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PGI CAR CLUB Marlene Jones, 410-703-2252, marlenejones22@gmail.com

Now that the “season” is ending and some of our Cinco de Mayo at CHYC
members are heading north in search of cooler
weather, many nice cars will be left behind, tucked
away in garages all over Punta Gorda. Just to be
certain that your ride will still be nice when you
return in the Fall, here are some tips that you might
implement.

 Most important, try to store your car in a
controlled climate. Keep the interior out of
damaging UV rays and try to control the
humidity to prevent mildew.
 Safeguard the electrical system against rodents.
Our fruit rats love to chew on the wiring to keep
their incisors ground down and this can lead to
some nasty electrical gremlins later. We are told
that some car owners use moth balls to keep
these critters away.
 Disconnect the battery by taking off a terminal
wire and connect a smart “tickle charger” to the
battery. Modern cars have many hidden devices that continue to draw current when the car is turned off. Over a
period of 3 to 4 months, these can drain an otherwise good battery.
 Don’t put the windows all the way up---you want air to circulate so as to prevent mildew and stagnation.
 Fill the gas tank and add some additive to reduce the harmful effects of ethanol. Be sure to drive the car a bit so as
to circulate the additive into the entire fuel system (injectors, lines, pump).
 Finally, leave a car key with a friend and ask them to start the car once a month. They don’t have to drive it—just
warm up the engine and circulate the oil.

Doing these rather simple tasks will insure that when you return,
a recalcitrant “southern car” is not on your list of problems.

Five cars representing PGICC (Leach, Jones, Gordon, Schaeffer
and Tucker) attended the Florida West Coast Vintage Motor Car
Club of America event held during Venice, Florida’s Brew Bash.
This new car club is nationally affiliated and dedicated to the
preservation, restoration and enjoyment of antique automobiles.
According to Joe Schaeffer, PGICC member, the club has plans
for many future activities including car shows, cruises and benefit
events.

Featured car: Wayne and Joan Erickson’s 1966 Pontiac GTO
coupe. The original 389 tri power motor blew up in the early 70’s
Vintage Motor Car Club at and was replaced with a period correct 66 Pontiac 421 tri power.
Venice Florida’s Brew Bash It was
driven
until 1974 when it was put away and sat until 2014 when a local
(Louisiana) man who owned a body shop acquired the car. He
did a complete frame off restoration. Wayne and Joan acquired
the car in September 2016. Wayne has had to replace some of
the parts but now says, “Getting into the car takes me back to
1966, Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan. That’s when I had
my original 66 barrier blue GTO. I love driving this car!”

The next meeting of PGICC is August 1, at the Muscle Car
Museum. Breakfast at 8 a.m., meeting at 9 a.m. Some members
th
will still meet for breakfast on July 4 with no business meeting
planned.

For more information about our monthly meetings, cruises and
social events, please visit the website, www.pgicarclub.com. Wayne & Joan Erickson’s 1966 Pontiac GTO
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