NIRG 40th
Anniversary Cruise
By Ken Bounds
The Early Ford V-8 Club of America issued its 8th
regional group charter to the Northern Illinois Regional Group on July 23, 1967.
We are very proud to be group #8!
Over the years many, many members have come and gone and none of the
charter members remain. But we still
have some of our earliest members with us, including Ron Dopke who joined in
that first year. Today we have a
very active club of more than 80 members who collectively own over 130 1932 –
1953 Ford vehicles. Our 40th
year has been filled with many well-attended club activities and probably the
largest group of NIRG vehicles driven to a National V-8 Club meet beyond the
local Central National Meet hosted here in 1986.
On August 5 we commemorated our 40th Anniversary
with an exciting three-hour cruise on the Chain of Lakes and Fox River aboard
the 48-foot Famous Freddie’s Love Boat.
Special thanks go to our hosts, George and Betty Cech, for arranging this
fun event and to George for springing for the hors devours while surviving on a
fixed income. Our capable Captain,
crew, and importantly our bartender Nikki helped to make this an enjoyable and
memorable event. The weather was
beautiful on the lakes, except for a sudden rain shower that Captain Ron was
able to navigate out of.
Those on board included our hosts George and Betty, our
soon to be 40-year member Ron Dopke with his son Steve, NIRG President Dan
Pudelek, Ken & Carolyn Bounds, Don & Elaine Braun, Lloyd & Gladys Duzell, Joe &
Nell Kozmic, Joey Novak, Steve O’Neill, Bob & Angie Paladino, Jim & Barb Pope,
Len & Irene Vinyard, and Alan & Lois Wall.
In addition to a relaxing, scenic trip around the lakes, we were treated
to delicious hors devours, a huge sub sandwich, and plenty of beverages served
by hard-working bartender Nikki. We
also had two cakes, one for the 40th anniversary and a second for Joe
& Nell’s anniversary. Because there
was plenty to go around, we saved the NIRG anniversary cake for the August
meeting.
Everyone had a wonderful time, enjoyed some nice scenery,
and had plenty of time for visiting with great friends.
Happy birthday NIRG!