In search of a car that I could drive right away and work on if needed, 2008 was the year I made up my mind I was going to spend as much time as needed to be cruising on Woodward. I started with internet research, newspapers, car shows and local car cruises. I met a lady by the name of Judy standing near a ’64 red GTO that was for sale. She told me it wasn’t hers, but she knew of a Spring Dust-Off Car Show with plenty of Pontiacs to look at and a few for sale.

So my dad, son and I went to the Widetrackers Dust-Off Show in May. What a great show all things considered rain, cold and wind. I was there to meet someone with a 65 LeMans (clone) GTO that was supposed to be in good shape. What a joke…it was a hanging wreck. So while out in the parking lot, I noticed a 1966 Pontiac LeMans sitting way in the back near the entrance of the parking lot. We walked to the car and the closer we got the more we all liked it. The price was in the ball park and the engine was definitely in the ball park - a 455ci. 4 bbl. with a 3 speed stick. There were two phone numbers to call on the window. I called both with excitement and to no avail no one answered either number. I left messages…CALL ME NOW.

We went back in to enjoy more of the show and asked around attempting to find the owner of this car. That’s when I bumped into Judy again and although she did not know the owner of this car, she offered to help look with me. Time went on with no calls so we decided to leave. As my dad went to the car, my son ran back for more freebees the Club was handing out. I then got the call - we would be there in one minute. We looked over the car with Mike (the previous owner), who showed us the good, bad and the ugly. He made mention about the trunk leaking some water (boy was he right about that one as I learned at the Golling Pontiac RAIN car show.) Wow, did I have water in the trunk! But I’m not complaining, as I was one of the lucky ones to win a trophy that day. Mike took us for a ride - just cruising for a couple of miles. I turned and said, "OK, let’s see what it can do." He came to a stop in the road and turning to my son in the back seat said, "Hold on!" He jumped on it and showed me how it does 13.2 in the quarter mile. I still remember the look on my son’s face and the words from his mouth, "Dad this is the one…buy this one dad."

Well, I was just as excited so I took a picture with my phone camera and sent the picture to my wife Deb at home (well my son showed me how to send it by phone - I’m still learning.) She seemed to like it right away. I wasted no time; I called Mike that Sunday night so we could again look at the car Monday (so the boss could look at the car.) When she saw the LeMans, she gave me her blessing. We bought the car by the end of the week.

By the first Tuesday I was at Kalloway’s in Oxford looking for my new friend Judy. She was very happy for me - so happy for me she suggested that I join the Widetrackers. She was right, what a great group of people. By the way, I think we need to make Judy the ambassador of this club. There are a few things I’m going to change or work on; yes the leak in the trunk is one. But for the first summer, I just cruised around and enjoyed the summer travelling 1,600 miles.

Back in 1990, I bought a 1953 Pontiac Chieftain. It was a field car and I worked on it for three years. It was only road ready after that much time and still needed much more work and money. Our son Brandon was on his way into the world and you know the rest of the story. I sold that car and promised myself I would get back into cars someday. Now it’s ME TIME. LOL

Bruce Bunker