VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION Meets, Tours & Events 33rd Middle West Meet - photos

Since I was a little busy on judging day, I had my daughter take some photos...enjoy!

This link will take you to the album, then click slideshow.

www.photobucket.com/birdcam69

Tim

Thanks for sharing. Having made the call to not make the drive without my truck, it is good to see some of the vehicles even if it is just photos.

My Son & I also tok pictures at the middle west meet Check them out at
http://picasaweb.google.com/62Impalaman/VCCAMiddleWestMeet2009#

I'll bet you can tell which car is ours!

Wow Brad!!! Great set of pictures. Never seem to tire of looking at pictures of these nice old Chevys!!! Noticed some great ones including a 57 Nomad, a 53 210 convertible, a 52 convertible, several Vettes and other nice ones. Thnx for posting over 300 pictures....

bill.

For some reason I thought the pictures of the 1957 Nomad were great also

Probably one of the best restored vehicles there was the odd tan colored 1954 pick-up.....and, yes, the color is correct.

Your Nomad is soooo sweet Gene. I clearly remember about falling out of my chair when I saw it for the first time on the cover of the G and D a while back. In front of that "space age" looking building. (Museum ??!??) I guess that was around Sept of 08, or so. Anyway, what a beauty!!!!!

Bill.

Great photos!!I have always wondered what a VCCA meet looked like,thanks for sharing.I guess I won't be attending any in the future as I would be embarrased to show up with either of my vehicles at one of these meets.I may have to rethink my reasons for being in this club,I know you don't have to own a Chevy to be in the club,but,really what fun is that.Clearly I am not in this league and do not plan on spending the money it would take to get my cars in that kind of shape.Again thanks for posting the photos.

Rest assured that all Chevys in the VCCA are not nearly as nice as those that go to the National meets to get judged. There are some that just stay in the parking lot while the others are on the judging field (sometimes mine are in that category). There are a bunch of other activities other than Judging and Meets. Tours both local and National are becoming more popular. Then there are the informal get togethers too. So don't feel that you are a second class member.

Just look at my avatar and see what I am proud to be the owner.

Thats why my '57 is pictured parked next to the Motel. It better qualifies as a three year old used car.
All the cars being judged are not necessarly perfect cars either. Most are folks wondering what needs improvement on their vehicle.

Gene,if that Nomad is not on the show field at every meet,I know I've got problems!! All kidding aside,if that is how you feel about that Nomad,then I am absolutely sure I don't belong at a meet.I'll just look at the pictures that others take of these outstanding cars and trucks.

My car is "FAR" from perfect. Infact I like to call it "Refurbished" not Restored. I wouldnt be ashamed to park my car next to anyones car at any meet. Considering what I started with, and on my budget. Its a 1000pt car to me.

Dont get caught up in the "perfection" aspect of this hobby.

It will cost you WAY TOO MUCH FUN!

Your car looks GREAT to me..............

I have been going to meets since 1973 and having cars judged. My cars are drivers, are in preservation class, and never were perfect. In the last several years I no longer have them judged but just go and enjoy the people, their cars, and the driving.

No truer words were ever spoken, especially when you consider that the judging is a minor aspect of the overall vast picture of the VCCA.

All really good points,although when I see that at least 2 of you that responded have 50+ cumulative years in the VCCA and I think by now would have adopted a "been there,done that" attitude,not that it's a bad thing.Well,I have only been around VCCA for a very short time so a judged meet was on this list to get to eventually,guess I'll just put that on the back burner for now.
I don't think I'm looking to get my cars perfect,but,I guess we are our own worst criticts.Between this time of year and working,I am completely frustrated by not being able to do anything to improve the cars.Quitting my job and moving to a warmer climate is not an option.......boy,I sure hate winter....

I was just looking over the pictures and I have a couple of questions and comments.

a. The orange 1954 P/U: I thought that the engine color changed blue in 54?

b. Same engine: It looks like there is a exhaust leak at the #2/3 outlet. I know, I know. Forgive my nitpicking. But, I had the same problem when I put my engine together for the 41. I didn't have the exhaust planed/trued. Had to take it back off and do it right.

c. What caused the owner of the blue 41 to skip wheel trim rings? Most times I've seen that and talked to the owner, the reason given was not to scratch the wheel paint. Well, okay, but a set would look real good on it.

d. A car 49/50 behind the 41 didn't have skirts. I know some models didn't come with skirts, but come on, those cars really need them and they were an accessory available. I can't fathom a really good reason to not dress up that right angled wheel opening.

e. Back to the 54 P/U: Was the engine painted at the factory with the valve cover on it? If so why is the gasket showing. Actually, I have always liked the looks of the natural colored gaskets showing any where they appear on the engine.

f. 54 P/U again: To me, that engine color looks like the right shade for the 216s in the 41 era. Nice deep gray.

Note: Both cars and the P/U I mentioned above look great. I commend their owners. And, please don't take this as scoffing. Its not. I don't even have a spark plug that would come up to the detailing seen here. Its just some musings on a day its too cold to get out of the house. Its only 50 degrees out there.

Best, Charlie

a- color really isn't orange. Its an odd tan and didn't reproduce well on my screen. That was the original color of the truck. Its a rather rare 1954 with the late design version of a Deluxe cab. It also has Hydramatic - thus the automatic choke.
The owner, Roger James had just restored the truck and in my estimation it was the most perfect restoration there, as his cars always are. He has drivers also but some trailer Queens.
The engine color is the 216 color and correct for 235 truck engines in 1/2, 3/4, 1 and 1 1/2 ton trucks through 1962.The 8 cyinder engines in that load range were gray also (now you learned something)
B- I can see what would look like an exhaust leak and knowing Roger it would not have one.
C- That is the 1941 of Stremmels that is in the Jan G&D for 32,000 dollars and I could have bought it for 12,000 two years ago. Stremmels did not like trim rings and wanted the stripes to show. She almost had a fit the first time she saw my 1950 after I bought it and put the discs on it.....and they scratched the wheels.
D-1949-54 Deluxe/BelAir models did come from teh

he factory with skirts and were an accessory on the cheaper models.
The 1941 did have skirts when Jim, the present owner bought the car.
E- the engine was painted at the factory after it was assembled so to be 100 percent the valve cover gasket was pained. The new car set up guys at the dealership I worked at removed the valve cover and retorqued the head bolts and a djusted the valves on all new car and this was a facort required operation and they always replaced the gasker as the original was the thin gasket.

Things got a little "rushed" at the end. My wife was calling to come for supper.

The Deluxe/BelAir did come from the factory with skirts as standard equipment.
The valve cover gasket was painted no not "pained"
this was a factory required operation---and replaced the gasket.

Note - the head was also re-torqued again at the 1000 mile inspection and the valves re-adjusted. This operation was also recommended with each tune-up every 5000 miles.

Hey Gene - it that durned spellchucker on the blink agane?

I happen to like the rear wheel openings on my '50 Belair, but I'm reluctant to put them back on because they were repainted and for HPOFC that is a points reduction.

Roger

The repainted skirts would not be an "exterior deduction". You are allowed to have up to 25% of the car repainted without having the exterior fail to qualify as original. You really don't get points deducted in HPOFC, more of what is remaining of the original areas. If I were certifing the car for HPOFC the missing skirts would be taken into consideration and could cause the car to not get certified if there were a number of other "problems".
I would suspect the freshly repainted skirts may not match the green on the original parts of the car so that would not look the best either.
My 1950 has had the right rear quarter panel and skirt repainted plus a few other small areas, I have always declared that and it was no problem.

Gene,
A couple of posts back you mentioned a 49/50 doesn't look right without skirts. Do you feel the same way about an outside sunvisor?

I took the visor off my '50....As far as looks it dosen't make much difference. For high speed driving into a head wind the visor would do a dance in front of me and make me nervous. Also when touring in the mountains like Colorado or Vermont it limits your upward viewing.
Perhaps I install it again for a change. I no mountain driving in my future plans.

I alwys prefered skitrs on the 1949-54 cars but thats a matter of opinion .

So what going on with your '49?

Thanks, I'll probably go without it for now just to save the $100. Still looking for the skirts in a range I can afford. It's in the neighbors garage right now, he's a full time mechanic, getting the tranny back in. Got the speedometor bushing you explained to me and he should have it done this week. It will then be driveable but no work on the upholstry or body. Still looking for a formular for Greicen Gray. Don't see any paint on mine that could be a good match, even under the gas cap like you mentioned. Did get the '52 motor in after realineing the front motor mounts. Worked out quite well. Oh well, a little at a time. I'll have more questions later.