[Sticky] What did you do with or to your DeSoto today?

Good work, Les!

Here's what one Canadian '31 DeSoto owner did with his DeSoto this past weekend:

LANG – Motorized vehicle enthusiasts were transported to another era at Lang Pioneer Village on Sunday.

About 700 people came to see vintage cars, trucks and motorcycles from the early 1900s to today at the 19th Antique and Classic Car Show.

More than 150 vehicles of every make and model covered much of main field with motorcycles part of the affair for the first time. It ran in conjunction with Transportation Days which continues to Sunday and featured a variety of activities in the village.

Participants came from all over the region, including the Peterborough area, the north and along the Lakeshore.

Just about every era was covered, including the 1920s with the Model T Ford through to the golden era of the 1950s and 60s with the 1957 T-Bird wings.

“It is tradition,’’ said Joe Corrigan, Village museum manager. “Baby boomers come out and bring their kids. There are many different vehicles, in different categories. People enjoy coming out to look at all these makes.’’

While it was an event for people of all ages, there were many who grew up in that golden age, and earlier.

One such couple was Warren and Barb Droesser of Hastings. Warren, who is 86, and Barb, 76, have been married 31 years, and have come to the show the last 15.

They were there Sunday with their 1931 Chrysler DeSoto, which is hauled by their 1941 Fargo pickup truck. They also have two 1990 Miatas, part of the Mazda family.

One thing that grabbed your attention when you first walked by their station, was a Thompson submachine gun, which rested in a case, in front of the Desoto. The gun was perhaps more popularly known as a Tommy Gun.

It took you back to the Bonnie and Clyde era when those two American outlaws and robbers travelled the central United States. They were ambushed and killed by law officers along a country road in Louisiana in 1934, which is right around the time of the Droesser’s DeSoto.

Even though Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were killed in a Ford, the comparisons were compelling.

Warren, who once raced cars, even delighted some of the passersby by posing in front of his DeSoto, holding the gun (empty of course) with one leg up on the front of the car, much the way Bonnie Parker once did and had her picture taken.

It was all part of the affect and Warren enjoyed every minute of it.

“I enjoy people coming by and looking at the old car,’’ he said with a laugh. “I like talking with them and showing them things. It’s a great show and we have enjoyed coming here. It’s a nice place to relax. I love cars, old cars. It’s also fun to go through the village.’’

Over 50 trophies were available to be won and the categories included the top 10 from five eras, Lang’s Choice, People’s Choice, Best Novelty and Best Motorcycle in Show.

Visitors and entrants listened to entertainment by Retro DJ Del and

inside the village could enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides, a petting zoo and pony rides and horse power demonstrations.

Throughout Transportation Days, visitors learned more about the earliest methods of transportation and found out how travelling has changed over the years.

dale.clifford@sunmedia.ca

While many NDC members were at the Convention in Kalamazoo, I was supporting our local AACA Region host the AACA's 80th Anniversary meet in Louisville, KY. I entered my '55 in its first AACA show in Drivers Participation Class and it earned its "DPC" status. The show venue was indoors at the air-conditioned KY Expo Center in Louisville. It was 100 degrees outside while many inside complained it was too cold with the A/C cranked up!

Mark

Here's what one Canadian '31 DeSoto owner did with his DeSoto this past weekend:

LANG – Motorized vehicle enthusiasts were transported to another era at Lang Pioneer Village on Sunday.

About 700 people came to see vintage cars, trucks and motorcycles from the early 1900s to today at the 19th Antique and Classic Car Show.

More than 150 vehicles of every make and model covered much of main field with motorcycles part of the affair for the first time. It ran in conjunction with Transportation Days which continues to Sunday and featured a variety of activities in the village.

Participants came from all over the region, including the Peterborough area, the north and along the Lakeshore.

Just about every era was covered, including the 1920s with the Model T Ford through to the golden era of the 1950s and 60s with the 1957 T-Bird wings.

“It is tradition,’’ said Joe Corrigan, Village museum manager. “Baby boomers come out and bring their kids. There are many different vehicles, in different categories. People enjoy coming out to look at all these makes.’’

While it was an event for people of all ages, there were many who grew up in that golden age, and earlier.

One such couple was Warren and Barb Droesser of Hastings. Warren, who is 86, and Barb, 76, have been married 31 years, and have come to the show the last 15.

They were there Sunday with their 1931 Chrysler DeSoto, which is hauled by their 1941 Fargo pickup truck. They also have two 1990 Miatas, part of the Mazda family.

One thing that grabbed your attention when you first walked by their station, was a Thompson submachine gun, which rested in a case, in front of the Desoto. The gun was perhaps more popularly known as a Tommy Gun.

It took you back to the Bonnie and Clyde era when those two American outlaws and robbers travelled the central United States. They were ambushed and killed by law officers along a country road in Louisiana in 1934, which is right around the time of the Droesser’s DeSoto.

Even though Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were killed in a Ford, the comparisons were compelling.

Warren, who once raced cars, even delighted some of the passersby by posing in front of his DeSoto, holding the gun (empty of course) with one leg up on the front of the car, much the way Bonnie Parker once did and had her picture taken.

It was all part of the affect and Warren enjoyed every minute of it.

“I enjoy people coming by and looking at the old car,’’ he said with a laugh. “I like talking with them and showing them things. It’s a great show and we have enjoyed coming here. It’s a nice place to relax. I love cars, old cars. It’s also fun to go through the village.’’

Over 50 trophies were available to be won and the categories included the top 10 from five eras, Lang’s Choice, People’s Choice, Best Novelty and Best Motorcycle in Show.

Visitors and entrants listened to entertainment by Retro DJ Del and

inside the village could enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides, a petting zoo and pony rides and horse power demonstrations.

Throughout Transportation Days, visitors learned more about the earliest methods of transportation and found out how travelling has changed over the years.

dale.clifford@sunmedia.ca

I really like the Thomson. I went to my high school prom in a driven Lincoln Limo. The Thomson will eat up an apple tree in no time. However, all those movies of people holding it the way the man is in the photo is all bull. I had to wear a THICK glove and place my are over the top and push down on the barrel. Then pull, and the thing recoils in a diagonal pattern. So, you start low and to the left and it kicks up and to the right!

Last weekend I went to an annual show here in San Francisco. It is on the Hyde Street Pier. Only 14 cars get to go out and park on the Pier due to fire regulations. Basically, the amount of fuel.

Around 75 years ago there would be a line of cars a block long waiting to drive onto the ferry before the GG Bridge opened.

Today the City of Lee's Summit, MO (population of 90 thousand) celebrated its 150th anniversary and the highlight of the celebration was a parade. The AACA of Kansas City was invited to participate and I gladly participated with my '59 Firesweep. There were 13 cars in our group, the temperature was above 90, and not one of the vehicles pooped out!

Of the 13 cars, only two were MoPars - mine and the club president, Bonnie Johnson, with her 1940 Plymouth coupe. The reception we got from the crowd was amazing which made it all the better. After the parade, most of the group gathered at a local cruise site for a well deserved lunch and air conditioned comfort.

"It's delightful, it's delovely, it's DeSoto"

I took my '59 Firesweep to Cruisin' at the "K". The "K" is Kaufman Stadium - home of the Kansas City Royals. This event was open to 250 pre-registered entries and is annual. One other car there ('61 Plymouth Fury) was of particular interest to me because it, coincidently, is the same color combination as my DeSoto.

By the way, the Royals won 4 to 3 in extra innings over the Angels. ESPN covered the game so many of you baseball fans may have watched it - pretty exciting all the way through.

"It's delightful, it's delovely, it's DeSoto"

Washed it and took it out for about a 10 mile ride around "town". Nothing spectacular....

Jim

Actually, this was back on 1 August, but I'm just now finding the time to post this. The Buckeye Chapter had a meeting in Urbana, OH, which is about 50 miles from where I live. I drove my '48 Custom 4-dr sedan up and back with no problems while driving. It didn't want to re-start when the engine was hot - not a new problem; vapor lock perhaps? The group went to view a very nice private auto collection, then ate at a nice restaurant in town before going out to a small airplane museum at the local airport where they're restoring a B-17. I hate to admit it, but I think that this is the furthest I've ever driven my '48 in the 33 years that I've owned it.

Bill

Went last weekend to get a replacement motor from a fellow forum member for my 48. Hoping in the next few weeks will be able to start the swap.

Friday evening our AACA Region organized a Club outing to a local cruise held every fourth Friday April - September at a private school outside Louisville. The school sells food at the cruise which supplements their budget for activities. This is very popular local cruise and normally draws hundreds of cars.

Making my '55 look great was Rosemary and Neal Stolowich's freshly restored '57 Firesweep hardtop. It's a beautiful car and they are really enjoying all the attention the car richly deserves. That's another Region member's '58 Dodge Spring Special hardtop parked next to our DeSotos. It's a beauty as well! It was a fun evening!!

Mark

Grocery shopping and lunch.

Had a blast cruising with the AACA of Kansas City with my '59 DeSoto. Drove about an 80 mile round trip from Kansas City to lunch at the "world famous" Bates City BBQ, shopping at the antique store in Bates City, visited the Civil War museum and battlefield in Lone Jack, MO, then the return drive back to Kansas City.

There were 26 cars altogether with mine being, as usual, the only DeSoto. The other MoPars were an '83 Chrysler LeBaron convertible and a '40 Plymouth coupe. The rest were all GM and Ford except for the one casualty and that was an old Austin Healy that had a brake problem and had to be towed home.

Lots of fun being able to drive my car instead of parking it at a car show of some sort - they get kinda boring after awhile.

"It's delightful, it's delovely, it's DeSoto"

What a day! We are moving from the Kansas City area to Branson, MO and I took my DeSoto to its new home in Branson. Unlike normally, I trailered it instead of driving it, which I would have preferred. But due to the number of vehicles out numbering the number of available drivers, I put it on a trailer and now have it garaged safe and sound.

On the way down, I stopped at Jim Raysic's Chrysler dealership in Clinton, MO so he could see my DeSoto. He asked me to swing by with the car when I was taking it to Branson which I was pleased to do. Jim has an old time replicated DeSoto dealership in downtown Clinton where he has several old cars (mostly MoPars) on display. He opens this up by appointment to individuals and groups.

I'll definitely miss the fun I had in Kansas City with it but I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities in Branson and nearby Springfield. I am also looking forward to meeting in person the DeSoto restoration guru, Bob Schmidt, who has his shop in Branson. Some of you might be familiar with, or at least heard of Bob.

"It's delightful, it's delovely, it's DeSoto"

Daydreamed about my 55 Desoto Fireflite 2dr HT at work today. It's still 2000+ miles away in New Mexico and not scheduled to arrive in CT until November. Can't wait !

Here's a photo showing the car as saw it when I first pulled up to the farm where it had been living since 1972. Near Las Vegas, NM.

Ron