FIRST BCA MEET 1971 – FLINT, MI
Where it all began!
Story #1 (From the Buick Archives & the desk of Bud Cline)
In 1971, several local residents were members of the BCA. Bud Cline began entertaining the idea of forming a local Buick Club Chapter. At the first National Meet, which was held in Flint and hosted by Buick Motor Division and Terry Dunham of the BCA, on August 7, 1971, Bud posted a sheet for those interested in forming a local chapter of the BCA to sign up. Ten individuals, in addition to Bud, signed the sheet with addresses and phone numbers. The meeting was set for August 16, 1971, where six people attended and signed a petition to the BCA to form a chapter in Flint, Michigan to be called the “HOME” Chapter. Of those six couples two of the wives remain members today, Elaine Amman and Bernice Taubitz.
Story #2 (From the desk of Joe Taubitz)
In the fall of 1970 the Buick Motor Division was contacted by Terry Dunham with a proposal to have a BCA national meet in Flint. There was a large contingent of antique Buick owners that belonged to the local AACA, and Bud Cline, a general supervisor, at Buick was asked to see if it was feasible.
The first BCA National was held in 1971 at the new administration building and was a huge success. There were Buicks from all over the country and they had driven from as far as California. There was a group of 1930’s Buicks that drove from Southern California and they experienced no problems at all. One of the vendors at the swap meet drove his 1941 90 limited from Massachusetts loaded with parts to sell.
Buick Motor Division opened the recently closed Downtown Buick retail store so we could have inside, guarded parking. The banquet was held at the IMA building in downtown Flint. The host hotel was the Durant Hotel named after the driving force behind the Buick Automobile, William C. Durant.
Bud Cline posted a sign up sheet on the bulletin board to see if there was any interest in starting a local chapter and ten people signed up. On August 16, 1971 a petition was sent to the BCA in California asking permission to form a chapter in the Flint area to be called “The Home Chapter”
This is where the details of our beginning merge
On January 26, 1972 the first organizational meeting was held at the Buick Main Office. Thirty people were present and the name of the chapter was changed to “Buicktown.” On April 26, 1972 the first election of officers was held. There were 38 people present. Donna Vavro and Helen Cline named the newsletter the “Buicktown Crier” and the infant chapter was on it’s way to finding it’s place in history. The first board consisted of:
Director – Joe Taubitz
Assistant Director – Larry Hempsall
Secretary – Helen Cline
Treasurer – Jack McCarthy
Editor – Jerry & Donna Vavro
Reporter – Bernice Taubitz
Activities – Art Miles
Photographers – Mike Bader & Bud Cline
Anyone recognize any of the following names? These were the original members of the Buicktown Chapter of the BCA: Joe & Elaine Amman • Anthony Baird • John Callaghan • Bill & Bonnie Chapman • Bud & Helen Cline • Jim Combest • Frank Frasier • Bob & Vera Halka • Larry & Carol Hempsall • Francis & Pauline Hurley • Jim & Lena Jobin • Lloyd & Helen Kettler • August Knoll • Dave & Helen Kocsis • Cliff Krampe • Dave & Deloryes Langdon • Jack & Bernie • McCarthy • Maurice McIntosh • Art & Chip Miles • Bruce Moffett • Verle Newman • Gary & Onie Pake • Tom Pasche • Rene’ Peterman • Bob & Marilyn Polidan • Jack Sanders • Dave & Joanne Stork • Joe & Bernice Taubitz • Wes Tratham • Jerry & Donna Vavro
Buicktown continued to grow over the years and at the club’s 25th Anniversary we had over 300 members.
Jane Pindur reports, “Buicktown was in its heyday 25 years ago. The club’s membership was plentiful and the members were younger and full of enthusiasm.
Some of the highlights from the past as told to me from other members were the Halloween parties, get togethers in the summer and the games played with the old cars, sponsoring families for Christmas, Christmas parties where gifts were exchanged, and this highlight Jennie Burgess mentioned was helping others when they broke down on the road. That sure sounds like our Buicktown family, always there to help another. After all isn’t that what being “family” is all about?
Some of the more recent memories from our club are summer picnics hosted by club members taking us all over Genesee County, Buicks on the Bricks – what an amazing team effort that is and I would be remiss if I did not mention leaders of this event over the years – Roger Tyyska and Dave & Becky Pettengill, poker runs to support Children’s Miracle Network, Ladies Night celebrated at Meadowbrook Theatre begun while Denny Meyer was President, Christmas parties, Costume contests for Halloween, Mega Lot events during Back to the Bricks, auctions, fall and spring tours, and our non-official winter month events such as hockey games, movie nights, Chrome and Ice with the Valentines party after. The list goes on.
As the years passed, as with everything, our club has changed. We went from a very large membership of 300 to a membership of 94 today, still very respectable given the fact that members are aging, there is a trend to less interest in clubs due to social media, and busier lives . . . all these things have impacted our membership. However, it isn’t the number that defines our club, it’s the fun we have whether our group is 15, or 50. Here’s to the next 25 years!”
My Buick, My Love and I
How I love to drive my Buick
with my love sitting by my side,
pretty girl and shiny Buick
fills a fella with so much pride.Driving down the road on Sunday
with my car and my heart riding high,
for I know that very soon
we’ll take a honeymoon,My Buick, My Love and I.
