Mid Atlantic Region’s—58th Year

Continental

OBSERVER

-Lincoln and Continental Owners Club- Vol. 58 Issue 3 Fall 2017

Director’s Message:

Upcoming Events

FALL GATHERING

OF OLD CARS at

MILLS ESTATE in

STAATSBURG

NEW YORK

M.A.R. Officers

Director: Owen Clarke

Vice Dir.: Pat Arcieri

Secretary: Robert Yurick

Treasurer: Pat Arcieri

Inside This Issue

Director’s Message 1

Vintage MAR

MAR Quiz

2

Lincolns on the Road 3

100th Anniversary 4

Mills Event Information 5

Calendar

6

Classified 7

Dear Fellow Members of MAR,

I send a special thank you to our

members who have tried to find new

members to join the LCOC and MAR.

We have several new members as a

result. At our up-coming meeting,

after the October Gathering of Old

Cars at Mills Mansion, we will talk

more about the important efforts we

all need to make as a club member.

Another topic for discussion will be

the 2019 Eastern National Meet.

I thank everyone for their ideas

submitted to date and look forward

to future input and support.

Another topic for open discussion will

be, “What do you do to prepare your

Lincoln for winter storage?” We will

report out on these ideas in our next

Continental Observer.

Lastly, we are looking for ideas

regarding our MAR December outing.

We alternate between a pre or post

holiday gathering in the NY/NJ area.

Pre holiday, we have been to see the

lights at Dyker Heights and to the

NYBG train show. Any ideas?

Remember, the Mills Gathering is

Sunday October 15. You will find

more information in this issue.

Please send Linda any Lincoln

stories that you have to share for

future publication in our MAR

Observer. Allan Wilcox did a fine

job of doing just that as you will

read his story in this issue.

Owen T. Clarke, Director, MAR

At Mills Mansion

Page 2 OBSERVER Volume 58 Issue 3

Message from your editor, Linda Clarke

I received this great photo from Gregg Merksamer of

his Dad. We all have our special memories of favorite

cars and car stories from when we were young. Gregg

recently lost his Dad, Norman, and fondly remembers

the time that his Dad picked him up wearing his paja-

mas, driving all the way from Scarsdale to Yonkers! A

man who always loved cars, Norman is pictured in his

1949 Ford Convertible at Lehigh University.

Linda Clarke, Editor principallinda@msn.com

68 North Cross Road

Staatsburg, New York 12580

Vintage MAR

Besides sharing titles of some of our favorite reference books to

build a Lincoln Library, I wonder if you have a favorite movie that

features a classic Lincoln? I know that ever since I have had

some of my cars used in a movie, I pay even closer attention

than ever to the cars used in every scene in every movie that I see. I even bought

the movie, Pal Joey, (with Frank Sinatra) because I read that it had a Mark II in it.

I had to wait to the final scene to catch a glimpse of the car. In speaking with

others at Bear Mountain, we talked about movies that had the best car chase

scenes, not only Lincolns, but great car chases. Do you have a favorite movie

with a classic car chase scene? Next issue we will include an article with some

favorites from the 1970’s. If you have any others that you want to include, or a

story about using your car in a movie, please let me know.

Owen Clarke - clarketrustee@msn.com

MAR QUIZ

According to the Mark II Authenticity

Manual, the 1956 Mark II offered a two

tone paint option. How many do you

think there were?

Answer on p. 7

A tribute to our parents and all influential persons

in our lives that shaped our love of cars.

Volume 58 Issue 3 OBSERVER Page 3

Lincolns on the Road on Seven Lakes Drive to Bear Mountain

I wish that more Lincolns could have joined us on this beautiful day and gorgeous

drive on August 20th. The scenery was exceptional and the weather perfect.

After the leisurely drive we had a superb lunch on an outside deck overlooking

the lake at the historic 1915 Bear Mountain Inn.

We also got to take a close look at their classic

Carousel in action. The Carousel is housed in a

stone and timber pavilion. It has 42 hand-carved

seats of native animals. Our thanks go to Ray and

Margaret Faure for suggesting this drive and to

Gregg Merksamer for adding to our photo collection

of this event. Gregg has a passion for photography

and cars so when you put them together, you get

some great shots to share. If you are able, this is a

wonderful drive to take on your own this fall or next

Spring. Bear Mountain also hosts car shows on

Wednesday evenings from late Spring to mid

September.

Page 4 OBSERVER Volume 58 Issue 3

Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Lincoln by Allan Wilcox

I decided that I couldn’t miss the 100th Anniversary even though I drove out to attend the Lincoln

Homecoming last year. I also decided to drive my 1954 Capri...it won’t be right to be modern for the

100th anniversary celebration! I spent the winter and spring getting the car mechanically ready.

Cosmetically was another story.

The event was in Dearborn and at the Lincoln Museum at the Gilmore Museum in Hickory Corners

with a base of operations in Kalamazoo. I had seen all the sights in Dearborn after the museum

opening in 2014 so I skipped the events on Monday and Tuesday and arrived in Dearborn late Tues-

day in time for the dinner at the Dearborn Country Club. It was quite impressive, although in a low

key way. The new Navigator was on display along with several other current and older Lincolns. The

keynote speaker was the President of the Lincoln Division who discussed future plans for Lincoln

and answered questions. Wednesday AM, after an enjoyable night at the Dearborn Inn and a $20 ++

breakfast, it was off to Ford World Headquarters. At Ford Headquarters we parked in the front, took

photos, visited the Ford Store (left $80 there) and ate in the cafeteria. Bill Ford came out and spoke

with us and we could have our photo taken with him by our cars. I was warned by a PR person not to

mention the stock price to him because many people always complain to him. However I could not

keep my mouth shut and as we discussed my stock ownership and cost average he said that “I

couldn’t go wrong at that price.” Henry Ford III also came outside and met with us and I gave him a

RRLR T-Shirt. As I left for Kalamazoo, I stopped to find the assembly plant in Wayne where my 1954

Capri was made. The problem was that there were two plants there and no one knew which one was

the assembly plant. So I took a photo in front of both and will consult with the Benson Ford Library to

find out. Next I needed gas for the trip and searched for Sunoco, which I prefer to use. I asked the

clerk which town I was in and he replied, Ypsilanti. “Isn’t there an old car museum here?” Yes, turn

right at the light (50 feet away) and it’s down the street a couple miles. So that was an added bonus

of the trip, getting to see The Orphan Car Museum in Ypsilanti.

Wednesday night was cruise night at the Gilmore. After getting to the hotel I found my new friend,

Art Kelly, a retired pathologist from Alabama and we rode out to the Gilmore in his new Continental.

It is quite a car, high tech and very nice. Speaking of the new Continental, the raffle failed to sell

enough tickets and ended up being a 50-50 raffle with about $20K to the winner. It wasn’t me.

Thursday and Friday were devoted to local tours. I got to see the Off Bros and Parfet Collections.

Both unbelievable. Saturday was the show at the Gilmore. I still hadn’t had time to detail the Capri as

well as I wanted. I got there early, found my spot, got a cup of coffee and on the way back to the car,

found out to my surprise that I was a judge. Well fortunately my car was clean enough to get me 1st

prize in the Touring/Original Class. (Congratulations Allan)

This was my third trip to the museum and although I enjoy it, it will probably be awhile before I go

back. However, you know that I like car museums and on the way back I planned the trip so I could

visit the Snyder Specialty Car Museum in New Springfield, Ohio. The main draw is factory dragsters

from the ‘60’s although they have other interesting cars in the collection as well. Even though I am

not a drag racing fan, I do enjoy seeing what they did back in the day to make them winners.

Thank you Allan for submitting this article. We are glad that you could attend the Anniversary

Celebration and share it with other MAR members. Allan has some great photos of his car. On the

next page I included two of his car taken by John Walcek at Dearborn. We are glad that your Capri

was recognized for First Place in the Touring/Original Class. Editor, LBC

Volume 58 Issue 3 OBSERVER Page 5

MILLS ESTATE OCTOBER 15th GATHERING

We hope that you can take a ride to Staatsburg, NY for one more fall outing for the

gathering of Old Cars at a beautiful estate once owned by Ruth and Ogden Mills.

The address is Old Post Road, Staatsburg, NY 12580. If you have not attended in the

past, look for our line up of Lincolns to know where to park once you arrive. This is a

non-judged show for the pleasure of viewing many beautiful classic cars.

This estate ( known as Mills or “Staatsburgh” ) is a very pretty setting along the Hudson

River ...AND ...after the show you get a bonus gathering at the Clarkes home for a

buffet dinner. Their address is 68 North Cross Road, Staatsburg, NY (also known as

County Rd. 37). A courtesy RSVP at 845-889-8891 is very helpful in planning for

attendance at dinner.

At the Clarkes’ home there will also be a business meeting to discuss our planning of

the 2019 Eastern National Meet which MAR will be hosting and our MAR membership.

You can text or call Owen at 914-474-7055 for more information. Please include your

name in your text!

Photos courtesy of John Walcek

Allan in front of the Ford Plant and

Allan with Bill Ford

Page 6 OBSERVER Volume 58 Issue 3

2017 Mid Atlantic Region Calendar of Events

October 15 Third Sunday in October— Gathering of Old Cars

at Mills Estate in Staatsburg, NY 12580

Buffet dinner at the Clarkes home (845-889-8891)

Business Meeting and Discussion of 2019 ENM

December Holiday event NJ/NYC More information to follow

-Ideas or suggestions for future events, please speak to Owen Clarke-

Treasurer’s Report

We paid $100.00 to secure our All Lincoln Parking at the Mills Mansion

“Gathering of Old Cars”. This is a contribution.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Please welcome and introduce yourself to our new members. Who knows? You may

have something in common or can assist them.

We are pleased to welcome Gary J. Convertino Ed.D from Pawtucket, RI

Gary owns a 1980 Lincoln Mark VI and a 1988 Lincoln Town Car

E mail address: gconvertino@cox.net

Thanks to Ray Mastonunzio for telling Gary about LCOC and MAR

We are pleased to welcome Kenneth A. Lewis from Old Saybrook, CT

Ken owns an early 1956 Continental Mark II

E mail address: Klewis2727@comcast.net

Thanks to Allan Wilcox for introducing Ken to the LCOC and MAR

Volume 58 Issue 3 OBSERVER Page 7

Please submit classified ads for the next issue of the

Observer by 12/10. They are published free of

charge for MAR LCOC members.

1988 Lincoln Town Car Cartier Edition

Ideal Starter Car

Answer to the MAR Quiz

50. The most popular was an Upper Deep Bronze and Lower

Medium Bronze paint combination.

Pictured in the MAR Quiz is Nick DeSpirito’s two tone Mark II.

Purchased from the estate of the original one owner.

Garaged, dealer serviced, overall good condition but needs

right front fender body repair and transmission work.

Ideal for someone starting out in the hobby or for someone

who wants a nice car to tinker with.

$1450.00 203-878-9105

Mid Atlantic Region Lincoln

and Continental Owners

Club

Observer Editor:

Linda Clarke

68 North Cross Rd.

Staatsburg, NY 12580

Mid Atlantic

Region Managers

At Large

Nick DeSpirito ‘17

Garry Morton ‘17

Robert Yurick ‘17

Joe Armstrong ‘18

Jim Dunn ‘18

Allan Wilcox ‘18

George Caswell ‘19

Owen Clarke ‘19

Pat Arcieri ‘19

Directors serve for a 3 yr. term

Membership Secretary position is voluntary.

Robert Yurick

97 Somer Drive

Meriden, CT 06451

Mid Atlantic Region

58th Year

FIRST CLASS MAIL

For Decal Sales

Don’t forget

Contact Paul B. Wilson

201-481-4401