The "CRUISER" Newsletter

AS THE WHEEL TURNS!

BY ROGER BEAUCHAMP, PRESIDENT

It was a great time to be a car guy. I was 14 and don’t remember a lot about the new kid but maybe it was his black primed Ford with a flat head V8, a pair of carburetors on top, loud exhaust and a floor shifter that caught my attention.

Between 1966 and 70, after earning a 2 year associate degree and my

first real job, I purchased my second Mustang, a Big block GT 4 speed car. It

fit well into our group. My cousin drove a tri-power GTO, Greg had a

Oldsmobile 442, Dennis, who landed a apprenticeship at GM ($$$), drove a

396 Chevelle SS followed 2 years later by the first generation 302 Z 28

Camaro. Vern drove a 390 Fairlaine GT 4 spd.

Vern, after owning his 66 390 GT Farlaine for 8 months, added dual quads and a wild cam. The following year he replaced the 390 with a professional built 427. Early in 1970 the 427 dropped a valve, and a 427 SOHC was purchased to replace it. Vern was injured at work, followed by long disability. The Farlaine, never saw the light of day again.

Just before Covid while visiting with Vern’s widow the engine-less Farlaine was found covered in dust and buried in boxes of whatever was in his garage. Bret purchased the car and upon unpacking the area the 427 SOHC was found stuffed in the corned behind a complete 69 Mustang. Other engines and parts were exposed along with multiple top loader 4 spd transmissions. Over the years he had continued to collect big block FE Ford parts.

All classic now but back then they were just cars to be bought and

sold. We didn’t know that the SS Muscle Cars were soon to disappear. It

would be another 35 years before their retro style horse power enriched

return to production. In his final year, Vern, a True Gear Head Car Guy, purchased a supercharged Mustang GT 500 which he cruised and showed.

Ya never know what tomorrow will bring. Get out that car, take a ride;

no take a drive. Roll down the windows, right hand on that Hurst shifter,

listen to the exhaust note. Maybe with the right stretch of road and special

song on the radio you will be mentally transported back to your formative

years. It does happen to me, it can to you.                                            

Roger

P.S. Vern installed the original 390 into an 18 ft boat. It was a scary ride.



UPCOMING EVENTS FOR NOVEMBER, 2024

This calendar is dedicated to car events OTP (Outside The Perimeter) covering the North Georgia area. www.ellijaymountaincruisers.com

---RECURRING EVENTS---

Saturday, 2nd - Cars & Coffee at Morganton Baptist Church - 9511 Old Hwy 6, Morganton , GA. 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. (Recurring event-first Saturday of the month)

Sunday, 3rd - Caffeine and Octane Car Show. Town Center at Cobb - 9:00 AM (Recurring event-first Sunday of the month)

Sunday, 3rd - WORSHIP Vintage and Classic Car Event - 1135 Woodstock Rd.,Roswell, GA. Vehicles must be 18 years old or older. 8:00am - 11:00am (Recurring event-first Sunday of the month)

Friday, 8th - Apple Country Auto Club Cruise-In - Poole’s BBQ, 164 Craig St., E. Ellijay, GA. 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm. (Recurring event-second Friday of the month)

Tuesday, 12th - ELLIJAY MOUNTIAN CRUISERS CLUB SOCIAL DINNER at El Reys Azteca. El Rays Mexican Restaurant - 6:00 PM (Second Tuesday)

Sunday, 10th - Dahlonega Car Club Cruise-In. 140 S.Chestatee St, Dahlonega,GA. 9:00am - 12:00pm (Recurring event-second Sunday of the month)

Saturday, 16th - Roo Mountain Winery Cars and Coffee. Roo Mountain Vineyards - 8:00 AM - ? (Recurring event-third Saturday of the month)

Saturday, 16th - Po Boys Cruise-In, Riverstone Plaza, 1447 Riverstone Parkway, Canton, GA. 3:00pm - 6:00pm (Recurring event-third Saturday of the month)

Friday, 22nd - Georgia Mountain Classics DQ Cruise-In. 380 Progress Circle, Blue Ridge, GA. Blue Ridge Dairy Queen. 6:00pm - 8:00pm (Recurring event-fourth Friday of the month)

Saturday, 23rd - ELLIJAY MOUNTAIN CRUISERS CARS AND COFFEE Ellijay, BURGER KING - 9:00 AM (Recurring event-fourth Saturday of the month)

ADDITIONAL EVENTS FOR NOVEMBER

Saturday, 2^nd, Bennie Darnell Memorial Car Show, 5301 Hickory Flat Hwy, Canton, GA. 10am - 3pm.

Saturday, 2^nd, 7^th Annual Bartow Christmas Coalition Car Show, Owen Funeral Home, 12 Collins Dr., Cartersville, GA. 10am - 2pm. (Toy donation for entry)

Saturday, 2^nd, Motors For Meals Car & Tractor Show, 1651 Tunnel Hill/Varnell Rd. Tunnel Hill, GA. 10am - 2pm.

Sunday, 10^th, Chip’s Cars & Coffee, Brainerd Motorsports Park, 745 Scruggs Rd, Ringgold, GA. 10:00am - 3:00pm.

EDITOR’S NOTE: As the summer/fall season winds down, some of the recurring events are in their last month or have already called it a season. Please double-check before you commit to an event. Checking Facebook or the Ellijay Mountain Crusiers web page is your best bet.

www.ellijaymountaincrusiers.com

THE BENEFITS OF TOURING

BY TOM GEORGE, EDITOR

We all like to attend a car show now and then. Nothing beats getting out on a warm spring, summer or fall afternoon and meeting friends and sharing some food and beverage while surrounded by classic cars and hot rods. You’ll find yourself meeting and talking to a variety of people who have similar interests.

One other aspect of the car culture and hobby is touring. It can mean different things to different people. Some say touring is driving over an hour to a car show or event, but that’s not touring to me. Others will say that touring means multiple day events from location to location with other like minded car enthusiasts.

Our own Greg Guelcher is a multi-time participant in the Hot Rod Power Tour. He has driven his cars all over the Southeast and Midwest for days and days, taking in scenery and scheduled events along the way. Greg will attend the 2025 HRPT once the dates are announced in January; he’s already making plans.

But another type of touring is available, inexpensive and a great way to network with like minded folks and enjoy similar experiences. That is the simple two-day/night tour in a local area. I just completed one with my other car club I belong to, the Peachtree MG Registry of Atlanta (www.peachtreemg.com).

We have held the PMGR Fall Mountain Tour for 32 years in a row now, even though this year’s event nearly had to be canceled. Our planned destination for this year’s tour was Black Mountain, NC, just east about 30 miles from Asheville. As you can imagine, there was no way we were going to be able to stay anywhere in that region. Hurricane Helene had taken care of that.

A last minute scramble had us going back to a familiar and loved location, Chattanooga. Although we call it the Fall Mountain Tour, it doesn’t always go to a small mountain town. In fact, some of our best enjoyed locations have been Chattanooga and Greenville, SC. Mountain towns for sure, but hardly small towns.

I bring this up to see if there would be any interest in putting together a two day tour with the Ellijay Mountain Cruisers? To my knowledge, no other local car club of our type hosts any kind of touring event like this. Distances traveled don’t have to be long, as exemplified by my recent stop in Chattanooga. But taking a drive for a couple of hours for lunch followed by another couple of hours to a final destination is typically what I have experienced. An overnight stay to enjoy whatever the destination has to offer before heading out the following day back home. If you think this might be an idea you’re interested in, connect with me at one of our next events and share your thoughts!

OUR CLUB SPONSORS

Local companies and club Sponsors offer discounts

to Ellijay Mountain Cruisers members for car parts,

service specials and automotive events.

Being a REGULAR member of Ellijay Mountain Cruisers

allows members access to special group discounts for club related events and shows

and other discounts offered by vendors and sponsors!

Visit: www.ellijaymountaincruisers.com

and click CLUB SPONSORS for more details about each sponsor.

link to sponsors

NEXT CLUB MEETING:

Tuesday, 12th - ELLIJAY MOUNTIAN CRUISERS CLUB SOCIAL DINNER

at El Reys Azteca. El Rays Mexican Restaurant - 6:00 PM (Second Tuesday)