Matt Harwood Posted August 16, 2020 Share Posted August 16, 2020 (edited) Today was the first outing with a group we're trying to put together called the Harwood Motors Road Masters--a group of pre-1970 cars with owners who like to drive. Our first event this year was supposed to be a weekend drive to circumnavigate Lake Erie, but with Coronavirus, well, that obviously isn't happening. Instead, we just had a nice 30-mile drive to lunch at a friend's restaurant. He's struggling so we thought this would help him out a bit. Beautiful setting and we got about 20 nice old cars that all made the drive without incident. We're hoping to make the Harwood Motors Road Masters into a challenging tour group--people who really want to drive their cars. Like 250 miles a day, not a little drive up the street to a craft shop and ice cream. 3-4 day tours so they don't kill a week for working people. Affordable stops so that anyone can go. And 100% kid friendly with kid-specific events and groups so they can hang out together, too. We didn't get to make it start the way we wanted this year, but we have big plans for the future and really driving the cars will be a big part of it. We're still hashing out the requirements, but right now it's simply any car built before 1970. I wanted to make it pre-war only, but that would guarantee very few participants and/or a lot of hot rods, so we settled on 1970 simply because I can't conceive of cars built after I was born as "old." We're not sure about hot rods or modifications, but I don't want to be militant about it. We'll work it out after we see who shows up for future events. Today we had a great variety. Melanie led with her '56 Chrysler and I was bringing up the tail with the Limited. In between there was a '38 Packard Super 8 convertible sedan, a '49 Packard sedan, a 1954 Cadillac sedan, a '54 Jaguar XK120, three early Corvettes, a pair of Corvairs, a 1946 Cadillac convertible, a '63 Buick Wildcat, a '56 Chevy convertible, and a '63 Ford pickup owned by the grandson of the original owner. My shop manager, Michael and his wife drove a '64 Bonneville from our inventory. Everything went smoothly and we all enjoyed a nice box lunch by the lake. Storm clouds started to move in so everyone disbanded quickly, but for this group, rain just can't be an issue. If you're afraid of getting your car wet or dirty, then this isn't the group for you. If you're going to drive, you drive, weather be damned... Hey, even my wipers work! Edited August 16, 2020 by Matt Harwood (see edit history) 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Stoneberg Posted August 16, 2020 Share Posted August 16, 2020 Sounds like a group I would enjoy. I wish you weren’t 1200 miles away. Good Job Matt. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted August 17, 2020 Author Share Posted August 17, 2020 🖐️ details Here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Luddy Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 On 8/16/2020 at 3:16 PM, Matt Harwood said: Today was the first outing with a group we're trying to put together called the Harwood Motors Road Masters--a group of pre-1970 cars with owners who like to drive. Our first event this year was supposed to be a weekend drive to circumnavigate Lake Erie, but with Coronavirus, well, that obviously isn't happening. Instead, we just had a nice 30-mile drive to lunch at a friend's restaurant. He's struggling so we thought this would help him out a bit. Beautiful setting and we got about 20 nice old cars that all made the drive without incident. We're hoping to make the Harwood Motors Road Masters into a challenging tour group--people who really want to drive their cars. Like 250 miles a day, not a little drive up the street to a craft shop and ice cream. 3-4 day tours so they don't kill a week for working people. Affordable stops so that anyone can go. And 100% kid friendly with kid-specific events and groups so they can hang out together, too. We didn't get to make it start the way we wanted this year, but we have big plans for the future and really driving the cars will be a big part of it. We're still hashing out the requirements, but right now it's simply any car built before 1970. I wanted to make it pre-war only, but that would guarantee very few participants and/or a lot of hot rods, so we settled on 1970 simply because I can't conceive of cars built after I was born as "old." We're not sure about hot rods or modifications, but I don't want to be militant about it. We'll work it out after we see who shows up for future events. Today we had a great variety. Melanie led with her '56 Chrysler and I was bringing up the tail with the Limited. In between there was a '38 Packard Super 8 convertible sedan, a '49 Packard sedan, a 1954 Cadillac sedan, a '54 Jaguar XK120, three early Corvettes, a pair of Corvairs, a 1946 Cadillac convertible, a '63 Buick Wildcat, a '56 Chevy convertible, and a '63 Ford pickup owned by the grandson of the original owner. My shop manager, Michael and his wife drove a '64 Bonneville from our inventory. Everything went smoothly and we all enjoyed a nice box lunch by the lake. Storm clouds started to move in so everyone disbanded quickly, but for this group, rain just can't be an issue. If you're afraid of getting your car wet or dirty, then this isn't the group for you. If you're going to drive, you drive, weather be damned... Hey, even my wipers work! That looks like my kinda group! If the border opens up I'll meet you on the west end of Lake Erie at Detroit and cruise you thru some nice Canadian back roads on the North side of the "Big E" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Phillips Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 After six weeks of sitting untouched, I finally located my lost keys for this '37 Roadmaster, primed the carburetor, and it cranked right up and ran great. I drove it hime this evening, 17 miles at 60 mph--did fine. This old gem loves the open road. Still trying to find a replacement grille, front bumper, bumper braces (Roadmaster or LImited only--not even Dave Tachney has those), and I need the windshield wiper stands, arms, & wiper transmissions. Special and Century are too small. This is the car that fell out of the barn in New Hampshire last year--a great car, way too nice to part out or give up on! 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvelde Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 Doing Bug Tussle Trek on the 29th, are you going to have your Leonard place open, or will you be in Bonham? Not sure if we will be in the Buick or modern car - depends on the temperature. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooklyn Beer Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 I have yet to Bug Tussle. My buddy has a farm in Honey Grove. It is always just so freaken HOT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Phillips Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 Yes, it's always hot for the Bug Tussle Trek, but they do arrange stops every hour or two for cold drinks, water, restrooms, etc., and they will be stopping in Bonham, TX for a tour of my parts warehouse/storage barn. Pete Phillips 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buicknutty Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 That sounds like fun, Matt! Hope we get a better year in '21. I'm actually going to be doing my first tour next week, but not a Buick Club one. Will be nice to have some driving time in a vintage, for a purpose. I take the others out for a spin, but though I love to drive, I get a bit, sorta bored with being aimless? If I'm making any sense to anyone. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted sweet Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 with no shows to attend my electra hasnt been out of the barn since june Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 4 hours ago, ted sweet said: with no shows to attend my electra hasnt been out of the barn since june What a waste! Ben 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvelde Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 Ted, sounds like you need to learn how to "joy ride" - about twice a week works for me! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgwarhawk Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Small show at Sunset Grille somewhere MD. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted sweet Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 11 hours ago, ted sweet said: with no shows to attend my electra hasnt been out of the barn since june 6 hours ago, Ben Bruce aka First Born said: What a waste! Ben driving to no where alone is no fun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 10 minutes ago, ted sweet said: driving to no where alone is no fun I guess I'm easy to entertain.😁 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buick Regal GS Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 took the 73 to a cruise tonight heard about it last minute, finally got the air conditioning fixed on the 73 and on the 90 GS plus rear strut's getting the 73 to closer to driving to Concord, these Buick money pits getting expensive 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 12 hours ago, old-tank said: I guess I'm easy to entertain.😁 As Mack Davis sang " I value my own company." I know some folks don't like solitude. I do. A drive in the country, windows down, NO RADIO, is my idea of "fun", I guess. Ben 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machine Gun Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 19 hours ago, Ben Bruce aka First Born said: As Mack Davis sang " I value my own company." I know some folks don't like solitude. I do. A drive in the country, windows down, NO RADIO, is my idea of "fun", I guess. Ben I'm an only child and an engineer. That combination of personality traits doesn't produce someone who needs to socialize. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that I'm not a "socialist." 1 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Den41Buick Posted August 23, 2020 Share Posted August 23, 2020 Another hot weekend in New England. Saturday took a 93 mile cruise to Connecticut in the model 71C, from Putnam to Scotland and Canterbury to Brooklyn before stopping in Foster, RI. Stopped for a photo opportunity in the front of the Hampton Congregational Church. A very pretty town with several old colonial homes. Today, Sunday, we took out the model 41 for a ride with the dog. It was really to hot for us all. The air conditioning was not working and my sneakers felt like they were melting. It was a short 43 mile drive through Foster and Glocester. We did pick up pizza for lunch. I did not see any other antique Buicks on the road this weekend. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted August 23, 2020 Share Posted August 23, 2020 (edited) Perfect evening for getting the convertible out for a ride through town. And in for the night. Bleed the Riviera brakes tomorrow and I will at least take it out for lunch. Edited August 23, 2020 by 60FlatTop (see edit history) 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Den41Buick Posted August 24, 2020 Share Posted August 24, 2020 Love that flat top! Any more pics of it on the road? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuickBob49 Posted August 24, 2020 Share Posted August 24, 2020 (edited) I had the 1949 Super 51 out both days this weekend in Portland. I ran across this largely original 1953 Chevrolet 1/2-ton pickup in the neighborhood this afternoon and I had to take a photo. Nice truck! Edited August 24, 2020 by BuickBob49 (see edit history) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buicknutty Posted August 24, 2020 Share Posted August 24, 2020 We had the Electra out for about a 25-30 mile run Friday evening, the first time it has been out in about a month. Warm, in the low 80's, the A/C was working, but we drove without it. Not too much sun so it was very comfortable with the windows down driving around the country roads at about 50 MPH. I stopped by this old building in a tiny town near us to take a quick picture of it. Keith 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted August 24, 2020 Share Posted August 24, 2020 Out to breakfast with some car friends. Our usual Monday morning get together. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRJBUICK Posted August 24, 2020 Share Posted August 24, 2020 The Wife and I spent all day Saturday making a Buick day of it. Morning was spent running errands and doing brunch in our 91 Reatta vert. No pics though Then we ended up taking the Pace Car with some chapter members after 4pm to a real nice low key cruise spot. Great day with friends and cars and of course my wife. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Den41Buick Posted August 29, 2020 Share Posted August 29, 2020 Well it is not officially the weekend yet, but we needed to go out for ice cream tonight. Beautiful and pleasant temperature to ride in the evening at 73 degrees. Yes, Bubba managed to get some ice cream and cone too! We got home under darkness. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Den41Buick Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 Magnifique journée, hermoso dia, belo dia, bella giornata, or in English, beautiful day! Bright blue skies with a light breese and temperature of 75 degrees! It was so nice, I drove both Buick's today. Stayed in RI today. Took the Roadmaster to Coventry, West Greenwich, West Warwick, Scituate and finally to Foster to check out the progress on my brothers project. Went home and had lunch and packed up the Special with Bubba. He really wanted a ride today. We just drove around with no real purpose through Foster and Glocester. As with my tours, we did not see another antique car on the road! I should be close to 1K on the Roadmaster since spring. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgwarhawk Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 Krispy Kreme. Small cruis-in we have every Sunday. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted September 1, 2020 Author Share Posted September 1, 2020 Drove em all since Friday. Today was the weekly golf league. Took the Queen again. The golf bag and cart get lost in that car's trunk. Lol 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRJBUICK Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 So that guy smiling would be me and the reason of course is I am behind the wheel of my 60 225. My wife pulled up and did an impromptu pic. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul White Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 On 8/10/2020 at 11:26 AM, Matt Harwood said: The first time I've driven the thing in two weeks. I was going through withdrawal! I can't seem to get the time to get my '36 out for a run, I know exactly what you mean when you say you suffer withdrawals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buick Regal GS Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 Cruisin tonite at Matus Winery Wakeman, Ohio a couple Buick chapter members there 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buick Regal GS Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 Al Keuhns Wildcat,, Les Beri's 69 GS and GTO, my 73 Regal 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buicknutty Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 Today we took the Reatta out for a 25 mile drive, as it hasn't been out in 3 or 4 weeks. Started and ran great, temp was about 80F, and not much humidity, perfect for some top down motoring. Keith 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul White Posted September 5, 2020 Share Posted September 5, 2020 Hi all, sunny 71F Spring day here in Australia so with my wife distracted by course work I took the '36 for a 85 mile country run. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Den41Buick Posted September 5, 2020 Share Posted September 5, 2020 Today was an beautiful day! Low temps and little to no humidity. Took a long ride to on some really nicely paved and shady roads to Woodstock, CT. Saw a 1987 Riv convertible on my travels. I cannot believe more antique cars were not on the road. If it as nice tomorrow, I will be on tour again. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Den41Buick Posted September 6, 2020 Share Posted September 6, 2020 Out for ice cream from the backseat this evening. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Den41Buick Posted September 6, 2020 Share Posted September 6, 2020 Picnic lunch at the town common in Thompson, CT. Lots of history around the common to see. Beautiful day as well! 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted September 6, 2020 Author Share Posted September 6, 2020 Several outings in each car this last week. @Den41Buick I did not see any other classic Buicks either but still had a great ride. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buicknutty Posted September 6, 2020 Share Posted September 6, 2020 We took the '69 Electra to a nearby town to visit a large antique store, just over 20 miles round trip, so just a short drive, not like last year when we drove it to Oklahoma City last year for the National! I got a set of 1969 Ontario license plates to go with the car for only $20, and in near perfect condition. One is allowed to use YOM plates here, but it is rather costly. You have to send them in to a specific address at the Ministry, pay a nearly $300. (one time) fee for them to validate them, then the license fee is the same as for daily drivers at $120. per year, and there are a lot of driving restrictions in place. So I have passed on doing it, I'll just use these when it's on display somewhere. Keith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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