Pontiac-Oakland Club International,

Custom Safari

Chapter

Summer 2016

Volume 20, Number 2

In this issue .......

Chapter Chatter & News

Our Treasurer Report

The National Convention Review

Safari Post Card & Factory Photo

New Safari Search Ads

NATIONAL CONVENTION 2016 Report

This is the year to vote……. and more than 20 members of our Chapter did just that….. vote for awarding honors of the Best Safari at this year’s POCI National Convention. The competition was tough this year with seven 55’ to 57’s Safari wagons all deserving recognition. The finally tally showed that Steve and Andrea Cook’s 1956 Safari wagon received the most votes. Their wagon sports an authentic factory dual 4 barrel carburetor set-up on a nicely restored Avalon Blue & Nimbus Grey ‘56 Safari wagon.

It was a very busy day for Steve. Hours after receiving the Chapter award, Steve hosted the club awards dinner banquet.

Steve & Andrea Cook accepts the “Best Safari” award from Lou Calasibetta.

From the President’s Garage

The convention is over and as usual it was a good one. I have to admit that the Iowa area for a show was very centrally located for the POCI club members. I do wish that there were more members from the East, but that is another story. The heat and location might have a lot to do with it. Anyway it was really great to see the Safari wagons at our display. There were some real beauties there. All styles were present except for the 1958 custom Safari?

We had a real good meeting on Thursday morning. Without Robin, all of us would be lost and as usual she made it all happen in a very positive manner. We reviewed old business and we discussed the money in our chapter and the same old story on new t -shirts? Wow something never change? Tough to have a short meeting once a year and get much done in a new fresh way. Tom Young took many photos and had more great ideas for our chapter. Another strong member with so much history and knowledge on the wagons. What great club and chapter members! I want to than all of you that came to our annual meeting and also for your past and present support of the chapter. Oh, for you members that did not attend I am still your President and Robin is the sec? Although she sort of hinted that this might be her last term has to match Starr’s long term record. We all took photos at the convention can any of you please send Rich a few so we can give more interest to all of you in our Chapter. Next year is Texas should be a hot one but hey it’s only once a year a great wild ride there and a time to see old friends……..Hope to see you then? Have a good day……………..LOU CALSIBETTA still your President?

Lou Calasibetta

Member reminders: • Send your yearly dues for 2017 to our Treasurer, Robin Petry. Refer to the back page of

this newsletter for her mailing address. • Sign-up for the 2017 POCI National Convention NOW while hotel rooms at the guest hotel are still available. Dallas/Fort Worth Marriott Hotel and Golf Club. Call (866) 348-3984 (mention “Pontiac National Convention”) • Send pictures of your Safari wagon to our editor, Rich Pye. As you will see in our next

Behind the Wheel in the Editors' Seat

Hello Everyone!

As you can see things look a little different in this issue of Safari News. I would like to say it was planned all along, but that would be stretching the truth. Tom Young and I have been discussing a format change to make it easier to collaborate on future issues, but I pushed up the target date by breaking my right wrist using a drill and a hole saw. Yes, it did hurt as much as you are thinking and the recovery time is ridiculously long. So Tom, with a little help from Lou, offered to step up and get this issue out without much help from me.

Meanwhile, I am not making any progress on my Safari or Firebird this year, but am making a lot of plans to "get back at it" once my new titanium screw does its job in my wrist. I was hoping to set off metal detectors, but I've already proven that isn't the case at an NFL game! Go Bills!!

Thank you to all that provided content for this issue and thank you also to the rest of you for your patience in waiting for us to get this newsletter out. The biggest thanks goes out to Tom for taking on this challenge and keeping you all informed. It's great to have friends in the club that step up in a time of need. Until the next issue!!

From Tom: As Rich explained to me, using one finger with his good hand is not easy. Consequentially, he was trying hard to maintain the publishing schedule in assembling our newsletter. I took the driver seat and spent some time assembling the newsletter. I apologize for being so very late in getting it out to you but I think we have done well given our circumstances. We are on our way in getting back on track with keeping pace with upcoming newsletter issues.

The new look on the front page is actually an older version of our newsletter front page format that we used from 1997 to about 2001. I still had the original template in my computer so it was easy to simply add the appropriate information without having to create a new front page format. Throughout this newsletter, you will find other traces of our old newsletter format including the use of “Times New Roman” fonts, color-filled

text boxes and some old graphics that were created by in the 1990s!

In this edition, you will find a plethora of photos taken by many members who attended the National Convention in Bettendorf, Iowa. Once again, Robin Petry has come through with a great Treasurer report and Lou continues to lead our group meeting and show gathering. At our business meeting, we did discuss and agreed that a new t-shirt design is need and that Robin would take the lead in assembly new designs with the assistance of a member’s relative who is a graphics designer. If all goes well, Robin might have some design proposals for us to review and approved sometime next year. A sample graphic design concepts is shown on this page.

In our next issue, we will cover the Wounded Warrior show and Car Corral & Picnic at Paramount Ranch. Both are Southern California venues.

Tom Young

Rich

National Convention Report

Above: A record 23 Safarians gathered for our annual peer voting for the “Best Safari” at the weekend show.

When it comes to making an car club national convention enjoyable for everyone, the Pontiac Oakland Club, International are the masters! This years National Convention event in Bettendorf, Iowa was great! The venue was wonderful and the weather was almost perfect!! The club activities were top-notch and the swap vendors seemed to have something for everyone. The cars were marvelous and the local chapter who did a lot of the leg work in managing the convention were outstanding. Our annual Chapter meeting was well attended and everyone had a great time at the big week end show. The swap meet area was full of parts for our Safari wagons and the guest hotel offered plenty of indoor parking. If you have not attended a POCI national convention, you are missing-out on a very enjoyable time.

Convention Facts & Figures • Total Number of Safari wagons attending: 7 • Total number of car show awards received by members: 5 • Safari driven the longest distance: Jack Johnson’s 55 Safari wagon; at least 3500

miles! Really!! • Most well known local attraction: the History Channel’s American Pickers

Lou and Robin

Custom Safari Chapter Meeting Minutes POCI National Meeting, 7/14/2016, Bettendorf, Iowa 19 Members in attendance: James & Sandy Bowers, Lou Calasibetta, Ruth and Lee Hadley, Harold and Carol Cary, Jack Johnson, Luke Miller, Jack and Jill White, Tom Young , Lars Elofsson, Marv and Kathy Nielsen, Mark & Robin Petry, Noel & Starr Evans,

1 Visitor: Ernie Abariotes

Lou Calasibetta, CSC President, called the meeting to order at 10:03 am.

Members introduced themselves. 2015 minutes of the Louisville, KY chapter meeting: Were printed in the newsletter after last year’s meet-ing. Minutes were distributed for review and comments. Motion to accept as printed made by Jim Bowers, seconded by Lee Hadley and approved by membership. 2015 Treasurer’s report: 7/23/15 Starting balance: $1999.87 plus income: $1545 (Dues $1521, T-shirts $24) minus $1022.17 Expenses (3 newsletters $160, $230, $230; Postage $87.25, $100, $102.84, $21.30; Convention snacks $20.78; Website Domain fee $70) = 7/13/2016 Ending balance $2522.70 2015 Membership report: 7/13/16 Current number of registered families/members is 75.

Old Business:

Chapter T-Shirt: Robin distributed a handout with 5 design ideas discussed at the 2015 chapter meeting: Shirt with Safari Script on it only; Current shirt with the front the same but no picture on back so members could have their own shirts screened on it; Shirt with 4 travel decals Tom Young has worked with; Shirt with 1955-1958 Pontiac Safari Decal with car on beach, beach chair and at bottom Custom Safari Chapter; Shirt from many years ago with 55-58 Safaris on a winding road and the words Custom Safari Chapter POCI. Group discussion of options completed with vote to work on chapter shirt with 4 travel decals but need to add a 5th one with the 58 Custom Safari and leave back blank for members to add their own shirt. Jack Johnson’s daughter’s fiancé is a graphic designer and can work with Tom Young. Once designed then pre-orders would be needed. Would also like to explore having a women’s size option. A future design will be to have a shirt with the all five 1955-1958 front views on the front of the shirt and then the rearview picture of the cars on the back of the shirt.

Treasurer's Report

Above: Safarians gathered for our annual Chapter meeting in the host hotel

Newsletter Support: Lou recognized and thanked Rich Pye for his time, energy, dedication and amazing work to the chapter newsletter especially with all the personal challenges he has had to balance. The chapter newsletter is our main commodity and mechanism to connect members. It is important to support him with articles and short briefs. Tom Young encouraged members to send in pictures of Safaris in their “natural habitat” whether it be at shows or trips. Members are encouraged not to feel pressured to send in lengthy articles but sometimes even just tidbits of Safari news. Other Media Alternatives: Lars Elofsson, Randy Kerdoon, Tom Young and Rich Pye to work on alternative media op-tions: Face book, Snap chat, Chapter Website. Chapter Member Car Pictures: Robin is still working on collecting member car pictures and creating a file for Rich to use to update the chapter website. New Business:

Chapter Officers: Lou Calasibetta, Rich Pye and Robin Petry willing to continue in current roles for the next year. Motion was made by Starr Evans to approve this slate, it was seconded by Lee Hadley and Jack White and approved by unanimous vote. Starr Evans thanked Lou, Tom and Robin for coordinating the chapter business meeting and Saturday chapter meet-ing. She discussed it would be nice to coordinate a Safari cruise to breakfast or lunch at next year’s meeting. She suggested the host chapter be contacted to see if they would help with the logistics of finding a place and a time with minimal conflicts with other activities. Perhaps could be at the same time as the Oakland breakfast cruise or have our meeting at a restaurant. Members at the convention to meet Saturday, July 16th at 1pm at CS popular vote class area to vote for the “Best Sa-fari” at the convention and de-termine which member drove their Safari the longest distance. The meeting was adjourned at 1205pm. Respectively submitted, Robin Petry CSC Secretary/ Treasurer

A few sample images up for consideration in the development of a new t-shirt

A POCI national convention is not complete without scenic views, a large place to gather cars, a nice hotel and local attractions. Those who attended this year’s convention got to experience it all!

Right: The Isle Hotel and Casino along the Mississippi River is a great venue for a national convention. There was plenty of room for car show, swap meet and events.

Above: View from the event parking lot. The ‘57 Pontiac Chieftain is being driven by the original owner. He drives the car everywhere in the mid west! A true driver car!!

Above: View from a host hotel room. A real Mississippi tug boat moving a set of barges up river.

Below: Harold & Carol Cary at a indoor vendor booth.

Safarians in Bettendorf, Iowa

Upper Left: H.Lee Hadley signs the Convention Chapter sign-in book.

Left: Kathy and Marvin Nielson with a newly found tiger friend at the indoor vendor area.

Above: Luke Miller holds a photo of his ‘56 Safari wagon in front of our Chapter’s Convention display board. Thanks to Lou and Robin, our display was one of the best in the show. All of our free newsletters and membership applications quickly disappeared!

Starr and Noel Evans with their beautiful ’57 Safari. The Hadleys brought their award winning ‘57 convertible.

Harold and Carol Cary with their accessorized ‘55 Safari. Sandy & Jim Bowers with their cool ‘57 Safari.

Andrea & Steve Cook with their factory dual quad ‘56 Safari wagon.

Safarians and their wagons

Right: Wow! Lars Elofsson really knows how to dress for the Con-vention awards show.

Jack & Jill White with their great ‘57 TC Safari wagon.

Jack Johnson ‘s 55 Safari drag car, camper and distance hauler wagon.

Safarians proudly displaying their popular vote “Most/Outstanding” in their respective class awards.

Lou Calasibetta with his very original ‘57 Safari.

The Cary’s Raven Black & White Mist ‘55 Safari received the Popular Vote PV-6 recognition for Outstanding Safari.

Above: The Cook’s Avalon Blue & Nimbus Gray ‘56 Safari was voted the “Best Safari” by attending chapter members. Right: The Bower’s metallic red & white ’57 Safari received the PV-60 “Outstanding” recognition for it’s class.

Above: The Knoll’s ‘57 Safari wagon received the Popular Vote (PV) “Most Outstanding” award in class.

Right: Lou’s original ’57 Limefire & Seacrest green Safari

received the PV-6 “Outstanding” recognition in class.

Lou’s Body #484 is currently the highest known body number with factory seat stars.

Convention Swap Meet Some of the best opportunities to purchase parts in mass quantities for your Safari wagon will be at POCI events. National Conventions are set-up for swap meet event generally from Tuesday through Saturday. With swap ven-dors coming in at any given day, it’s manda-tory to cruise the swap area every morning. Many Safarians could be found cruising or hanging around the swap.

Above: Looks like Mark Petry is making a deal with Lou.

Below: Joe Evans, Lou and Carl watching the swap meet action.

Fun things to do near the Convention

One of the best features of a National Convention is the opportunities to visit local attractions. The History Channel’s American Pickers headquarters was just a few miles down the road from the Convention. Their iconic Nash remains conveniently parked so that visitors can take a their picture with the car as demonstrated by Mark and Robin Petry. A few items featured in past episodes could be found on display or for sale.

Lagomarcinos is world famous for their home made ice cream & chocolates. The Obama’s visited there during their reelection campaign. Summer and Tom had an ice cream soda at the same booth that the Obama’s used during their visit.

Hanging-out at the car show parking area had to be one of the best things to do at the convention but just minutes away were the John Deer Commons and the Buffalo Bill Museum. Both offered a lot of displays of historic machinery and stories of local history. The famous Rock Island Arsenal was also nearby and well visited by POCI members. The United States second oldest museum can be found at the Arsenal.

The John Deer Commons was only about a 10 min drive from the Convention hotel. An impressive collection of historical equipment were on display.

At the Buffalo Bill Museum had a surprise for eve-ryone; the last working paddlewheel tugboat on the Mississippi River. It was retired in the 1960s after

over 70 years of service.

Many POCI members took a group sunset cruise on a local river boat cruise on the Mississippi.

A Flash from the Past—Southern California Style

Above: From Ron Huddy’s collection is a rare post card featuring the Hose of Morgan restaurant in Carlsbad, CA. The business is long gone but the moment of the past was nicely captured in the post card.

The close-up view of the Limefire with Seacrest insert colored ‘57 Safari wagon shows the “House of Morgan” business name on the driver side door. Also notice the yellow with black letters license plate, closed rear-bumper caps and lack of spinner wheel covers. Most ‘57 Safari wagons did not come from the factory with open rear bumper caps.

A date can not be found on the back of the post card but since the use of yellow CA license plates was stopped in 1963, it’s a safe bet that the post card was likely issued within five years since the Safari was new. You are likely looking at a very original Safari wagon!

Promotional Photo—1956 Safari cargo deck Some of you are likely to be working on completing your acquisition of the necessary trim parts to complete your cargo deck of you ‘55 to ‘57 Custom 2 dr Safari wagon. Here’s a view of a cargo area from a factory new Safari wagon.

PHOTO FLASH - Pictures of Safarians in their Native Habitat.

Wow! A few chapter members have sent some photos to share with us. Take a look…….. Below & right:

From Boynton Beach, FL, Barry Zalesky’s1955 Safari wagon received plenty of

attention earlier this year. The Safari was featured on the front cover of Hemmings

Classic Car magazine. His Safari looks great from any

angle.

Below: From Huntsville, AL, Don Bisson’s Sandalwood and Sun Beige ‘s ‘56 Safari wagon looks great anywhere but at a car show, it really stands out from the crowd.

Left: Double Wow!

Looks like the Velocity TV’s Chasing Classic

Cars star, Wayne Carini, found Don and his 1956

Safari wagon at a car show.

Safari For Sale FOR SALE: 1956 Pontiac Custom Safari 2 dr wagon: Body # 3900. Paint Code NP (Sandalwood Tan & Sun Beige). This is an original, rust free Safari. Everything works, even the factory A/C (well, the clock doesn't).The body is straight, the chrome is excellent. The A/C compressor, weather stripping, carpet have been replaced, another radio added under the dash. Mechanically sound, and drives like a Safari should, straight and smooth

on radials. No abnormal leaks. The leather upholstery is showing its age with dryness and light cracking, but is still whole, no rips or tears. I encourage you to test drive the car. I just took a closer look underneath. It is not quite rust free. The undercarriage - frame, suspension, drive train, etc. has some surface rust. It wasn't undercoated since new. No deterioration evident. The floor, both underside and top show no rust at all; undercoated bottom, painted

top. There is one area along the left inner quarter panel that is rusty. The spare well has had a repair done (a very good one) and was painted inside and out. Otherwise, the car is as described. Obviously, it hasn't undergone a body off restoration, but then if it had, it would-n't be mostly original (some new stuff). Asking $48K. I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have, just call Tom at 252-675-0200

Safari Flash Back Back in February of 1978, the Safari News contained a “ PONTIAC PARTS” page filled with parts and cars for sale or wanted. Look closely and you will find evidence of the beginning of the reproduction of hard to find Pontiac parts. New Old Stock (NOS) parts were still available but some parts simply could not be easily found in either good used or NOS condition. Over three decades later, many hard to find parts can now be quickly purchased by suppliers or on eBay.

Safari Search

PARTS For Sale

FOR SALE: 1957 Custom Safari 2 dr: Restored in 2000. 1968 428 motor with disc brakes, vintage AC– car came with air. 7000 miles since restoration. Very nice car. $50,000. Call 231 690-0429 for more info.

TO PLACE AN AD: Looking to sell parts or a car? Send your request to Rich Pye at rpye@rochester.rr.com. Your ad should be related to 1955 to 1958 Pontiacs and include photos when possible.

1950-52 Pontiac: Exterior & interior trim. Contact Paul Gore

1955 Pontiac: OEM side view mirror (#519802) ? And a OEM non-glare rear view mirror (#51170 or #988647) ? For a ‘55 Safari. Not sure about the correct part #’s. NOS is not necessary but would like to find something in good to very good condition with minimal pitting. gpark14@aol.com

1956 Safari: Information needed on how to replace rear leaf springs. Contact Gary Birenbaum at mrpontiac@mindspring.com

1957 Safari Wanted: If you have any leads, please contact Dwight at dwhitmire3153@charter.net or call cell 770 851-1010.

1955-57 Pontiac station wagon: Exterior Tee handle for liftgate on with as many attached parts as possible. Steve Cook jumbodog54@sbcglobal.net or 314 795-4700.

1957 Pontiac: AC components that mount to engine, brackets, compressor, condenser, etc. Rich Pye. rpye@rochester.rr.com

FOR SALE: Four 15’ Rally 2 rims (5x4 3/4 bolt pattern). Rims restored. Includes four mounted like new tires. Two are 225 60R15 and two are 23570R. Asking $550 or best offer. Will consider separating them. Please contact Rick at 401 934-0663 or frdigi@cox.net.

‘56 Safari Parts For Sale: Member Tom Kelly is selling the following items from a ‘56 Safari (contact Tom Kelly at bstk1@msn.com and put 56 parts in the subject line. ‘57 347 en-gine w/bell housing & 2bbl carb, asking $500. left & right spin-dles complete, shoes, bearings, drums, and kingpins, asking $75 ea. Dual coupling transmission, all new rebuilt, w/gears, front pump, & nose cone, $1700. Power steering pump w/bracket, $75. aluminum flywheel w/steel ring gear, $125, starter $50.

WANTED

1955 Pontiac: Parting out a 2 door Chieftain. Email Rich Pye at rpye@rochester.rr.com.

1955-57 Pontiac: Custom Safari new gas tanks, $399.00 plus shipping. New lower tailgate assembly, $850.00 plus shipping. NOS 1956 Pontiac lit hood ornament, original box, $600. Jay Hammond. 302 322-1833 jhchevyparts@aol.com.

1957 Pontiac: Front brake drums complete with backing plates, shoes, wheel cylinders & wheel bearings, $100 ea. 2 radios & speaker housings, maroon & green, $150 ea. Complete rear differ-ential, 3.23 gears, $100. 5 hub caps, good cond., $100. Call Bill Hanners at 239 543-3510 FL

FOR SALE: Outstanding quality reproduction door panels in Cordova Red & Kenya Ivory for 1957 Safari 2 dr Custom wagon.

These panels are from new SMS of Portland, OR. Nobody makes a better reproduction panel than SMS. You can order the same panels from SMS and wait 13+ months or your can pick-up mine now for the same price- $900 plus shipping for the driver and pas-

senger side front doors and rear pan-els. Tom Young 805 375-1320 CA

Panels shown covered in plastic.

In the next issue of SAFARI NEWS...

Our WINTER season issue featuring:

Wrecking Yard Safari Wagons, Wounded Warrior Show Coverage, technical repair & restoration articles, and more Safari flashbacks.

December 16th thru 18th:

18th Annual Pontiac Heaven

Weekend, Chandler, AZ

July 11th-15th: POCI Nat’l

Convention - Annual

Chapter meeting, breakfast

cruise & Chapter Awards.

Things to do:

Calendar:

Pay Annual Dues

(for 2017 $21,

Send in photos of my

Safari wagon to Rich.