The 2022 BCA National Meet was held in Lisle, Illinois last week. I arrived late in the week, but was pleased to spend time with a lot of our 65 GS friends. Those attending from our group included Loren and Roxy Alexander (from Nebraska), Kevin and Angie Champagne (from Ohio), Glenn and Bonnie Vinz (from Indiana), Dan Ankeney (from Florida), Milton Dale (from Minnesota), Bill Lahner (from Iowa), Jon Thompson (from Wisconsin) and me (Chuck Miller from Michigan). The last time most of this group had been together was the 2017 Nationals in Brookfield, Wisconsin. So it was great to be together again, talk Buicks and catch up on life in general. Four of us took cars to be displayed and judged and received awards. Milton received a Gold award for his 65 GS that came home to him from paint six days before judging. It was quite an accomplishment to have gotten the car together in that short time! Glenn received a Senior Preservation award after receiving the Senior Gold award in 2017. This is very deserved respect for his car that is meticulously maintained and always shows well. Bill received an Archival Elite award after his 2017 Archival award. Bill’s is another 65 GS that shows well. My car, the Verde Howitzer, received a Senior Gold award in its first BCA showing. Pictures of the cars and winners with their awards are attached.
Of course, it’s always fun to win an award, but these were achieved under very adverse conditions. After nothing but sunshine and hot weather earlier in the week, the skies opened up yesterday morning just as judging began. The judges finished their tasks in record time while dodging raindrops. In the early afternoon, shortly after I got my soaking wet car into the trailer, the rain stopped and the sun came out. So the afternoon activity was wiping down all the wet cars and providing opportunity to view all the other cool cars on display. Pictures of a couple of Skylarks on display are also attached.
Many thanks to those that came from different corners of our country to be together. And special thanks to Loren for his continuous efforts to keep this group together while promoting the 65 GS!
