While having different conversations, I happened to ask someone if they knew how Russ Klar was making out.  I knew that he had broken a hip a couple of years ago, then he had a couple of "heart" problems.  Bill St. George was able to fill me in, a little about Russ.  "He's a tough old bird", is what Bill told me.  Considering what Russ has gone through these past couple of years, he is doing pretty good.  Shortly after talking to him about Russ, we came upon the midget owned by John Palmer.  A beautiful red and black Kurtis Kraft, with a number 32 on the tail.  I have, in the past, had some short conversations with John, and we started talking again.  I must note here that a few weeks before the car show, John had called me, via the telephone, to explain to me some things about the show.  While we were talking at the show, he asked me if I had any problems getting in.  I could see that he was truly concerned.  Again, I have to stress the friendliness of all those associated with ACOT.  I assured him that I had no problems. 

I was looking over the 32 that John owns.  After having sat in the Darrell-Villa Offy, and knowing how I fit in it, I had to ask John how he got in the 32, since he is quite a bit taller than me. (Most people are!)  "Easy", he said, "The steering wheel comes out", he continued.  He pulled the pin, and slid the wheel off of the shaft.  "Here, get in", he told me.  For me, it was, well, it seemed like a perfect fit.  Heck, even my daughter, Judy, fit the car very well.  "I could sure have fun in this", she said.  Now, I am trying all angles to give John some help on this particular midget.  It seems that this car was made in 1947.  The first owner was Lee Elkins.  The car was known as a "McNamara" Special.  It carried the number 73 on the tail, a number that Mr. Elkins used on quite a few of the different racing cars that he had owned.  Even thought the 32 has been restored to such a beautiful state, John would really like to do it over.  To make it look like it did back in '47.  So, we are searching for some color photos of the car, from back then.  Maybe we do not need color photos of this particular midget, if someone out there knows that the colors were the same on other cars owned by Lee Elkins?  Just meeting John Palmer for the few times that I have, I can see that he is a "perfectionist" as far as what his cars look like.  So, I imagine that he really would like to see photos of that midget as it was, so many years ago. 

After leaving John, it was getting close to the time when Judy and I would have to leave.  But before we left, I had to speak to the Sukup family.  It seems, that last November, when I was at the ACOT banquet, in Middletown, NY, I believe it was Arleen Sukup that was quite interested in the model midget cars that I had taken to the dinner.  The models were originally issued by Monogram Models back in 1954.  The scale, as best I can figure out is 1/18 the size of a regular midget.  I have been fortunate to find where some of the models are available. Oh yes, they have been re-issued by Revell-Monogram.  These models were the first plastic model cars made by Monogram, back then.  The kit was numbered PC-1.  The kit number is changed now, but everything in the kit is exactly as it was back when they were first on the market.  I had given Mrs. Sukup the name of the company that sells the models, and I was wondering if they had ever bought any.  As of the day of the show, she had not.  Was I surprised?  No, I wasn't.  After all, while at the banquet, I picked up an issue of a magazine that was about vintage race cars.  I told myself that I was going to send in a subscription for "Vintage Oval Racing".  Did I?  Nah.  Have I yet?  Yes.  But only after I found out that the little story I did about the banquet last November was sent in, and was printed in the March issue.  Now, I have to send in and get that March issue.  So, I thought, maybe others might like to have some of those midget race car plastic kits.  I checked where I had gotten them before.  The info on the web site says that they are still available.  So, I will order some.  I will take them up to Accord NY at the speedway there, on May 17th, when ACOT has a show there.  If someone wants any, at least they will be there with me.  If not, what the heck, I can always use them myself.  Either as shelf models or use them for more slot cars.  

So, I guess that is about all I can say and do regarding my first trip to Rhinebeck for the ACOT portion of the car show/flea market.  Will I go again?  You betcha!  Will try to spend more time, next time.  I have to imagine that the other clubs that are out there, clubs that are devoted to restoring the old time cars, and showing them off, the people associated with them are just as friendly as those that are with ACOT.  If you know of any, and have never gone to one of their shows, I can only suggest that you do.  This particular show, the one at Rhinebeck, is a "still" show.  By still, they mean that there is no on-track exhibition.  And by exhibition, they mean just that - they do not "race" the cars.  They will go around the speedway at a reasonable and safe speed.  Just enough to show the fans a little of how the cars looked years ago.  OK, some of the guys still get a little "itchy" and gas 'em up a bit.  But overall, they put on a good safe show for the fans.  If you are here in the North East, and would like to take in an ACOT show, you can go to their web site for their schedule.  To get on the web site, all you have to do is type in: http://clubs.hemmings.com/oldtimers/ 

I hope you enjoyed this piece about our visit.  Words of praise, comments, and yes, even criticism can be sent to me at:  ygordad@hotmail.com or ygordad@yahoo.com  

- Tom Avenengo

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