The Gathering
of the Faithful

Lincoln Car Clubs and Foundation Honor Bert Huffman
North Carolina Gentleman and Lincoln Collector
By Tom Brunner

Bert Huffman lived on this earth from 1924 to 2007. During that time he and his friends lovingly restored dozens of vehicles, mostly fire engines and Lincoln automobiles. During his lifetime of accomplishments he was also family man, industrialist, mayor of Granite Falls, NC for 27 years, pilot, and sometime motorcyclist.

Members of the four major Lincoln car clubs and the Lincoln Motor Car Foundation will journey to North Carolina on Thursday, April 8, 2010, to honor Bert's memory and recognize his achievements with a visit to one of the great Lincoln automobile collections in the world.

Bert would probably tell us that his lifelong love affair with the Lincoln began in 1941 when his father purchased a new Zephyr coupe, one of the last produced before World War II. Over the years, as time and resources permitted, he acquired more vehicles, ending with more than 100 restored and original vehicles, the vast majority being Lincolns. 28 of the Lincolns are HV-12 cylinder cars representing the years 1936-48. But Bert has cars featured by each of the Lincoln clubs, some of them very rare. His car barn is probably the only place in the world where one can see an example of each year's Lincoln-Zephyr coupe sedan assembled from 1936-39, the total production of which was 3598 for all four years. Bert also has Continentals, early Lincoln models (1920-39) and so-called "road race" Lincolns (1949-57). If that is not sufficient, how about 13 Fords, 2 Edsels, 5 Mercurys, 1 Pantera, 2 Amphicars, 1 Franklin, and 15 fire engines, as well as an undetermined number of future projects and parts cars?

Bert and his long time friend Elbert "Hot Rod" Chapman were regular attendees at Lincoln Zephyr Owners Club and Lincoln and Continental Owners Club events, carrying away multiple trophies at nearly all meets, making memories, and setting high standards for other restorers.

After visiting Bert's collection, the Lincoln clubs will journey to Dennis Carpenter's manufacturing facility for a complete tour, and will follow with a large display of all Lincolns at the Charlotte Auto Fair, on Friday and Saturday April 9, and 10, 2010. The weekend's events will close with a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Lincoln Motor Car Foundation and a giant barbecue for all attendees on the afternoon and evening of Saturday April 10, 2010.

Make plans to attend this festival of Lincolns, to be known as "Carolina in the Morning" to kick-off the next decade. And who knows? Maybe the Lincoln Division of Ford will have their new models available as well.

Registration forms are available starting November 1, 2009, at www. LZOC.org or by writing Bonnie McWade-Furtado, 118 Elliott Street, Pepperell, MA 01463-1412, 978-433-5886.

• The largest gathering of Lincoln enthusiasts and their cars in 10 years
• The largest gathering of Lincoln enthusiasts ever in the Southeast
• Join your friends and meet new friends at the first great Lincoln meet of the new decade
  

Breaking News!!! Special Event on Wednesday Evening, April 7, 5:30PM!!!
Edsel B. Ford II will be the speaker at the Kickoff Dinner Wednesday April 7, 2010, at 5:30PM. The dinner (a fish
fry) will be held at the Dennis Carpenter Ford Mercury Lincoln Museum, 4140 Concord Parkway So., Concord, NC. Dress is casual. No coats and ties, please. Tickets are $35 each. After food costs, all proceeds will go to benefit the Lincoln Motor Car Museum, Hickory Corners, MI. In order to maximize attendance at this "once in a lifetime" opportunity, it is not necessary to register for the meet in order to attend this kickoff dinner only. In the interests of time, please send your check as soon as possible paid to the order of LZOC to Bonnie McWade-Furtado, 118 Elliott Street, Pepperell, MA 01463-1412. The deadline for checks to be received by Bonnie is April 2, 2010, so that we can complete plans.

"We are hoping you will organize a "phone bank" of your acquaintances, friends, fellow club members (including AACA, Early Ford V-8, etc) urging them to attend this unique opportunity. We expect Mr. Ford will eat with us, speak, and be available for questions, pictures, autographs, etc. If you have suggestions for his remarks, please send them to me, and join us for what promises to be an unforgettable evening." Tom Brunner, President, LZOC

Bert Huffman's Car Barn, April 8, 2010, 9AM
Bert's sons, Lee and Al, have lovingly protected their father's collection of restored Lincolns and fire engines from all eras (100 in all). Please note-OUR MEET OFFICIALLY BEGINS at 4863 Hickory Blvd, Granite Falls, NC 28630, 828-396-1741. This is approximately 3 miles north of the intersection of US 321 and I-40 on US 321. Signs will direct you to parking. This is probably the largest collection of restored Lincolns in the world. We will be there through lunch, which will be served on site at 11:30.

Carpenter Industries, April 8, 2:45PM
Dennis Carpenter has been a faithful supporter of the Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln restoration hobby since 1970. He now has the largest Ford authorized parts restoration facility in the world. Dennis has promised to join us and there will be tours of his museum and manufacturing operation, with large presses, stamping machines, and molding equipment in operation. The museum contains many vehicles and automobilia that are priceless to Lincoln enthusiasts. At 5pm a Carolina fish fry will be served by Ron and Faye Greene, who will bring their million-dollar fully equipped kitchen (in a semi) to the site and cook the food on the spot. Dennis's collection includes the first 1956 Mark II. He will tell us the story behind this car. Credentials for the Auto-Fair will be handed out. Please bear in mind that Cabarrus (ka-Bear-us) County, our meet site, is DRY.

Hotels, April 8, 9, 10, 2010
We have three hotels. Two are close to the Lowe's Motor Speedway, and one is farther away with parking space for those who wish to trailer their vehicles.

Wingate by Windham, the meet hotel with hospitality suite. Exit 49 off I-85, 7843 Gateway Lane, NW, Concord, NC, 28027. 704-979-1300, 1.6 miles from Lowe's Motor Speedway, Hot breakfast included, Lincoln Car Club rate, $99 per night.

Holiday Inn Express, exit 49 off I-85, 7772 Gateway Lane NW, Concord NC, 28027. 704-979-7900, 1.6 miles from Lowe's Motor Speedway, Hot Breakfast included, Lincoln Car club rate, $99.75 per night.

Fairfield Inn by Marriott, exit 58 off I-85, 3033 Cloverleaf Pkwy, Kannapolis, NC, 28083, 704-795-4888. 8 miles north of the Speedway, via US 29, ample trailer parking. Hot breakfast included, Lincoln car club rate, $79 per night.

Please use US 29 and not I-85 to approach the Speedway to avoid long traffic lines.

Charlotte Auto-Fair, April 9, 10
10,000 spaces, 200,000 people, including show cars, special car club exhibits (roughly the size of Fall Hershey). We will have a special site for all our cars and tents, including the Lincoln tent. Lincoln has been invited and will let us know as soon as their 2010 plans are completed.

Lincoln Motor Car Foundation Board meeting 3pm, April 9, 2010, at the Wingate. LZOC Board meeting, 1pm, same day, same location.

Frank Liske Park, April 10, 5pm
Ron and Faye Greene return to serve the Southern fried chicken and pulled pork barbecue in a park setting where we have rented the entire barn. Our cars will be parked close so that you may look and talk as much as you like. Go north on US 29, Concord Parkway, from the Speedway; pass Dennis Carpenter's facility. There is a stoplight at Roberta Church Road. Turn east. Go to the dead end. Turn right on Roberta Road and immediately left on Stough Road. The park is ahead on the left, and is within site of the Speedway, but a world apart. Please bear in mind that Cabarrus (ka-Bear-us) County, our meet site, is Dry.

Join your friends and meet new friends at the first great Lincoln meet of the new decade.