I remember when dad first bought his 1950 Chevy Deluxe. He told me to get in the driver seat and back it out of the garage down a long driveway. I remember sitting on a box, that was made out of wood, and I could see the ground right through the floorboard. He was sure proud of that car. He brought it to life after many patient months of restoration, and it later became his signature car.
Dad kept a journal of every car through the years. He owned almost 90 cars throughout his lifetime before he passed. And he could sure tell you what was going on at that time based on what car he drove!
Dad taught my sister and me how to drive. When I was 12 or 13 years old, I remember him having me back up, in reverse, on a long dirt road...for a good mile or two. And because of that, I can parallel park pretty darn good!
Dad was very successful in the things he did. He loved ranching before he joined the Army and became a welder in Munich, Germany. Dad never stopped learning how to be successful. He was definitely an entrepreneur. He was such a hard worker and loved to travel!
My mom & dad were married in 1958 and later had two girls, me and my sister. My dad had a very positive outlook on life. He always said, the sky's the limit. He would do anything for his family!
After dad retired, he became an author and photographer of two books featuring local people and their classic vehicles. When Monty and dad started the website CMYRYD, dad's life was just beginning. He loved going to car shows and seeing others with the same passion. He enjoyed being a part of history that we can all relate to... our first ride.
We miss him dearly~Brandi Demars
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IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN!
By Bill Henry
Whoever said Christmas comes but once each year didn’t mention that it seems to come more quickly each year. But now is the time to plan that perfect gift for the classic car nut in your family. So, what’s it going to be this year? The possibilities are endless and only your wallet can hold you back. But the good thing is great gifts come in all sizes and price ranges.
If funds are limited, car care kits make a great useful gift for very little money and are available everywhere. And tools are always welcome under the tree. It seems like you never have the right tool at the right time and those multiple trips to the hardware store really add up. From there, you can work your way up to great accessories like navigation systems, chrome wheels, great audio systems and new interiors. And tires are always a pricy and great gift. But the best way to pick the right gift is to ask what that car guy or gal has been wishing for. You may be surprised…it may not be that high priced item you were considering.
Where do you go to get the right part? It always pays to shop locally when you can. You may have an Automotive Center or hot rod shop in your area that carries a ton of items that will bring joy to any car enthusiast. Or you can get on the internet and hit Classic Industries or OEM websites and search by make and model.
Tired of buying “stuff” for Christmas? How about a hotel reservation for that out-of-town car show you’ve been wanted to go to. CMYRYD will always have a complete listing of regional car shows and the new list for 2019 will be out early next year. If you’re thinking big, how about a trip to the SEMA Auto show in Las Vegas? The 2019 show dates are November 5-8th at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Or maybe you’ve always wanted to hit one of the big auto auctions like a Mecum event, or how about traveling the California coast and taking part in the big daddy at Pebble Beach? A good friend of mine always dreamed of driving Route 66, and did it a couple of years ago. He said he wanted to do it while it was still there. Unfortunately, much of the historic route has deteriorated and many of its attractions are long gone.
The great thing about Christmas shopping for a car nut is there are so many possibilities. From all of us at CMYRYD.COM have a Great Christmas!
2019 COLLECTOR CAR APPRECIATION DAY
The SEMA Action Network (SAN) announced that the next Collector Car Appreciation Day (CCAD) will be officially celebrated on July 12, 2019. The date marks the tenth consecutive commemoration in what is now an annual event to raise awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in American society. Many clubs plan their car shows and events around this date. Click Here
There are over 15,000 classic and collectable cars in the Billings area, and thousands more statewide.
In an average year, Billings hosts over 100 car shows...large and small.
CMYRYD is Montana's only source for dates and schedules for car shows and events throughout the state.
Make sure your car show or event is listed on CMYRYD. Go to the Events Page to register.
Radial Versus Bias-ply Tires and What Those Tire Numbers Really Mean
by Les Roth
Today’s radial tires are a wonder of modern engineering. In the late 1800’s bias-ply tires were used on bicycles. They were used on automobiles from the 1900’s to the late 1960’s. Then in 1969, radial-ply tires were introduced. The radial tire was a major improvement over the old bias–ply construction. They rolled easier and improved handling and gas mileage. The old bias-ply tires were more flexible and seemed to follow ruts in the roadway. Bias-ply tires have belts that criss-cross the tire while radial belts loop across the tire.
If you own a classic car with wheels designed for bias-ply tires, mount radial tires on those rims at your own risk. Those rims were designed for bias-ply tires only. Too many classic owners have found they lost wheel covers and even worse, had major blow-out and control issues with their car when they used radials on bias rims. Remember, radial tires are designed to be mounted only on wheels designed for radial tires.
Ever wonder what all those confusing numbers on the sidewall of your tires really mean? What you are looking at is an alphanumeric system that describes your tire and its performance characteristics. Let’s use tire size P225/70R16 100S as our example:
In the above tire size the first letter indicates the type of tire and its intended use. The “P” indicates the tire is a metric size used primarily on passenger vehicles. You can also find tires with other letter designations. They include LT (Light Truck Metric), C (Commercial), ST (Special Trailer Service) and T (Temporary Spare),
Then the numbers 225 following the first letter indicate the section width of the tire. The section width is defined as the widest point on the tire measured from sidewall-to-sidewall. For example, this tire has a 225-millimeter width. The rule here is the larger this number, the wider the tire. And remember, this number is the width of the tire in millimetres. If you are using tires larger than those specified for your car, be extra careful in measuring the available space. Raised lettering on a tire’s sidewall can make the difference between a scraped sidewall and a tight fit.
Following the slash, the number 70 shows the height of the tire as a percentage of its section width. The rule is...the lower the number, the lower the profile of the tire. Our number is 70 and that tells you the tire’s height is 70% of its section width.
In our example, the next letter is “R” which tells you the construction of the tire, which in this case is radial. Other designation types may include “D” for bias ply construction and “B” for belted tires, but most tires today are of radial design.
Next the number 16 that indicates the size of the wheel that the tire will fit. This number is in inches and in this case, this tire would be designed to fit a 16-inch wheel. Nowadays, you’ll find tire sizes starting at 13-inches going up to 18-inches. If you buy aftermarket tires wheel sizes can run up to 22-inches or larger.
Then comes the number 100 which tire manufacturers call load rating. This number indicates the approved load rating of that tire in the Load Index. The Load Index starts at 71 (761 pounds) and goes up to 110 which would be 2,337 pounds for passenger vehicles.
And finally comes the speed rating. Our tire speed rating is “S.” Speed ratings start at M (81-mph) and go up to Y (186-mph). In this case the “S” rating shows our tire would be rated for 112-mph.
Car Tips:
1.Drop a business card with your name on it down the window slot in case you ever have to prove ownership.
2.In the glove box, keep a few handy wipes to remove the gas odor from your hands from filling the tank.
3. Remove auto grease from hands with baking soda and water.
4.When visiting a mechanic to have a part replaced, always ask for the worn or damaged part back. This way you'll be sure it was actually replaced .
5.A radio antenna will slide up and down easier if a coat of wax is applied occasionally. Wax paper works great for this job. Rubbing the wax paper up and down the antenna will do the job.
6. Get rid of tar on your bumper with an unexpected item from your fridge ~ mayonnaise. Wipe on, wait five minutes, then easily wipe off both the mayo and the tar. "Do not use on painted bumpers"
7. Only 5 percent of cars actually run better on premium gas as oposed to regular. Check your owners manual...
Time to Store again
By Bill Henry
Just in case you haven’t noticed, we live in a very dry climate. Even our skin and hair are dry and this time of the year, the humidifier runs constantly. Well, this dryness takes its toll on our cars too. If you notice those little cracks along the sidewalls of your tires that run into the tread, it means just one thing… dry rot. And dry rot doesn’t just happen to your tires, anything rubber or vinyl is a prime target. These materials naturally degrade over a period of years depending on climate, temperature and humidity. How you store your vehicle can either help or delay this process. With tires, the air pressure inside your tires is also a determining factor. The common denominator in all these products is oil. As the oils in the rubber and vinyl begin to evaporate, the dry rot process begins.
So what can you do to prevent this happening to your classic car? First, drive that car often, especially during the winter storage period. Drive it at least once per month and more often if you can. Pick a nice day when there is little or no moisture on the pavement and put as many miles on the car as you can. Get the tires up to highway speed and let the rubber compounds heat up. This helps prevent dry rot and gets the oil compounds circulating in the tires. Also, keep those tires up to rated pressure. Under-inflated tires seem to crack and decompose more quickly.
Where you store your car makes a difference. Storing a car near excessive heat or in direct sunlight will speed up the deterioration process. Also, try getting your tires off the cement. Just driving onto boards can make a difference, but be sure not to use treated lumber. The chemicals in treated lumber could possibly react with the chemicals in your tires over a long period of time.
For the inside vinyl, regularly using a good vinyl or leather cleaner and sealer will help keep the moisture in place. Door panels, dash boards, seats and consoles all need to be cleaned and treated on a regular basis. Rubber seals and trim should also be treated to keep them soft and pliable.
Years ago, a doctor friend was discussing the aging process. When someone asked how he was doing…he jokingly said…he was in a constant state of deterioration. Well, that is true of both people and cars. How well and how often we do maintenance on ourselves and our vehicles can determine how long we and the vehicle last. Another one of the doctor’s favorite saying was…”I would rather wear out than rust out.” If exercise is great for the body then the same holds true for cars too. So the best prescription for a long life for us and for our cars may be a good dose of preventative maintenance and regular exercise.
