As informed in a previous Mail, last week was celebrated the "Autoclasica 2000", the most important event in South America regarding antique and classic cars. More than 400 cars and 100 cycles were presented and some of them selected for the "Concourse of Elegance". A special judge was designated with local people, U.S. people, and with representatives of F.I.V.A. (Federation International of Vehicles Anciennes) who came from France. After 3 days of exhibition the cars were consagrated by categories, following the F.I.V.A. reglamentation. My GP was included in the category "American Vintage" that include american cars built between 1919 and 1930. My direct competitors were Cadillac V8 Double Phaeton 1928, Buick 4 door Sedan 1927, Essex 4 door Sedan 1929, Chrysler Cabriolet 1930 and Double Phaeton 1929, Packard Dual Cowl Phaeton 1924, Jordan 8 Cabriolet "Tom Boy" 1929, Ford A Cupé 1930. Finally, the GP was the First Price Winner, obtaining a big trophy, and of course the recognition of all the media, members of local Clubs and the people present in the show. Really I am very happy with this Price, because I know all the work done in the car, trying to reach the best in terms of originality. Also, I want to say ¡Thanks so much! to the GOCI members who helped in the restoration process (Bill Conley, the Butters family, etc.), and specially to you. For this reason, as a member of the GOCI, I want to share with all the members of the Club, confirming that the name of Graham-Paige is well known and proudly in the top.

Kindest regards,

Hugo Semperena

Hi Jack -

A few weeks ago a drawing of a Graham Sharknose appeared in a Zippy comic strip and a colleague of mine sent me a copy. I sent the author of the strip, Bill Griffith, pictures of my car and asking whether he owned a Sharknose or he was a follower of the Grahams or what. He sent me an e-mail thanking me for my photos and saying that he once met a guy from the midwest that owned one and that's how he knew about them and what they looked like. Today I got an e-mail from him saying he was incorporating my pictures into a strip to be published April 2 in his Zippy cartoon.

NEAT !!! Free Graham publicity !!!!

If you can, spread the word to look for the Zippy cartoon strip on April 2nd and see what he comes up with. It seems Bill is just a chrolicler of "roadside" things - likes cars, drive ins, you name it.

Best always,

Earl Chrysler

Attached is a snapshot of our first family car, a 1938 sharknose 4-door sedan, taken in Norwood, Ohio about the time of purchase around 1949. My teenage brother, David Bartholomew, the family designated driver, is at the wheel. (Dad didn't learn to drive until 1952, and that was on a rather humdrum Chevy). This car looms large in our family folklore. I learned to drive in this car at about age 10, bouncing along the roads inside the Adams County Fairgrounds, much to the dismay of some amazed weather-beaten locals in bib overalls!

My brother drove the Graham all through college. I remember there was a long period when it sounded like a steam engine, as the spark plug threads gave out in the head, and the engine proceeded to fire plugs against the hood one
by one. My brother finally managed to replace the head, and kept the vehicle lashed together on a student's budget till about 1957, when, for want of a water pump, and, I believe, about $75.00, our Graham faded into memory. During my career in the automotive industry, I have been privileged to have driven some of the world's most wonderful machines, but our old Graham still remains one of my very favorites.

Thanks for your very interesting site.

Sincerely,

Richard H. Bartholomew

Pleasanton, CA

PIC