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March, 2005 |
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There will be a Club Meeting and Membership Renewal Party March 20th, 2005 @
Bakers of Milford. Starting time is 6:00. $12.00 per person for pizza and salad.
Contact Leroy Simpson (248) 790-3485 or email Donna Koenig @ ChargerNut@MichiganMoparMuscle.com
for details.
We’ve got another big year ahead of us, but first let’s cover some of the events since our last newsletter…
On September 21st, WCSX held the giveaway raffle for the Stone Soup Hemi at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills. There was also an impromptu Mopar car show to coincide with this event with lots of Mopars and a few Brand-X cars as well. The Mopar community was well represented by members of Michigan Mopar Muscle, North Oakland Mopar Muscle, Mid-Michigan Mopar Enthusiasts and others.
M.M.M. was selected to escort the giveaway Hemi Roadrunner to the Museum. The club had approximately 35 cars staged at Wal-Mart on Opdyke. We then caravanned to an Executive Park lot where we met up with the SSH and then escorted the Runner to the W.P.C. Museum. This was one of those things you had to see to believe… what an awesome site!
Our presence at this event would not have been possible without the efforts of Larry Lempicki (a.k.a. Mr. Norm) who helped set up the escort and got our club mentioned on the radio several times. Apparently, Mr. Norm is a frequent caller on the show… We all hope that JJ and Lynne will lift the Personal Protection Order soon… Just kidding! Leroy was a madman getting all of us together for this and should have his phone bill paid off in 2006…
WCSX sold 10,000 tickets totaling $250,000 for this project all to benefit the Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan. The lucky winner was Dan Slane of Shelby Township (who is now a member of MMM). Here’s a picture of Dan with JJ and Lynne. You can see a LOT more pictures from this event at our website: www.michiganmoparmuscle.com
Photo
by Marc Rozman - MMM Member (Thanks Marc!)
Club Road Rally, Picnic, and Meeting at Kensington
On October 2nd, we started the day off in Novi with a Road Rally / Scavenger Hunt. The weather that morning was REAL crappy, so not many were able to show up, but those that did had a riot! We were given a list of clues for simple things to find on the way to Kensington. Then we all started this mad race to get all the items and be the first team to arrive at the Park. I think it’s safe to say everyone had a lot of fun!
1st Place – Scott Jeffe & Family
2nd Place – Tim & Jonathan Leslie
3rd Place – Adrienne & Bob Stewart
We also had one of our famous MMM picnics with tons of food and fun. Several people showed-up later with their cars, which were parked along an unused service road at the site. While we were all together,
Leroy and I held a small, casual meeting to layout a few changes the up-coming year. Highlights:
-Thank you to everyone for making MMM a great club, the level of participation is awesome
-Club finances will be on the books for 2005… this will give us more credibility and organization
-Fewer spaces (45) for Woodward Dream Cruise to avoid repeat of 2004 issues (sold out)
-More promotion and planning for club show at Waterford Raceway; ideas welcome as always
-Invitation for more people to help plan and work at events
-Membership renewal forms due by end of April 15th; forms will be sent out in March
Lori Gerich and Denise Templeton were instrumental in making this whole day work. They put a lot of time and effort into everything from writing the clues to setting up the pavilion to getting the food. This club is extremely luck to have people like Lori and Denise who are willing to put in the effort for all of us. Thank you, ladies… you’re the best! There are several pictures from this event at web site.
Bud Pennington’s 1969 Dodge Charger 500 HEMI
20th Annual Fall Color Classic
The day after the Rally, 25 members participated in this show at Independence Oaks in Clarkston. 20 people met at Big Boys for breakfast then caravanned to the show to park together. It was a very cold morning that ended-up being a beautiful day. Three of your fellow club members placed for awards:
Dave Miller – 1st Place Sports Car (1960 Porsche 356 Roadster)
Bob Joyce – 3rd Place Pro Street (1968 Plymouth HEMI Roadrunner)
Bud Pennington – 1st Place 1950-present Street Machines (1969 Dodge Charger 500 HEMI)
Unfortunately, this otherwise great day was marked with a tragedy. Sometime around mid-day, a 442 parked on the hill above us popped out of gear (we think) and came crashing down through our picnic area striking a table and a tent where people were eating. Several of our members were hurt. Thankfully, most of the injuries were minor and most walked away with cuts and bruises. Denise Myers was taken to the hospital with a scalp laceration and lower leg injuries. I'm glad to say that everyone will (eventually) be OK... Soft tissue contusions can take a long time to heal. Everyone at MMM (and the NOMM discussion board) wish those injured a speedy and full recovery.
2004 Club Christmas Party
We held or First annual Christmas Party on December 12th at Baker’s of Milford. Everyone that attended donated at least one toy to Toys-for-Tots. There were four Marines on hand to accept the club’s donation and have dinner with us. One of the Marines gave a brief history of the Toys-for-Tots organization and told us that each child would receive at least 3 toys for Christmas! Thanks to everyone who attended this party, some kids will have a better Christmas. Check the web site for pictures.
Leroy and myself were each given a great gift (an awesome car care kit) from of all of you. Both of us would like to thank you again – we were both surprised and very grateful!
Once again, Lori Gerich came through for the club. She did an amazing job making sure the evening went flawlessly.
If you got to make it to the Club Rally, you saw that Denise and Warren Myers have come up with great looking nametags. If you are interested in getting one, send them a nice picture (either digital or print), the year and model of your Mopar, the name(s) you want on your tag, and a short blurb about the car. The tags are $4.00 each, which is very close to cost. You can send all the information to:
Denise and Warren Myers
Or e-mail: whmyers@comcast.net
I will distribute a new membership list after the renewal drive in March / April. For those of you wanting to be “in the know” before then about Leroy’s current ride, he now has a 1970 Plymouth Duster 340 (Sub-Lime). I haven’t seen it yet and if I know him I probably won’t get a chance to! He assures me it is very nice…
I need to get a working e-mail address for everyone that has one… It’s the best way to quickly inform everybody of events or gatherings (like the Stone Soup Hemi Giveaway or drive-in gatherings). Also, this newsletter is VERY costly to print and mail. This time around, I am only sending a hard copy to everyone I don’t have an e-mail address for. In the future I will only e-mail a link to access the newsletter directly from the club’s web site. All others will have to check the site periodically for their newsletter.
Please be sure to visit www.michiganmoparmuscle.com for event information and photos. As always, special thanks to Donna and Ken Koeing for keeping the web site running!
Member Spotlight
This month, it is only appropriate that we introduce you to Lori and Mark Gerich…
Lori and Mark live in West Bloomfield. They have been married 22 years and have two teenage daughters (and three dogs). Mark and his brother are partners in Gerich Landscape headquartered in Milford, but working all over Oakland County. Lori is a Homemaker.
Mark has been a Mopar enthusiast since high school in the 70’s. His first ‘Cuda was a white ‘70 340, and not thinking clearly, he sold it (see pic below). When Lori and Mark met, he was driving a Dodge Charger. After sticking to Fords for many years, Mark and his long time friend Dave Miller decided to invest in another Mopar, a Sublime Green 1970 Challenger which he had until 2004. In the summer of 2004, Mark purchased his pride and joy, the 1970 AAR ‘Cuda pictured below. Like many of us, Mark is also a Mopar die-cast and memorabilia collector.
Lori is one of this club’s most active members. She works mostly behind the scenes to help make sure our events and gathering go as well as they do. We are truly fortunate to have Lori and Mark in Michigan Mopar Muscle!
Mark in the 70’s with his 1970 ‘Cuda 340
Mark’s 1970 Plymouth AAR ‘Cuda, 340 Six Pack, Lemon Twist
The Detroit Autorama has just wrapped-up and Bud Pennington’s (1969 HEMI Charger 500) and Chris Collier (1972 340 Challenger Rallye) have both won trophies! Apparently, Chris finished restoration on his Challenger just 1 hour before taking it down to Cobo Hall. Congratulations, Bud and Chris! You should both be very proud to have placed in a show of such high caliber.
Other noteworthy winners are Deb and Mike Gronowicz from North Oakland Mopar Muscle (1972 Charger SE) and Dave Dudek, F.A.S.T. Series regular (1970 HEMI Challenger).
We’d also like to welcome Chris Jacobs, host of TLC’s Overhaulin’ to the club. If you’ve ever watched the series, you know that Chris is a serious Mopar fan! Welcome aboard Chris!
March 20, 2005 - Michigan Mopar Muscle’s Club Meeting and Membership Renewal Party
Baker’s of Milford @ 6:00 PM, $12.00/person, contact: Leroy @ (248) 790-3485
April 24, 2005 – North Oakland Mopar Muscle’s 8th Annual All Mopar Car Show and Swap Meet
Centerline Parts Depot in Centerline, MI (Visit www.440sixpack.com for details)
June 5, 2005 – 8th Annual All Mopar Show @ Holly Seven Lakes State Park
(Visit www.midmichiganmopars.org for details)
June 10-12, 2005 - 13th Columbus Chrysler Classic @ National Trail Raceway
(Visit www.chryslerclassic.com for details)
June 11, 2005 - 16th Annual CEMA Car Show celebrating Chrysler 300 “Letter Cars”
Walter P. Chrysler Museum, Auburn Hills, MI (Visit www.cemaclub.org for details)
June 23-25, 2005 - 30th Annual St. Ignace Car Show, Cruise, and Swap Meet
June 25-26, 2005 – Michigan Mopar Muscle’s “Mopars at the Hills” Show and Swap Meet
Waterford Hills Raceway (Visit www.michiganmoparmuscle.com for details)
June 25, 2005 - Sixth Annual Downriver Cruise (Visit www.cruisindownriver.com for details)
June 25-26, 2005 - 5th Tri-State Chrysler Classic @ Tri-State Dragway
(Visit www.chryslerclassic.com for details)
July 8-10, 2005 - Carlisle All-Chrysler Nationals in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
(Visit www.carsatcarlisle.com for details)
August 12-14, 2005 - 25th Annual Mopar Nationals @ National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio
(Visit www.moparnats.net for details)
August 20, 2005 - 11th Annual Woodward Dream Cruise
September 16-18, 2005 - 8th Norwalk Chrysler Classic @ Norwalk Raceway Park
(Visit www.chryslerclassic.com for details)
September 18, 2005 – Milford Car Show in downtown Milford
October 2, 2005 – Independence Oaks County Park Fall Classic Car Show in Clarkston
*Pontiac Silverdome Drive-in Events will be held as weather permits – e-mails will be sent to notify all when these functions take place.