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7th ANNUAL NATIONAL MEET

- at the -

GILMORE CAR MUSEUM

Kalamazoo, MI and the Gilmore Museum - 2024

The 7th national meet and NWC's 50th Anniversary was celebrated in and around Kalamazoo, MI and the Gilmore Automobile Museum in nearby Hickory Corners, MI.

Early arrivers kicked off the meet at the Gilmore Car Museum’s legendary Wednesday Night Cruise-In, a weekly institution in the area that has been known to draw over 1,000 cars. The woodies left from the host hotels mid afternoon to caravan north to the museum despite the 90-plus degree heat that day.

Late Thursday afternoon, the meet officially got underway at the Sheraton host hotel. Log Riders, the NWC’s Midwest chapter, hosted the Meet and Greet that evening, More than 100 folks made it to the pizza party (featuring the regional specialty, Detroit style), and even the hotel bar got in on the fun, adding woodie themed libations to their drink specials.

Friday morning saw the woodies join the cruise up to Chief Noonday Car Park in Yankee Springs, about an hour north of the host hotel. The car park’s owner, Terry Cole, gave us a personal tour of his facility, and collection which features car storage, consignment, and on-site collector car services.

After lunch, we headed to the Smithsonian’s Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Museum in Kalamazoo. The museum holds many historical and rare aircraft, including the SR-71B Blackbird. The group enjoyed tours of the museum as well as their restoration facility led by the Air Zoo’s docents. After the museum closed, the Club held a dinner reception on the museum’s mezzanine level overlooking the main exhibit hall. During the reception, a heavy storm rolled in, raining in sheets. Fortunately for us, it quickly passed and was the only rain during the meet (knock on wood!).

Show day, Saturday and 70 woodies that made it on the show field. In addition to the woodies being selected as the marquee car for this year’s Red Barns Spectacular, three NWC members were featured in presenting informational talks that day. Retired Woodie Times editor John Lee spoke about woodie history, Jeff Yeagle spoke about woodie restorations, while Dean Tryon gave a talk on carburetion.

A local television station interviewed President Bill Quick about the NWC for their evening newscast.

Around 2:30 p.m., the NWC kicked off the Red Barns award program on the main stage. Before the Club awards presentation, we presented Nora Grigsby, daughter of Red Barns organizer Jim Holland, with a $1,000 check for their Tool Box Program from the monies raised at Thursday night’s Meet and Greet. Bill announced the award-winning cars selected by the President and regional Directors. Throughout the day, the Club sold meet merchandise, including t-shirts, hoodies, hats, and posters to the public from their show-field tent. Officers and Directors also took shifts staffing the membership and information table, answering questions about the Club.

That evening we gathered at the Sheraton Hotel for our 50th anniversary banquet starting with cocktails, while folks perused the silent auction items, many of which were generously donated by Jack Boyle and John Lee. After the buffet dinner, the Club began its anniversary program, featuring speeches by longtime NWC members Bob Stevens and Phil Stofanak. Bill Quick also addressed the group, acknowledging the individuals who helped make the meet a huge success.

We finished the evening with cake decorated with the NWC’s original and new logos, the latter featuring the 50th anniversary banner and our live auction emceed by Brian Woods. This year’s auction featured items made by NWC members Tracy King and Jeff Hobgood, along with meet banners and more woodie artwork donated by John Lee. As an added bonus, the winner of the 50-50 raffle generously donated their winnings back to the Club.

Sunday morning found many folks who had long drives ahead of them hit the road early to make the most of the daylight hours. For the morning woodie cruise, a group took a short drive south to the Langley Covered Bridge, which was built in 1887, and is the longest remaining wooden covered bridge in the state of Michigan, at a length of 282 feet. We ended the meet with a group photo finish, as well as our woodies with the bridge.

Back at the Sheraton, the Annual NWC Board Meeting got underway at noon. Members of the Santa Barbara Woodie Club were in attendance, and the Board approved their chapter hosting the 2025 Western National Meet – to be held July 24-27th in Santa Barbara, Calif.

Many thanks to the entire Log Rider family for all their help. There are too many people to thank but the following deserve mention: Bill and Joy Quick, NWC Treasurer Bob Stevens, Secretary Bill Sampson, Central Director Mike Byrne, and his wife, Adrienne, Mike Grutza. Denise Savone, Brian Woods, and his wife, Jessy. MVP honors go to the meet Chairs - Nicole Plenge and Scott Gilday with their incredibly hardworking daughters Reese and Ciena Gilday.

See you in Santa Barbara next year.