Image Up Advertising & Design

24 | sun lakes lIfestyles | JanuaRy 2015 | soCIal Clubs & gRoups Cruzin' Cronies We continue a brief history of the automobile industry to encourage your interest in our club, the Cruizin' Cronies. Lincoln Motor Cars in Chicago produced cars for Sears Roebuck from 1908 until 1912. Nine models were offered, priced between $325 and $475, with one model advertised at $495 complete. They were sold by mail, out of the Sears catalog, on a ten-day trial basis. Other automakers aimed their growth at the "super rich", who had the time and money (and scarves, goggles, and other accessories) to spend on joy rides and vacations. The industry prospered until the Depression in 1929. Forward-thinking automakers began building smaller cars for the general public, although some continued high-end manufacturing for their moneyed clients. (When Packard added smaller cars, it required dealers to maintain two showrooms—one for luxury cars and one for "lesser" models.) Major innovations were introduced and adopted during the 1930s, including synchromesh manual transmissions, semi-automatic and fully-automatic transmissions, hydraulic brakes, independent front suspension, overhead-valve engines, and front-wheel drive. By 1940, exterior styling had added radical designs, unit-body construction, and "Air Cool-ditioning." The major automakers to survive the Depression were General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler, known as the Big Three. They had financial strength, giving them an edge in marketing, production, and innovation. When the U.S. entered World War II, all domestic passenger automobile production ceased. The industry received $10 billion in war-related orders in February of 1942 alone, compared to $4 billion before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Automobile factories were enlarged and converted, new ones were built, and hundreds of thousands more workers were hired to produce war material. These factories produced 5.9 million weapons, 2.8 million tanks and trucks, and 27,000 aircraft. This production contributed to the Allies winning the war. Automakers learned advanced engineering methods from the aviation industry, resulting in great improvements for postwar civilian automobiles. Many classic car buffs — like the Cruizin' Cronies — prefer the older, lesser-known cars, or models no longer produced after the war. Next month, we'll describe the expansion of the automobile industry with the introduction of unions, and the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways (commonly known as the Interstate Highway System). See some of the cars we love at 8 am on Jan. 3 at the Main Clubhouse parking lot, and join us in the Multipurpose Room. Breakfast follows at Carrows. Info., Sandra Glickman, 692-6991. Bible Study Our Bible study group is non- denominational. All are welcome. We meet together every week for fellowship and study. On the first Wednesday of each month we meet for dinner before our regular meeting. Reservations for dinner are taken in the meeting the last Wednesday of each month. Bring your Bible, any version, and listen to or participate in our discussion of the evening topic. We're all learning together. We'd be delighted if you'd join us. We meet every Wednesday at 7 pm in the Main Clubhouse Multipurpose Room. Air Conditioning & Heating residential Sales & Service Have You Serviced Your System Lately? Monte Beach State Lic. #C20-278262 • All Major Credit Cards Accepted 55 Years Experience • Solera Resident (951) 845-6889 • (909) 798-8933 Family Owned & Operated • Maintenance Contracts • HVAC Consultants • Thermostats • Filters • Heating & Air Conditioning Service • We Carry Parts "What a relief to not have to climb a ladder to change a filter or worry about if the system needs service! The Maintenance Contract has taken a huge load off my mind and given me a feeling of confidence in heating and air conditioning operation. I am very pleased with the peace of mind." ~ Bobbie Eckel, Four Seasons Homeowner

• Cover