This was a very successful season with a trio of great National Meets and the Lincoln Homecoming. Both the Eastern and Western meets had small attendance but this provided time for in-depth conversations with other members. As I write this, the Western National Meet concluded a few short days ago. The area had plenty to offer with its history, culture and the wonderful events planned by the national club and the New Mexico Region. The weather made me feel right at home, as it was as unpredictable and variable as at home in New England! The next LCOC national event is the board meeting being held in Tucson, Arizona, January 17-19, 2019. The committees will look back at 2018 and then plan ahead for 2019 and beyond to improve the LCOC experience. If you have any issues or comments, please contact your Region Director or any other board member to have your input presented to the appropriate committee.
The team is working on solidifying the 2019 National Meets. The Eastern National Meet is being held in the Hudson River Valley on September 18-21, hosted by the Mid-Atlantic Region. They have some very special events planned. The Western and Mid-America meets remain in the planning stages and will be announced shortly. The Lincoln Homecoming at the Gilmore is slated for August 8-11. Hosted by the Road Race Lincoln Registry, this meet will be very special. All Ford products are invited to make this a comprehensive gathering for Ford aficionados. I am sure the facility will be packed with Ford products from many decades of production.
One of the spark plugs crucial to a successful National Meet is the Executive VP. Bob Johnson has labored tirelessly encouraging regions to host meets as a means of growing membership. Bob is always willing to provide assistance to enable smaller regions to host a National Meet. Jeanie and I always see Bob and Mary at meets solving problems and completing the myriad tasks that pop up. This is a joint effort, with Mary supporting Bob on the front lines, as well as behind the scenes with all the paperwork, mailings, and phone calls required for a successful meet. This year has been a very busy time at the Johnson household, being on the Mid-America Meet committee, and registrar for the Lincoln Homecoming, as well as the de facto meet chairmen at the Albuquerque meet. Bob is retiring as Executive Vice President at the end of the year after five excellent years of supporting the club to the great benefit of the members. Bob and Mary have been road warriors for many years, driving their award-winning black 1989 Mark VII convertible to national meets all over the country, culminating at the Albuquerque meet receiving their twentieth Emeritus award! That is a record, including meets all over the country, racking up thousands of miles on their faithful Lincoln. Many of those trips had the convertible packed to the gills with meet packets, auction items, and general meet supplies. I am sure Bob and Mary know every inch of that Lincoln better than those who designed it!
I have been very fortunate to have Bob and Mary supporting the LCOC and Foundation over the past five years. It definitely has made my job easier and more fun. I am indebted to Bob and Mary for their support of the LCOC. Thank you.
Until next time
John
The Museum Homecoming was a success with a great line up of Zephyrs and Continentals arriving after their exploration of the Elkhart, Indiana area earlier in the week. Thanks to the LZOC for hosting this year’s event. Plan for next year when the Homecoming will be hosted by the Road Race Lincoln Registry, who will be inviting all marques produced by FoMoCo to participate and share in the fun. It should be a new and different event and provide the opportunity to see other Ford and Mercury vehicles. Do you have your reservations for the Western National Meet in Albuquerque, New Mexico October 17-21? A fun time is in store for everybody.
Summer appears to be waning in New England, almost like the switch was turned off. The summer was hot and sunny which is a test of both automobiles and passengers as one traverses the roads to exercise and enjoy our Lincolns. As this is written it is in the 60s, but a few short days ago the weather was hot and steamy, at least for the Boston area. This is the time to use the more reasonable temperatures to enjoy your Lincoln and provide another benefit. We collect automobiles for the love of the vehicle and what it represented when it was manufactured. They reflect society at the time, and Lincoln provided the benchmark for automotive design and engineering. The early Lincolns provided quiet, stylish and reliable transportation in the day of the later Model Ts. The art deco period of the ‘30s saw the introduction of light weight unibody construction surrounded by wonderfully shaped metal. The ‘50s continued with advances to improve drivability, with ball joint suspension, power steering and brakes to make driving these larger automobiles more enjoyable for everyone. The large late’ 50s land yachts reflected the exuberance of the day. The ‘60s brought about a “smaller” design that was very sleek and soon to be copied by other manufacturers. The ‘70s were a challenging time with an increase in fuel prices that changed the landscape forever, leaving Lincoln the last holdout of the large vehicles. The ‘80s saw a universal downsizing where the goal was to improve fuel economy while retaining the comfort associated with the larger cars of the ‘70s. The changes in the ‘90s and beyond were subtler, with more refined engineering and hi-tech electronics aimed at producing cars that were comfortable, reliable and economical to operate.
Why the history lesson of Lincolns through the decades? It has to do with the need to show off all your hard work to the public. Jeanne and I attend a few local car shows each year to both allow people to see our Lincolns and to enjoy the drive to the event. The people who attend car shows come to see the impressive workmanship and styling of all the automobiles that are proudly displayed. They come with the specific intention of viewing automobiles. What about all the people you pass on the way to and from the event? This is where you provide the public an unexpected glimpse of your Lincoln “in action” as it was intended by the designers. Think about all the smiles, thumbs-up and horn toots received while driving. What about the person who stops working on their lawn to take a look as you motor by and calls out to the children to stop and look? How about the person who remembers these cars when they were driving the roads on a regular basis and has an unexpected encounter to reminisce about the Lincoln that a favorite uncle owned? You are providing not only the visual impact but the sounds, or lack of noise that radiates when starting from a stop, shifting gears or just cruising along the road. A toot of your horn will further elicit a wave or a longer pause to savor the moment.
Let’s get out and show off our Lincolns to brighten someone’s day and rekindle a memory of days gone by.
Until next time
John
