Hello again. It's hard to believe that another year is rapidly coming to a close. As a club we've participated in many and diverse activities. It's now time to pick new officers for next year and start planning activities.

Selecting our new officers will be the centerpiece of the November meeting. Should you be interested in any of the elected offices, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-President, or President, you may be nominated right up to the time

we start voting. Membership fees were due on November 1st; however, a grace period is extended to the November meeting, right before the election. Members must be renewed to be eligible to vote.

Due to circumstances beyond our control, Tony Roma's bailed on us on the annual Christmas party. Ron Kay worked a deal with Golden Corral restaurant near Powers and Palmer Park for December 7th, a Thursday. The dinner will be buffet style, and the club will pick up $5 per meal, up to three per family membership, and the gratuity. Expect to fork over about $5 per meal out of your own pocket. Since the restaurant closes early, I suggest we start at 6:30 p.m. We will have the White Elephant gift exchange, and if you bring a child, please bring a toy for exchange amongst the munchkins.

Earlier this month, we had a Garage Tour and Progressive Dinner. Three families graciously opened their houses and garages for appetizers, main course, desserts, and bench racing. The weather was excellent and many members drove their cars. Many thanks go to the Uhrichs, McKnires, and the Gardners.

Every day, we find ourselves in a less friendly environment when it comes to old cars. Many states, counties, and cities threaten our hobby with legislation and ordinances which range from unfair smog requirements to numbers of cars you may have on your property. The notion that I must get my '67 Shelby smog checked infuriates me. The car was Colorado-delivered when new, and the state had no smog restrictions at that time. I recently talked to Bill Miller, who is the Colorado Shelby American Automobile Club representative to the Old Car Club Council (OCCC) Inc., which includes over 50 clubs. Bill sent me information about the OCCC, from which I quote. "The main purposes of the OCCC are to support sound protective legislation and regulatory actions and to defend vigorously the rights and privileges of the old car and special interest auto hobbies to use public highways, byways, and streets; to protect and assure sound licensing provisions in local ordinances and state laws; to preserve the special interest car, tomorrow's antique and classic, from premature destruction and ill-advised regulatory moves of the Home Rule cities in Colorado; to publicize our hobby; to bring favorable public reaction to bear upon the hobby, to make legislative authorities and the general public aware of the existence of the hobby and its historical value, and to promote its preservation; to negotiate and promote needful reforms and consolidation of automotive insurance protection and coverage. The OCCC retains a lobbyist and has a Legislature Committee which monitors legislation". Annual club membership is $50 with a $3 fee for all members, which pays for the lobbyist. The RMMC Board discussed the idea of joining the OCCC on two occasions, and determined that we should have an open discussion at the November General Membership meeting. I'll have more information with me at that time.

See ya at the elections.

Bryan Lowry

But how ‘bout a Mustang fastback that went from Valentine’s Day present to SCCA racer?

The black 1965 fastback of Hap Schadler did just that! It has been in Hap’s family since new. His dad originally purchased it in Canal Winchester, Ohio at Ricart Ford for his mom as a Valentine’s Day present.

The Mustang was a demonstrator with a purchase price of $2200. It has the original 289 with a top loader 4 speed and red interior. It has a December build date and includes some 64 and ½ features.

Now with 140,000 miles under its belt the 289 has been converted to Hi-po specs and the suspension has been modified to SCCA Solo II competition rules with the addition of Shelby suspension components.

When he is not busy winning E street prepared class Hap enjoys skiing and collecting coins.

The father of a son Joe and daughter Colleen and grandfather of 2 grand kids Brianna and Jimmy, Hap has lived in Denver for 12 years.

I’m sure that being an engineer helps in getting everything prepared and working in order to be a successful racer. Hap has been ‘E’ Street Prepared Regional champion in 1997, 1998, and 1999 so it must be true.

Stew Harding invited your newsletter editor to depart with some of his hard earned cash and join him in a dyno session at Walt Hane’s shop in Evergreen, CO on 10/21. Being the simple-minded person that I am sometimes, I agreed to go.

At the time, I did not know my boss was going to be sending overseas to the Far East for two weeks. Jet lag is a very big problem when you get back the day before the dyno session is scheduled and you have loose ends (namely loosely adjusted valves) to finish up on your car!

Stew, being the racer that he is, had the good fortune of being able to trailer his ’69 428 CJ Mustang (giving us the means to haul back one of our cars if Murphy visited us in Evergreen!). I on the other hand drove my ’65 up –4.11 gears and all. One of Stew’s co workers (and Mustang owner), Jabon Edgar joined our caravan in his Saturn.

(The results next month…)