[imported_Thriller]

How about each and every BCA Technical Advisor? I've only had dealings with a few - Bruce Andren for $Pit, and Lind Coop / Keith Horsfall regarding the '29 McLaughlin Buick. Each encounter has been polite, very informative, and they are either gushing with information or will point you to someone else who will help out.

Give yourself a pat on the back folks, you deserve it.

Here's to Ken and Sue Reeves and their fairness and dedication in selling old Buick parts.





Wheatbelt

A little over a year ago I made a trip all the way out to Oklahoma to pick up a 54 parts car that had AC. I had always wanted to visit this all Buick "salvage yard" anyway so this gave me a great excuse. Upon getting there and loading up the car, Ken told me to come on out to the yard and lets make sure you have enough parts in case some of the ones in the car are bad. And that we did. At no extra charge.
I have talked to a lot of people that have bought from Ken and their experiences have always been good.
I can tell you that given the time and work involved in finding and hauling all these cars to his yard plus all the time it takes to remove the parts without damaging them all the while fighting off fire ants, wasps, fiddleback spiders and snakes, one has to know that Ken isn't in it just for tne money, He truly knows and loves these old Buicks. Also given all that, the prices he charges are very much in line and worth every penny.

So thanks Ken and Sue, y'all help make owning and restoring an old Buick fun.

[The Old Guy]

I did not realize that I actually helped people! Many in the BCA look on me as a thorn in their side. Thank you for letting me know that even though I can be a pain, I still make a difference. The BCA has been my extended family for many years ( I joined in 1969) and has been a source of enjoyment for me and my family all that time.
I look at the BCA National meet every year more as a reunion than a car show. Now with the BDE ,Modified Division ,and the Prewar Division, it makes it even more enjoyable.

Thanks

[Smartin]

Right on, Lamar!

Thought I'd bring this back to the top. Praps Roberta will consider makin it a sticky.

[Dyna]

Folks,

I think the time has come to give Lamar aka Mr Earl, the BuickMan award! To be frank Mr Earl should from now on be called the BuickRescueMan, not just the BuickMan!

I’m sorry if this might be a rather long story but I hope you all will have a good read and also along with me conclude that there is no other name than the BuickRescueMan that would apply to this amazing Buick enthusiast.

It all started with me looking for a 71-76 Buick Estate Wagon sometime early last year, I first lost out one deal and then two came at the same time, both fortunately and unfortunately I came around to buy the latter one – mainly because I loved the color combo, and the vinyl roof, and it was also more loaded than the other one.

Anyways so I won the eBay auction by early November last year, and there starts what would be a two month battle to get wagon. The seller is literally holding the car ransom and it takes me more than two months to get all the “documents” right and even then the seller don’t want to let the car go.

It’s at this point the BuickRescueMan steps in! The BRM is acting as my POA and has the right to collect the car on my behalf. I will not mention all the details but BRM is giving his all and spends lots and lots of time on the phone, and writing email trying to solve the situation getting the car safely home. Finally this last Friday we get the green light and BRM can put on his cape and spring into action this last Sunday.

What it means is a long trip 850 mile from Athens Georgia down to Mobile Alabama and back, while event less on the way there it will not be on that on the way home. Well even before heading home BRM needs to battle the crazy seller but does so brilliantly by raising his Buick shield deflecting all attempts to not give up on the Buick!

It’s time to load and run, but what BRM hasn’t checked is how big this 1976 Buick EstateWagon is. When he starts he gets the surprise of his life the wheels are on the outside the ramps by a large margin and the girl is ending up riding on top of the guide rails of the trailer. Then it’s the weight, it’s so heavy that it makes things squeak (my interpretation), it’s Buickly obvious that this is a lot more than a 54 Roadmaster something the BRM is quite used to tow if I’m not totally misinformed [img]<>/wink.gif[/img].

It’s even more obvious when he hits the I-65 which is just next to where he loaded the girl. It starts fishtailing like nothing before. To be honest I don’t know what fishtailing is since I never towed anything. The description I get from hubby makes my jaw drop and I know this is not fun, nor healthy for anyone’s heart. Not, strange that BRM is calling up on higher powers and that’s not the BuickRescueWoman (BRW) or similar super heroes but Jesus him self.

After several stops where BRM is inching the car forward on the trailer, so much forward that the girl will hit the truck in a tight turn, BRM finally mange to get the fishtailing under control, at least in moderate speeds. Well moderate speeds of 55/60 mph is all you can get with this beast to girl on the back, even the mighty BRM can’t get the Chevy higher than third gear while cruising, this is how heavy loaded it all is.

It’s all ok, well with silent prayers when SUVs and trucks passing by making it all swag a little, but it’s all changing in the sharp curve where I-65 turns into I-85. According to mighty BRM’s own words “Was in the middle of the curve and had gotten forced into the center lane somehow and here come two tractor trailers one on each side. Just as the curve straightened, they pass me and I start wagging the worse yet. Only thing to do was to kick the s…. out of it and pull her straight again and then gently slow back down. It worked. Thank you Jesus.”

It’s dark now, and it apparently makes things easier. Well even I understand that one; it’s easier when you don’t need to see the scary scenario behind you and I guess a wagging beastie monster girl to wagon nearly eating up you pickup is a bit scary even for the all conquering BRM …

What happens next I would classify as a major miracle.. in short succession comes the some ominous signs; construction zone ahead, vehicles wider than 8.5 ft use alternative route, narrow lines for the next 30 miles and then it comes the view from hell; that being 3 ft high concrete jersey barriers on the right and 5 foot concrete barrier on the left and just 8.5 ft gap in between and obvious black marks from trucks getting up on them before their sending them to there last resting place. I can’t more than quote BRM “Some folks say God is their co-pilot. At that point I just gave God the steering wheel and let him drive”...

Little bit later after coming out of it BRM is standing on the parking lot of a KFC, when according to BRM “a guy in a Hummer pulled in behind me. Said he'd been behind me awhile and couldn't believe how well I had kept it between the white lines. I told him it wasn't me driving and of course he didn't know what I was talking about”….

It’s first little after midnight BRM is hitting Athens and the safety of home which he hasn’t seen since 6 in the morning the day before. I have to say I out of words how much I appreciate Lamars help, nominating him for the title as the BuickRescueMan is the very least I can do. I have a few Buickly ideas for Buickly things our dear BRM might like but anyone with some ideas of such things please tell me since I want to send him something nice. Both I and hubby are thanking him from the bottom of our hearts! Thank you Lamar for rescuing my beloved Estate Wagon!!

Buickly Dyna

PS: Attaching what I think is one very pretty picture of a frosty Buick on the back of Lamar’s trailer , as you can see it’s kind of big. If the Buick had a hitch it would probably been easier to trailer it the other way around i.e. the Buick towing the Chevy ….

PS: I think this says it all… “My Roadmasters weigh in at about 4200 lbs. Your girl weighs 5,182 friggin pounds” and “It is by far the biggest thing I have ever hauled. It's a good thing I didn't look it up on the internet before I left” because this is what he found “The preponderance of information suggests that the largest station wagons of all time were the 1971-1976 Buick Estate, Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser , and Pontiac Safari, with the slight edge given to the 1974-1976 Buicks”

[serb]

Dyna,

I'll second your nomination.



Stevo

[imported_JohnD1956]

Go Lamar, Go!

[TxBuicks]

I think I can speak for most people on this forum when I say 'Mr. Earl, if YOU ever need anything, just ask.' There will be a line of people forming behind me.

Ahhh shucks, it was nothin.

Thanks for the more than kind words. I was just so glad to be able to help.
It all really became a challenge when it became clear that the seller had no intention of following through with the sale, even though full payment had been made and I actually had a Bill of Sale in hand. I've heard the expression " possession is 9/10ths of the law before but Mobile Alabamians must consider it 9.999/10ths of the law. This lady actually thought that just because she still had the car in her backyard and had decided she didn't want to sell anymore that she didn't have too. I could have understood if she had had the car a long time or if it was a family heirloom thing, but she had only had it like 2 years. Well anyway's it is now safe and sound at Buick Gardens and as soon as the spigots thaw I'll give her a good bath and garage her. (She was sitting out for the last two years)

Yea I was just not aware those things are so big. I don't think I care to haul anymore 74-76 Buick Estate wagons, at least not with my current rig. I was proud of the ol' Silverado though. He's a 96 model and has 223,000 miles on him, never a wrench laid on him other than brake pads and shoes. I typically pull my Roadies in overdrive other than in the mountains, but I kept him in 3rd all the way home Sunday.

It was another of those trips I'll never forget and will be good for telling about for a long time. I miss having my son with me on these Buick runs. He was so good with the chains and buckin dogs, too. LOL

Again I'm so glad you finally got your dream car Dyna. It is a very nice car and will be even nicer when cleaned up and detailed. I do believe the mileage to be the 40K she said it was. Congrats to you for finally getting what you have wanted for so long.

Now... does anyone know where I might find a decent cloth bucket seat for a 96 Silverado. Mine seems to be pinched a bit. Oh and a steering wheel too, mine has finger imprints in it about a half inch deep.

Oh and please don't worry about any thing for me Dyna. Well maybe just this one little thing on eBay

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