers, Southeast Euro Motorsports and South Eastern VW Association were really amazing folks who wanted to refund me the entry ticket for the car as I pre-registered before the show. I refused as it wasn’t their fault my car didn’t make it to the show. It was good I refused as it came with a raffle ticket and I won one of the big 3 door prizes at the show. Overall, it was one of the best days I’ve had in a long time and was well worth the trip! See photos below.

Swofford Technical School Car Show

Lee Davis, LDC

On March 5, 2022, several members of GSMR and LDC attended the first car show of the season at the Swofford Technical School in Inman, SC. Swofford is about ten miles west of the famous Strawberry Hill Restaurant and fruit stand. GSMR attendees included Steve Nordt, Bill Macomber, and Grady Hawkins. LDC members attending were Gary Barnett, Lee Davis, Bo Wood, Jerry Morrow, Joel Morrow, Travis Sims, and Anthony Lacaria. Anthony’s brother-in-law, Mike Lewis, also attended, driving the Lacarias’ 1975 Lincoln Town Car to the show. One of the highlights of attending the Swofford show is having breakfast at Strawberry Hill, which the LDC members were able to enjoy, thanks to Jerry Morrow securing a table in the very crowded restaurant. This year’s Swofford show was very well attended, as the show was canceled last year due to COVID, and people were ready to get out. A beautiful weather day also contributed to a probable record for Swofford, with 233 cars registered by 11:00 AM. LDC members, Anthony and Valerie Lacaria, had a particularly good day, as both their 1990 Mercedes 300SL and their 1975 Lincoln Town Car were winners of their respective classes. A good time was had by all, with the LDC members topping off the day by stopping again at Strawberry Hill for ice cream on the way home. 

Skills USA North Carolina Western Region Skills and Leadership Conference & Competition 

Hulon McCraw

The conference and competition were held on the Blue Ridge Community College, Hendersonville campus March 4, 2022. The Automotive program is only one of eight competitive programs represented by Skills USA. They range from Carpentry, Job Interview/Debate, Drafting, Welding, Medical Terminology/Spelling, Tool Identification/Auto & Construction, and Poster Skill Project Showcase.

Eight schools representing the Skills USA Western Region competed in this year’s event. Fifteen students competed in the Automotive segment of the competition. The day began with Brian Johnson giving the students their instructions and safety requirements.

Ten workstations were set up throughout the shop each equipped with materials and tools for the student to complete the task before them. Five minutes was allotted for the student to accomplish the task at each station. Each station had quiz forms for the student to record their answers. The paperwork was picked up at the end of each five-minute interval and taken to administration where Chris Peavy graded and Amy Singletary recorded in the computer. 

The first station was in front of the computer sourcing “online repair sites” available to auto repair shops. In the second station, students had to properly identify 10 automotive tools. Third station students had to read a wiring diagram and wire up a horn making it functional. The use and measuring of Micrometers and Calipers were recorded by the student at the Fourth station. The fifth station included identifying everything about bolts. Thread pitch, hardness grade, thread size, diameter, and type. Identifying tire information was at station six, including size, manufactured date, load range, PSI rating, Ply rating, and load capacity. Seventh station students had to measure brake rotors and record their measurements. Eight station all the components of an air conditioning unit had to be identified and recorded. Ninth station the student had hands-on experience as if in an automotive shop. They had to measure the brake rotors’ runout on the vehicle versus the factory specifications. Finally, in the tenth station students had to demonstrate the use and knowledge of reading electrical meters measuring voltage and amps of a battery.

At the beginning of the day, I had no idea what to expect or what I was going to experience. It was truly an eye-opener for me and by the end of the competition, I now have greater respect for the instructors and our community college for their contribution to our community and society.

OH, I must tell you that at the end of the competition I took one of the quizzes. Station two, identifying 10 tools, I got 9 out of the 10 correct. Missing Spark Plug Pliers.

 These students will be going to Greensboro to compete in the state conference

High School students in automotive Technology winners are:

Upcoming Events

May 7 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Hennies 27th Annual Car Show and Cookout

5922 Old Buncombe Road, Greenville, SC

Ctrl Click heading for details.  RSVP to: yvonne.jacobs43@gmail.com to register

Monthly Meeting

May 17 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

May 17 Mikes on Main

Food and networking starts at 6

Meeting starts at 7

May 21 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Lake Lure Spring Classic Boat & Auto Show

Great Smoky Mountains Region Lake Lure Spring Classic Boat & Auto Show Saturday, May 21, 2022 10:00-4:00 Vehicle Registration Open to Vehicles 25 years and older Space limited to first 55 cars. Register in advance or day of show based on availability  Registration Fee $15.00 For advance registration mail $15.00 check payable to GSMR and […]

June 21 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Blue Ridge Community College 17th Annual Benefit Car & Trade Show Saturday, 

June 4 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.  Vendors and dealers should call in advance. Proceeds will benefit Blue Ridge Automotive students in SkillsUSA competitions. Blue Ridge Community College Henderson County Campus Show location at intersection of College Drive and South Allen Rd. Early Registration: $15 Register at gate: $20 FREE to all viewing public Brian Johnson 828.694.1835 Kim LaRowe 828.779.2378 Hosted by Great Smoky Mountains Region of AACA.

Please refer to  www.GSMR.club for more details

Monthly Meeting

June 21 Bay Breeze Food and networking starts at 6 Meeting starts at 7

Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival, 04-06 November 2022

please go to www.gsmr.club for details

LDC Calendar,March thru June

Check in at www.gsmr.club

Please consider the following GSMR supporters when you need service

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