Cadillac parts seems to melting away year by year… good and compleet project cars are almost not existing. Shortly we will have a time we can choose between the restored $$$$ cars, and the empty relics who where used as a parts donor.

These times you can find more parts “in your PC” then in Hershey… but the fun, atmosphere and camaraderie the Hershey fall meet brings is nowhere else so high as here. CLC members from all over Europe appeared in the clubtent for a car talk and hot coffee.

The full story go’s to all the Cadillac La Salle club affiliates in Europe.
Sign up as a member in your country, get the magazines, make new friends… and maybe we see you during the 2006 Cadillac Grand European in Belgium, Zeebrugge 1, 2 and 3 Sept.

Watch out when watching these pict’s: your feets will get wet… because water leaks out your PC…

Dirk Van Dorst for the CLC in Europe

A few days ahead of the event, the weather forecast looked rosy, but with only one day to go “unsettled” weather was forecast for that particular Sunday. Indeed, there were lots of low clouds and a gloomy drizzle when I set off on Sunday morning 8:00 AM to Grobbendonk, about 90 miles from my place. Due to the wet conditions, I opted to not take Pauline, the 1967 Convertible, but rather Louise, the 1959 Coupe.

With the newly installed fan clutch she should remain pretty cool throughout the journey. She did a healthy 75 to 80 mph on the freeway, which was corroborated by the portable GPS I had with me. Even with the slightly larger than original P235/75R15 tires, the speedometer is very accurate. (Maybe it was actually less accurate with original tire size). The temp gauge needle stayed neatly between the 1/4 and 1/2 mark, even after 1.5 hours of driving. Good.

The more I approached my destination, the more the skies cleared. By the time I had arrived, it was warm and a bit cloudy. But there were also traces of sunshine and conditions would improve as the day wore on. Upon arrival at the meeting point — a local hotel with a big parking lot — I immediately saw this was going to be a splendid day. A lot of Cadillacs were already parked in the lot and Louise graciously moored along the other land yachts. One hour and a breakfast later we started the first leg of our trip, a signposted cruise through “De Kempen”, the green part of Northern Belgium and through Southern Holland.

A bit after midday it was time to stop at the house of Gert Verberk. Some of you may remember Gert as the “Eldorado Snatcher”. His Cadillac Eldorado collection started with a 1959 Eldorado Biarritz and a 1953 Eldorado, but soon it would be expanded. Two years ago he purchased a 1958 Eldorado Biarritz in California. Shortly thereafter he also acquired a red 1954 Eldorado, the same one that had initially been found by Jeff Stork for another Belgian, also in SoCal. And only this summer a green 1956 Eldorado Biarritz and a white 1957 Eldorado Biarritz arrived at the Verberk residence. He missed out on a deal with a 1955 Eldorado Biarritz. So if any of you guys know of a very nice ‘55 Biarritz for sale, do not hesitate to get in touch with me or Dirk Van Dorst, and we’ll pass on the information to Gert.

Although I had been in Gert’s garage before, I was once again in awe when I saw all those cars lined up. Surrounded by batwing aircleaners, tri-power and dual-quad setup, I could only marvel at all those nice toys. Dirk, trying to keep the driving tour on schedule, literally had to drive us out of the garage and into Gert’s garden. By that time the weather had become very nice and we could all enjoy champagne in the beautiful surroundings of the landscaped garden.

Unfortunately, I had another appointment later that afternoon in Bruges, so I could not participate in the second leg of the driving tour. But still I had thoroughly enjoyed the day with other Cadillac aficionados.

On the way home I noticed to my bewilderment that the temp gauge needle would move up all the way to the 1/2 mark. How could that be possible? Well, after a while I realized I still had the “rally plate” attached to the car’s grille. I stopped at a layby, removed the plate and now Louise stayed “cool” again.

Regards,
Rik

(c) Copyright 2005 Rik Gruwez
Picture albums:
www.classic-cadillac.com/gallery/album248
www.libertysoftware.be/eldoschampagne
www.kapperludo.com/gallery/album04

See the Golden Oldies site for more infos: http://www.golden-oldies.de/

Enjoy the pict’s,
Dirk Van Dorst
Belgium

This weekend sat/sun the “circuit d’ardennes” (French speaking Belgium mountain side ) will be held again. Open for cars and motorcycles pre 1900 (!) till 1970.

Saturday the oldest “machines” take there start… everything made before 1900 starts @ 8 am… and every hour another decade takes a starts… @ 9 am from 19.00 to 1918….. Sunday the junger cars take a start.

The rally takes place in Bastogne , where still manny traces of WW2 can be found.
Big forests and empty roads in this area , a paradise for everybody who loves the road (no police, no speedguns, no speedbumps…)

Our Belgium CLC member René Verbist who owns several antique caddy’s took a start in he’s 1904 cadillac, together whit he’s wife. Typical for this area is the “gray sky”…..full of soft continusly rain (like fog )… not ideal for driving without a windshield , conv. top or anny protection at all…
Just as on a motorcycle, your cloths are the body… plastic jackets, boots…

It was fun to drive behind the 04 cad… uphill you are faster by foot… downhill the fun starts (if you don’t have to brake). Ever see a 1904 cad and a Bugatti racing downhill ???
The 04 cad finished the rally (it’s a non competitive rally) whit just one nut lost… the driver side rr splash gard was almost falling off… but René got a whole assortiment of bolts/nuts and metal wire whit him.

This is the kind of rally without lady’s on high heels… but the one whit much smoke and noise… rusty and original examples that are showing the wear of time, and car guy’s in old leather cloths… also showing the wear of time.

Enjoy the pict’s, next will be the Vasteras “Power big meet” in Sweden.
Dirk Van Dorst

Note: The photoalbum of this meeting can be found here.
Author of this article is Dirk van Dorst. Thanks for allowing us to post your article here.

Those who were there, are still talking about it… And those who couldn’t make it, can still enjoy the stunning DVD that has been produced of this first-time event.

We are, of course, talking about the Kremsmünster Cadillac meeting in Austria!
Last year, all our hopes and dreams have been surpassed by the wonderful reality, when dozens upon dozens of fantastic Cadillacs, fully restored or all-original, old and new alike, came to visit the Kremsegg Castle.

We noticed hundreds of visitors from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, but equally from Western Europe, from down South and even Eastern European visitors ! Once again, this proves the need for an international European Cadillac Meeting…

But the big day will be Sunday 28th when Cadillacs of all ages meet in the Park of the Kremsegg Castle. All years are welcome ! There will be a separate VIP parking place on the event area for all visitors arriving with other American cars.
This proves to become a very exciting show, also because more Cadillac collectors will be present, as well as the participation of the Cadillac clubs from several surrounding countries has been guaranteed.
As if that doesn’t provide enough excitement, Auto Günther from Linz will show the most recent Cadillac models.

Kremsmünster is located about 30km southwest of Linz, Austria.
Full information and tempting pictures can be found on our Cadillac Meeting website :
http://www.cadillac-meeting.com
But feel free to contact us personally for more information (davy.borghys@pandora.be )
Still need extra incentive to visit this wonderful meeting?

Simply order the DVD from last year’s event, check the website for more information!

We look forward to seeing you (again) at the ‘European Cadillac meeting ‘ !

Excellent weather has already been ordered. You won’t regret it…

Davy Borghys from Belgium

Organisation team :
Gerald Loidl, Georg Pfeiffer and Wolfgang Sonnleitner from Austria

Homepage: http://www.cadillac-meeting.com/
Pictures of the 2004 meeting are also available in your gallery.