Gaylord/Otsego Chamber
101 West Main
P.O. Box 513
Gaylord, MI 49734
Phone: (989) 732-6333
Phone: (800) 345-8621
Fax: (989) 732-7990
Contact us via email:
GAYLORD — September 12, 2007, by James Martinez, Staff Writer, Gaylord Herald Times
A few years short of its centennial anniversary, the historic Gaylord 30 car is under repair but expected back for the Alpenfest Parade next year.
The Gaylord/Otsego County Chamber of Commerce has allocated $5,000 to repair the 1911 car, which, due to engine problems, missed the Alpenfest parade this year for the first time since the early 1980s when the chamber purchased the vehicle.
“The Chamber Board of Directors feels obligated to preserve and maintain that vehicle,” said chamber Executive Director Bob Kasprzak referring to the Gaylord 30, which was built by the now defunct Gaylord Motor Company, which produced about 350 cars from 1911 to 1913.
Kasprzak and Lyle McLachlan of Totally T’s in Gaylord have sent parts to car restoration expert Tom Graham of East Jordan after the car experienced problems with the driveline, which includes the rear axle, motor and transmission. Much of the car, however, remains on display at the chamber’s Information Center where a poster will chart the restoration process.
“There’s a lot of things that need to be fixed all the way through it. We have $5,000 so we can’t make it completely road worthy, but we can get it up and running for the parade — we hope,” said McLachlan, who noted more money may be needed to complete the repairs.
McLachlan owns Totally T’s, which specializes in parts for Model Ts, and has helped work on the Gaylord 30 to keep it running for the Alpenfest Parade over the years. Both McLachlan and Kasprzak, who also is a car-restoration enthusiast, are providing their time free of charge. Graham is being paid for his work on the parts. According to Kasprzak, they worked on the car in order to get the parts to Graham, who is expected to evaluate the parts in the near future.
“At that point we’ll make an evaluation of what we can afford,” said Kasprzak, noting donations of manpower or additional funding would be welcome.
Kasprzak and McLachlan intend to put the car back together after Graham’s work is complete.
A more detailed history of the Gaylord 30 is available at the chamber’s Web site at www.gaylord
chamber.com/.
Anyone interested in donating to the effort may call Kasprzak at 732-6333.
