The season has started. Approximately 45 members and guests braved the snow and cold to participate in the 2010 Spring Stretch at Stanley and Elizabeth Young’s in Cardville. The reality is, if you drove north to get to the Spring Stretch you drove out of the snow about Newport; and although a little chilly it certainly was not cold as has been experienced at numerous other gatherings.

Participants spent the part of the morning wandering through the Stanley’s garage, memorabilia trailer and back forty looking at his collection of Dodge and Mack trucks- some complete – some not, toys and collectibles.

Before lunch the group headed into Milford to see a private collection of vehicles, boats, outboards, and snow sleds in a non-descript building along the highway. Owner Tom Thornton has set the building up to display a dozen or so antique and vintage cars (20’s -60’s), a similar number of boats and canoes, a large number of outboards, and a service station. Many of the items had historical ties to Old Town and the Old Town Canoe Company. We stopped at a second building of Tom Thornton’s while heading back to the Young’s. It too had a varied assortment of vehicles, boats, outboards and snow sleds. It was obvious both Jeeps and VW Beetles are near and dear to Tom.

Back at the Young homestead we shared a wonderful pot luck lunch and continued wandering, discussing, and, in Bob Stackpole’s case, calculating how to pull a 4-5 cubic yard concrete mixer off of Stanley’s 40’s Sterling mixer truck.

As noted in the last Shop Manual Stanley had several trucks and pieces of equipment for sale. I’m not sure if he sold anything the April 17^th, however I do know of a couple of individuals interested in one or more items.

A Chapter thank you to Stanley and Elizabeth for offering their home for the 2010 Spring Stretch. We appreciate them hosting the event.

Paula and Higmo have laid out the 2010 Spring Tour Itinerary for the weekend of May 22^nd -23^rd. The Spring Tour is just over three weeks away. It has been several years since we toured in western Maine and they have scheduled several stops we have never visited. Hope to see everyone there

The location of the Late Fall Get Together is still up in the air. One member has offered to host however wishes to be the fall back location if another location isn’t found. We are interest in a southern/ western Maine location if possible. Please give hosting some consideration if you have some space, a small collection or place for a short tour, and power for 6-10 crock pots.

Lastly this Saturday is the Antique Express’s Annual Open House in Searsmont. This is always a fun event. Until next time…..

Another month gone by and the snowbirds continue to head north in droves. Nancy’s parents got back a couple of weeks ago and my grandparents get back the end of this week. 6 weeks shy of his 90^th my grandfather still insists on driving their 43’ tandem axle diesel pusher motorhome back from Florida without assistance and with a 16+ foot Cadillac SUV on a tow dolly behind it (total combined length about 63’). He has definitely made more trips to Florida and back than I could ever hope to duplicate (or would have the desire to try). He has done the trip in everything from a sleeper cab L-200 to a 1980 Impala wagon, his own airplane and for the last 15 years or so in an ever increasing assortment of RV’s. All that considered, I really do wish he would accept some help with the driving chores from some of us younger members of the family.

My grandparents’ pending return means I need to retrieve my ’66 Chevy pickup and ’73 Corvette (still for sale) and return them to our house for the summer. In anticipation of this I have been working on rearranging the clutter in my garage to make room to get at least one of them under cover. It’s amazing how much more appealing it is to go out and work in the garage when I can find my tools and not trip over everything.

By all reports the Spring Stretch was a resounding success. Apparently the Greater Greenbush area was the sole dry spot in Maine that weekend. Unfortunately Nancy and I were unable to attend but I am sure others that were in attendance will report on the activities. Reports out of Sabattus have our resident "Ramblings" man on a two-week coast to coast journey with members of the Gushee Heavy Hauling and Wayward Iron Retrieval crew. I am sure he will regale us with tall tales from the road upon his return. Hope to see you on the Spring Tour in just a few weeks – hmm better see if what of my iron is ready to go.

The Chapter welcomes new member David Michaud of Winthrop, Maine. We hope to see you and your families at a Chapter event soon.

Apparently Mr. Ohman is on his maiden voyage with a new employer. As stated by Editor Mullin - "LPO is out of town for two weeks on some sort of cross country expedition with the Gushee Heavy Hauling and Wayward Iron Retrieval crew."

We know Lars can tell that story, whatever it may be, much better than either Peter or I can so we are going to again replicate some back issues of the Newsletter for interesting things that some of our newer members might not be aware of, and as a reminder to us old timers of good times we have had in the past.

From Jan-Feb 1998 Ramblings:

"One rumor: (got to get at least one in!) The fine gentleman from Chebeague has been wintering on the island (when the lights went out , he thought he had forgot to pay CMP and never gave it another thought!). He has been dubbing on a Silver King tractor (it fits in the wood shed near the stove, don’t ya know) most of the winter and not paying attention to school. Somebody (an island person) came and repossessed the sawmill of Thick-N-Thin Lumber! Don has re-re-retired from Brunswick Transportation - the sawmill is in other’s hands now and he has his Silver King tractor with a Palmer Marine Engine Manifold on it - he’s looking for the correct manifold for the 4 cylinder Hercules engine - but water cooled exhaust is better than none at all and for now."

(Asst. Ed.’s note: For those not in the know the fine gentleman from Chebeague is now the fine gentleman from Dresden - Director Emeritus Don Munsey.)

From George Sprowl’s April 1999 President’s Message :

"Stanley 'Log Dog' Young up Costigan way recently parted company with his 600 (or more) horsepower Mack Superliner after over one-half million miles of flawless service. He was tinkering with retirement, and decided the 'ol LJ Mack would be enough to play with. After hauling a complete rock crusher home from New York state in the middle of the winter with the LJ, I'd want to sit home for a spell. Not Stan, he is right back at it again hauling structural steel to and from a Boothbay fabrication shop. Some just don't know when to say "enough"."

From George Sprowl’s May-June 1999 President’s Message :

Last newsletter we noted those with unpaid dues would dropped from the Chapter membership list when the fourth newsletter is published in late May/ early June. We have rethought this position and will be sending letters to those in arrears in the next month or so. If you are not current with your 2010 dues please contact Paula or Higmo as soon as possible to minimize our work in sending Dues Notices out. Please note ATHS membership is required to be a Chapter member.

For Sale: 1971 Chevrolet C -60 Cab & Chassis, Exterior restored and fresh paint. Interior needs seat re-done. 366 C. I. V- 8 engine, 5 speed main, 2 speed Eaton rear end. 9:00x20 on disc wheels, Hydrovac working brakes, drum emergency brakes. Just about everything is in working order. Will take a dump or short rack type body. Contact: Carl Reilly, New Harbor, ME (207) 350 -7695 Price- BRO or interesting trades. "Drive 'er home, and show or work it this summer." 

For Sale: 1973 Chevrolet Corvette, L-82 hi-perf 350, 4-spd, t-top coupe, low miles numbers matching car. Contact: Peter Mullin (207) 767-6080 or e-mail wfd44@maine.rr.com

Wanted: Spicer 8031 or 8341 auxiliary transmissions; similar high torque 3 or 4 speed auxiliaries considered; needed to convert road tractors to roadable field (farm) trucks. Contact Evan Grass, M.E. Grass & Sons, Inc., Mars Hill @ 1-800-564-5451

For Sale: 1965 Ford F850 Marmon-Herrington Four Wheel Drive Conversion. Restored, painted, top engine rebuild on the 477 Ford engine. Really nice truck which attracts lots of attention. $8,500.00 Contact: Jon R. Doyle @ 207-242-7414

Wanted: Leads on location of a GMC 9500, Steel Tilt or Crackerbox with the GMC 637 V-8 gasoline engine. The engine was introduced in 1966 and produced as late as 1976. It was the GMC 478 V-6 with two added cylinders. Contact Mario Carrier in Farmington @ 207-557-0310.

On Turning 70 - 'You still chase women, but only downhill'.
On Turning 80 - 'That's the time of your life when even your birthday suit needs pressing.'
On Turning 90 - 'You know you're getting old when the candles cost more than the cake.'
On Turning 100 - 'I don't feel old. In fact, I don't feel anything until noon. Then it's time

for my nap.'
On Giving Up His Early Career, Boxing - 'I ruined my hands in the ring. The referee kept

stepping on them.'
On Never Winning an Oscar - 'Welcome to the Academy Awards or, as it's called at my

home, 'Passover'.
On Golf - 'Golf is my profession. Show business is just to pay the green fees.'
On Presidents - 'I have performed for 12 presidents and entertained only six.'
On Why He Chose Showbiz for His Career - 'When I was born, the doctor said to my

mother, Congratulations, you have an eight pound ham.
On Receiving the Congressional Metal of Honor - 'I feel very humble, but I think I have

the strength of character to fight it.'
On His Family’s Early Poverty - 'Four of us slept in the one bed. When it got cold, mother

threw on another brother.'
On His Six Brothers - 'That's how I learned to dance. Waiting for the bathroom.'
On His Early Failures - 'I would not have had anything to eat if it wasn't for the stuff the

audience threw at me.'
On Going to Heaven - 'I've done benefits for ALL religions. I'd hate to blow the hereafter

Director- Erv Bickford- Dirigo Restorations, Yarmouth, ME 04096 (207) 846-8662

Director- Mike Gladu- 302 Center Drive, Orrington, ME 04474 (207) 825-4729;

Director- Tom Heald- 10 Goudy Street, South Portland, ME 04106 (207) 799-5318;

Director- Lars Ohman- 6 Antique Drive, Sabattus, ME 04280 (207) 375-6515;

Director- George Sprowl Sr. - PO Box 220, Searsmont, ME 04973 (207) 342-5818