Larz Anderson Auto Museum Gazette Vol. 1, No. 1 — May 2015 President’s Notes As President of the Larz Anderson Auto Museum, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the Museum’s publication, the Gazette. We named it that because it reflects the name of publications at the dawn of automobiles. One recurring feature will be “The Anderson Cars,” which you will find on page 3, highlighting one of the vehicles owned by Larz and Isabel Anderson, part of America’s Oldest Car Collection. This publication is designed to bring our automobile community closer together. Come more often. I hope you enjoy the Gazette. John Carberry 2015 Lawn Events Sun., May 17 — Cadillac Day, 10am-3pm Sun., May 31 — AACA Day, 10am-2pm Sun., June 14 — Corvette Day, 9am-3pm Sun., June 21 — German Car Day, 10am-2pm Sun., June 28 — British Car Day, 10am-2pm Sun., July 12 — Microcar Classic, TBA Sun., July 19 — Miata Day, 10am-2pm Sun., July 26 — Day of Triumph, 10am-2pm Sun., Aug. 2 — Tutto Italiano, 10am-2pm Sun., Aug. 9 — BMW CCA Day, 9am-2pm Sat., Aug. 15 — MG Rover Day, 10am-2pm Sun., Aug. 16 — American Car & Truck Day, 10am-2pm Sun., Aug. 23 — Swedish Car Day, 10am-2pm Sun., Aug. 30 — Ford Lincoln Mercury Day, 10am-2pm Sat., Sept. 12 — Porsche Day, 9am-3pm Sun., Sept. 13 — European Motorcycle Day, 10am-2pm Sun., Sept. 27 — Mercedes Day, 10am-3pm Sun., Oct. 11 — Transporterfest, 9:30am3:30pm Sat., Oct. 17 — Tutto Lite, 10am-2pm Sun., Oct. 18 — Japanese Car Day, 10am2pm Sat., Oct. 24 — Extinct Car Day, 10am-2pm Sun., Oct. 25 — Studebaker Day, 10am-3pm Walter Zwiebble (left) shows off his Morgan at British Car Day 2014. Larz Anderson . . . The Ultimate Auto Destination by Richard A. DeVito, Sr. Just about every car club or collection of clubs in New England finds its way to the lawn of the Larz Anderson Auto Museum during the season. We at the Museum want to be sure every club is able to join us, not just once but sometimes two or three times per year. For example, we have German Car Day, followed by every Germanmade car having its own day individually. It’s a wonderful time for all, car owners and spectators alike. Make sure you look at the schedule and join us. These Lawn Events are growing rapidly. Last year, German Car Day covered almost every blade of grass we had. In addition, there are events going on inside the Museum. We have a new theme every year and this year we are featuring an extensive collection of motorcycles, from 1800’s era bicycles with bolt-on motors to superbikes. Great exhibit. Don’t miss it. The Gazette and Museum website will keep you informed. Our New Exhibit “Beauty of the Beast: Motorcycles — Art, Form, Function, Freedom,” a new exhibit at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum exploring the motorcycle from an artistic, historic, mechanical and cultural perspective, will open to the public on May 8th. The year-long exhibit will examine the life history of the motorcycle, from the pioneering 1800’s era — when an engine was simply bolted to a bicycle — through the present-day technological and artistic triumphs achieved by manufacturers in Asia, Europe and the United States, leading to a shift in cul- Larz Anderson Auto Museum Gazette Monthly May through October Bimonthly November through April Contributors to this issue: Richard De Vito, Sr. Jennifer Arone Stephen Beach John Christoforo Joseph Price Sheldon Steele Bruce Vild All photos courtesy of our contributors 2 tural perceptions, and a worldwide fan base of enthusists. The exhibit will feature some of the rarest, most technically innovative, historically significant, and beautiful motorcycles of all time. They have been brought together within the context of the history of the automobile, examining technological and style parallels and the evolution of the motorcycle from an inexpensive alternative to the motorcar to a distinct entity and potent social and cultural symbol. Abounding with visually compelling examples of the impact of the motorcycle on popular culture, the exhibit will recall for the visitor such classics as Easy Rider, The Wild One, The World’s Fastest Indian, and other iconic cinematic portrayals of the motorcycle as the ultimate expression of freedom. “This new exhibit builds upon our twenty-five-year-long tradition of hosting New England’s largest gathering of European motorcycles at the Museum’s annual Larz Anderson Classic European Motorcycle Day,” Sheldon Steele, executive director and curator of the exhibit said. “Instead of being just a day, we will be celebrating and exploring the motorcycle all year. The cultural im- pact of the motorcycle, its kinship to the automobile, the advanced engineering and styling, all in context of the exhilaration and excitement of the motorcycling movement, will make this the only exhibit of its kind in New England, and an exciting attraction for visitors, members and Lawn Event guests.” Iconic brands such as BMW, Ducati, Harley Davidson, Honda and Indian will be among the featured marques. The competitive speed arena will be well represented at “Beauty of the Beast.” The 1970 Harley Davidson Sportster Powered Streamliner from the Bonneville Motorcycle family, and both the Pro Mod Suzuki TL 1000 and Suzuki Hyabusa motorcycles used by NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Sam Herwitz, a Newton, Mass. resident and drag racing legend, are all part of the racing and competitive riding section of the exhibit. The very newest, most exotic motorcycles the world factories have to offer, including the Ducati 1199 Superleggera “superbike,” will be on display, as will a complete representation of the century’s best in motorcycling. Legends like the Vincent Black Shadow from England, a rare MV Augusta, and (Continued on page 4) The Anderson Cars It all started with a Winton... by John Christoforo The Andersons’ love affair with the automobile began soon after they were married and led to the purchase of this 1899 Winton Phaeton. Alexander Winton arrived in New York in the last half of the 19th century, when he was only nineteen. His mechanical abilities were displayed in various areas of marine engineering until around 1886, when he settled in Cleveland, where he and Thomas Henderson opened a bicycle company. A business panic in 1893 caused the company to flounder and Winton switched to horseless carriages. In 1897, he formed the Winton Motor Carriage Co., and built a car that could accommodate three people abreast on both front and rear seats. His design was equipped with a 2 cylinder, 10 horsepower engine that could move at 30 miles per hour. In 1898, he sold his first auto for $1,000.00. Isabel and Larz Anderson, enthusiasts of the new horseless carriages, may have been intrigued by the Winton Company motto, “It Will Go.” While traveling in France, they saw these Winton machines cruising through the streets and they knew that they had to have one. In 1899, the young married couple purchased their first automobile, a Winton Phaeton. For the first two years of their marriage, the Andersons traveled the world extensively and, in the process, put together a collection of 32 horse-drawn carriages. Fourteen of them are still on display at the Museum. As mentioned, in 1899 Larz and Isabel bought their first horseless carriage, the beginning of a collection that today is the foundation of the oldest automobile museum collection in the United States — the Larz Anderson Auto Museum. (Continued on page 4) 3 The Anderson Cars (Continued from page 3) The Winton’s tires, in 1899 when new (left) and 116 years later on the unrestored vehicle. More on the 1899 Winton At the beginning of the automobile age, we see the transition from Conestoga horse-drawn wagon to a horseless vehicle. This new vehicle is somewhat of a blending of a wagon, a bicycle, a motorized 10 horsepower engine, a tiller for steering, and a rear axle similar to the ones we use today. The tires are tall and skinny, similar to a bicycle. The rubber was almost pure gum without a tread. Much of our rubber was partly discovered by Thomas Edison while looking for materials for his light bulbs. Mainly, he was looking for the proper bamboo for the bulb filament. He found it in Fort Myers, Florida, and other places. (See Edison, Fort Myers, Florida, and his museum.) However, he searched the world for rubber, and while he didn’t use what he found, his friends Harvey Firestone and Charles Goodyear did and built empires on tires. Tires then didn’t last long on our roadless trails. Rocks, ruts, and grass trails were hard to navigate, but the transition had been made. The horses’ days for vehicle motivation were numbered. In two years, the development was dramatic, but we had to start somewhere. We’ll talk about the 1901 Winton in the next issue. But, this car, the ’99, the oldest in our collection, is like a tadpole. It was a start. It put the horsepower to the wheel instead of the animal. The Anderson family bought this car for their collection, and here it stands today, unrestored, as they got it 116 years ago. The tires have turned to hard plastic-like material because the rubber substance has lost its flexibility. It’s very much like looking at the Wright Brothers’ first airplane or the first computer. However, someone had to rub the bottle to get the genie out. In this case, the Winton boys made that happen. Fascinating! —Richard A. DeVito, Sr. Our New Exhibit (Continued from page 2) a historically significant 1935 Morgan Super Sport Three-Wheeler will highlight the evolutionary variations of the motorcycle. European greats including the 1923 BMW r32, which was part of the Art of the Motorcycle at Guggenheim, acclaimed for rocketing BMW’s motorcycle success with its masterful design concept that would endure the 4 rest of the century, and the 1935 BMW r17, representing the height of the Art Deco movement, will punctuate the mechanical, artistic design and styling aspects of the Motorcycle. The “Beauty of the Beast” exhibit opens May 8th, and runs through the year, concurrently with the popular summer “Lawn Events” auto shows schedule. Admission is: $10 for adults, $5 children, seniors, and active military. For more information or to become involved in the exhibit, please contact Sheldon Steele at (617) 522-6547 or [email protected], or visit www.larzanderson.org. —Jennifer Arone May-June Lawn Events Sunday, May 17: CADILLAC DAY Cadillac Day has historically been the “kick-off show” of the Lawn Event Season and is sponsored by the New England Cadillac and LaSalle Club. The show starts at 10am and runs until 3pm. Car registration is $10 per car and includes the driver and one passenger. Spectator admission is adults, $10; military, seniors, students and children 6-12, $5; and children under 6 are free. Museum members are always free! The Museum is open for your viewing until 4pm. Lunch will be available on site for purchase. Sunday, May 31: AACA DAY AACA Day was a new addition to the Lawn Event Schedule in 2013. The Bean Pot Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America sponsors the show. This show is not just for cars but also for trucks, racecars, hot rods and motorcycles, all over 25 years old. The show starts at 10am and runs until 2pm. Car registration is $15 in advance and $20 day of show. Spectator admission is adults, $10; military, seniors, students and children 6-12, $5; and children under 6 are free. Museum members are always free! The Museum is open for your viewing until 4pm. Lunch will be available on site for purchase. If you would like to pre-register, please visit http://www. beanpotaaca.com. Sunday, June 14: CORVETTE DAY The National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS), New England Chapter, sponsors Corvette Day. All Corvette owners are invited to attend. The show starts at 9am and runs until 3pm. Car registration is $20 per car and includes the driver and one passenger. Spectator admission is adults, $10; military, seniors, students and children 6-12, $5; and children under 6 are free. Museum Members are always free! The Museum is open for your viewing until 4pm. Lunch will be available on site for purchase. If you are trailering a vehicle to a Lawn Event, please see the notice on the next page. 5 May-June Lawn Events Sunday, June 21: GERMAN CAR DAY German Car Day is the first Museum-sponsored show of the season. It’s on Father’s Day, so bring your dads, because what dad doesn’t like a little German engineering? All proceeds benefit the Larz Anderson Auto Museum. Any automobile is accepted regardless of make, model or year, as long as it’s German. The show starts at 10am and runs until 2pm. Car registration is $20 per car and includes the driver and one passenger. If you pre-register, the fee is reduced to $15 per car. Spectator admission is adults, $10; military, seniors, students and children 6-12, $5; and children under 6 are free. Museum members are always free! The Museum is open for your viewing until 4pm. Lunch will be available on site for purchase. Sunday, June 28: BRITISH CAR DAY British Car Day is a Museum Show and all proceeds benefit the Larz Anderson Auto Museum. Any British automobile is invited and encouraged to attend regardless of make, model or year. The show starts at 10am and runs until 2pm. Car registration is $20 per car and includes the driver and one passenger. If you pre-register, the fee is reduced to $15 per car. Spectator admission is adults, $10; military, seniors, students and children 6-12, $5; and children under 6 are free. Museum members are always free! The Museum is open for your viewing until 4pm. Lunch will be available on site for purchase. If you are trailering a vehicle to a Lawn Event... Please be advised there is absolutely NO trailer parking within the grounds of Larz Anderson Park. There is also no overnight parking available. You MUST park your trailer outside of the park grounds. Parking spots within the park are limited to Park Visitors and Museum Guests. Unauthorized trailers will be asked to move via Museum PA or DJ and then towed. For more information or questions about lawn events, please call the Lawn Event Manager at 617-522-6547 x13 or email [email protected]. 6 Meet the members of LAAM John Darack John Darack’s earliest car- related memories harken back to the late 1940s when he would ride in his dad’s ’36 Pontiac, the Green Hornet. When John was twelve, his dad took him to the Larz Anderson Museum of Transportation (as it was known back then), where he became the youngest member at the time (in 1957!). John then purchased a Ford Model A, in which he got his driver’s license. As a college student, he then had a series of “cheap used beaters (MG TF, Austin-Healey 100, Porsche 356A, Porsche Speedster) [that] got me through those and the ensuing years. Oh, to have those cars now!” Currently, John has a collection of eight cars, including a Jaguar XK120 Coupe, an XK150 Roadster, an Alfa Giulietta Spider, a Morgan 4/4, a barn-find Porsche 912 Targa, a Volvo 1800ES, a Mercedes-Benz 280SL and a ’59 Ford Pickup. Most interestingly, these cars get driven! In 1998, John and a friend took the XK150 on the New England 1000 Rally — 1,000+ miles through northern New England in just five days, where they finished third in class (of three…shush!). In the early 2000s, he also competed in local Jaguar club slalom events, and in 2002 and 2006 was crowned Class B National Champion. —Sheldon Steele John (below) and his collection. Clockwise, from bottom left: Morgan 4/4; Mercedes 280SL; Volvo 1800 ES; Porsche 912 Targa; XK150 Roadster; Ford Pickup, XK120 Coupe; Alfa Giulietta Spider. 7 Membership matters. Member Benefits Payment Information 8
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