Day 4 Highlights of the 2022 LCOC Western National Meet
Day 4 Highlights of the 2022 LCOC Western National Meet
Written by Elayne Bendel
Reproduced with permission
Reproduced with permission
The 2022 Western National Meet is now history but coming as it did in the “playground of the stars” it did not lack for drama. The spectacular scenery and setting at the DoubleTree Hotel and Desert Princess Country Club put us in the mood.
At first light early Saturday morning John Burge’s team of elves laid out the show field and our gorgeous Lincolns rumbled onto the Desert Princess fairway for a day of celebration of our collector car hobby. Lincolns ranging from first generation Continentals of the early 1940s to modern-day Aviators and everything in between were displayed.
How can we measure the thousands of hours of work owners put into their vehicles getting them ready for this event? A few photos below give a small flavor of our stunning show field. The oohs and ahs of the spectators testified to the spectacle.
A links-side condo served as a convenient meeting place for judges to tally results and a spot for cold water and brief rest for exhibitors. Kudos to Kerry Roscoe for organizing the refreshments there and at the hotel’s hospitality suite.
But Mother Nature had a few surprises in store. During our stay temperatures soared to nearly 100 degrees and toward the end of our show brisk winds began pummeling the show field. By evening they achieved gale force and the next morning we awoke to find fine desert powder clinging to our vehicles and invading interiors as well.
Fortunately, our lovely outdoor cocktail reception and buffet at the MonStore Garage on Friday evening was free of intrusive winds. And the DoubleTree staff were able to pivot quickly at our request and convert what had been planned as a patio reception prior to the Saturday awards banquet to an indoor event. Whew!
Host John Burge, left below, and LCOC President John Talbourdet presided at the awards banquet which also featured a brief video retrospective of Lincoln’s storied first century. Award plaques were presented to winners in the Touring and Primary classes, Lincoln Trophies to first place winners across several Primary classes and Emeritus and Senior class trophy awards. We will publish the list of award winners as soon as we receive it. At this time we can report that the Elliston H. Bell Founder’s Trophy for Best in Show was awarded to Jim Ayres for his 1988 Mark VII Bill Blass model.
But on Sunday when John Walcek set up his camera and tri-pod for photos of some of the trophy winners he and the camera could barely remain upright in the face of the wind. When the photos are published no one likely will notice but the elements did present special challenges to the photographer, subjects and the vehicles themselves.
No event of this scope is without its issues but the 2022 meet had some extra ones due to the Covid pandemic and the uncertainty involved in planning it caused. Meet co-chairs John Burge and Ron Cressy persisted and special thanks must go not only to them but to the entire Western Region Board of Directors and the Meet Planning Team, who also had cars in the show. Bazil LaRoche and Russell Harmon helped almost everywhere, including at least registration, silent auction, show field layout and a/v support at the banquet.
Stacy Roscoe was the assistant chief judge, conducted a judging seminar and helped with the trophies, while Mike Steiner, John Kiszla and Brian Kelegian also presented valuable technical seminars. Paul Temple and his team at LCOC National managed the trophies and helped with at least judging and event planning, structure and national publicity.
Our reception hosts for the three nights worked exceptionally hard to guarantee a great experience. Kudos to Wednesday’s hosts Frank Wenzel and Kent Vandenberg.
Thanks to Robert Reed and Rick DeRothchild, Andy Linksy, Barry LeBlanc & Michael McGee, Dennis Duca & David Peck, Steve Aaron and Paul Michelson.
Friday’s event at the MonStore Garage was led by Brad Prescott and Jeff Stork plus fellow collectors Aaron Leider and Michael Lewis, Chris Menrad, J. J. Johnson, and Wick and Allison, whom we sincerely thank and Lynn Hammond Catering, Scott King and Sandy Edelstein.
We also thank Ron Cressy and Ray Gonzales for opening their Vickroy collection to us during Thursday’s Yucca Valley driving tour.
This meet had its share of mechanical issues, breakdowns and unplanned emergencies. In all cases our members stepped up to assist and those who were aided sincerely appreciate the help. By now we hope most of you who attended are safely home—many of you with some shiny new hardware—-and are basking in the memory of our 2022 LCOC Western National Meet in the playground of the stars.
Day 3 Highlights of the 2022 LCOC Western National Meet
Day 3 Highlights of the 2022 LCOC Western National Meet
Written by Elayne Bendel
Reproduced with permission
Reproduced with permission
Friday’s daytime agenda focused on two local landmoarks—the fabulous Sunnylands Estate in Rancho Mirage and the famous Shields Date Garden in Indio.
Sunnylands was first. This gorgeous 200-acre property was once the home of Walter and Lee Annenberg and hosted world leaders on numerous occasions as they relaxed and enjoyed the desert lifestyle while tackling important world issues. We walked the same manicured grounds where presidents Reagan, Clinton, Bush and Obama strolled in the sunshine and where Britain’s Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles had visited among many other world leaders. An excellent film introduced both the Annenbergs shown at left below and with famous guests plus the storied history of the property.
Annenberg was a wealthy publisher, noted for his visionary publications TV Guide and Seventeen and for TV icon American Bandstand which was based in Philadelphia and gave Dick Clark his start. Annenberg and wife Lee were extraordinary hosts and established numerous charitable ventures to promote communications studies and harmony by bringing opposing sides together in Sunnylands’ congenial atmosphere to find common ground.
Today the Annenberg Foundation operates the $35 million Sunnylands Visitors Center we visited. The perfectly groomed cactus gardens and reflecting pools were irresistible attractions for shutterbugs and our own John Walcek was first among them. While positioning some of us for a group shot inside the garden he moved Jim Ayres a bit for better composition. Unfortunately, the sudden gesture made Jim stumble backwards directly into a barrel cactus. Ouch! Luckily he regained balance before landing on his rear. Being pricked in the leg was bad enough but I shudder to think of those consequences!
Next stop was the Shields Date Garden, a local institution since 1924, where patio dining and lunch awaited. Excellent cobb salad, cheeseburger or chicken sandwich plus drinks were on the menu. Behind the restaurant was a garden of date palms and other desert plants, a pond and Biblical references along the pathway.
The scene reminded me of the oasis in the movie Ben-Hur where he overnights and meets the sheik who owns the horses he drives in the climactic chariot race. Beautiful date palms formed the perfect setting for our Shields visit. The orientation film taught us it can take 15 to 20 years before date palms are commercially productive and that growing dates is a very labor intensive and specialized occupation. Some 48 female palm trees are planted and just one male tree among them. When it flowers workers harvest the pollen and then pollinate the female trees. When the young dates appear about half are removed so the trees can support the weight of those that remain. Shrouds protect the dates from rain. More than 95% of U.S. dates come from this valley.
Floyd Shields, who was a date novice when he arrived in California learned quickly. In just three years he began hybridizing the dates. Today numerous varieties are offered for sale and some of us enjoyed refreshing “date shakes.”
A self guided architecture tour of celebrity homes such as Frank Sinatra’s followed the Shields visit for some and for others technical seminars were held at the hotel at the same time. So much to do and so little time!
After a very busy day of touring and learning we enjoyed an evening hosted bar, yummy buffet and live entertainment at the MonStore Garage. The event at MonStore was led by Brad Prescott and Jeff Stork plus fellow collectors Aaron Leider and Michael Lewis, Chris Menrad, J. J. Johnson, and Wick and Allison, whom we sincerely thank. About 30 of our meet cars lined both sides of the large patio where guest tables were set up. Who could ask for a better setting and a way to greet our friends and make new ones? We dined in comfort as the sun went down on a great day, but not before we generously supported our silent auction fundraiser. The sandman beckoned for sweet dreams of Saturday’s concours.
Next will be our fabulous Lincoln concours and awards banquet.
Day 2 Highlights of the 2022 LCOC Western National Meet
Day 2 Highlights of the 2022 LCOC Western National Meet
Written by Elayne Bendel
Reproduced with permission
Reproduced with permission
Day 2 of our very busy weekend began with a driving tour of mostly undeveloped desert landscapes along scenic Highway 62.
On a sizzling day with temperatures approaching 100 degrees we chugalugged up a long grade to the rural community of Yucca Valley, home of the very large and diverse Vickroy car collection. LCOC’s own Ron Cressy and partner Ray Gonzales have gathered over 150 cars there ranging from antiques to modern marvels. Some are housed in an old dealership facility that once offered both new and used cars for sale, while others are across the main road in nearby warehouses. There is also a very large library of brochures, manuals and advertising from this era.
Locals know that besides Vickroy Yucca Valley is home to the Lincoln Boys, a parts yard of ’60s Lincolns, where more than a few of us have come to browse and buy on other occasions.
Nowadays one can explore Vickroy and find anything from a group of Rolls-Royces to vintage radios, car models, motorcycles and bikes, mid-century cars such as Chryslers, Lincolns, Cadillacs, and many others including Country Squire wagons, Packards, Studebakers, Desotos, Imperials, Kaisers, Buicks and vintage trailers.
One rare finned vehicle was the last Packard model produced. Counting the fins one can probably see why!
Another fascinating find on our tour was a car that began life as a pre-1970 Renault but was converted many years ago to an electric vehicle by an enterprising engineer who named it after himself—the Mars II Electric. That is not a motor under the hood but a whole slew of batteries.
Our adventure at Vickroy including a very delicious and interesting pre-paid vegetarian lunch from the restaurant next door. We simply walked over there ordered off the menu of daily specials and brought it back to the facility.
Here is a small sample of the cars we saw.
Just up the road from Yucca Valley is Pioneertown which was established in 1946 as a “living, breathing movie set” and made famous by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans in their popular 1950s TV series. Robin Cohen and Elayne Bendel ventured up there and grabbed a liquid refreshment at Pappy & Harriet’s before heading down the grade and back to the DoubleTree Hilton.
Robin and Elayne take the pause that refreshes at Pioneertown.
A hosted bar and hors oeuvres al fresco at the Valdiivia car collection Thursday was the evening capper. Members’ cars vied for attention with those on site. John Linvog’s 1962 Lincoln sedan was among the favorites.
Tomorrow read about our journey to Sunnylands, how one of us did battle with a cactus and how we learned about the sex lives of dates.
Day 1 Highlights of the 2022 LCOC Western National Meet
Day 1 Highlights of the 2022 LCOC Western National Meet
Written by Elayne Bendel
Reproduced with permission
Reproduced with permission
LCOC members converged on Palm Springs from as far away as Massachusetts, New Jersey, Indiana and Washington state to celebrate our collector car hobby and admire some gorgeous Lincolns and other vintage classics.
Centerpiece of the display was a stunning black 1959 Continental but also on view among others were a Pierce Arrow complete with its signature bowman with bow and arrow hood ornament, mid-century Kaiser, ’50s era Packard, several Studebakers and Chryslers, models, signs and vintage radios, a kaleidoscope of eye candy.
The meet events began with a delightful catered cocktail and hors d’ouvres event in a cozy setting while enjoying a private car collection not far from our HQ hotel, the DoubleTree by Hilton, Palm Springs. Earlier in the day some early birds got a jump on mechanical judging while others of us tried to solve the mysteries of our a/c system in a technical briefing by Mike Steiner.
Our hotel hospitality suite, staffed ably by Kerry Roscoe, was a welcome oasis from the near triple digit heat. Some of us motored in from California and nearby states and were more than ready for a sandwich, drink and snack at the suite by the time we arrived.
Tomorrow we are off on–what else?—a driving tour of nearby Yucca Valley and Pioneertown.
Southern Ohio Region Newsletter – Summer 2022
Tom McCahill Tests the 1957 Lincoln
by Tom McCahill
Published in the March/April 2003 issue of Continental Comments (Issue # 251).
Reprinted from Mechanix Illustrated, February 1957
Back in 1953, Lincoln swapped its stovepipe hat for a beanie and gobbled up all comers in the 1,900-mile Pan-American road race. The next year they did it again, as hundreds of little Mexican boys screamed out to the rest of the competition, “They went that-a-way, senor!”
One thing about the Ford organization (which includes the Continental, Lincoln, Mercury, Ford and next year the Edsel) is that these boys are not set in their ways. With their Mexican successes behind them—successes which were accomplished because their cars were not only fast, but roadable and the finest-handling automobiles ever produced in this country— Lincoln switched character. Like the guy who reaches for his carpet slippers after he’s won the girl, or the gladiator who sheaths his broadsword after successfully pigsticking the dragon, Lincoln took off its competition coveralls, slipped into white-tie-and tails, and emerged as a conservative, distinguished gentleman with discreetly concealed muscles. The only holdover from the hell-for-leather “Mexican” Lincolns was the car’s outstanding roadability and handling prowess.
If a big car has ever been built that can out-handle the Lincoln, then I’ve never had the pleasure of driving it. This, plus terrific brakes, makes Lincoln as safe a car as has been built to date.
Performance-wise—meaning top speed and acceleration—Lincoln no longer is making a serious attempt to be the Whiz Kid of the drag strips or the speed trials. Like a retired Derby winner, Lincoln now rests on its laurels. Size went up, engine capacity was increased, and the old champ acquired a smooth but horsepower-robbing new transmission. In 1956, Lincoln was a close contender for the finest-looking automobile ever produced in the land of Soapy Williams and Walter Ruther. The cars were still fast, but had acquired an Ivy League look that made at least one of their competitors resemble the Limehouse Button King. With the addition of Ed Sullivan’s stumping, Lincoln enjoyed the best sales year in its history.
Superb roadability plus terrific brakes make this new 300 hp. white-tie-and-tails job “as safe a car as has been built to date,” according to Uncle Tom.
There are many types of buyers of cars in the Lincoln class, and they include the successful man who has made his pile and suddenly realizes he has forgotten to have fun along the way. Lincoln made its main pitch in ‘56 to this well-regulated character of taste who wanted superb and enjoyable transportation in a conservative package, a car that didn’t have to go in for hand-tooled saddlery and a garland of silver dollar decorations that shouted “money” in a loud voice.
From a performance standpoint, give or take a wheel turn or two, there has been no increase in over-the-ground rapidity from the ‘56 jobs. Zero to 60 still takes 12 seconds. When correctly tuned, these big Lincolns will just edge the 110-mph. mark. They do, though, have a way of slamming into a corner or whipping through a bend with all the steadiness of a bowling ball transversing a laundry chute at speeds that would dump some of the competition head over teakettles.
When I tested the ‘57 Lincoln it was under rather odd circumstances. I had been hired by the General Tire Company to rip their new Dual 90 tires apart (if I could—and I could not.) The car selected for this test, by me, was the big Lincoln Premiere. Though my main job during my first runs with the ‘57 Lincoln was to test these tires, I also had quite an interest in saving my fat neck, which was one of my reasons for choosing the car I did. I’m happy to say I didn’t goof. One series of brake and tire tests called for standing on the brakes as hard as I could and bringing the car to a full stop from speeds up to 105 mph. This was on rough concrete. These tests were so severe that the brakes burst into flames, but the Lincoln brakes grooved a straight line down the roadway like a bullet from a tournament rifle, and literally stopped the car in its tracks. It doesn’t take a wagonload of imagination to figure the stress such a test creates, not only on brakes, but on the frame, wheels and every component part. I made nine of these stops, and then went to the highspeed turning area. Here, in a 360 degree turn, less than 120 yards in diameter, I kept this Lincoln going at rollover speeds for more than 40 miles, trying to rip the tires off. (Although I was being paid to test tires, this 1957 Lincoln was getting a helluva test, too.)
Frankly, in a lot of cars I know, I wouldn’t have had the guts to try the tire test I made with the Lincoln. Afterward, I made wetted-hill stopping tests on grades of more than 30 per cent with the car running at a good head of steam. On the road race circuit (or road-handing course, as they sometimes call it), I gave the Lincoln everything it had. As to handling in safety, there’s very little more I can say, but that for these professional tests of tires I selected Lincoln to pull me through.
Style-wise, the ‘57 Lincoln has been sharpened up considerably over ‘56. The car is two inches longer and now boasts four headlights which give it the appearance from head-on of Paul Bunyon and his brother challenging you with over-and-under shotguns. The rear fins have been flared out and tail lights now remind you of a fire in a Gothic chapel. The long, uninterrupted hoodline could easily serve as a picnic table for the Notre Dame football squad, and the four-pronged star from the ‘56 Continental has been respoked and now appears not only on the hubs but the tail, front fenders and hood. The rear fender line, which starts just aft of amidships, produces a lowering illusion, as do the flattened-out front fenders. Anyway you slice it, this car is not quite as conservative in appearance as it was in ‘56, but the added garnishes do not detract from the overall dignity any more than a good custom-made striped shirt detracts from an expensive blue suit.
As Ford’s Engineering Division can rustle up more men on it s proving grounds on 20 minutes notice than Nassaer could produce last November for the Canal Aquatic Sports, I wasn’t too surprised to find out that some of these boys had their heads under the hood during the long summer months. The ‘57 Lincoln sports a new Carter carburetor, which is smooth but unexciting, and some other goodies which are too frivolous to note. For my little bag of dough, this is a great automobile, conservative on the performance side, but capable of becoming a wildcat with the addition of a few such things as a hot cam and a transmission that is less of a calorie-consumer. While doing this piece, I had to pinch myself into realizing that Lincoln, once the hottest road car in America just a calendar page or two ago, is reaping a bigger, heavier harvest now by appealing to the man who would rather hear the sound, substantial thud of a Chase Manhattan Bank vault door than the strains of You Ain’t Nuthin’ But a Houn’ Dog.
Lincoln’s 2002 Concept Continental
by Charles Barnette
photos by Rusty Thompson
Originally published in the March/April 2002 issue of Continental Comments (Issue # 245).
“Appearing at the 2002 International Auto Show in January in Detroit was the Lincoln Continental Concept. The car had also appeared at the 2002 Los Angeles Auto Show where it was introduced for the first time. It is a formal design intended for use as an executive car. To see the return of the so called “suicide doors” from the ‘60s was uplifting. It is good to see Continental embrace the design features from Lincoln’s past. Of course, Lincoln prefers to call these four doors “center opening” doors.
The car is a fantastic vision of the future Lincoln. The wheels are 22-inch polished aluminum. A Lincoln star badge divides the large LED lamps. The cabin of the car is centered within the wheelbase. The concept vehicle is powered by a 6.0 liter V-12 engine. The four round headlamps use an innovative remote light generator technology where a single source transfers light through fiber optics to each lamp.
Inside the car, the seats are covered in reach aniline-dyed leather. Rear built-in laptop tables stow in the console. The console houses controls for the window lifts, power door openers, the display screens, and other functions. The instrument panel is built around reconfigurable screens that display vehicle systems, including the concierge services, navigation, telematics, and the THX-certified audio system.
Unique to this car is the decklid that traces a parallelogram as it opens to maintain its horizontal orientation. A large luggage tray slides out to present luggage and golf club cases. We cannot finish describing this car without mentioning the cigar humidor and umbrella holder built into the interior of each rear door. And, oh yes, a drinks cabinet dispenses water and other beverages with the cabinet being fitted between the rear seats.
The vehicle is 214 inches in length, 76.7 inches in width, and is 59 inches in height. It is a beautiful car worthy to be called a Lincoln Continental. The Lincoln designers never cease to amaze and delight Lincoln lovers.”
Northstar News – May 2022
Ford Product Development Center (PDC) Truck and Car Show
The staff of the annual Ford Product Development Center (PDC) Truck and Car Show is pleased to announce its addition to the calendar of official events celebrating the Company’s 100th Anniversary of Lincoln! The Lincoln Anniversary Team would like to invite all Lincoln owners to this exciting show, the only Company-sponsored, internal event of its kind. The PDC Show is unique in that it emphasizes the product development aspect of the participant vehicles and includes a wide variety of models of many makes and types. Company staff and management from all areas of product development attend to learn, and draw inspiration from, the heritage, features, and lessons associated with the field of vehicles on display.
The grounds in Dearborn cover nearly a half mile of Rotunda Drive along the PDC Staff Buildings’ lawn frontage. All Lincolns – as all vehicle classes in the event – will be parked in a single area (includes Lincoln entries normally distributed between Pre-War Cars, Post-War Non-Ford FoMoCo-Branded Cars, and Trucks). The PDC Show is comprised of vehicles owned by collectors and museums from throughout the United States and Canada (and occasionally from other countries, as well).
We are extending the invitation for Lincoln owners until May 31, 2022. Details below:
When: Friday, July 15, 2022
Where: Product Development Center, 20000 Rotunda Drive (for GPS purposes), Dearborn, Michigan
Schedule
Feature Cars (To Be Identified) Setup at 5:00am to 6:30am
– General Arrivals from 6:30am to 8:30am (sharp)
– Executive Tour at 11:30am (approximately)
– Participant Raffle at 12:30pm (approximately)
– Lockdown ends 1:15pm (approximately)
– Most vehicles leave by 3:30pm (estimate)
Amenitie
– Complementary calendar of each vehicle in isolation (via photo station; photos taken by WHQ Archive photographers)
– Pre-printed owner card
– Dash plaque
– Automatic entry in participant raffle (one chance per each participating vehicle)
– Lunch for low purchase price
– Trailer parking
– On-site clean portable toilets and washing stations
– On-site security
– Separate dedicated lane on Rotunda Drive for entry to the show grounds
– Others to be announced
Vehicle requirement
– Complete vehicles in presentable to concours condition to fulfill the primary goal of education and inspiration
– Representative historical example of the model
– Preferably in factory appearance, though not mandatory
– Owners can nominate and, upon confirmation, participate with multiple vehicles
Instructions for registration:
– Simply send the following information, along with any questions, via email (DGLICKM1@FORD.COM) for each desired entry:
o Name
o Mailing Address (kept confidentially)
o Phone (kept confidentially)
o Year
o Make
o Model
o Any significant fact or equipment (optional)
o One front picture minimum reflecting current appearance of vehicle
– Show staff will send confirmation within a week of receipt
– Owner replies to complete the confirmation process
Thank you in advance for your interest in joining Ford Motor Company’s 100th Anniversary of Lincoln celebration at PDC Dearborn!