Poci 2015: All Roads Atomic Number 82 To Pontiacs
Road trip! A journeying to the 43rd Annual POCI (Pontiac Oakland Club International) Convention inwards Louisville, Kentucky, along amongst a detour to Indianapolis, turned into the ultimate Junkyard Life adventure! I didn’t genuinely mean value that all of the stars would describe upwardly inwards our favor, but they did, somehow. The Junkyard Life crew planned on taking 2 cars to the huge Pontiac automobile show, along amongst a large truck to haul dorsum whatsoever greasy goodies that nosotros mightiness notice at swap meets or junkyards inwards our path.
Anthony Powell prepared his 1979 Pontiac Grand Prix SJ, every bit I worked on my Colonnade-era Grand Prix, for what turned out to live a 1,000-mile circular trip from Alabama to Indy via Louisville. We jammed for weeks on our Pontiacs to encounter the July deadline. Working until the witching hr of the trip.
Success! Well, almost.
Success! Well, almost.
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| Ron Kidd inspects a leaking fuel tank on his 1973 Pontiac Grand Prix – at 3 a.m. on deviation day. |
Puddle of petrol when its fourth dimension to roll
Day one, at zip dark thirty, started a trivial sad. Valencia, my 1973 Grand Prix SJ, decided that she didn’t desire to go. Unfortunately, she has a leaking fuel tank that acts out when the tank is completely full. I learned this at 3 a.m. amongst a total tank of gas, at the exact fourth dimension that nosotros were scheduled to leave. We opted to non peril driving into unthinkable possibilities. The SJ Hindenburg was grounded. I alternated riding inwards the shotgun spot of Jody’s truck as well as Anthony’s GP. H5N1 rocky start, but afterward inwards the trip, the bad luck turned around.
Big programme gets bigger, better
A calendar week prior to the POCI trip, our telephone rings as well as it is Junkyard Life affiliate as well as long-separated brother, Scott Scheel. Scott, president of the Indy Firebird social club as well as coordinator of numerous Pontiac events, offers us the peril of a lifetime. We were invited to accept luncheon amongst legendary Pontiac designer Bill Porter earlier his POCI presentation. Us? With Bill Porter? The guy who basically penned the iconic 1968 GTO as well as the 2nd generation Firebirds/Trans Ams that nosotros are addicted to?
That, sir, is a solid “Yes”. There was non plenty yes-ness inwards the give-and-take “yes” to limited the yep value of our yes. We had to acquire to Louisville, no thing what.
That, sir, is a solid “Yes”. There was non plenty yes-ness inwards the give-and-take “yes” to limited the yep value of our yes. We had to acquire to Louisville, no thing what.
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| Junkyard Life was invited to luncheon amongst Pontiac designers, Bill Porter as well as David McIntosh. From left, Ron Kidd, David McIntosh, Bill Porter, as well as Anthony Powell hash out all things Pontiac. |
We arrived inwards Louisville without trouble, other than my driveway total of premium fuel dorsum inwards Alabama. I would state that nosotros walked straight into the hotel eating theatre as well as Scott introduced us to Bill Porter. That sounds also easy, but it was just that.
H5N1 really squeamish gentleman extended his hand, as well as said, “Hi, I’m Bill.” He was a humble, soft spoken human being who spoke amongst us every bit equals. Hopefully, nosotros appeared to live friends, as well as boyfriend enthusiast, non the giggling schoolhouse girls that nosotros felt like.
During luncheon amongst Bill Porter, nosotros were introduced to one-time Pontiac/GM senior designer, David McIntosh, who was instrumental inwards the evolution of the 1978 Grand Prix.
McIntosh discussed his blueprint piece of job on Pontiacs during a presentation that ended simply earlier nosotros arrived inwards Louisville. We had a lot to inquire him for sure. (Still kicking ourselves for non leaving Alabama at 2 a.m. instead of 3:30 a.m.)
To exceed it off, noted Pontiac Trans Am collector, as well as possessor of to a greater extent than than fourscore running T/As, Steve Hamilton, also shared our tabular array for lunch. The planning wheels were already inwards displace for a trip to take in his collection inwards Indiana.
We all ate as well as talked Pontiacs. It was a perfect trip as well as this was simply the starting fourth dimension hr after nosotros arrived at the POCI show. Scott’s woman nurture as well as Grandmother were also at the lunch. They signed papers to adopt us, so on nosotros went to Bill Porter’s presentation every bit i big, happy, Pontiac family.
H5N1 really squeamish gentleman extended his hand, as well as said, “Hi, I’m Bill.” He was a humble, soft spoken human being who spoke amongst us every bit equals. Hopefully, nosotros appeared to live friends, as well as boyfriend enthusiast, non the giggling schoolhouse girls that nosotros felt like.
During luncheon amongst Bill Porter, nosotros were introduced to one-time Pontiac/GM senior designer, David McIntosh, who was instrumental inwards the evolution of the 1978 Grand Prix.
McIntosh discussed his blueprint piece of job on Pontiacs during a presentation that ended simply earlier nosotros arrived inwards Louisville. We had a lot to inquire him for sure. (Still kicking ourselves for non leaving Alabama at 2 a.m. instead of 3:30 a.m.)
To exceed it off, noted Pontiac Trans Am collector, as well as possessor of to a greater extent than than fourscore running T/As, Steve Hamilton, also shared our tabular array for lunch. The planning wheels were already inwards displace for a trip to take in his collection inwards Indiana.
We all ate as well as talked Pontiacs. It was a perfect trip as well as this was simply the starting fourth dimension hr after nosotros arrived at the POCI show. Scott’s woman nurture as well as Grandmother were also at the lunch. They signed papers to adopt us, so on nosotros went to Bill Porter’s presentation every bit i big, happy, Pontiac family.
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| Bill Porter, automotive designer amongst GM, was instrumental inwards the evolution of the 1968 Pontiac GTO as well as 1970 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. |
Pontiac cadavers
Bill Porter’s detailed presentation was total of swell Pontiac memories as well as facts. We learned a lot as well as the whole twenty-four hours simply seemed surreal. It felt similar nosotros simply walked into Pontiac Studios as well as were a component subdivision of history.
Quote of the day, from Porter to us, “Thank yous guys for taking tending of my cadavers.” After speaking to a throng of POCI attendees, Porter signed some of my Pontiac advertising. My walls at habitation volition live a trivial to a greater extent than particular amongst those framed mementos.
Thank you, Bill. We volition never forget that day.
Show time
High octane fun continued exterior the POCI convention hotel, every bit nosotros strolled amid several Safari Wagons, GTOs, Firebirds, Grand Prixs, Grandville’s, LeMans, as well as so much more. There was also a Pontiac swap meet, as well as this was exclusively the starting fourth dimension day. What else tin compare to this?
Dinner as well as a Firebird
Remember the cite of my bad luck resulting inwards my non driving my 1973 Grand Prix? Well, that nighttime our brother, Scott Scheel, shows upwardly for dinner inwards a beautiful, Admiralty Blue 1973 Firebird Formula. Scott felt bad that my ’73 didn’t brand the trip, so he offered, almost insisted, that “The Admiral” live my trend of shipping for the adjacent 24 hours.
I wondered how he managed that, because he drove to Louisville from his habitation inwards Indianapolis inwards a beautiful 1974 Grand Prix SJ. It was hard to drive a classic Formula as well as experience bad that my Grand Prix didn’t brand it. I survived!
Drag racing Ponchos
I don’t fifty-fifty recall which nighttime nosotros went to the Ohio Valley Dragway as well as enjoyed a nighttime of racing. There were a few unlike classes. The staging lanes were heavy on Pontiacs due to the POCI show. I prefer heads-up to anything. It must accept been the starting fourth dimension night, because a local racer, driving a 1973 LeMans, noticed that nosotros were amongst the large Pontiac contingent. He told us about a 1977 Grand Prix inwards a preserve yard dorsum inwards Louisville. Naturally, that was our starting fourth dimension halt the adjacent day.
Day 2: Pontiac in a junkyard
Day 2 began when the preserve yard opened. The Junkyard Life crew, consisting of Anthony, Scott, Jody, as well as myself, had a Grand time. So to speak. Scott genuinely went habitation amongst some of that Grand time. The Starlight Black ’77 GP had a few parts that Scott couldn’t travel out without.
Finger-licking food
After a 2-hour junkyard jaunt, the crew zipped dorsum to the hotel for the Grand Prix Chapter of Pontiac Oakland Club meeting. H5N1 coming together sounds boring, but they were talking nearly Grand Prixs as well as route trips. I genuinely became a social club fellow member as well as hold back frontward to hanging amongst these guys inwards the future. We joined them for “The Road Warrior” cruise amongst several Pontiacs to Claudia Sanders Dinner House inwards Shelbyville, Kentucky. Founded yesteryear Colonel Harland Sander, of KFC fame, as well as his wife, the beautiful, equestrian-themed eating theatre has wonderful nutrient inwards a southern setting.
Day 3 - Part I: Really large show
Day iii industrial plant life us at the Kentucky Exposition Center knee articulation deep inwards squeamish Pontiacs. The cars did non disappoint. Incredible survivors as well as concours restorations covered the place. Rare combos as well as every Pontiac imaginable was represented.
Our cameras were on overload. I heard some complaints that the lighting was “too good,” or perhaps created a reflective dry reason that made it hard to photograph cars without spots. I loved it. It created an “autorama” number inwards our photos that I appreciated.
Day iii exclusively got better. It was fourth dimension to caput home, right? Or… or, nosotros could become farther northward into Indiana for to a greater extent than Pontiac fun?
Day 3 - Part II: Trans Am epicenter
Thanks to Scott Scheel, Junkyard Life was invited to tour the Steve Hamilton’s mortal Firebird/Trans Am collection. Since I was the stowaway without wheels inwards Louisville, I got to ride amongst Scott inwards i of my dream cars… his 1974 Grand Prix SJ amongst a 455 as well as a tachometer. Good stuff.
Steve Hamilton got fleck yesteryear a Bird a long fourth dimension ago, as well as he never got over it. He has the largest Bird’s nest nosotros accept e'er seen. We all ain Firebirds. We all ain to a greater extent than than i Bird. But, if yous lay all of our Birds together, it would non amount to a fraction of this collection.
Despite our drooling problems, Hamilton permit our motley crew into his Bird’s nest amongst cameras. I can’t get to depict the adjacent 2 hours. Formulas, Trans Ams, Birds amongst birds on the hood, Birds without birds on their hood, 4-speeds, 5-speeds, 6-speeds, Super Duties. All our favorite editions, Honeycombs , Snowflakes, they were all present. We genuinely couldn’t believe our eyes.
So many combos
As luck would accept it, Jody is debating what color combo to become amongst on his 1970 Formula 400, as well as this Firebird overload didn’t help. He wanted them all. Imagine mentioning a color combination as well as Mr. Hamilton pointing to one. I am experiencing some grade of writer’s block trying to fifty-fifty tell yous my favorite. That is impossible. I would accept to become exceed ten. Only, that is impossible too. I accept a poster of the 1976 Goldenrod Yellow Formula advertisement. Hamilton had an actual ’76 W-50 Formula inwards yellow. He wins!
This was yet some other experience that nosotros volition never forget. H5N1 heartfelt “Thank You” goes out, from us, to Mr. Hamilton. We regained our composure plenty after the Trans Am tour to realize that nosotros had pushed dinner belatedly into inwards the evening. We were lucky to notice a eating theatre even so open, as well as lucky that Mr. Hamilton joined us for to a greater extent than Pontiac conversation. H5N1 swell fourth dimension indeed!
End of the road
Day iii ended at Scott’s describe solid where nosotros partied every bit much every bit iv exhausted Pontiac nuts could. I slept inwards a room amongst over 2000 LP records. Beneath me was Scott’s vast Pontiac collection. It was Ron Kidd overload. I wondered if I had died, as well as if this is what Heaven would live like?
The adjacent twenty-four hours nosotros headed dorsum to Alabama wondering if nosotros simply dreamed that whole weekend? Thank you, Scott. We had a swell fourth dimension as well as hold back frontward to adjacent year. We double domestic dog dare yous to attempt to exceed that!
Ron Kidd
—Junkyard Life
Know a junkyard that nosotros take away to visit? Tips for our projects?
Send emails to Jody Potter at junkyardbull@gmail.com or Ron Kidd at Kidd403@bellsouth.net.
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| Bill Porter, one-time Chief of GM’s Advanced Design Studio, covered his blueprint career as well as the many high profile, working relationships, which included Harley Earl, Bill Mitchell as well as John DeLorean. |
Quote of the day, from Porter to us, “Thank yous guys for taking tending of my cadavers.” After speaking to a throng of POCI attendees, Porter signed some of my Pontiac advertising. My walls at habitation volition live a trivial to a greater extent than particular amongst those framed mementos.
Thank you, Bill. We volition never forget that day.
 |
| Ron Kidd is all smiles every bit he poses amongst his autographed 1968 Pontiac advertisement, courtesy of Bill Porter. |
High octane fun continued exterior the POCI convention hotel, every bit nosotros strolled amid several Safari Wagons, GTOs, Firebirds, Grand Prixs, Grandville’s, LeMans, as well as so much more. There was also a Pontiac swap meet, as well as this was exclusively the starting fourth dimension day. What else tin compare to this?
 |
| Ron Kidd behind the bicycle of a 1973 Pontiac Firebird Formula. |
Dinner as well as a Firebird
Remember the cite of my bad luck resulting inwards my non driving my 1973 Grand Prix? Well, that nighttime our brother, Scott Scheel, shows upwardly for dinner inwards a beautiful, Admiralty Blue 1973 Firebird Formula. Scott felt bad that my ’73 didn’t brand the trip, so he offered, almost insisted, that “The Admiral” live my trend of shipping for the adjacent 24 hours.
I wondered how he managed that, because he drove to Louisville from his habitation inwards Indianapolis inwards a beautiful 1974 Grand Prix SJ. It was hard to drive a classic Formula as well as experience bad that my Grand Prix didn’t brand it. I survived!
 |
| Bill Porter knew that functional twin scoops, used on the Formula hood, were proven to work, as well as improve suited to the Trans Am, instead of the backward-facing shaker hood scoop that Pontiac used on the T/As. |
Drag racing Ponchos
I don’t fifty-fifty recall which nighttime nosotros went to the Ohio Valley Dragway as well as enjoyed a nighttime of racing. There were a few unlike classes. The staging lanes were heavy on Pontiacs due to the POCI show. I prefer heads-up to anything. It must accept been the starting fourth dimension night, because a local racer, driving a 1973 LeMans, noticed that nosotros were amongst the large Pontiac contingent. He told us about a 1977 Grand Prix inwards a preserve yard dorsum inwards Louisville. Naturally, that was our starting fourth dimension halt the adjacent day.
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| Pontiacs could live industrial plant life all over Kentucky, including the nearest drag strip, during the 2015 POCI show. This 1957 Chieftain gasser carries the Pontiac banner proudly. |
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| Pontiacs racing, 30 miles southward of the POCI demo inwards Louisville, at the Ohio Valley Dragway. The ’57 Poncho bests the ’67 Firebird at the line. |
Day 2: Pontiac in a junkyard
Day 2 began when the preserve yard opened. The Junkyard Life crew, consisting of Anthony, Scott, Jody, as well as myself, had a Grand time. So to speak. Scott genuinely went habitation amongst some of that Grand time. The Starlight Black ’77 GP had a few parts that Scott couldn’t travel out without.
 |
| Junkyard Life inwards our best "Grease" pose. Left to right, Jody Potter, Ron Kidd (waving), Scott Scheel, as well as Anthony Powell. |
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| The 1977 Pontiac Grand Prix donated its roof to a recent parts puller. The SRI yard had several older vehicles inwards stock. |
Finger-licking food
After a 2-hour junkyard jaunt, the crew zipped dorsum to the hotel for the Grand Prix Chapter of Pontiac Oakland Club meeting. H5N1 coming together sounds boring, but they were talking nearly Grand Prixs as well as route trips. I genuinely became a social club fellow member as well as hold back frontward to hanging amongst these guys inwards the future. We joined them for “The Road Warrior” cruise amongst several Pontiacs to Claudia Sanders Dinner House inwards Shelbyville, Kentucky. Founded yesteryear Colonel Harland Sander, of KFC fame, as well as his wife, the beautiful, equestrian-themed eating theatre has wonderful nutrient inwards a southern setting.
 |
| A 1966 Pontiac Grand Prix, component subdivision of the POCI Road Warriors cruise, industrial plant life a parking spot inwards front end of Claudia Sanders Dinner House inwards Shelbyville, Kentucky. |
Day 3 - Part I: Really large show
Day iii industrial plant life us at the Kentucky Exposition Center knee articulation deep inwards squeamish Pontiacs. The cars did non disappoint. Incredible survivors as well as concours restorations covered the place. Rare combos as well as every Pontiac imaginable was represented.
Our cameras were on overload. I heard some complaints that the lighting was “too good,” or perhaps created a reflective dry reason that made it hard to photograph cars without spots. I loved it. It created an “autorama” number inwards our photos that I appreciated.
Day iii exclusively got better. It was fourth dimension to caput home, right? Or… or, nosotros could become farther northward into Indiana for to a greater extent than Pontiac fun?
 |
| Big Pontiacs, small-scale Pontiacs as well as everything inwards betwixt could live industrial plant life at the 2015 POCI demo inwards Louisville. Above, a 1957 Pontiac carriage commands attention. |
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| Two 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge convertibles, both inwards black. One features a white top, the other a dark top. |
Day 3 - Part II: Trans Am epicenter
Thanks to Scott Scheel, Junkyard Life was invited to tour the Steve Hamilton’s mortal Firebird/Trans Am collection. Since I was the stowaway without wheels inwards Louisville, I got to ride amongst Scott inwards i of my dream cars… his 1974 Grand Prix SJ amongst a 455 as well as a tachometer. Good stuff.
Steve Hamilton got fleck yesteryear a Bird a long fourth dimension ago, as well as he never got over it. He has the largest Bird’s nest nosotros accept e'er seen. We all ain Firebirds. We all ain to a greater extent than than i Bird. But, if yous lay all of our Birds together, it would non amount to a fraction of this collection.
Despite our drooling problems, Hamilton permit our motley crew into his Bird’s nest amongst cameras. I can’t get to depict the adjacent 2 hours. Formulas, Trans Ams, Birds amongst birds on the hood, Birds without birds on their hood, 4-speeds, 5-speeds, 6-speeds, Super Duties. All our favorite editions, Honeycombs , Snowflakes, they were all present. We genuinely couldn’t believe our eyes.
 |
| Steve Hamilton, tertiary from right, has a really large collection of running Pontiac Trans Ams, perchance the largest inwards the world. Hamilton graciously gave us a excellent tour. Details volition presently live featured on the site. |
So many combos
As luck would accept it, Jody is debating what color combo to become amongst on his 1970 Formula 400, as well as this Firebird overload didn’t help. He wanted them all. Imagine mentioning a color combination as well as Mr. Hamilton pointing to one. I am experiencing some grade of writer’s block trying to fifty-fifty tell yous my favorite. That is impossible. I would accept to become exceed ten. Only, that is impossible too. I accept a poster of the 1976 Goldenrod Yellow Formula advertisement. Hamilton had an actual ’76 W-50 Formula inwards yellow. He wins!
This was yet some other experience that nosotros volition never forget. H5N1 heartfelt “Thank You” goes out, from us, to Mr. Hamilton. We regained our composure plenty after the Trans Am tour to realize that nosotros had pushed dinner belatedly into inwards the evening. We were lucky to notice a eating theatre even so open, as well as lucky that Mr. Hamilton joined us for to a greater extent than Pontiac conversation. H5N1 swell fourth dimension indeed!
 |
| Junkyard brothers unite inwards Louisville at the pull-your-own parts yard. Powell, Kidd, Scheel, as well as Potter. |
End of the road
Day iii ended at Scott’s describe solid where nosotros partied every bit much every bit iv exhausted Pontiac nuts could. I slept inwards a room amongst over 2000 LP records. Beneath me was Scott’s vast Pontiac collection. It was Ron Kidd overload. I wondered if I had died, as well as if this is what Heaven would live like?
The adjacent twenty-four hours nosotros headed dorsum to Alabama wondering if nosotros simply dreamed that whole weekend? Thank you, Scott. We had a swell fourth dimension as well as hold back frontward to adjacent year. We double domestic dog dare yous to attempt to exceed that!
Ron Kidd
—Junkyard Life
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| Former GM designer, David McIntosh, left, gets a closer hold back at Anthony Powell’s 1979 Grand Prix. McIntosh’s designs were featured on the Grand Prix redesign inwards 1978. |
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| POCI route trip characters grabbing BBQ inwards Louisville at Mark’s Feed Store Bar-B-Q. (left-to-right) Potter, Kidd, Scheel, Powell, as well as Hamilton. |
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| The 2015 POCI demo route trip wouldn’t accept been the same without the camaraderie of junkyard friends. Get out there, enjoy, as well as create something! |
Know a junkyard that nosotros take away to visit? Tips for our projects?
Send emails to Jody Potter at junkyardbull@gmail.com or Ron Kidd at Kidd403@bellsouth.net.