AK Buickman Posted July 27, 2020 Share Posted July 27, 2020 On this day, July 26th, in 2003, the BCA celebrated the 100th anniversary of Buick Motor Division with a national meet in Flint, Michigan. It's hard to believe that was 17 years ago! What a fantastic show that was! I brought my '55 Roadmaster Riviera back "home" again for the 2003 meet, covering over 9,278 miles roundtrip to attend that meet. The Fireball V-Eight engine ran like a champ. I drove the entire length of the Alaska Highway during that trip. The whole trip was from July 6, 2003, to August 9, 2003, with a few stops in Seattle and Chicago. That road trip and BCA meet was the "Thrill of the Year" for me! Buicks are meant to be DRIVEN! Gary Klecka, BCA #1955 1955 Roadmaster Riviera 9 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted July 27, 2020 Share Posted July 27, 2020 That really was a great meet. Here are some photos I took while there. Anyone recognize their own car from way back then? 6 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted July 27, 2020 Share Posted July 27, 2020 Nice picture layout, Matt. Thanks. Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted July 27, 2020 Share Posted July 27, 2020 Here is a shot in front of the library where the 1960's cars were parked. Mine is on the right. Saturday morning my wife went down to the car from our hotel room and came back up empty handed. She said the key wouldn't work in the trunk. I promptly escorted her back to the parking area where I spotted the other white '60 Flat top that had arrived during the night. With all of the accurate observation of George Bernard Shaw's famous quote I smoothly reached for my truck lock saying "It fits this one." Remember that restored 1956 chassis on the show field? It was the first Buick I had seen rebuilt at that level. It made an impression on me and it is still the gauge I use when I think about the longevity of a car. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUICK RACER Posted July 27, 2020 Share Posted July 27, 2020 There's some more here! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted July 27, 2020 Share Posted July 27, 2020 (edited) It was perhaps the most memorable week ever for this Buick enthusiast! I'll add a couple of photos. Gary's '55 Roadmaster seen here at the Hot Rod Cafe in northern Idaho. This was our first night out from Seattle, and we had a Buick Centennial parade and car show in Coeur d'Alene, The second image shows Gary's car (a few cars back) in the lineup a few miles outside of Flint, as we were preparing to drive the final distance to the Flint Cultural Center. We entered Flint with fifty-six Buicks, having gathered cars all the way across Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Bob and Judy Leets arranged a police escort into Flint for our group. At the head of the lineup were Buicks from 1908 and 1909. Edited July 27, 2020 by Centurion (see edit history) 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK Buickman Posted July 27, 2020 Author Share Posted July 27, 2020 60Flattop mentioned the 1956 Buick chassis on display at this meet. The restoration work was very high quality, and I still think about that chassis to this day, and what model '56 body will be reinstalled on the chassis. What is the status of that chassis nowadays? Is the body back on the chassis? My guess is that the Century pedal car seen in one of these photos that I took at the meet in 2003 was a prediction of what the real car was going to look like once it was completed. Gary Klecka, BCA #1955 1955 Roadmaster Riviera 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK Buickman Posted July 27, 2020 Author Share Posted July 27, 2020 Here is a photo that I took at Hot Rod Cafe in Post Falls, Idaho, of Brian's beautiful '59 Electra Flattop. This was the first night out of Seattle with a caravan of Buicks heading to Flint in 2003. I'll add to what Brian mentioned in another posting, that this week was a Buick lovers dream come true!! I sure wanted to buy the '55 Buick couch that was in Hot Rod Cafe! They also had a '56 Buick couch, and the front end of a small series '55 Buick on the wall above the bar! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted July 27, 2020 Share Posted July 27, 2020 Just one of the 1,700 remarkable Buicks displayed, this 1931 model 96-C drove from Seattle with us. Gary and Shirley Cummings were an inspiration to all -- always gracious as they steered their majestic Buick across the country without a hiccup. Here, we see the Buick in Staples, Minnesota, where Nyhus Chevrolet - Buick hosted a car show and reception for us. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
50jetback Posted July 27, 2020 Share Posted July 27, 2020 Thanks for stirring the memories Gary and Brian. http://www.westernbuicks.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Stuart-Syme-Seattle2-Oct-2003.pdf 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Welch Posted July 27, 2020 Share Posted July 27, 2020 Bill : Notice that the Beer distributor was C Pappas Company . Matt: My car is not there, but my friend the late Bill Bergstrom's 41 woody was there. It is now owned by BCA members David and JoAnne Millard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEarl Posted July 28, 2020 Share Posted July 28, 2020 What a great thread. This was my and my sons first ever National Meet and was a wonderful experience. If I recall correctly, the owner of the two tone green '54 Roadmaster won one of if not the only award given out , something along the Buick Spirit award? at the ceremonies held at an auditorium with music provided by and again if my memory serves me correct, Bruce Hornsby? We were gifted the tickets to that show by a complete stranger while standing in line for to have our newly purchased copy of Buick A Complete History signed by Terry Dunham. Thanks everyone for bringing back the memories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted July 28, 2020 Share Posted July 28, 2020 1 hour ago, MrEarl said: with music provided by and again if my memory serves me correct, Bruce Hornsby? That was "Heuy Lewis & the News" that played. And seems I read there were 1,902 cars at that event. It was an awesome time. '56 and '57's were parked outside a local school of music and there was at least one steel drum band concert provided that I know of. Not sure if that was planned or not but it is still remembered! I remember the outside field of the newer cars (late sixties to new) going on and on, forever! IT was a fantastic time! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jscheib Posted July 28, 2020 Share Posted July 28, 2020 And don't forget the fireworks show! I believe after the concert. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted July 28, 2020 Share Posted July 28, 2020 Lots of pictures used to be on the BCA website (buickclub.org). They could be accessed by going to past meets and selecting Flint 2003; now nothing. I uploaded 21 pictures of all the 55 Bucks that I could find. I still have them. If someone cannot resurrect them, I can try to find a way to share them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUICK RACER Posted July 28, 2020 Share Posted July 28, 2020 Willie, look on photos.buickclub.org may still be there, I hope! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK Buickman Posted July 28, 2020 Author Share Posted July 28, 2020 Lamar, Here are what the 2003 Banquet and awards presentation tickets looked like. Due to the high number of people attending, the banquet was outside under large tents. The awards presentation was inside in the auditorium. I still have these tickets as shown in the photo. Gary BCA #1955 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted July 28, 2020 Share Posted July 28, 2020 1 hour ago, BUICK RACER said: Willie, look on photos.buickclub.org may still be there, I hope! Not there. But they are HERE! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireballV8 Posted July 29, 2020 Share Posted July 29, 2020 2 hours ago, AK Buickman said: Lamar, Here are what the 2003 Banquet and awards presentation tickets looked like. Due to the high number of people attending, the banquet was outside under large tents. The awards presentation was inside in the auditorium. I still have these tickets as shown in the photo. Gary BCA #1955 Hi Gary Thank you for posting this, that was a great event and one that will not be forgotten for those of us that were there. I remember the night of the concert or the awards banquet you were wearing the orange Buick sport coat. Is my recollection correct? Thanks Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK Buickman Posted July 29, 2020 Author Share Posted July 29, 2020 1 hour ago, FireballV8 said: Hi Gary Thank you for posting this, that was a great event and one that will not be forgotten for those of us that were there. I remember the night of the concert or the awards banquet you were wearing the orange Buick sport coat. Is my recollection correct? Thanks Steve Hi Steve, Yes, your memory is correct! I dressed for the occassion, and was wearing an original Buick Salesman's sport jacket, complete with a beautiful embroidered Tri-Shield on the front pocket. I bought the jacket at one of the early BCA National Meets. It is in perfect condition, barely used, and it fits me perfectly. My guess is the jacket is from the 1960's. The photo here was taken on July 26, 2003 before the banquet. Gary 1955 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y-JobFan Posted July 29, 2020 Share Posted July 29, 2020 Without question the greatest Buick event I ever attended. The cars, concert, fireworks, even the swap meet was stellar. There were not enough days. Logistics were fantastic for any event, but remarkable for that size event. There have been lots of great events before and after but that one reigns supreme. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted July 29, 2020 Share Posted July 29, 2020 (edited) 2003 Flint will never be duplicated............I saw so much so many Buicks it was impossible to view it all in the few days we had.......I would like a mulligan. Thanks to everyone involved ..... especially Buicktown chapter. Edited July 29, 2020 by Barney Eaton (see edit history) 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
50jetback Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 And another memory of this great event. I believe all the International BCA members who attended received one of these. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B Jake Moran Posted August 3, 2020 Share Posted August 3, 2020 On 7/26/2020 at 8:55 PM, Matt Harwood said: That really was a great meet. Here are some photos I took while there. Anyone recognize their own car from way back then? I own the Y Job and the LeSabre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glassesguy Posted August 4, 2020 Share Posted August 4, 2020 Unforgettable meet. Denny Manner and the Buicktown Chapter knocked this one out of the park!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y-JobFan Posted August 4, 2020 Share Posted August 4, 2020 On 7/28/2020 at 11:02 PM, AK Buickman said: Hi Steve, Yes, your memory is correct! I dressed for the occassion, and was wearing an original Buick Salesman's sport jacket, complete with a beautiful embroidered Tri-Shield on the front pocket. I bought the jacket at one of the early BCA National Meets. It is in perfect condition, barely used, and it fits me perfectly. My guess is the jacket is from the 1960's. The photo here was taken on July 26, 2003 before the banquet. Gary 1955 Who are the others others Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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