Washington Volvo Club - Volvamus Excerpts

Washington Volvo Club - Washington, DC Since 1975!

The Washington Volvo Club
Washington, DC

Volvamus Excerpts - February 1999

BITS AND PIECES:

Don’t forget: Stay Right, Pass Left, Buckle Up and WATCH THOSE MIRRORS! And adjust the mirrors so that you don’t have to lean way over to make sure of what you are seeing and stop watching the road ahead! Be smooooth! Many drivers don’t understand how a merge lane is supposed to be used; you don’t HAVE to stop. Keep your wits about you. Allow a ‘merger’ in if you can, it doesn’t cost that much time. Stay alert! And if it says ‘No Right on Red’, you should presume to assume there’s a good reason for the sign being there. Obey ALL stop signs, regardless of the hour. Don’t watch just the car in front of you, look as far down the road as you can--- ANTICIPATE—try to see if something is developing way up ahead that you might have to avoid. PLAN AHEAD . You can’t read other driver’s minds and they can’t read yours! Think about it! Do NOT ‘over drive’ your headlights! And make sure your lights are adjusted properly. A 500’ high beam only gives you a MAXIMUM of 5.68 seconds to see and then react to something up ahead at 60 MPH. At 90 MPH, the time drops to 3.79 seconds. Install the strongest legal headlights that you can. And use [and aim] them correctly. And don’t use your auxiliary lights all the time, only when weather conditions dictate their need.

Yes, I do know that the previous section has gotten a tad extended, but the propositions it embodies are reasonable and prudent. Consider them carefully and follow them. And, remember, regarding drivers of other cars: you can’t rely on them to do the right thing! Many other drivers have a tendency to ‘drive stupid’, so to paraphrase what the old sergeant used to say," Be vigilant out there".

Don’t forget [or if you’re new to the Club]: We have a good selection of Regalia available to help you show your fealty to the Club and your ebullience for your Volvo. For example, Grille Badges made in England; Key Fobs, Inside & Outside Decals, maybe even Tee shirts. Check with Ray Parsons or Frank Mackison for availability and prices of the sundry items.

Our E-mail address is still "VOLVODC@aol.com". The ‘mailbox’ is checked periodically and replies are sent ASAP. If you have a classified ad, use "VOLVAMUS@aol.com" only. You will notice that the "URL" for the Page is in this issue. We have gone back to the AOL version in preparation for a possible change of venue. If you come across a site that you think would be of interest to everyone, e-mail Paul Provencher, da WebMeister, and let him know. He can link us to it so that everyone can visit. And, of course, if you try an existing ‘link’ on da Site and discover that it is ‘gone’, let him know. The central section of VOLVAMUS has now been included on da Page, including the Classifieds! We’ve had about 10K hits in 12 months!

Martin MotorSport, Inc. has MOVED over to Alexandria, VA. Check their display ad in this issue for all the pertinent info. Gary promises that the coffee machine is still working and that everyone is invited to visit the new shop. No invitation is necessary.

Speaking of visits---it would appear that, unless otherwise noted, you might plan on attending Club meeting at Martens Volvo most months. Exceptions, when taken, will be announced early enough to help you adjust your compass.

December 10, 1953 This question was for all the ‘hedonist’s’ in the audience. Keep thinking!

Switzer’s new address and telephone number are now on da Masthead. Please correct the appropriate ‘rolodex’ device and carry on. All, except the garage, had been moved by the middle of January. Even the Lady Ashley and the computer are at their new home. The answering machine is still working, as does the e-mail route, so KEEP in touch! Mornings on Dogwood Harbor make it all worth while, just watching the ‘Skipjacks’ appear out of the fog! Old house was sold and settled in February.

The Toad is over at Brad Taylor’s shop in Glen Burnie getting checked out and fussed over [1-800-956.6661]. Brad is a Jag and Rolls specialist. It will be here for the FIRANDE.

Martin Stickley took time out from a hectic schedule to drop by the ‘old’ house for a visit. He was in town from his London job for a conference. We had to sit and talk ‘Volvo’ in the basement which was the only room with chairs! He’s looking very well; it would appear that the English climate agrees with him. He has four cars now: the PV-544, the P1900, a MB 300 6.3 and a 300SE coupe. All are drop dead gorgeous! He will be living in England until 2000. The visit was on Jan. 14, and he was heading next to Boston, then back to England. He and his son, Matthew, both took part in the 1978 Volvo Commercial. Time flies, Matt just got married this past Spring.

Have discovered two additional shops over here in Talbot County. SWEDISH CLASSICS [410.226.5183], run by Pete Nielson is over in Oxford, MD, but there is also Talbot Automotive [410.745.6006] run by Paco Callejas, owner of a beautiful 780, who specializes in Austin Healy restoration and then there is Maryland AutoWorks [410.763.8781], run by Charles Schirmer. Chuck is a first rate mechanic.

You will notice that Russ Parise has taken over as Membership Chair from Pamm Chaney.

Last month’s issue of VOLVAMUS was trapped by the big ice storm and delayed. Just goes to show ya! Get it to Gil early and something’s bound to happen. Another example of Murphy’s Law in action!!

Elsewhere in this issue, you shall stumble across the result of Alan Marsh and Ray Parson’s search for a site for FIRANDE ’99. If all goes well, it could rank as one of our best yet. And, no, Switzer had nothing to do with the site selection, thank you very much. But he does approve!

FORD-VOLVO??

Looks like the big news this January [or any January] is that Ford has bought the automotive portion of VOLVO. How’s THAT for a tidbit. Not sure what the future will bring or what Ford might do to influence the design and engineering of the next generation of Volvos, but I am a bit uneasy. Not sure if I’d want to see a VOLVO engineered around the ASPIRE chassis! That’s not a pretty picture. Hopefully Ford will not be tempted to tinker too much with the basic Volvo concepts. It does, however, not make the stuffing of a 302 into your 745 seem quite as scandalous as it might have before!

I had a nice chat with Dan Johnston from Rockleigh and came away with a very positive feeling about this acquisition. Mr. Jacques Nasser, president and chief executive of Ford, has been to Rockleigh and drives an S80. Which he loves! He also has commented that he’d like to make the S80 interior the ‘benchmark’ for Ford! Based on Mr. Nasser’s reactions, I think it just might turn out okeh. Only the future will tell and we sold our crystal ball just prior to the move. You might get a clue in how Ford has affected Aston Martin and Jaguar. The Aston Martin is as ‘British’ as ever.

Dan does believe that by having Ford involved in future Volvos it will encourage more radical conceptionalization [!] of the Volvo tradition. This is a good thing. [Yes, I made that word up]

Classifieds

Bad Power Window Switches in your 200 series or 700 series VOLVO? Send us your complete switches and we will rebuild them. $6.00 per switch and $6.50 per package. Contact Dwayne Siever, 618 California Road, Quackertown, PA. 18951 or call 215.538.3886.

VARIOUS ITEMS + 3 CARS: M46 w/OD from ’86 740-----$125/ 245 third seat [brn] with mounting hdware-----$85/ assorted alloy rims from 200’s-900’s-----$25 to $125 each. Also have ‘80 242GT, restorable, as is----$450/’83 240 Turbo, Tudor, restorable, as is----$550/two ‘84 245 wagons; stick or automatic-----$1100each. Have other parts for 200-700 series. Contact Dave Hagemeier in VA at 703.612.2628

SEATS for 1986 or later 240 but will work well in early 4-door 240 examples. Beige leather, nice condition. $200 for the pair. Contact Ray Parsons in Herndon, VA at 703.742.8274 or e-mail at RDP10@juno.com

1968 122S, B18B two door, white, automatic. 172K. Maintained by Bill Dougherty of ‘Dougherty Automotive’ in West Chester, PA. Single WEBER, alternator, and Mallory distributor. Records and bills since 1990. Some extra parts, inc. shop manual. Exterior in good cond. With minor rust. Asking $5000 or best offer. Contact Burk Sullivan in Haddonfield, NJ at e-mail hburk@voicenet.com

1984 240DL 5 speed, 71K original miles on original engine. One family car, immaculate condition, records, extra mats and car cover. Serious inq. only. Asking $5200. Contact Tim Otter in Norfolk, VA at 757.627.4123

1965 P1800S The Saint’s car; The car is suitable for restoration. Asking $300. Contact Don Quayle in Bethesda, MD at 301.229.1216 or at DRQuayle@aol.com.

1971 1800E Restored condition. Has rebuilt engine with new clutch; front and rear suspension bushings and shocks; new brakes and rotors, and new tires [Goodyear 205 GT+], new 200 series turbo wheels, new exhaust and new paint. Immaculate, have to sell, need the garage space! $9000.00 OBO Contact Ernie Dharma in Falls Church, VA at 703.742.0721 or 703.280.5974

1985 740 sedan Engine is in good condition. Some body damage to front and driver’s side rear. Runs. Needs interior work, i.e. new headliner. Blue with black leather interior. $1200.00. SU carburetors, rebuilt once and in excellent condition. $550 OBO. Contact Purnell Pinkney in Wash. DC at 202.832.3842 [after 6PM] or email: ppinkney@worldnet.att.net

WANTED: Tech. Articles! If you have performed some work on your trusty Volvo that you think others might find of interest and benefit from, please take the time to write it up and send it along to Switzer. Inc. part numbers and so on, the tricky parts of the job, etc. One of the unstated objectives of any newsletter is to share experiences. And ALL jobs on your Volvo qualify; large, small, makes absolutely no difference. If you know something that will assist your fellow members, the VOLVAMUS is the ‘vehicle’ of choice to get the word out. It’s a good investment. Look at the masthead and you’ll find Switzer’s address.

1977 242 179K; as is condition! $700 Contact Allen Dame in Germantown, MD at 301.515.9980

WVC Schedule

WVC Business Meeting

WVC Business Meeting

March 23, 1999

Location: Martin MotorSports

DIY Session

March 27, 1999

Herb Gordon Volvo

1999 DIY Programme By Alan Marsh

The Current Schedule!

Once again the Washington area Volvo dealers have provided great support for this year’s DIY programme and we thank them very much. We currently have the following five sessions on our schedule:

March 27: Herb Gordon Volvo, Silver Spring

May 22: Don Beyer Volvo, Falls Church

August 7: Don Beyer Volvo, Falls Church

October 9: Herb Gordon Volvo, Silver Spring

November 20: Martens Volvo, Bethesda

This year we’ll be spreading the work and the glory to additional Club members. We’re instituting an OD concept, in which an individual WVC member will be in charge of [only] one specific DIY session and will be responsible for all the details for that DIY. I’ll remain as the overall 1999 DIY programme ‘czar’ and will be available to coach as much or as little as needed. We hope to attract some new energy to this highly successful Club activity. We may even institute an internal Club competition for the best event. Let me know if you’d be interested in serving as OD, in assisting, or if you have a great idea for a DIY. The best way is to drop me a note at the address on the masthead.

We are looking to make a few changes this year, especially to attract new participants. We thought we had been publicizing the fact that we welcome newcomer, but we learned last year that we weren’t coming across as well as we thought. Clearly we want to encourage members to use these sessions to learn how to care for their Volvos and we are happy to instruct the basics, like changing wiper blades, as well as assist in more advanced maintenance procedures. We also wish to attract more of our women members. The ladies who participated in the 1998 sessions added a certain class to the group and, without fail, said that they were happy that they had attended. We are considering having one of our sessions this year set up primarily with our female membership in mind. Let us know if you like such a concept.

Summer?

It might be the tag end of winter here, but in Brazil it is going into the fall season. Sergio Augusto sent along some articles and pictures of the VOLVO AUTO CLUBE-BRASIL. They have had several events and meetings, but it would appear, from the photos, that rain has been an integral part of most of the events.

They are a very active crowd and have a very good assortment of all models of Volvos. They even have a member with a P1900. The P1800 is fairly rare there, but they do have a very nicely restored cousin of the Toad [a PV-544] within their ranks, as well as some great looking 122s.

So, think kindly of our friends to the south. As we can look forward to summer they are getting ready for winter.

THANKS AGAIN to Martens Volvo for their hospitality and for enabling us the end the 1998 DIY program on a good note. A special ‘thanks’ goes also to Alan Marsh, who has been DIY Coordinator for several years. Last year’s program included 5 sessions, at Herb Gordon Volvo, Don Beyer Volvo, and at Martens Volvo. A common comment on how to improve the DIY program is to get more people involved. If you'd like to help with the DIY program please let any officer know. With YOUR help, the 1999 edition of the DIY Program will continue to be a Club highlight.

January 1999 | November 1998 | October 1998 | September 1998

This page updated 03/17/07 02:34:28 PM

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