The "CRUISER" Newsletter

AS THE WHEEL TURNS

BY ROGER BEAUCHAMP, PRESIDENT

(Guest Author - Tom George)

Hey, Y’all! Tom George, Newsletter Editor, here!  While Ellijay Mountain Cruisers President Roger Beauchamp takes a break this month, I wanted to fill in and check up with the membership on some points about the newsletter. This issue marks the 14^th edition of The Cruiser Newsletter, and I want to get some feedback from you on content, format and such.

Every month we include an update note from Roger on upcoming or past events, as well as insights from many years of automotive ownership experience. We also have a calendar of recurring and current events for the month, in addition to an article or two about topics of interest.

One thing we don’t have is input from you, the reader member. This is in two forms; 1.) feedback on the current content, and 2.) submissions from the membership on topics of interest, your cars, your travels, etc. It would be very interesting to hear from the membership with some personal content on what you’re doing in the world of cars.

It doesn’t have to be much and don’t worry about spelling or grammar, that’s what an editor does. If it had a picture of your car, somewhere you’ve been or an event you’ve attended all the better! 

I’d also like some feedback about the newsletter; what do you like, what don’t you like, what would you like to see? You can send your input or some pictures and words for inclusion in the newsletter to me via email: mgbtgkg@gmail.com.

Looking forward to hearing from you!      ToMG.

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR MAY, 2025

This calendar is dedicated to car events OTP (Outside The Perimeter) covering the North Georgia area.  www.ellijaymountaincruisers.com

---RECURRING EVENTS---

Sunday, 4th - Caffeine and Octane Car Show. Town Center at Cobb - 9:00 AM (Recurring event-first Sunday of the month)

Sunday, 4th - WORSHIP Vintage and Classic Car Event - 1135 Woodstock Rd.,Roswell, GA. Vehicles must be 18 years old or older. 8:00am - 11:00am (Recurring event-first Sunday of the month)

Friday, 9th - Apple Country Auto Club Cruise-In - Poole’s BBQ, 164 Craig St., E. Ellijay, GA. 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm. (Recurring event-second Friday of the month)

Tuesday,13th - ELLIJAY MOUNTIAN CRUISERS CLUB SOCIAL DINNER at El Reys Azteca. El Rays Mexican Restaurant - 6:00 PM (Second Tuesday)

Sunday, 11th - Dahlonega Car Club Cruise-In. 140 S.Chestatee St, Dahlonega,GA. 9:00am - 12:00pm (Recurring event-second Sunday of the month)

Saturday, 17th - Roo Mountain Winery Cars and Coffee. Roo Mountain Vineyards - 8:00 AM - ? (Recurring event-third Saturday of the month)

Saturday, 17th - Po Boys Cruise-In, Riverstone Plaza, 1447 Riverstone Parkway, Canton, GA. 3:00pm - 6:00pm (Recurring event-third Saturday of the month)

Friday, 24th - Georgia Mountain Classics DQ Cruise-In. 380 Progress Circle, Blue Ridge, GA. Blue Ridge Dairy Queen. 6:00pm - 8:00pm (Recurring event-fourth Friday of the month)

Saturday, 24th - ELLIJAY MOUNTAIN CRUISERS CARS AND COFFEE  Ellijay, BURGER KING - 9:00 AM (Recurring event-fourth Saturday of the month)

Tuesday, 27^th - ELLIJAY MOUNTAIN CRUISERS DRIVE & DINE - Ellijay, GA. Meet at the Park & Ride across from Poole’s BBQ 11:00am (Fourth Tuesday of the month)

MORE EVENTS FOR MAY,2025

Friday 2^nd & Saturday 3^rd - North Georgia Hot Rod Reunion, 490 Meeks Park Rd., Blairsville, GA., 9:00am - 5:00pm daily

Friday 2^nd & Saturday 3^rd - North Georgia GM Truck Invasion, 490 Meeks Park Rd., Blairsville, GA., 9:00am - 5:00pm daily

Saturday, 3^rd - Flags & Fenders Car & Motorcycle Show, Cherokee Cty High School, 930 Marietta Hwy, Canton, GA - 8:00am - 4:00pm

Saturday, 3^rd - Supervette Saturday Car Show, Days Chevrolet, Acworth, GA. - 9:00am - 2:00pm

Saturday, 3^rd - 2^nd Annual Gathering Car Show, 156 Wilford Ash Sr Pkwy, Cleveland, GA. - 8:00am - 2:00pm

Saturday, 3^rd - NE GA Swap Meet @ Habersham Cty Fairgrounds, 4235 Toccoa Hwy., Clarkesville, GA., 8:00am - 1:00pm

Saturday, 3^rd - Cruise-In @ Chattahoocee Park,639 Main St., Clermont, GA., 4:00pm - 8:00pm

Saturday, 3^rd - New Harmony Baptist Church Car & Truck Show, 1616 Canton Hwy., Cumming, GA., 10:00am - 2:00pm

Saturday, 3^rd - C10s in the City Classic Chevy Truck Show, 513 Capitol Ave., Atlanta, GA., 10;00am - 5:00pm

Friday,9th - Dairy Queen Cruise-In, 275 Paul Huff Parkway, Cleveland, TN., 5:00pm - 8:00pm

Saturday, 10^th - 6^th Annual Forgotten Paws Dog Rescue Car Show, 3450 Acworth-Due West Rd., Kennesaw, GA. - 10:00am - 2:00pm

Saturday, 10^th - Fivestones Spring Car Show, 1358 Sixes Rd., Canton, GA. - 11:00am-3:00pm

Saturday, 10^th - Cruise-In for Saydee Charity Event, Ellijay River Park, Ellijay, GA. - 9:00am - 12:00pm

Saturday, 17^th - Chickamauga Down Home Days Car Show, 105 Lee Circle, Chickamauga, GA. - 9:00am - 3:00pm

Saturday, 17^th - Ridez by the River, 60 Etowah Springs Rd., Cartersville, GA., 10:00am - 4:30pm

5 Tools Best Bought Secondhand

By Kyle Smith

(REPRINTED BY PERMISSION OF HAGERTY MEDIA)

Days when you buy a new tool are bright spots in the seemingly endless slog of working on a project car. Placing a shiny new tool onto a bench covered with rusty, crusty parts and pieces can reinvigorate your desire to work. Often that new tool makes or breaks our ability to get the task done. Tools are important, but that doesn’t mean you need to go into debt when buying them.

Finding used tools has never been easier for people with a little grease under their fingernails. At times it’s almost easier to find used tools in good condition than it is to find new ones of high quality. Remember, if you can’t test the function of a tool, assume you’ll need to rebuild or repair it. You can consume a great deal of time and money getting a cheap used tool up to the condition you thought it was in when you bought it.

However, not all used tools are money pits. Here are a few that make sense to purchase used.

Box-End Wrenches

Box-end wrenches really don’t wear out if used properly. Since they are easy to inspect, you can easily know whether the ones you are buying are damaged or abused. For DIY newcomers, there is no better option; even if you do buy a “better” set of wrenches later, this one will be perfect for filling out road-trip tool kits. You might even modify a few for special jobs.

Ratchets

When it comes to ratchets, you can save a lot of money if you are willing to put in a little extra work. Get familiar with the one you want, and what it takes to refurbish it. Rebuild kits can turn a beat-up, high-quality ratchet into a near-new one in an afternoon and the process is easier than you might think.

That said, success isn’t guaranteed. I love my Snap-on ratchets and didn’t hesitate for a second to buy them right off the truck because I was having a hard time finding the tools I wanted, in rebuildable condition, for a price that made any sense.

Hack Saws

These simple saws come in clutch from time to time. Hack saws pop up at garage sales regularly and are often only a couple bucks. Since the blade is a consumable, something you will be replacing anyway, you only need to inspect the frame to make sure it’s not twisted or broken. That’s easy to check by eye. The consequences for error are relatively low: Should a hacksaw frame fail, there is not much risk of significant injury, so long as you are using it properly. Plus, the design has changed little over time.

Clamps

Since evolution has yet to give mechanics the third hand we so desperately need, it’s basically impossible to have enough clamps in your shop—anything that can help hold pieces of your project, from locking jaw pliers or long pipe clamps. Finding good used examples can save some money, and the only difference between new and used may boil down to appearance.

Punches

To be honest, I can’t tell old hardened steel from new hardened steel if you put both in my hands. Even the best punches eventually get used, as they are tools that are either sitting in storage or being struck with other tools. They lead a rough life, but punches can last a very long time, especially specialty ones or oddly sized versions. Those make for great swap-meet finds.

NEXT CLUB MEETING: Tuesday,13th - ELLIJAY MOUNTIAN CRUISERS CLUB SOCIAL DINNER at El Reys Azteca. El Rays Mexican Restaurant - 6:00 PM (Second Tuesday)

OUR CLUB SPONSORS

Local companies and club Sponsors offer discounts

to Ellijay Mountain Cruisers members for car parts,

service specials and automotive events.

Being a REGULAR member of Ellijay Mountain Cruisers

allows members access to special group discounts for club related events and shows

and other discounts offered by vendors and sponsors!

Visit: www.ellijaymountaincruisers.com

and click CLUB SPONSORS for more details about each sponsor.

link to sponsors