My new 1988 T/A

[DynoDave]

Yes, not a line of 100 GTOs or Firebirds. Nice variety, and our Pontiac/Oakland/GMC club allows Buick/Oldsmobile/Cadillac vehicles at our show, so you get a nice mix.

Next up was the Father's Day show in a small town north of us called Lexington. We have used the town and it's lake front city park as a destination for several of our club's Fall Color Tours. There's an A&W there, and they have a nice deep grass lot, and host cruise nights during the summer, and this Father's Day show. Far enough from home that you get to see some different cars than usual.











1965....my favorite year of this generation.

[DynoDave]

This is all one Pontiac family, and members of our club. Fun running into them at a show 1.5 hrs. from home.

[DynoDave]

[DynoDave]

[DynoDave]

Smallish show, and all 4 generations of Firebird are present!

[DynoDave]

[MP81]

Ah yes, I'm familiar with Lexington - a friend of the family had two "cottages" (they were very large houses)...next to each other, right on Huron. Used to go there often as a kid.

[DynoDave]

Then we were into the week long 54th Annual Pontiac Oakland Club International Conventional. This year celebrated the 100th anniversary of Pontiac Motor Division, and was held in it's home town of Pontiac, Michigan.

As a week long event, there's a lot to cover, so it will take me a few days.

Host hotel check-in lobby contained a first year of production 1926 Pontiac, and a last year of production Pontiac G6, which is actually THE last Pontiac made.



The city of Pontiac, which like a lot of industrial cities tied to a particular plant or brand, has suffered greatly since the demise of PMD. It has seen some resurgence since being put under state management / state declared financial emergency (unpleasant but probably necessary). You can read more about that HERE

The past year has been particularly promising, with the demolition of an abandoned complex at the heart of it's down town area, and new construction, which is spurring other investment and renewal. Under their newly elected mayor, there is renewed support for activities like the Pontiac Transportation Museum (main organizer of this years convention in association with the 3 Michigan state POCI chapters), and this convention. They spent some funds decorating the down town area, providing police, closing streets, allowing a parade, etc. Good to see the support and appreciation for the cities history.




Convention goers started rolling into town on day one, and it wasn't hard to find the main hotel entrance.



Chapters were encouraged to set up displays, and there were two conference rooms full of them. This is ours, followed by a few others. There were awards for best display, but we did not win one.







The GM Men's Club (showing me age and years at GM...they don't call it that anymore, but I can't remember what they DO call it these days) had a display as well, with lots of items for sale. Business was brisk.



Event check-in was also in one of these rooms. Orderly and efficient, got all of your registration info., maps, schedules, good bag and pre-purchased merch in one stop. Nicely done.



Volunteers could be easily spotted in their orange shirts, and they were everywhere. It's impossible to run an event this size without them.


x

[DynoDave]

Most days had several presentations by guest speakers.



Here, long time Detroit photographer Jim Secreto tells the audience about photography and advertising (especially Pontiac) in Detroit and the auto industry.






He even brought a few original Fitz & Van ads with him from his collection. Fun stuff if you enjoy automotive history in general, and Pontiac history in particular.




Other presentations included panel of 7 (?) GM designers had spent time in Pontiac design studios, the last Fiero Plant manager (which, when it closed was the end of production of car on the 1 sq. mile + Pontiac compound), and past Pontiac General Manager John Middlebrook. Pontiac Transportation Museum B.O.D. Chairman Terry Connolly also had a presentation at the Museum. All very entertaining, and seminars you would be hard pressed to find anywhere else.

Indoor swap meet...



...and a little outdoors too...




Every day had a full schedule, including some great bus tours to some fantastic locations.

[DynoDave]

Gary Cummings arrives at the host hotel in his 1937 Pontiac. Seattle, WA to Pontiac, MI, drove all the way. The story was very popular on social media. Maybe you saw it?

83-year-old drives 1937 Pontiac from Seattle to Pontiac for centennial celebration








And of course, the hotel parking lot becomes a mini-show all in itself. I know other national car clubs that have had their conventions at this same hotel, and the parking lot IS the show. But POCI had something much grander in store for the 100th anniversary.






Hard to capture in a photo, but the blue stripe just jumped off the car in direct sunlight.

[DynoDave]

More later....

[DynoDave]

Here are some more photos from the convention.

This car was very interesting to me, and very well done. Whether it is to your taste or not, each must decide. But an impressive custom in my book. 1st gen, custom grill, spoilers, ground effects, shaker treatment on custom 4th gen themed hood, shaved, wheels/tires, t-top roof, C3 Corvette instrument panel, the whole interior really, beautiful paint, ....just a ton of work everywhere you looked.









More happy volunteers from a hosting chapter, keeping truck and trailers parking in the right places.



This vendor has some parts a co-worker is looking for. Was happy to pass along his contact info.



A few more in the parking lot...lots of Goats!



One of the evening events held in downtown Pontiac was at a 20's vintage bank building called The Treasury. With the manager's permission/escort, here I'm on the send floor looking through an oval opening down onto the first floor.



This shot from another set of stairs...

[DynoDave]

Behind me going up those stairs a half-story is the bank managers office. The window on the right looks back out over the bank.



The window on the left looks out on the street below (here with an early Oakland at the curb, and a presentation about this history of Pontiac, and the street which was once part of the native American Saginaw Trail which tied what would become Detroit with what would become Saginaw, long before either existed.



Back inside, a nice live performance that got some folks up and dancing (not me...DD doesn't dance).



The manager also allowed us to tour the basement, where this nice bar and lounge area is....




...and the original bank vault.





They have the inside of the vault set up for small events, magic shows, small weddings, etc.



Obviously, if you are in from out of town, aside from bus tours, you are getting everywhere you go by classic Pontiac, GMC or Oakland. It was a fun week of seeing these cars roaming the street of Oakland County.

[DynoDave]

This is a little out of order, as I could not find these photos right off (though I knew I took them). Here is the seminar with the 8 GM designers. Many of you here will recognize John Schinella (far right having a sip of water) and Bill Davis to John's right...they have been to many Firebird related events over the last few years. I've been fortunate to speak to them both on several occasions....they could not be nicer. John signed the underhood are of our car, both posed for pictures with my son and I at the T/A Nationals a few years ago. Bill even gave us a literal shout-out as we were leaving the Tipp city cruise, as he was/is a big fan of the monochromatic look, and he loved the red PW7 wheels with our red car. Coming from one of the studio designers, that's a compliment I'll take any day!




A few of the many photos in their slide show.






And what to say about this man...Dimitrie Toth. GM's longest tenured employee IIRC, still working at the Pontiac site to this day (now GM Propulsion Systems). He Dad worked there as well, and he has stories going back to the '50s. A walking encyclopedia and sharp as a tack. Very generous with his time, and wonderful to talk to. POCI members will know him from his stories in every issue of the club magazine for many years. I enjoyed listening to him and talking to him on several occasions during the convention. You'll also find many stories online featuring him, like this one on the Ram Air V engine.

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/pon...e-car-history/

The convention parade started at this building, a story which Dimitrie clarified some information on.

https://www.pontiacv8.com/blog/2018/...ation-building

That's an aerial photograph of the mile + square Pontiac site c1979.





There was a Firebird drive down Woodward organized by one of our local chapter members (I was not able to be present and photograph it). Other's ventured out to Woodward on their own.

[DynoDave]

There was also the above mentioned Parade through downtown, which I also was not able to capture. Here's an online photo.



More photos tomorrow from the convention outdoor and indoor car shows.