Recurring Club Activities

General meeting: Every 2nd Wednesday, 7PM, Z’s Classics, 2049 E. Yellowstone, Casper.

Car Show meeting: Every first Wednesday at the Goodwin’s house. First meeting: Nov. 6

Friday night dinners: 6:00 PM, Check with Skip Hoffman, 277-0818.

Special Events

December 7: OCAC Annual Christmas Party, Caddy Shack, Municipal Golf Course.

The Blown Gasket is published on the 25th of every month by the Oil Capitol Auto Club Inc. Editor reserves the right to edit all copy for length, grammar, and or

style. Deadline is the 15th of each month. Meetings are held at 7 PM every 2nd Wednesday at Z’s Classics, 2049 E. Yellowstone. Dues are $20 per year - payable

January 1st. Dates and times are subject to change. Club web site: http://ocac.cc.

Oil Capitol Auto Club

P.O. Box 1861

Mills, WY 82644

2013 November 2013

Volume 15, # 11

The Oil Capitol Auto Club's

Blown Gasket

2

October 09, 2013

OCAC General Membership Meeting:

Call meeting to order by President Skip Hoffman at 7:03 PM

Motion to accept minutes from September 11, 2013 meeting. Motion John Gardner, 2nd Gary Sommerville.

No new members present to recognize at this meeting. Thank you all for coming.

TREASURERS REPORT: General checking $2481.61, Auction fund $583.02. Motion Gary Sommerville, 2nd

Mike Johnson.

BENEVOLENCE: Jim Nations is scheduled to have another surgery in a few weeks. Will update as we know

when.

CORRESPONDENCE: Festival of trees scheduled for December 3, 2013. OCAC has participated in this event

past years and members voted not to this year due to short notice (LACK OF PLANNING TIME FOR THE

EVENT). Deadline to confirm was October 14,2013. Secretary Ja Harley will contact Becky Mc Glade and

request that OCAC remains on the mailing list for future participation.

BIRTHDAYS: Mike Kennedy, Gary Boldt, Ron Potter, Mary Russell, Jerry Barton, Lucy & Janice. Happy

birthday to all!!!

OLD BUSINESS: The trailer committee is still searching for a 20 foot cargo trailer to replace the old camp

trailer target price is $4000.00. Membership body has suggested checking with Smiths Rv, Stalkups Rv, and

like places to seek a possible sponsorship to go along with club funds to assist in a replacement trailer. John

will check into these options, topic has been tables till next meeting.

Valve Cover Racing: Plans>>>enthusiasm. Could turn into a fundraising project for events>>>organizations.

Working on club rules and regulations. Track size overall 24 to 30 ft, track racing area start to finish 20 ft.

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Track will be made of plywood, laminated surface and have an aluminum frame. Plan to build in three pieces

so 2 people can handle the weight of moving track. Initial cost to build $500.00. Supplies needed 3 sheets of

plywood, 3 sheets of laminate and 150 foot of aluminum. John Gardner proposed the club allocate $1000.00 to

cover the cost of the valve cover race track. Membership body approved the proposal. Plans are to seek

sponsorship later to put into the project. Motion>>>Cindy Walters, 2nd>>>Wayne Allen

Valve Cover Cars: Design and build cars up to 10 pounds maximum weight. Max width 10 inches, Max height

10 inches and Max length 30 inches.

Newsletter postage will be increasing again, we would like to encourage electronic newsletters.

Christmas party>>>>Caddy shack has been confirmed for December 7, 2013, Ja Harley will call and confirm

prices with the Caddy Shack. Member costs for the Christmas party will be decided at November meeting. We

also would like to confirm a head count of those planning to attend the Christmas Party at the November

Meeting.

NEW BUSINESS: Jerry Barton announced the car show committee is starting up meetings on the first

Wednesday of the month, first meeting will be first week of November at the Goodwins. Contact Judy Goodwin

for meeting time. They need someone to help the committee with publicity

NOVEMBER CLUB MEETING IS ONE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE OCAC

CAR CLUB! We would like to have as many members attend the upcoming meeting as possible. IT IS A POT

LUCK MEETING, bring your favorite dish and a table setting.

We will be holding officer nominations and elections the same night. Plan to be there for eats by 6:30 PM, the

meeting will follow. We will have our usual birthday cake at the meeting.

We held a Thank you plaque and gift card presentation to Ralph Butler for heading up the summer cruise nights.

Thanks Ralph.

Adjourn meeting motion>>>Mike Johnson>>>>>2nd Jerry Barton.

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For his hard work in planning the weekly OCAC cruises, the club

awarded Ralph Butler a plaque and a gift certificate to Karen and

Jim’s Restaurant. Thanks, Ralph, for all of your hard work.

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DIRT BIKING IN CASPER

CIRCA 1956 In the 1950s and -60s, British bikes were the only choice for anyone wanting to ride off-road. Recently the

Editor spoke with Jim Potter of Casper, an avid dirt rider since the mid-1950s. The following pictures were dug

out of some old files, and haven’t been seen for decades. His bike of choice in 1956 was a BSA Goldstar 600

single. Jim is happy to show you the battle scars on his leg caused by the 600 kicking back at him. Although he

sold the Goldstar many decades ago, the bike is still in Casper. Jim recently purchased a 2012 Royal Enfield

500 single, an exact replica of the 1950s versions.

Jim was part of an avid group of riders who rode their stripped down (and street illegal) bikes to and from

various riding areas around Natrona County. Their biggest worry was a Harley-mounted Wyoming Highway

Patrolman who cruised CY. Most competitive events in the Casper area were hill climbs and scrambles. Popular

hills were located in Evansville (near Sam’s Club), and on Wolf Creek and Squaw Creek Roads. The area that

would become Cottonwood Park on North Poplar was a staging area for a scrambles course that went up and

around what is now the Events Center.

Jim Potter on his

BSA Goldstar 650.

Dr. Jim Bush

and Mr. Barrons

Herck and

Lloyd Oler

1956

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Squaw Creek Road hill climb

Jim Potter,

BSA Goldstar

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Scrambles riders at Cottonwood Park, 1956.

Above. L-R: Jess Salvala, Jim Edwards, and Tim Oler. Edwards worked at the Texaco Refinery at the time. Tim

Oler’s dad, Lloyd Oler, owned the European Cycles shop located near Beverley and Farnum streets. Oler

outgrew that location and built a business at what is now Casper Mountain Motorsports west of Greiner Ford.

Tim still does British bike restorations at

the old Beverley St. location. With

financial backing from Lloyd Oler, Jess

Salvala started a motorcycle shop in

Rock Springs. He now lives in Denver.

Right. Another picture of the hill climb

at Squaw Creek Road. Competitors

would come to Casper from around the

Rocky Mountain Region to compete.

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From the archives of

Connie Bryant:

Club activities in 1981.