Upcoming Events

Fri-Sat, 15-16 February Swap Meet, Boone County Fairgrounds, Columbia MO. 573-449-4921, www.gspromotions.net
Sat, 23 February Wheat State Chapter/ATHS membership meeting, noon at Bondo’s shop, 828 S. Main, Hutchinson. You’ll need your lawn chair and some soda; we’ll order pizza after the meeting starts. This is a cool shop; if you like anything on wheels, you need to be there.  
Sat, 8 March at 9am, ATHS Spring Board Meeting, Four Points Sheraton, KCI, KCMO
Wed, 12 March 7pm, Wheat State/ATHS Chapter meeting, Newell’s Truck Stop, US50/I135 x31, Newton
Sat, 15 March, ATHS Open House, KCMO
Sun., 30 March The Mid State Street Rods Spring Dust Off Show   in the K Mart parking lot 1320 E. 30th St. from 2-5 PM.
Sat, 19 April Wheat State Chapter/ATHS 5th Annual Truck Show, Newell’s Truckstop, Newton KS.
         Set-up starts 8am, show 11-4, Chapter meeting at 1pm.
Fri-Sat, 25-26 April Swap Meet, Gateway AR town park on US62 479-656-3929
Fri-Sun, 2-4 May Lawrence (KS) Swap Meet, Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds, 785-843-AACA, email LawrenceAACA@aol.com. Free admission, $3 parking. Big, outdoors, oldest in Kansas.
Fri-Sun, 2-4 May Sooner Chapter/ATHS & Oklahoma Steam Threshers & Gas Engine Assc Truck Show, www.oklahomathreshers.org, Pawnee OK
Wednesday, 7 May, 630pm Chapter Board Meeting at Kustom Karriers, South Spencer on the edge of Newton.
7-9 May, 3-I Show, Great Bend
Saturday 10 May at noon, Wheat State Chapter Meeting at Bondo’s shop, 828 S. Main, Hutchinson.
Wednesday 14 May 630pm, Chapter Board Meeting, AT&T Arena, State Fairgrounds.
22-24 May, ATHS Nat’l Convention & Antique Truck Show, Kansas State Fairgrounds, Hutchinson
Sat, 2 August Goessel (KS) Threshing Days

News

Our Fifth Annual Truck Show at Newell’s was our biggest yet with 43 trucks on display. If you’re on-line, you can view Todd Wilson’s pictures at www.chargerfever.com/newton2008/index.html.

We had a membership meeting during the show, someone did take minutes, someone else misplaced them, and you don’t see them here. I wasn’t there. I was working. That’s my excuse. I’ll use it again.

Our Members and Volunteers Cook-out at the fairgrounds was well-attended. We talked, Dan cooked, we ate, Vern locked himself out of his truck, and it rained. The Johnsons were in Hutch’ all day, working up the final lay-out, and it looks to me as it most of the issues raised at our Board Meetings have been addressed and resolved. One of the more persistent issues has been… Volunteer Assignments – For a number of reasons, chapter members have been reluctant to volunteer for specific jobs and shifts. At the last Board Meeting, we decided to take a different approach: When you get to the convention and you are ready to volunteer, go to the Convention headquarters/control desk in the Meadowlark building. Andy F will be there, and he’ll be glad to tell you where to go, as always. Wheat State Member Vic Munsey is still driving trucks in Iraq, I believe for four years now. At its last meeting, the board voted to continue his chapter membership for free.  Networking – (I’m not at all sure that I have the details straight on this story, but Scott had such a good time telling it to me that I think you’d all enjoy it, too) – At our chapter truck show in ’06, someone showed Lenny a picture of a truck and asked if he would be interested in buying it. Lenny declined, saying he had enough trucks (?!) but would be glad to take his name, number, and picture and ask around for him. The name and phone number soon sank out of sight in Lenny’s office but the picture stayed somewhere close to the surface.

Roughly six weeks later, after the Colorado Springs National, Louisiana/Arkansas RVP David McNeill stopped by Lenny’s and at some point the conversation turned to trucks. David knew what he wanted but couldn’t find it. The aforementioned picture picked that occasion to bob to the surface. The truck in the picture was, of course, exactly what David wanted, but the contact info couldn’t be found. Lenny thought the truck was somewhere around Great Bend or Larned, but no one could remember anything like it.

Sometime later, David was on the phone with an ATHS member in Australia. At some point, most likely the beginning, that conversation also turned to old trucks. David told him what he was looking for, and described the truck in the picture. The Aussie, of course, knew the exact truck by David’s description, and also knew where it was: in eastern Colorado, not exactly Great Bend but the Arkansas River does run through both and that’s close enough.

David went to Colorado and showed the picture to everyone who would look. No one recognized the truck, but one fellow did recognize a fence in the background of the photo. It was in a nearby town. The truck was right beside it.

Lenny hauled the truck to Newton. They pulled it fifty feet and it started, on twenty-year-old #2 diesel. David then drove it four miles to this year’s truck show at Newell’s – it’s the green R-model in #19 of Todd’s pictures at www.chargerfever.com/newton2008/index.html.

It ran out of twenty-year-old #2 diesel on the way back to Lenny’s. If you don’t try, you’ll never know how good your luck can be.

The Convention is Almost Here. Trucks are already arriving from out of state (Buddy’s really ready to roll). Come on out, chip in, and have a good time. Hope to see all of you there.

Minutes of our meeting, 12 March at Newell’s Truckstop, Newton. Called to order at 7:04pm by Pres. Goering. Minutes were read and accepted with a correction: the Red Hat Ladies are still with us for the Convention. Treasurer Paradis reported 83 paid-up members and a balance and we accepted that, too. We had one visitor, Larry Voth, who invited us to show again at Goessel Threshing Days, first weekend of August.

Beto Junction – The Three Trails chapter and Buddy Sombart have asked for scheduling input from us for the Beto Junction show. It was in August in ’07, same weekend as Gretna and Goessel. We have yet to reply. Discussion: need to avoid conflict with Gretna, Goessel, Adrian (MO), Laird-Noller, 3-I, the National, Newell’s, and Labor Day events in both Hoisington and Florence. No decision made, open.

KC Board Meeting – RVP Lenny reports Wheat State was well represented on 8 March, too well for me to keep up with all the names he rattled off. Some items from the meeting: an internet chapter is in the works; upgrades are planned for the ATHS website forum; the ’11 Nat’l will be at Notre Dame, IN, and the ’12 will be in Springfield, MA. He also reminded us of the ATHS Open House on 15 March, starting at 10am with lunch at noon. A convoy will leave Newell’s at 6:30am.

Hutch’ National – we now have two street rod clubs from Hutchinson that have volunteered to help; we will host a BBQ at the Fairgrounds at 4pm on 26 April for volunteers, both local and those from out-of-state who can make it; we have a proposal from Nightlife Sounds to provide an outdoor sound system (under consideration by the chapter board and HQ); we are working on a sign to acknowledge supporters; Mike Berry of the Sunday (Wichita) Eagle’s Wichita on Wheels will do a pre-convention feature on our chapter (look for him at our 19 April Truck Show at Newell’s); James Wiens and RVP Lenny are printing shop rags for sale as a fund-raiser (real shop rags, though I’m sure lots of folks the world over would jump at the chance to buy reprints of the newsletter).

Meeting adjourned 7:42pm.

They’ve moved on – The only difficulty I encounter in doing the newsletter is having to report a death in our ATHS family. This month there are two. Wheat State member Gus Meschke of Hutchinson died in February; he’d been with us for three years. George Schroyer, the ATHS National Secretary for several years, died on 9 March; several of his trucks were recently featured in WoT. In Chairman Dovre’s words, he was a real gentleman and supporter of the ATHS. Cards for both families were signed by those present at our March chapter meeting. We’ll miss both of these Drivers.

Our Trucks – Mitch has taken delivery of his ’54 Diamond T 921, and I think already has a full trailer (a Pike?) to follow it; Lenny picked up a ’47 IH wrecker; Dan Coonce has a ’68 KW; Bill J has a ’73 long nose GMC and a ’47 Chevy farm truck waiting in Iowa; San Nikkel bought…. Um, I’ll bet most of us don’t know San because he hasn’t been to meetings because he wasn’t aware of them because SOMEONE neglected to add him to the mailing list. San showed up at Laird-Noller last September with a late-40’s Studebaker winch truck that he drove in from Moundridge. He made it only half-way home that afternoon before the engine blew. He has since rebuilt it and picked up a ’48 KB8 (also a winch-) so that he wouldn’t be caught without on short notice, not that a Stude would ever do that to you. Lastly – my parts truck is a-part, the remnants being a farm trailer, a 300 six to rebuild, a T-18 which (according to the shop) looks like new inside, some glass, a door, and a large box of parts. Missing from that box is the instrument cluster housing. Ford molded it in a plastic that cures with age to the point where it has the structural integrity of dried flour-and-water paste. I have only ever managed to salvage one of these intact, and I dropped it on the garage floor. The housing in the parts truck had already crumbled away from its mounting screws. None of this will happen to the housing in my ‘77 unless I try to peel the duct tape off.

Printed at the Newton, Kansas offices of Floyd Wild Trucking

Cyber Trucks - This from Wheat State’r Todd Wilson: Several years ago I found an old oil field Dart in a boneyard at Pratt. A friend of mine bought it and it ended up in Iowa. I was talking Darts at a chapter meeting one time when Gary Crow got involved in the conversation. He said he knew of 2 Darts in Pratt. He had photos and 8mm video of them in action. After looking at my photos he thought his footage was of my friends Dart. He got the 8mm converted to DVD and I got to watch the video today. Amazing to see the truck in action! I snapped some still photos of the video tonight as well as adding photos of how I found the truck a few years ago. There is a possibility this Dart will be at the ATHS 08 in May here in Hutch! Enjoy! http://www.chargerfever.com/dart/index.html.

Others to check out:

http://www.youtube.com/user/1947dodgewf32

http://s246.photobucket.com/albums/gg95/ATHS-3-Trails/Cline Work Day 12-08-07/

http://s246.photobucket.com/albums/gg95/ATHS-3-Trails/Cline Work Day 12-15-07/

http://s246.photobucket.com/albums/gg95/ATHS-3-Trails/Cline Work Day 2-23-08/

protruck@msn.com

Not good news: http://otw.live.mediaspanonline.com/story/021208salvageyard

Minutes of our meeting, Saturday 23 February 08 at Fields Enterprises, Hutchinson. Called to order at 12:21pm by Pres. Goering. Treasurer Paradis gave his report (accepted), passed around one of the laser-engraved chocks (donated by Kustom Kabinets of Wichita), and reported 81 paid-up members out of 112 on the roster. Sec. Shifflett read the January meeting minutes (accepted).

National Convention – several items, most covered by Pres. Goering:
- We lost the Red Hat Ladies and Old Time Band; Dan Coonce is looking for replacements       
- Outdoor concessions chosen – Scott will contact.
- Nitelife Sounds and Commercial Sound Systems will both bid to provide outside sound systems.       
- 2-way Radios – Salt Fest Organizers have ten, may supply to us.
- All fairgrounds restrooms will be available. Booked 6 porta-pottys for unloading and other areas. 
- RVP Lenny Wild has three trailers promoting the Convention: I-135 at exit 22, Wilhite’s on US50 in Burrton, and the Floyd Wild terminal in Newton (which will move to roadside I-70 in Salina).
- Luminous Neon Will provide billboard signs at 3rd & Main in Hutch, on K-61 north of 30th St (Hutch), and on US50 in Dodge City. ATHS buys the canvas (each 12x24).
- Ambulance service is available to us. Area is available on-site for a minor emergency clinic.    
- Night time security is a possibility; Scott is talking with the Reno County Sheriff’s Auxilliary.
- An internet service station will be set up. Wheat State computer guru Don Grier will have a digital video camera, will post videos on-line.   
- A washing station will be set up at the loading/un-loading area.
- VP Ely suggested we all pre-register, to set the example.  
- Treasurer Shifflett will approach KAKE news, KPTS, the Wichita Eagle, and the Kansas convention and tourism office about publicity and news coverage.

Member’sTrucks – Treasurer Mitch Paradis is buying a ’54 Diamond “T” (pictured bottom left, page 14, ’07 SHOWTIME). He’s keeping his Autocar cap. A motion by Dan Coonce allows Mitch to have both the “T” and an Autocar, should one be available. The vote was unanimous but probably not enough to over-ride a veto. Gary Crow has picked up a Ford N750, and his long-nose ’50 GMC is undergoing re-constructive surgery with Justin Fields (Jr).

Pizza arrived at 1:04 pm.

Meeting adjourned at 1:05pm.

Minutes of our meeting, 26 January 08 at Floyd Wild Trucking, Newton. Big Jim served lunch, and the meeting was then called to order at 12:37pm by Pres. Goering. Sec Shifflett reported on the last meeting for which minutes were available and not yet reported (November ’07) (accepted); Treasurer Paradis gave his report (accepted).

BETO Junction – Buddy Sombart (who deserves a long distance award for driving in from Amoret, MO) reported poor turnout at the BETO Junction truck show last August; he requested suggestions for dates with minimal conflicts.

RVP Lenny Wild announced his nomination for 3rd VP on the Executive Board, and Dan Coonce’s nomination for Kansas RVP. He went on to thank everyone who drove some distance to make the meeting, and reported having sent a letter to Kansas ATHS members in late December ’08. On the subject of the ’08 Hutch National: We need members to sign up for support positions; Pres. Scott and RVP Lenny attended a meeting of the 2 Cylinder Club in Hutch which will pull trams and set up a display during the Convention; golf carts will be allowed but not ATVs.

Hutch Support Staff – It was proposed that the cap color for support staff should be orange, in mesh, and that they use orange vests instead of a specific shirt. Motioned, seconded, passed.

Fund Raisers – New member Matt Mock won the 50/50, and new member Wayne Reece won the raffle for an International Transtar belt buckle that 1) was donated by Red Hoffman, 2) has a most remarkable history (provided by Dan Coonce), and 3) isn’t in Lenny’s collection. Believe it or don’t.

Meeting adjourned at 1:19pm. When I left (after 2pm) a few bull sessions were still in progress and several members were in the Floyd Wild yard, checking out Lenny’s collection. I counted 41 attending.

Wheat State’r Don Grier is one member we rarely get to see. I hardly know the fellow, and I don’t think I’d recognize him if I saw him. He has nonetheless been one of the more influential members of our chapter due to his work in establishing and maintaining our chapter website (www.athskansas.org) . Don’s mother recently passed on. I hope we can all find a moment for our friend and his family, and that we can see him again soon.

The ATHS wasn’t what I thought it was when I joined, that being an Old Truck Club. It’s my good fortune to have stumbled on something much more. In my defense, I would point out that the “T” in ATHS stands for Truck, not Trucking, and I simply assumed too narrow a focus. I’m not the only one to have had a blindered view of our Society, and it’s not hard to see how it might happen, given its stratified character. At the Personal level, the ATHS can be as simple as Me and My Truck and an outstanding magazine. At the Local and Regional levels it becomes the Old Truck Club I was looking for: friends, garage parties and truck shows. At the National level, the ATHS is something different altogether, not just an Old Truck Club but a Historical Society, the National Archive of Trucking. We maintain and preserve the records and artifacts of the trucking industry and trucks in industry, and the stories of the people who were and are part of it. It is a big organization with a big mission.

If you read the meeting minutes, you already know that RVP Lenny Wild has been nominated for the position of 3rd Vice President on the ATHS Executive Committee, and that Wheat State Board Member Danny Coonce has been nominated to replace him as RVP for Kansas. Both have been with our Chapter from the start and have been exceptionally involved in its development. I think both know the multi-faceted nature of our Society and both will serve it well, as they already have. Like all the others on the ExCom and Board of Directors, they will fulfill their duties on their own time and their own dollar with no compensation for either, making these offices an honor that few can afford. We are fortunate to have, within the ATHS and our chapter, members with the necessary talent, resource, and commitment to serve our Society at that level. Without them, it could be just Me and My Truck. That wouldn’t be enough.

Page Filler – Don Grier (who, with Todd Wilson, manages our website) has put up a message forum area on the Wheat State web site http://www.athskansas.org/ - Todd Wilson sent a number of websites for to check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB7i7SLdRV4 ; http://www.mytrain.com/ ; http://www.chargerfever.com/blizzard78/index.html (trucker stranded in blizzard)

Hello Drivers, another year is here and it’s going to be a big one for the Wheat State Chapter. Three years have passed since our crew offered to host the ’08 National Convention. We are now less than five months from the big event. The Chapter Board has been meeting regularly and frequently since the Colorado Springs National and we have progressed well, but we are just about to the point where we need everyone’s involvement. If you haven’t already volunteered for a part in running the Convention, please take the opportunity to do so at the next meeting (see Trip Sheet, below) or contact RVP Lenny Wild. Some members have said to just assign them to whatever is open and we can certainly do that, but it sounds better if we can say you volunteered. Which we probably would anyway.

We had our annual Chapter dinner at Mr. C’s in Newton back in November. We didn’t do any business and I was too busy eating to take minutes anyway so you won’t find any here. The food was good, the friends were great, and the 50/50 drawing was excellent (I won, again).

On the back of the newsletter is a Wheat State Chapter Membership Application. I know you’re probably already a member, but please take a few minutes to fill it out anyway and either bring it to the next meeting or mail it to Mitch (address on the form). Treasurer Mitch, VP Duane and I will then spend untold hours with this info to update the Wheat State databases (yes, there’s more than one; confusion is more effective when you have company). Bring it to the next meeting or mail it to Mitch, and don’t forget to include a check for $12 (made out to Wheat State Chapter) to cover ’08 chapter dues, which are due as of 1 January.  (download the membership form)

Minutes of our meeting, 10 October ’07 at Newell’s Truckstop, Newton, 7pm (almost).

Shirts and caps – James Voth of Ratzlaff Draperies in Goessel was on hand to discuss chapter shirts and caps, which he can provide. Short sleeve embroidered starts at $22-25, and he can do your own shirt for @$7.00. Knit shirts are the same price. Caps are $8-10; low-profile caps would be a bit tight for our logo, but high-profile caps would present no problem. Delivery would take @two weeks. He left catalogs.

Minutes of our September meeting were not read because there aren’t any. I didn’t take any. The meeting was part of our show at Laird-Noller Motors in Hutch on 8 September, and we were really there to show our trucks anyway. Motioned, seconded and voted to accept this excuse.

The Treasurer’s Report was more precise. We don’t reveal the balance in the newsletter, but Mitch did report a balance and the report was accepted.

Chapter Dues The Board proposed raising chapter dues to $12/year, pro-rated for new members at $1/month. Dues are due 1 January; a late notice will be sent 1 March, and non-respondents will be dropped after 31 March. Motioned, passed.

Fall National Board Meeting Report by RVP Lenny Wild - A proposal was made to raise national dues to $42; this will be voted on at the spring board meeting. The Board was impressed with the state fair grounds as the ’08 convention venue. The ATHS now has @24,000 members.

Christmas Cards – a proposal made to send Christmas cards to all the Chapters with an invitation to attend the ’08 Hutch National. Motioned, 2nd’d, passed.

Meeting adjourned 7:51pm

The next newsletter will be sent out @ 7 January ’08.

Chapter Board members: Lenny has suggested we hold a Chapter Board Meeting on the evening of wednesday 3 October, instead of or perhaps even in addition to the meeting already scheduled for the following wednesday. Given the decisions to be made before our deadline (15 October), it seems a good idea. I'll send notice of location when one has been chosen. For those of you who haven't already heard, the Fireside Restaurant in Burrton has closed for business. - Dana Shifflett

Printed after hours at the Newton, Kansas offices of Floyd Wild Trucking

A genuine, authentic, un-retouched and not-physically-enhanced representation of our bumper sticker, in glorious color or black & white, depending.   Available at our next meeting.

Shop Rag   Newsletter for the Wheat State Chapter/American Truck Historical Society, August 2007

Minutes of our meeting, 18 July 07 at Newell’s Truck Stop, Newton.  Called to order at 7:03 by Pres. Goering.  16 May minutes read, accepted; July postage was $15.99 for 39 newsletters.  Treasurer reported balance and 5 members not paid up for 07; accepted, and Pres. Goering will call those members.

Goessel Threshing Days – Saturday is show day for chapter, use west entrance.

4 July Post-Parade Picnic in Hutchinson raised $240 for the 08 Nat’l.

Hutch Tractor Show Scott Goering and Bob Wilhite hauled tractors for this show.

Hutch 08 National: We have 08 brochures; RVP Lenny discussed volunteer shifts, suggested 4-hour shift length; Lenny will get some give-away WoTs for our upcoming shows; Lenny (last time!) has ’08 Hutch commemorative keychains, $5/ea or 3 for $20 which would be a bargain for someone.  A question was raised regarding Hutch C of C info bags, the reply being we can get all we want.  Publicity: VP Ely reports that there is a new editor at the Hutchinson paper and we may find a warmer reception than in times past; Sec Shifflett reports Mike Berry of the Wichita Eagle has supported/promoted us in the past and has been informed of the 08 Nat’l; The Territorial Magazine is a chapter member, they are doing a spread on the 07 National and will for 08 as well, they sponsor/organize the 3-I show, they promote us and we should do the same for them, Richard Thrasher suggested using our trucks to help promote them.

Upcoming meetings – Bill Pierson reports Bennett GMC in Salina is interested in hosting a meeting and our trucks; VP Ely reports same for Laird-Noller in Hutch.  After discussion, we chose to ask Laird-Noller for Saturday Sept 8, to take advantage of the State Fair, and to ask Bennett for Saturday 20 October.  Sec Shifflett will attempt to arrange something similar in McPherson.

Meeting Adjourned 8:05pm.

Page Filler  From Todd: Hutch tractor show pix http://www.chargerfever.com/tractor07/index.html ; truck rescue & recovery pix http://www.chargerfever.com/07rescuemain.htm ; AndyF & Bondo’s Pike’s Peak Pix http://www.chargerfever.com/aths07pikes/index.html....  Lenny caught an unusual truck on auction at Colorado Springs.  It’s an International Sightliner I think, a cab-over with a view-out basement….  I went to the Gretna Classic Truck Show on 4 August.  They had over 85 trucks registered, including a ’38 Chevy school bus that took my mind off Fords for awhile.  AndyF and Bondo were there with the Pre-Hemi Dodge to pitch our ’08 National.  Also saw them the day before at the Smith Collection Museum of American Speed in Lincoln, three big floors of antiques, street rods, race cars and tons of old speed equipment and well worth the $10 admission.  It’s open for a daily guided tour at 2pm, Monday through Friday, May through September.  Info: 402-323-3166, www.museumofamericanspeed.com.

Shop Rag    Newsletter for the Wheat State Chapter/American Truck Historical Society, July 2007

Minutes of our meeting, 16 May 07, Newell’s Truckstop, Newton KS.  Called to order at 7:13pm by President Scott Goering.  Minutes of the April meeting and the treasurer’s report were accepted as read.

Pres. Goering reported on the Board Meeting of 9 May, primary purpose of it being to quickly develop a brochure about our ’08 National to take to Colorado Springs.  He also gave us some figures on our 21 April truck show at Newell’s: 32 trucks, 9 new members.

Meetings and activities: We will host a barbeque at the Fairgrounds immediately following the Hutchinson 4^th of July Parade.  VP Duane Ely will check to see if Laird-Noller Motors still wants to host a show.  The first weekend of August will see the Threshers show at Goessel, the Iowa-Nebraska Truck Show at Gretna, and a classic car show at Lindsborg.  Bill Pierson is working on a Saturday show/meeting in Salina.

’08 Hutch National: Bill Pierson is still working to recruit Governor/ATA President Bill Graves for the Convention, and reports that the Governor has the date penciled in.  RVP Lenny Wild reminded us that he has volunteer forms.  ’08 is the 100^th anniversary of GMC; they have 18 antique trucks available for display and we hope to have all of them on display in the North Sunflower building.

Guests: Matt Wheeler of Hays (Studebaker) and David Griesen of Salina (works for KDOT).

Chapter Jackets – a new subject.   Vern and Sally had a couple of chapter windbreakers made up.   Lots of interest in the jackets, but not in the price ($90/ea).   No action taken on this item.

Meeting Adjourned 7:56pm.

Page Filler

Duane picked up a KB11 on auction at Arlington…. Dan Coonce took 273 photos in Colorado, see them at www.chargerfever.com/aths07/index.html.  See also www.imageevent.com/luckys/2007aths.... Todd got pix of the 4^th Parade/barbeque:  www.chargerfever.com/athsjuly42007/index.html.... Pres. Scott wants to get more of our member’s trucks on the web site. Currently Don G is the only one to have his trucks on the site. If you have a picture of your truck or a series of photos on a restoration send them to him in email. Lots of people are going to be visiting the web site due to the flyers passed out at Colorado and the 08 show coming to Hutch!  Our website is http://www.athskansas.org/Our_Trucks.htm.   If you have no digital pix, feel free to copy one from Todd’s picture links of our shows and send it with some info to Don, Todd, or me.  Todd’s picture link is http://www.chargerfever.com/newton2005/index.html.... Wilson, one more time:  Todd took his original/barn-condition ’47 Dodge (with the original paperwork in the glovebox) to a Mopar car show and collected a couple of top trophies.  Those Mopar guys know class when they see it, even if they wouldn’t give him Best Paint.

Minutes of our meeting, 18 April at the Fireside Restaurant, Burrton. Called to order 7:22pm by President Goering. Minutes of our 14 March meeting read/accepted. Treasurer Paradis updated us on our finances (accepted) and reported our new tags are almost paid for already. We had a round of self-intro’s, and then:

New Wheat State Tags – VP Ely has ‘em, $10/ea, order from Treas. Paradis. RVP Lenny also has tags, and bank bags and t-shirts as well.

21 April Truck Show – Scott, Lenny and Richard will rope off the area in Newell’s east lot Friday pm. Duane and Bondo have a few WoT magazines for the show, and Newell’s has current issues on sale.

2008 – RVP Lenny has developed a volunteer sign-up sheet which he passed out. We don’t have a theme for the convention yet; the only one proposed thus far is “All Trails Lead to Kansas”. Benchmark Co. is working on a t-shirt. HQ is still recruiting Gov/ATA President Bill Graves to be the Keynote Speaker. Posters and bumper stickers are being developed by Graphics Co. in KC. Ball caps have been ordered.

2007 (Colorado Springs) – Motels are filling fast; blocks are discouraged, so you’re on your own for lodging. As of this meeting, 14-15 of us plan to go. Lenny says we may be able to park as a group, but probably only if we arrive together (see Trip Sheet).

Magnetic Dash Plaques – Prez Goering has ordered 500 (Lenny hazza lotta trucks). They don’t commemorate any particular event, just our chapter and the ATHS.

Board Meetings – The Board will meet every month @ one week prior to the chapter meeting. This decision was made to allow Board Members to schedule time for the meeting, and to ensure progress in preparing for Hutch ’08.

Salt Fest – Prez Goering and Dan Coonce asked those of us who won’t be going to Colorado Springs to support the Salt Fest in South Hutchinson.

Meeting Adjourned 8:04pm

Just Docked: Paul Minkevitch, Newton; John Kelliher, Wichita; Tom Willems, Moundridge; Mark & Jean Ellingson, Halstead.

Page Filler: Our 21 April Truck Show at Newell’s drew about 32 trucks. I had to work that day and by the time I got there all but six trucks had left, and they were in the process. A couple of truck drivers wandered over and were disappointed to have missed it. I told them about our chapter and show and the ATHS, and showed them where the current issue of WoT was on sale in the store. Next day, WoT was sold out. RVP Wild has been supplying WoT to Newell’s; he had been buying back the left-over copies and donating them to area schools so that another generation could come to love the smell of diesel in the morning, but he says lately that hasn’t been necessary.

Shop Rag News of the Wheat State Chapter/American Truck Historical Society, April 2007

Minutes of Wheat State Chapter ATHS meeting, 14 March 07, in Duane Ely’s shop, Hutchinson. Called to order at 7:18pm by Pres. Goering. Minutes of February 07 meeting were read by Sec. Shifflett (approved). Treasurer Paradis reported a change of banks because 1) state law now requires us to have a business account, 2) Bank of the West has a minimum balance requirement for business accounts, and 3) Bank of America doesn’t; the 2006 financial report is done/send to KC; and we have a bank balance (approved).

RVP Lenny Wild reported he, Bondo, and VP Ely attended the KC Board meeting in February. A couple of items from that meeting: Katie Cramer Eck, our Acting/Assistant/Interim Managing Director, has resigned, and after ten straight months of growth we now have 23,680 members. Lenny also attended the 3 Trails Chapter meeting at Yellow Roadway Corporation Headquarters, and reports they will host a work day at HQ the first weekend of every even-numbered month.

2007 National – We will have a booth. James Weins offered a 10x20 canopy.

2008 National – Lenny is now recruiting for specific job assignments (loading/unloading, registration, etc). Kate (at HQ) is working on a poster and flyer. There is an effort underway to sign former Kansas Governor and current ATA President Bill Graves to be Keynote Speaker, and (if I heard correctly) to recruit Martina McBride for a concert. Finally, the fall ATHS Board meeting will be in Hutch at Grand Prairies.

A round of self-introductions uncovered a guest, John Martens of Inman - he has some early Broncos.

Regarding Our 21 April Truck Show at Newell’s – Sec Shifflett reported receiving inquiries about the availability of a dock/ramp for unloading. Treas. Paradis offered the dock at his shop, @ 1 mile south of Newell’s on Spencer. Contact him at 316-283-1060/mitch@kustomkarriers.com for information.

Meeting adjourned at 8:13pm.      What Really Happened: Plenty of good food and trucks and almost enough chairs. Good show, Duane.

Our November 06 Meeting – As you may recall with some appropriate disgust, I misplaced the minutes for this meeting. I found them while sifting the office for burn barrel fodder (tax prep, y’know) and, for those of you desperately grasping for the mundane, here they are:

Minutes of Wheat State Chapter Meeting, 18 November, Mister C’s, Newton. Called to order at 7:45pm by Pres Goering. Minutes of October 06 meeting were read by Sec Shifflett, accepted. Treasurer’s report was given by Treasurer Siemens, accepted.

Elections: President/VP/Secretary – incumbents all volunteered to continue. Jim Siemens motioned to nominate them, seconded, voted, passed. Treasurer: Andy Fields was nominated, did not accept at that time, position remained open. Todd Wilson was nominated to replace Dan Coonce as Activity Director on the Board. No vote required.

RVP Lenny Wild reported 3 Trails will host an Open House with dinner at ATHS/HQ in January.

Meeting adjourned at 7:58pm.  What really happened: This was our annual Thanksgiving/Christmas Dinner. We ate (great buffet), we had a 13 minute business meeting (good job, Scott!), we visited.

Minutes of Wheat State Chapter ATHS meeting, Feb 10 2007. The meeting was scheduled for 1:00 pm at Wild Trucking office in Newton, KS. We started with another of Big Jim Groneau’s feeds. This time it was sausage gravy on biscuits and hot links. Jim, you continue to outdo yourself. Thanks!

The meeting was formally opened at 1:30 pm by VP Duane Ely, who presided in the absence of Pres. Scott Goering. We had a very good turnout (and due to the failing memory of VP Ely, we failed to pass around a sign-up sheet). We had self-introductions and had several guests and new members. Ely promises to try to do better next time.

Minutes of the last meeting were accepted as printed in the last Shop Rag. The treasurer’s report was given by Treas Mitch Paradis, and it was approved as read. Mitch is requesting that all new money that comes to him be identified as to category. In other words, if you are paying for calendars, or license plates, or bank bags, or some other commodity, please identify your payment by telling him what the payment is for. Mitch also is asking that your 2007 local dues be paid as soon as possible and to include a completed “Membership Information Update” form. This is to be sure that we have an accurate record of your payment of dues and also to provide us with pertinent information about you, your address, phone no., e-mail address, spouse’s name, your truck info, etc.

ATHS Managing Director Bill Johnson made a few remarks concerning the ATHS home office in Kansas City, some discussion about our upcoming 2008 convention and show, and took questions from members about various subjects. He also invited any of us to come into the home office anytime we would like during Mon-Fri office hours. He also suggested that they would have a special opening time for us if we wanted to attend as a group some Saturday.

ATHS Archivist Lee Young made a short talk about the items he has available for our use any time we want to come to the home office or by phone call or e-mail. Lee has a need for any materials we may have that we think will be of importance to others in the future.

There being no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at approx. 2:15 and we were then free to shoot the bull with others. (Submitted by VP Duane Ely, acting Secretary in Sec Shifflett’s absence)

Below you'll find what I hope will be a reasonable copy of our truck show poster. I simply copied and pasted it to the newsletter, a process which has been less than successful in past years. I tried to scan it in and succeeded, but the resulting file was so large that my computer, after almost 2 hours of trying, kicked it back as being too large to e-mail. One of our chapter members seems to agree: he reported me to AOL for abuse (whether me meant BY me or was requesting it be heaped ON me was not made clear by AOL). As a result, the newsletter seems not to have gone out, so I'm trying again.

Sorry for any inconvenience, it was not intended, just incompetent.  I'll have hard copies of the poster at our next meeting.

Meeting Adjourned 8:08pm.

Shop Rag    News of the Wheat State Chapter/American Truck Historical Society, January 2007

Minutes, meeting of ?? November 06 – As one might conclude from the date, I’ve misplaced my notes and I’m not going to look for them now.  There wasn’t much to record anyway, other than that this was our annual Thanksgiving/Christmas dinner, it was in a private dining room at the Super 8 in Newton, it was catered by Charlie’s (Newell’s Truckstop), the food was good and so was the company of course, and the business (ossifers for ’07) was very brief: Jim Siemens (treasurer) and Dan Coonce (Board) had asked for relief; Todd Wilson was appointed to replace Dan; no replacement had yet been found for Treasurer.  Other officers and board members will continue from ’06.   We came, we ate, we departed, and had a good time.

The Office of Chapter Treasurer has been offered to, and accepted by, Mitch Paradise.  The general consensus seems to be that officers and board members now in office will serve through our ’08 Hutch National.

From 3 Trails Chapter Newsletter: Plans are being finalized for the proposed truck display pad that will be constructed at ATHS headquarters. This will be a great addition to the property, and is enthusiastically supported by the ATHS Executive Committee. Three Trails Chapter will present a proposal to host the 2011 ATHS Convention and Antique Truck Show to the Board of Directors at their February 24, 2007 meeting. If accepted, this would be the second convention hosted by the Three Trails Chapter.

From Intermountain West Chapter Newsletter:   Speakers for the 2007 Convention are locked in.  They include “The first 30 years of PIE” by Don Chew and “The History of the Quickway Shovel” by Matt Anderson.  There will also be programs on GMC Detroit Diesel and Hall-Scott engines.

Shop Rag   News of the Wheat State Chapter/American Truck Historical Society,  November 2006.

Minutes, Meeting of 18 October 06, Newell’s Truckstop, Newton.  Called to order at 7:06pm by President Scott Goering.  The Treasurer’s report was accepted as given by Jim Siemens.  Minutes for the September meeting, read by Sec. Shifflett, required correction: RVP Lenny Wild informed us that donations of trucks for our ’08 Hutch National must be made to the ATHS, not to our chapter as stated at the September meeting.  Stipulation could be made by the donor as to how much of the proceeds from a truck’s auction would go to the chapter.   With that correction, the minutes were accepted.

The Wheat State Chapter ’07 Calendar is here.  It looks sharp, and it’s only $15 (cheap!).  Get yours at the next meeting.

VP Duane Ely has talked with State Fair Manager Denny Steckline about the possible use of the racetrack for our -08 Nat’l.   He sees two potential uses for it: as a fund-raiser (run your truck); and for exhibition runs by the Kansas Antique Racers club.

Chapter Elections - Treasurer Jim Siemens asked about plans for chapter elections in November.  After some discussion, a motion was made for President Goering to appoint a nominating committee; motion was seconded and passed.

Tired Iron Show – We had five trucks on display at Larned.  Free admission and food coupons were provided for exhibitors.  The Santa Fe Trail Museum is a good one with fine exhibits, including a Studebaker that’s considerably older than anything in the ATHS.  There was a demonstration of anvil shooting, which is something of a pleasant madness: One anvil is precisely positioned on top of another with some amount of black powder between them; the charge is detonated (remotely, of course), and the upper anvil goes, well, up, a hundred feet and more.  There are organized anvil shooting competitions – what we saw would be Traditional, and then there is a class called Super Modified which, from the sound of it, may require FAA and Homeland Security clearances.  After describing this to members who weren’t at the show, there was talk of inviting the anvil shooters to launch one at our ’08 National.  Some doubt was expressed as to whether insurance coverage could be had that would allow this.

The Colorado Springs ATHS Board Meeting was scheduled for 27-28 October.  RVP Lenny, Treasurer Jim, VP Duane, Bondo, and Prez. Scott were all planning to attend.

Lenny Informed Us of several trucks for sale near Iola, and one near Hesston.  See Save The Truck.

Meeting Adjourned, 7:43pm.

Just Docked: new members Joe Harper (Marion’s brother or cousin, I forget which), Jason son-of-Al Fry, Dan son-of-Ron Ludwig, and John Carlson of Larned.

Colorado Springs – our delegation has returned, and Lenny has given me a brief update.  Expect a thorough and interesting report at our 18 November dinner and meeting.

Convoy to Colorado Springs - I’m working on a convoy across Kansas on old US40.  The plan of the moment is to rendevous in Junction City and roll west from there.   By the end of the year I hope to have road conditions, clearances and bridge weights.  For ’08, I’m contemplating something similar from both east and west along the Santa Fe Trail, and from the north and south on the Meridian Route/PanAmerican Highway.  I don’t see these as fund-raisers; the idea is simply to put old trucks on old roads, enjoy the scenery and the company, and get some exposure along the way.

Local History – at least as far as I can figure it.  US50 originally left Reno County to the east on what is now Illinois Avenue.  At some point (1928, I think), the alignment shifted a couple of miles to the north.  That route is paved and easy to follow:  At the Harvey County line on the west side of Burrton, go north on Woodberry Road  one mile, west on Avenue G six miles, north on Kent one mile, and west on 4^th Avenue.   US50 followed 4^th Avenue west almost all the way across the county to Netherland road (you can see the remains of a curve at this intersection), where it turned south to Sylvia.  Just south of current US50, there is some old brick paving which may indicate that the road turned west again at that point.  Along the way, look for a mile of fine old cottonwoods between Huntsville and Netherland road, and a monument to Warren G. Harding’s campaign on a hill west of the river basin and Hutch.  Also look for small concrete road markers dated 1928 on the northwest corner of Avenue G and Buhler road, and in the weeds on the east side of Woodberry road between current US50 and Avenue G.

Printed with (once) moveable type set firmly by falling anvils at the Newton, Kansas offices of Floyd Wild Trucking.   Look up, dude.

SHOP RAG – the proven slipper-upper.  News of the Wheat State Ch/ATHS, October 2006

Minutes, meeting of 20 September 06, Fireside Restaurant, Burrton.  Called to order at 7:04pm by President Goering.  Treasurer’s report given, accepted as read.  Minutes of 16 August meeting read, accepted.  We had one guest: Dan Ludwig, son of chapter member Ron Ludwig.+----

Old Business - Chapter Calendar: Pictures and money were due at this meeting.  The calendar is full, but room could be made if someone wanted to participate.  Beto Junction Truck Show: 22-23 September.  Lenny will go Friday, most of the rest of us will go Saturday, with a convoy from Newell’s at 9am.   The Two-Cylinder Tractor Club  in Hutch has previously offered to exchange help in running their (July ’07) and our (’08 National) events.  We’re still in favor of this and will begin sending a member to their meetings to help coordinate our efforts.

New Business –

New-Member-in-limbo Rick Knox – After hearing of his attempt to join our chapter, members present voted to accept him even though we can’t find his application.   

’08 Hutch National – According to RVP Lenny Wild, we will have an auction.  Donations and consignments will be encouraged and accepted.  Donations will be tax-deductible, with 90% going to our chapter and 10% to ATHS; consignments will give 10% to ATHS, nothing to our chapter.  Lenny is pushing for Donations because he would prefer to profit by them and not by taking a cut of concessions, the idea being to keep costs down.  As of this meeting (and this writing), there is no plan to have an auction at the ’07 Colorado Springs National.

Omaha Studebaker National – 23-24 September.  Lenny and Vern will be driving their trucks up Saturday.

Reverend Jim informed us that he had several items stolen from inside his Model A while it was on display at the Florence car show, including his registration paperwork if I heard him correctly.  (The rest of us should take this as a warning to keep important items secured or at least out of sight)

Upcoming Events were discussed – see the Trip Sheet.

Western New York Chapter Letter and Survey – This was received in the mail by Pres. Goering.   Copies were made and distributed to chapter officers prior to this meeting, and copies were made available for attending members to read.  After considerable discussion, the survey was turned over to the officers to be completed and signed as intended by its originators.  This would be done immediately after adjournment.

Meeting Adjourned 7:46pm

Just Docked: New member Karl Gandy of Newton.

Lenny’s RVP Letter – It was done, but Lenny, who appears to be my equal as a digital dummy, apparently hit the delete button and couldn’t recover it.  He had previously given me the only hardcopy of the letter in existence, but I was unable to find it in my office (I can’t find the cat, either, not unless she moves and disturbs something).  So, Lenny had to start over.  He told me this evening it would be ready after Larned and he won’t let me anywhere near it.  He may be a slow writer, but he’s not a slow learner.

Printed with petroleum products recovered from oil-soak swept from the floors of the Newton, Kansas offices of Floyd Wild TruckingYahoo! Mail - donaldwgrier@yahoo.com

SHOP RAG

Meeting Minutes, Wednesday 16 August, Newells’s Truck Stop, Newton KS.  Called to order by President Scot Goering at 7:06pm, which is pretty good for us.   Minutes of the July meeting were read, changed to correct the date for this meeting (which may explain why only 12 showed up, not counting those who came two days later), and accepted.  The treasurer was out of town, and no report was given.

-After a brief discussion, members agreed that dollar amounts should be withheld from the treasurer’s report as printed in our newsletter.

-Upcoming events were discussed.  Consensus was to focus on turning out for BETO Junction and the Tired Iron Show in Larned.  We see the Tired Iron show in particular as being a good publicity opportunity, and the show’s organizers have invited and actively encouraged us to attend. 

-We’ve learned that the ATHS can host our website on theirs.  Our website managers will be asked to consider this.

-A letter from President Klenske regarding the former Managing Director was circulated and discussed.

-The meeting was adjourned at 7:37.  We spent the next half-hour watching an early ‘50s IH truck video.

Just Docked: Richard Harner of Liberty, MO; Peter Wild of Newton, KS; Larry Johnson of Halstead, KS; and the Territorial Magazine, organizers of the 3-I shows.   We may also have Rick Knox of Grain Valley, MO, if we can locate his application (No disorganization here: we thrive on adversity and need to manufacture a sufficient amount).

Former Managing Director Bill Johnson has been re-hired and returned to work on Tuesday, 5 Sept.  His status is not yet permanent, but will be as soon as the lawyers finalize the details.

RVP Lenny Wild is finalizing a letter to be sent to all Kansas members.   It will be in the mail soon.

Chapter Publicity – We are working to improve contact with ATHS members throughout Kansas.   The first step was our website, which makes our chapter accessible (virtually) to anyone who happens to find it.  The second step, now being built, is an e-mail directory open to any Kansas ATHS member who wishes to be included, this for the purpose of disseminating newsletters, RVP letters, event information, and other chapter/ATHS communications.  The third step is to make the first two known to the ATHS at large; to that end, a posting was made on the ATHS discussion board, and Kate (Fields, the chapter liaison at HQ) has updated our chapter page on the ATHS website.

Florence Labor Day Celebration – Several of us went, and there was quite a turn-out.  Lenny’s ’48 Studebaker pickup took 2^nd in class.  If there’d been an award for Best Pipes, Vern would’ve had it.

Yer Wheat State Chapter Arficers – Summer’s come and gone.   You may’ve forgotten they exist.  They may’ve forgotten it.  If you feel the overwhelming need to remind them: President Scott Goering, 316-283-0130; VP Duane Ely, 620-665-7517; Treasurer Jim Siemens, 620-665-9751; Secretary/Editor Dana Shifflett,