50^th Anniversary Picnic • Northern Illinois Regional Group

July 23, 1967 – July 23, 2017

By Ken Bounds

On July 23, 1967, the Early Ford V-8 Club of America issued a charter to the Northern Illinois Regional Group, recognizing it as the 8^th Regional Group in the four-year-old organization.  Exactly 50 years later, a large group of about 75 members, family, and friends got together at our annual picnic to commemorate the occasion.  Our group was honored that Midwest Director Steve Kroeger and his wife Judy drove 400 miles from Casey, Iowa, to be with us.

Although most of the founding members of our group are long gone, we are fortunate to still have one charter member who joined in that first year.  Ron Dopke joined our group at the 1967 Christmas party and has been an active member ever since.  Ron drove his 1940 Ford Standard Tudor to the picnic, accompanied by his daughter Cheryl.

When you try to list all those in attendance, it is inevitable that you are going to miss someone.  Anyway, here is our best effort at the list of participants:  Ron Blum and son David – 1940 Fordor, Ken & Carolyn Bounds – 1951 Mercury, Elaine Braun, Tom & Judy Buscaglia, Ron Dopke & daughter Cheryl – 1940 Tudor, John & Robin Emmering – 1951 Fordor, Scott & Nicole Gilday and daughters Reese & Ciena – 1941 Convertible, Jay & Margie Hinshaw and sons Jack, Michael and Matthew – 1940 Tudor, John & Marilyn Krenger – 1940 Convertible, Steve & Judy Kroeger, Joe & Nell Kozmic – 1953 Mercury with guests Bob & Cathy Sochacki & Mike Sturm, Pat & Dee Maroney and family – 1936 Fordor, Joey & Millie Novak – 1953 Mercury, Roger Obecny and guest Mason Maynard, Tom & Madeleine O’Donnell & daughter Maureen & husband Jim – 1953 Lincoln, Gary & Dawn Osborne & daughter Joyanna, Barb Pope, Dan & Diane Pudelek with daughter and son-in-law Katherine & John Pauly and grandkids Jack and Isabelle – 1950 Crestliner, John & Este Scheve, Joe & Delice Serritella, John & Barb Slobodnik and son John, Stan & JoAnne Stack and daughters, Ron & Colleen Steck – 1940 Pickup, Jim Taylor – 1973 Cadillac, Jeff Trilling – 1952 Pickup, Ron Vaughan, Len & Irene Vinyard – 1939 Convertible, and Larry Webb & Virgie Burnquist – 1963 Studebaker.

For the eighth consecutive year we held our picnic at Timmermann’s Ranch & Saddle Shop in Island Lake, owned by Art & Carol Timmermann, long-time friends of Don & Elaine Braun.  We were lucky that recent epic rains did not prevent us from using the ranch.  Unfortunately, we were not able to park our Early V-8s on the grass as usual and a muddy show ring prevented Timmermann’s Show Team from presenting the anticipated horse show.

Several members arrived early and we put up the club tent in nearly record time with no reports of injuries.  Unfortunately no one took any pictures of the fun.  In short order, club banners were in place on the tent and volunteers put up all the tables and chairs.

By 10:00 the participants came in waves, carrying a bounty of side dishes.  Because of the special occasion, we decided to do a pig roast provided by Jeremy & Rachel Tekampe of Tekampe Pig Roasts (Jeremy is the Timmermann’s grandson).  The roast pig was supplemented by burgers and hot dogs prepared by our perennial cooks Bob & Cathy Sochacki and Mike Sturm. 

One of the early events of the day was the ceremonial detailing of a car owned by one of the “Edsel Ford Team” members – see related story on Page 10.  As John Scheve and his team were busy selling 50-50 raffle tickets, members had a great time visiting in the shade and enjoying the inviting aroma of the pig. 

At 12:30, lunch was served.  The only problem was that most people’s eyes were even larger than their appetites.  The pig was spectacular, the burgers and dogs were great, and the side dishes were plentiful and delicious.  Even as many of the employees of the Saddle Shop joined in the meal, there was far more food than we could eat.  Many “piggy bags” were prepared for leftovers.

Many members brought desserts, but the flagship was a beautiful cake that Este Scheve had purchased showing our 50^th Anniversary.

After the meal, some of the kids went for horse rides and there was plenty of time for more visiting.  But rain clouds were nearing.  As John made the final push for 50-50 raffle tickets, President Emmering gathered the crowd together and said a few words about the history of our fine club.  Then he presented our honored member Ron Dopke with a 50-year Early Ford V-8 Club pin.   John introduced Director Steve Kroeger who had a few words to say before presenting us with a certificate commemorating our 50 years as a Regional Group.  The final order of business was the drawing of the winning 50-50 ticket, belonging to none other than Len Vinyard.  Unfortunately for Lenny, Irene was right there so she knew he had a spare $151 in his pocket.

As we began clearing off the tables, the dreaded sprinkles came; before the tent came down, it turned into a shower.  Scott Gilday immediately hit the road in his Convertible, hoping to make it home before the rain became serious.  Good thing for us, the shower was a quick one and we took down and stored the tent and stacked the table and chairs in sunshine.  Everyone began saying their goodbyes and heading home before the serious rain came.  And it did a couple of hours later.

Our 50^th Anniversary was a big success.  There are so many people to thank.  Thanks to Steve and Judy Kroeger for helping us celebrate our big day.  Thanks to Art & Carol Timmermann, their daughter Dale, and their staff for their hospitality.  Thanks to Jeremy & Rachel for a delicious pig.  Thanks to Ron Blum for making the contacts with the ranch and the pig roast folks; to Bob, Cathy, and Mike for cooking; to Stan Stack for renting the tables and chairs; to Gary Osborne for storing and transporting the tent; to Joe Serritella for purchasing and bringing beverages, condiments, and paperware; to Este Scheve for bringing the cake and to John for running the raffle.  Thanks to all the members who spent a lot of their time setting things up, cleaning up, taking things down, and getting cars parked.  Thanks to President John for the fun car detailing idea and the presentations. Thanks to Ron Dopke for being a leader for 50 years.  Apologies to anyone I missed.  And thanks to everyone for coming, bringing their Early V-8s and food, and contributing to a wonderful event.