Annual NIRG Picnic - Cary, IL
By Ken Bounds
 
We held our annual NIRG picnic August 9 in a private park in Cary, right along the Fox River.  Seems we can’t catch a break from the weather this summer.  After many chilly or rainy events, this day was supposed to be one of the hottest of the summer – in the mid- to upper-90’s.  As it turned out, we had a cooling breeze off the river all day and our tent and the trees shaded us from the hot sun.  It was actually quite pleasant.
 
Unfortunately, the heat warning held down attendance and limited the number of V-8’s displayed.  Driving classics to the picnic were Tom Buscaglia – ’51 Tudor, Carolyn Bounds – ’50 Crestliner, Ken Bounds – ’36 Roadster, George & Betty Cech – ’36 Phaeton, Norm Collins & granddaughter – ’41 Mercury (yes, you read that right!), Ron Dopke with grandson & his girlfriend (it was the grandson’s girlfriend) – ’40 Tudor, John Judge – ’51 Victoria, Frank & Margaret Koeder & daughter – ’31 Model A Mail Truck and ’39 Convertible, Joe & Nell Kozmic – ’37 Coupe, Jack & Jean Nikolich – ’39 Convertible, Steve O’Neill – ’41 Tudor, Dan Pudelek – ’53 Victoria, and Len & Irene Vinyard – ’39 Convertible.  Arriving in modern iron were Dick & Dot Alfini, Ron Blum, Lloyd & Gladys Duzell, Earl & Gene Heintz, Roger Hunz & son Bill, Charlie Kaiser, and Stan Stack.  It was a special treat that Jim & Barb Pope were able to attend.  Also making an appearance for a while was Ray Morey.
 
Frank Koeder was up early, delivering trash cans, a grill, and the club tent to the site.  A number of members arrived early to take delivery of the tables & chairs and set up the tent.  We must have looked like the Keystone Kops doing this for our first time – in a brisk wind.  Even though the day was breezy, the tent stayed up!  While Carolyn sold tickets to the “ladies raffle”, Dan & Ken sold 50-50 raffle tickets.  Meanwhile the guys placed a number of car-related goodies on the auction table and spent some time inspecting the V-8 beauties in the park.  Boaters along the river gazed over at our V-8’s all day.
 
This year the club provided water, ice, plates, utensils, tent, tables, chairs, and porta-potties, while members brought their own beverages, entrée, and a pass-around dish.  It seemed that everyone agreed this method worked well. There was certainly plenty of delicious food and desserts to eat – no one went home hungry.  After lunch, our intrepid auctioneers Len Vinyard and Dan Pudelek sold the car goodies while Ken acted as a runner collecting money and drawing the tickets for the ladies items.  At the end, the luckiest man alive, Len Vinyard, took home $130 in the 50/50 raffle.  Sorry Len, Irene was going to find out sooner or later.
 
As a great day came to an end, everyone made their way home and only a few of us got caught in an unexpected rain shower.  We are grateful to everyone who attended, to those who brought out cars, and to those who helped put up/take down the tent and load up tables and chairs.  Very special thanks go out to Frank Koeder for arranging the park, for handling the porta-potty rental, for providing the ice, cooler, grill, trash cans, and for all the logistics involved with storing and delivering the tent and other supplies.

We are grateful to everyone who attended, to those who brought out cars, to those who ar-rived early to help put up the tent and set up tables and chairs and to those who stayed late to take down and pack the tent and to load up the tables and chairs. Thanks to Stan Stack for arranging the rental, delivery, and pickup of the tables and chairs. Very special thanks go out to Frank Koeder for arranging the park, for handling the porta-potty rental, for providing the ice, cooler, grill, trash cans, and for all the logistics involved with storing and delivering the tent and other supplies.