Well, the 2018 Chapter car show is in the books, and despite some threatening weather early on, overall it was quite successful. Many thanks to all who participated, and congratulations to all of our show winners, especially Chapter member Martin Hirsch who took Best of Show with his 1959 Bonneville Convertible. Special thanks to all club members who helped in setting up and running the show event, and special thanks to all our sponsors!! 

As much as we hate to see time fly by so quickly, 2018 turned out to be not the friendliest for car events, so now it’s time to plan for our Chapter’s annual “post-holiday” dinner. Many members have expressed a strong interest in returning to Casa Giuseppe in Lyndhurst. Let us know what you think. Of course, we welcome any other suggestions as to another venue for the dinner. We hope to pick the date and make that selection at our November meeting. 

Our  next regular meetings will be November 15 and December 20 at the Maple Valley Diner (formerly The Hearth – still getting used to that change!!!). Please come and join us. 

Dianne Lennox, President

Well, after a particularly soggy summer, Labor Day is here. Don’t know about anyone else, but I feel we’ve been gypped out of good part of the “car season.”

On a brighter note, the Long Island POCI and GTOAA chapters held their annual car show on August 26, and a few of our chapter members made the trek to the Garage Eatery in Islandia, New York. Weather and the location were great. As the name implies, the Garage Eatery had an automotive theme. Chapter member, Martin Hirsch, took first place in his class, and member and newsletter editor, Bill Wolf, received the Long-Distance award. Some pics to follow in a future newsletter.

A few members attended the POCI Convention in Wisconsin and several others with GTOs attended the GTOAA Convention in Pennsylvania. From all accounts, a good time was had by all. Next year’s POCI Convention will be in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, which means it’s only a few hours’ drive from New Jersey. Hard to pass up when it’s this close to home.

Time to really get ready for our Chapter’s car show on October 7 at the Masonic Lodge on Van Houten Avenue in Clifton, New Jersey. We hope to see many of our members, and please spread the word to any other Pontiac owners you know. We will have a separate mailing with the car show flyer and sponsor letter to help spread the word and hopefully drum up support for our show.

Our next regular Chapter meetings are September 20 and October 18, 2018. The September meeting is particularly important as we will be finalizing details for the car show.

Summer is finally here!!

Unfortunately, once again, the weather gods decided to mess with Lou Calasibetta’s annual open house at his Old Stillwater Garage on May 12, but there was still a more than respectable showing of Pontiacs and hotrods and customs. Many of us again went in our daily drivers, and, as always, a grand time was had by all!! Hats off to Lou for always hosting a wonderful Saturday morning outing.

The 2017 POCI Annual Convention is coming up in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin (June 24-30). Unfortunately, John and I are not able to attend, but a few of our Chapter members and their families are. We hope anyone who does attend would please share their comments and pictures when they return.

John and I, as well as a few other members with GTOs, will be at the GTOAA Convention in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, which runs from June 26 to June 30. (Shhhh!! Don’t tell anyone that we passed up Wisconsin for Pennsylvania!!)

Time to start planning for the Chapter’s annual car show. Mark your calendars for Sunday, October 7, at the Clifton Masonic Lodge, 476 Van Houten Avenue, Clifton, New Jersey. Last’s year’s show was a great success there, so we are going to try and replicate that!! Please be sure to pass the word around to any Pontiac owners you may know; and contact any of the officers or directors if you’d like any show flyers.

Our Chapter’s next regular meetings will be July 19 and August 16 at The Hearth in Clifton.

Spring has finally sprung!!!

“Car season” is off and running and first on our agenda is Chapter member, Lou Calasibetta’s, annual Open House/Breakfast/Car Show at Old Stillwater Garage on Main Street in Stillwater, New Jersey, on Saturday, May 12. As usual, anyone who wishes to can meet at the Pompton Queen Diner on Route 23 in Pompton Plains (before Route 287) by 7:30 that morning to caravan up to Lou’s. We leave for Lou’s at 7:45.

Be sure to check the “Upcoming Events” in the newsletter and the calendar on our website for car shows, cruise nights and other events. Feel free to contact me or any of the other officers and directors if you know of any car shows or cruise nights in your area. Some of the upcoming major events: 2018 POCI Annual Convention in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin – June 24-28, 2018, GOTAA Convention in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania – June 23-30, 2018, and Pypes Exhaust/Max Performance Car Show in Hatfield, Pennsylva- nia – June 29-30, 2018.

Also, be sure to check out the May 2018 issue of Smoke Signals for Mike Weiss’s great article on our 2017 Chapter car show.

Mark your calendars for our 2018 car show on Sunday, October 7, 2018. We will be returning to the Clifton Masonic Lodge, 1476 Van Houten Avenue, Clifton, New Jersey. Show flyer coming soon!!!

Next meeting dates are May 17 and June 21 at The Hearth.

Season’s Greetings and Happy Holidays!!!! Hope everyone had a most enjoyable holiday season.

The Chapter’s “After the Holidays” party will take place on Sunday, January 21, 2017 at 3 P.M. at Casa Giuseppe at 503 Valley Brook Avenue, Lyndhurst, New Jersey. As mentioned in the flyer we circulated, the menu is a la carte, and the restaurant is a BYO or you may purchase wine and cocktails from Bar 503, which is attached to the restaurant. We will also have samples of the wines our members made at this year’s “Make Your Own Wine” event.

As always, the New Year reminds us that Chapter dues are due in January. Reminder – annual Chapter dues are now $15.

Our next regular Chapter meetings are January 18 and February 15, 2018 at THE HEARTH, 1116 Route 46 West in Clifton. Come join us for some good food and good company. We’d also love to hear from our membership as to any activities and events you are planning on in 2018.

On behalf of our Chapter, we wish all our members very Happy Holidays and best wishes for a very Happy and Healthy New Year!!