WPC Club Annual Meet page 1

The WPC Club, Inc.
             Plymouth, Dodge, Fargo, DeSoto, Chrysler, Imperial, Maxwell, Chalmers,
                                         Jeep and Eagle & related Automobiles. All Mopar / All Years /

Meet Photos Following article.

By Richard Bowman

Each year our National Meet showcases a different locale allowing the members of that area to show off. This year took us to the Laurel Highlands area of Pennsylvania. This area is about 50 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, and it is really beautiful in summer and also right about now as the seasons change.

Our meet at the Summit Inn started on Sunday evening with a get acquainted reception, a little music, a little food and lots of
chatting with friends. Our group filled the hotel banquet room and spilled over into the lounge and out onto several of the
porches the hotel is noted for. After a long evening the hotel quieted for the evening.

Monday's tour was to a pair of Frank Lloyd Wright homes, just a few miles apart, separated by a stop at Ohiopyle, Fallingwater
is probably the most famous Wright designed home. Set in the wood cantilevered over a small river is an engineering and
construction marvel.

After lunch at Fallingwater we rounded up the old Mopars and headed over to Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania for a look at the river,
rapids and little town. We took over a large portion of the local park and filled it with our Mopars.

Back on the road again we headed to Kentucky Knob one of Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian Homes. Built by the local Ice Cream Company over in 1956 an open farm field it now stands in a dense forest. The house is now owned by an English Lord, but is open to the public and run by the U.S. Parks Service.

Our day's drive was only about 40 miles, but I think it was the biggest test of old Mopars I've been on. Up and down mountains, through the woods, more than one downshift was missed, but there were no major casualties, except some of the cars did seem to run better than others.

Monday night I joined the other National Board members on the upper porch of the hotel for a board meeting while the rest of the members scattered for dinner, or to look at the cars in the parking lot.

Tuesday morning we were off to Pittsburgh by motor coach. 3 bus loads of WPCers chatted, napped and took pictures on their
way to Pittsburgh. We had to divide and conquer due to the size of the group. Our group ran into the mayor of Pittsburgh at a ground breaking ceremony overlooking Pittsburgh. The view from Mt. Washington was spectacular down to the river and the city skyline. From here it was down to the river for a cruise on the 3 rivers of Pittsburgh and then on to lunch at the old railroad station. Then to the Henry Clay Frick House and Museum. The museums on the site includes several restored houses, an art museum, a car and carriage museum featured a number of vehicles owned by the Frick family. Vehicles built in Pennsylvania and the stainless steel Lincoln Continental convertible built in the mid-60's.

Wednesday morning started with our annual membership meeting followed by the day of the members touring the many sites of the area. The evening was spent at the Christian Klay Winery with hay rides, wine tasting and dinner.

Nearly 100 cars started Thursday by getting their pictures taken before making the descent to the show field. From the show field it was quite a sight to see the beautifully restored Mopars come down the mountain one by one in the morning sun. I especially enjoyed the arrival of the 1961 Plymouth Police car complete with lights and siren.

Cars on the field covered every era of Chrysler from the 1911 Maxwell of Paul & Rosemary Niles to the 2008 Chrysler 300C
of BillRoberson.

The banquet was superb as was all the food all week. I would say the best we've had at a national meet.

All the car winners are pictured with the article as are all the cars that went through our photo station. Two additional winners need to be mentioned. Alex Ariemiea, who won the Dr. David G. Briant award for all his efforts to make this meet so enjoyable was called upon very early in the planning to co-chair the meet by Jane McClure. I know how much Alex and his wife Angela did to help Jane with all the many details of the national meet.

Greg Biskey presented Woody Hummer with the Lee lacacca Foundation award for Woody's tireless work on behalf of the WPC Club over many years.

The many members of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Region, our newest region, deserve a special thank you for making this
such a great meet. Nearly 100% of the region members helped out, registered for the meet and brought vehicles to the meet.
This is unheard of dedication to the club.

I also need to extend a special thanks to Bob Porter, Terry Williams, Richard Petrovich and especially Jane McClure.