 2018 Gig Harbor Cruisers Annual Giving Community Outreach ~
The Gig Harbor Cruisers membership selected three local community organizations to support through the club's charitable giving fund. Food Backpacks 4 Kids, Gig Harbor Peninsula F.I.S.H. Food Bank and Santa for Seniors were selected by the club to each receive cash donations from the club. Food Backpacks 4 Kids is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity registered with the Washington Secretary of State. Their charter states they "meet the needs of hungry school children in the Peninsula School District. This program is an effort to ensure families have access to nutritious meals on the weekend." Gig Harbor Peninsula F.I.S.H. Food Bank began in June 1976 and was incorporated in August 1985 from a group of people who believed "that every person in our community is our neighbor. " Neighbor helping neighbor is their motto. GHP FISH is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Santa to a Senior is a program to provide presents for Seniors in need during the holidays administered through Home Instead Senior Care. The members of the Gig Harbor Cruisers encourage our friends to give support by sending your contributions to the following: FOOD BACKPACKS 4 KIDS PO BOX 173 GIG HARBOR 98335 http://foodbackpacks4kids.org/ F.I.S.H. PO BOX 154 GIG HARBOR 98335 http://www.ghpfish.com/ Santa For Seniors donations can be sent (checks payable) to Gig Harbor Cruisers Automotive Club, at PO Box 2642, Gig Harbor, WA 98335. Happy Holidays!
Category Sponsor Reg # Vehicle - Entered by
Founder's Choice Gig Harbor Cruisers 138 2006 Lexus - Trenton Culburt Favorite 4X4 Rick and Trish Belfoy 196 1970 International Scout – Alan Walker Favorite Muscle Car Mackert Automotive 130 1967 Ford GT 500 – Rob Sweet Favorite Unfinished Sculpture Hospitality 15 1957 Chevrolet Pick Up – Chris Corigliano Favorite Truck (2 Wheel) Erin Rockery 58 1966 Chevrolet Pick Up – Ken Marshall Favorite '30's Les Schwab Tires 93 1933 Ford 4 – Door Sedan – Doug Houghton Favorite '40's Griot’s Garage 168 1947 Chevrolet – Van Schrader Favorite '50's Pacific NW Eye Associates 114 1958 Chevrolet Impala – Jerry Walsten Favorite '60's Gig Harbor Boat Works 57 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle – Rich Marquis Favorite '70's Soundview Barbers 45 1970 Fiat Spider Coupe – Steve Hare Favorite '80's George Flaherty 88 1988 Pontiac Fiero – Tom Lovely Mosiman Most Unusual Gig Harbor Cruisers 20 1930 Ford Model A – Mike Ubrick Favorite GM Ottman /Hendrickson Familes 50 1964 Cadillac Coupe de Ville – John Patterson Favorite Ford Bridan Builders 130 1967 Shelby GT500 – Rob Sweet Favorite Mopar John Hogan 97 1973 Dodge Challenger – Michael Rubek Favorite Orphan Monnie Moen 169 Saab Sontett – Toby Clausen Most Photogenic Pat and Renee Crist 225 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle (Canadian) – Ross Fraser Under 20 Cruiser The Speed Factory 85 1976 Toyota Celica – Zach Winter Favorite Corvette Mackert Automotive 216 1969 Chevrolet Corvette – Robin Rickard Favorite VW NW VW Club 110 1971 VW Super Beetle – Amber Stephens Kid’s Pick Systems for Public Safety 19 1964 Chevrolet El Camino – Leah Smith Favorite Subaru Peninsula Subaru 224 2004 Subaru WRX STI – Justin Capps Favorite Scion Titus Will Toyota 76 2008 Scion – Chris Norton Favorite Toyota Titus Will Toyota 84 1973 Toyota Land Cruiser – Marty Pattin Favorite Nissan Gig Harbor Cruisers 139 1998 Nissan 240 SX – Trenton Culburt Favorite Datsun Gig Harbor Cruisers 54 1968 Datsun – Don and Sandi Anderson  CTN Awards 2017 Category Trophy Sponsored by Awarded to Entry Founder's Choice Gig Harbor Cruisers Don Mescheke 1969 Chevrolet Z-28 Favorite 4X4 Rick and Trish Belfoy Bill Bubbell 1952 Willys Jeep Favorite Muscle Car Mackert Automotive Robbie Morris 1969 Chevrolet Nova Unfinished Ride Sculpture Hospitality Dave Sumner 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Favorite Truck (2WD) Erin Rockery Devin Merriott 1956 Ford F-100 Pickup Favorite '30's Les Schwab Tires Tim Springer 1932 Ford Roadster Favorite '40's Griot’s Garage John Paul Nelson III 1949 Mercury Favorite '50's Pacific NW Eye Associates Rob Walker 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Favorite '60's Gig Harbor Boat Works Dave Rocket 1963 Buick Riviera Favorite '70's Soundview Barbers Dave Gjertson 1971 Chevrolet C-10 Favorite '80's George Flaherty Tom Garvin 1987 Buick Grand National R, Mosiman Most Unusual Gig Harbor Cruisers Nicolas Gossen 1952 Citroen Traction Avant Favorite GM Jackie’s House Daycare Patty McGinley 1969 Camaro SS Favorite Ford Bridan Builders Jarod Marzano 1932 Ford Roadster Favorite Mopar John Hogan & Uptown Plaza John Griffin 1966 Dodge Charger Favorite Orphan Monnie Moen Jim Densley 1976 Styler Punch Pinzguar Most Photogenic Pat and Renee Crist Rob Walker 2017 Camaro ZL1 Under 20 Cruiser The Speed Factory Amber Stephens 1971 Volkswagen Beetle Favorite Corvette Mackert Automotive Mark Johnson 1962 Chevrolet Corvette Favorite VW NW VW Club Melissa Stephens 1967 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Kid’s Pick Systems for Public Safety Jarrett Dively 1963 Volkswagen Bus American Family Dream Car American Family Insurance John Glomstad 1933 Buick Type 57 2017 Special Awards "Cuz it's Cool" selected by Club Members The trophies awarded were each designed and built by the member who selected the award Trophy Builder Entry Awarded to Dave Robertson 1933 Buick John Glomstad Fletcher MacGregor 1948 Plymouth Don Miller Tony Wedington 1963 Buick Riviera Dave Rockett Virginia Wedington 1931 Ford Model A 5 window Tim Springer Mike Rickey 1971 Volkswagen Amber Stephens Bob McCord 1965 Chevrolet Malibu Dale Hopson George Flaherty 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Loren Schiro Jack Harrison 1931 Ford Model A Roadster Kelly Watkins Louise Harrison 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Marsha Seekins Howard Mackert 1968 Chevrolet Camaro James Nicolaus 20th Anniversary Club Founders Special Awards Club Founder Special Awards were each designed and built by Mike Campbell and awarded by Mike and Sue Campbell Entry Awarded to 1955 Ford Truck Robbin Hagan 1965 Oldsmobile Rick Patterson Capri David Dennis Buick LaSabre Stanley Carter Volkswagen Beetle Jake Walker 1987 Buick Grand National Tom Garun 1961 Chevrolet Impala Joe Turco 1968 AMC AMX Roberto Massimi 1967 Volkswagen Beetle Tristan Bigelow Host club members vehicles entered in the show are not eligible for awards consideration  Gig Harbor Cruisers Scholarship Recipients – 2017 The Gig Harbor Cruisers awarded $5500 in Scholarships to seven graduates from our two Peninsula School District High Schools. The following students were recently recognized: Peninsula High School: Zachery Lester Aaron Johnson Gig Harbor High School: Blake Ellestad William A. Emery Noah A. Brooks Lucas R. Smith Peyton J. Hopkins ook for these high school graduates; I am sure you’ll see their names in the future. As members of the Gig Harbor Cruisers we should be proud that we may have helped a student with his career when education is expensive and there is a real desire to learn and succeed.
 Mark Hendrickson I remember it very clearly. It was a rainy Saturday afternoon in 2004. It may have been New Years Day. Rick Belfoy, the current club president, called me while I was keeping a couch company and asked if I would be interested in taking over as president of the Gig Harbor Cruisers. I sort of panicked and explained I didn’t live in Gig Harbor. He shared with me it didn’t matter, and I should think about it. I hung up the phone and quickly called former President, Mike Campbell. He was the leader when I joined in 1998. He told me it was a great opportunity to develop leadership skills and the Cruisers were really supportive of the president. He was right. The meetings were well attended at the Gig Harbor Eagles Lodge (Taco Tuesday), and people were engaged. I was a single guy with time on my hands, and a strong desire to be more involved in the community. I thought it over and called Rick later in the week. His sigh of relief was much louder than I expected…I get it now. I was President of the Gig Harbor Cruisers from January of 2004 to sometime in 2008. It was a good run, and I learned a lot. During my time, ("The Mark Years") our meeting locations changed a few times. We could no longer meet at the Eagles, so Harbor Place at Cottesmore offered us their meeting room for free. It was a nice space, with lots of parking and in theory, that sounded good. But I missed the fact that food was no longer available and my $1 Rainiers at the Eagles were a memory. Without an opportunity to have the dinner and talk, the meetings started to get smaller. At the end of my run, even though our membership numbers were still very strong, our meeting attendance numbers dwindled. Not good. Something needed to change, and it was the perfect time shake things up by stepping aside. At the time, the club's president also directed the car show. So, to speed up the process of finding a replacement (remember Rick Belfoy’s loud sigh?) I offered to continue to direct the show and make the position of president “seem” more attractive to a potential candidate. Fortunately, John Hopkins signed on and began making some positive changes to rebuild. We moved to a new location that served food and people came back. Under his leadership, it was once again a social club and not just a meeting. We rebuilt the board and got serious about assigning tasks to make sure people weren’t getting burned out. Three presidents, later the club maintains well over 100 members and meetings filling over 40 seats. Pretty cool! The club is in a good place right now. Membership is strong, and people are enthusiastic and being involved. Personally, I consider this club a part of my extended family. I’ve learned a great deal about cars, leadership, and life from many of the people who have called themselves Cruisers. The experiences I have had with cars and within the community simply would not be possible had I chosen not to join. (That decision is fun story I’ll share another time). I’m still learning and reaping the benefits of my membership by being surrounded by smart, good people. Now if we can get $1 Rainiers back on the menu that would be fantastic. See you on the road! Mark  John Hopkins If you are reading this Blog, you are obviously a Car Guy or Gal. In 2003 I was transferred to the Pacific Northwest and made my home in Gig Harbor, Washington. We live in a beautiful community and like anyone who transplants here that first week of June you find yourself downtown at the Maritime Gig Parade. That was my introduction to the Gig Harbor Cruisers with club member Roger Mossiman walking behind the cars dragging a toilet bowl float down the street representing the parade's "oldest float." The Cruisers have participated in the Maritime Gig for as long as I can remember to promote their upcoming car show. I was born into a car family; my father like many of our family members grew up working on their cars to keep them going and also helped my uncle's in their body shop. It is easy to forget how much work there is in owning a car then; even just the commuter car back in the day. Today computers have made cars super efficient, but are designed kind of boring and many can run without maintenance for 100,000 miles. It's the cars that we love we are sometimes frustrated by. Many a day and night of my youth was spent on the frozen Philadelphia streets trying to keep mine or my friend's cars going. No way in hell we were taking the bus, or a train if we could avoid it. On every trip as a child, my father and I would challenge each other to name the approaching car and even at night by the headlights. By the time I got my license, I was extremely proficient at spotting a Crown Victoria, or Chevrolet Impala, and many more. Every trip to the store with my mother I would disappear to the toy section; while I loved baseball and all forms of racing, she would always find me deeply immersed in the Hot Wheel section. My mother would say don't you have them all? Don't you have enough? And now at nearly 50, my beautiful wife Shelly says "don't you have enough..." Simply, No! My mother was my hero, and I treasure the memories of driving in her Pontiac LeMans as a kid. By the time she passed in 1982, I’d estimate she had wasted thousands of dollars she didn't have on Match Box cars for me. When I packed my things and left Philly in 1985 I never would have imagined my brother would have tossed all those cars; a 55-gallon drum of them, now worth God knows what, but he wasn’t a real car guy. I’m a GM guy although I’ve owned a few Mustangs over the years. I’ve been part of Corvette and Camaro clubs for decades now, and all of them pale in comparison to the Gig Harbor Cruisers. Why? Simply, the people and the Cruisers approach to a car club. Twenty years ago the Cruisers started out as friends with a common interest; Cool Cars and wanting to make a difference in their communities which they lived and worked. They were friends that bumped into each other at shows around the area and joked about “We are the Gig Harbor Car Club.” Twenty years later I think all of them would be surprised and should be darn proud of what a tremendous positive impact they made in our community. In the last Twenty years the Cruisers through their efforts and the vision of Founding Members: Pat & Renée Crist, Mike & Sue Campbell, Dan Lehosky, Sr., Tim & Jorjia Potter, Tom & Laurie Smith and Charter Members Bruce & Linda Dishman, John & Barbara Gilchrist, Mitch & Kim Mackenroth, Monnie (and Milo) Moen, Harvey & Sharon Oslin, Dave & Janet Robertson, Dale & Lyn Schultz, John & Karen Streich have raised and donated nearly 75,000-dollars for scholarships to help young adults who wanted to pursue an automotive related education. Having four children of my own and having sat through local scholarship awards ceremonies I can tell you some of our winners wouldn’t have been on that stage if not for the vision of our founding members. It was about the people first and cool cars second. One of our first winners, now in his 30’s and the father of two children has a successful career at the Ship Yard as a welder because the people mentioned above cared as much about people as they did cool cars. I didn’t join the Cruisers till 2005 after I quit my job. I was searching for a better work-life balance and quickly became involved as Newsletter Editor, eventually served the club as President and Activities coordinator. While I love Corvettes, if you seen one…. you’ve seen, well, most of them. I can bore you to death with numbers matching; rarity, correctness, but because of the Cruisers my eyes have been opened to many other wonderful and sometimes orphaned cars because they are all welcomed in our club, and you'd be surprised how many Gig Harbor garages are housing some rare and unique vehicles. Many of my fondest memories in life involve cars and nearly all my memories of the last 14 years in Gig Harbor involve the great friends I met because I choose to become a Gig Harbor Cruiser. ~John  Thank You Charter Members! The Gig Harbor Cruisers Automotive Club formed in January of 1997. By vote of the Board of Directors anyone who joined the club in the first six months of 1997 would be recognized as a "Charter Membership". In addition, the Charter Member designation would remain for as long as the membership continued uninterrupted and in good standing. In addition to the 7 Founding Members, the following Charter Members have had uninterrupted membership in the club since 1997: Bruce and Linda Dishman John & Barbara Gilchrist Mitch & Kim Mackenroth Monnie (and Milo) Moen Harvey & Sharon Oslin Dave & Janet Robertson Dale & Lyn Schultz John & Karen Streich Each of the names listed above over the past 20 years have contributed to the club by chairing committees, organizing and/or volunteering at club events and supporting our charitable endeavors. At the January 2017 Club meeting, it was announced that by vote of the Board of Directors, the club wished to acknowledge and thank our Charter Members by awarding them each Honorary Life Membership, in appreciation for their years of membership and service to the club. Congratulations! |
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