2025   Bowling Green, Kentucky

Minutes - Toronado and Aurora Chapter Meeting

OCA National Meet - Bowling Green, Kentucky  -  July 18, 2025

Meeting called to order by Bill Crockett to order at 3:05 p.m. 

After welcoming all present, Bill read Paul Andreas’ Treasurer’s Report dated June 30, 2025, and Paul expressed regret for not being present this year.

Bill then paraphrased Secretary Trent Plungas’ report crediting Ralph Braun’s role in and many contributions to the Chapter since its original formation.

Bill explained that examples of recent newsletters and membership application forms were available for those who wanted them at the front and rear of the meeting room.  (All Newsletters and several forms were taken by the close of the meeting.)

It was noted that someone had left a large box with numerous old Toronado Times newsletters and related publications from about 20 years ago at the silent auction.  These were made available to anyone present, and about half of them were taken.

After chapter business had been covered, discussion moved into information-sharing and discussion to help those present get to know each other. Bill seeded the discussion by asking several questions:

Who present has a Toronado? Aurora? Both!?  The response was 11 Auroras owned, 15 Toronados owned, by my (Bill’s) count, six people owned at least one of each.

Who present was attending for the first time?  Five hands were raised.

How many years of membership in chapter?  One person present indicated more than 20 years!

Do you have a car for sale?  No one said yes.

What do you need/how can the chapter help you/provide most value? Note cards were distributed for data-gathering/to forward questions or notes to Board members or meeting leaders.  None of these were returned.

General discussion followed, topics as follows:

For cars with electronic clusters, a couple of repair sources were mentioned: fixyourvic.com; David North is a known cluster rebuilder as well as John Morgan in Canada.

Help needed: one-year-only rotors and other parts for ‘67 Toros with factory disc brakes are hard to find.

Finding series 1 hood hinges? (Aside from used from John Dorcey).

Dave Landes may be a source for replacement first-gen cardboard pieces for the trunk as he has re-created these.

Interchangeability of parts between years of cars is difficult to determine, and a resource for this would be valuable. Discussion ensued about Artificial Intelligence, and Joe Bellante might have been the only member present to understand how this can be applicable for our chapter and members.

Member Joe also live-streamed video from the Nationals - check out TORO86, his channel on YouTube.

Owners seeking replacements (example: floor mats) were encouraged by Bill to notify Fusick of interest as they are one of the most-reputable providers.  If there is enough potential interest, they might be interested in providing some things, such as a 1966 driver’s floor mat.

The Fall Festival at the Gilmore Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan on September 26 & 27 was discussed.  All GM brands are invited; Jerry Wilson with OCA has information.

Meeting was adjourned at approximately 4:45 p.m., after which the OCA photographer took a group photo.