New Years Follies in New Jersey

[peabody]

Tom Neibuhr got me and some other dummies to the field on New Years Day about 20 years ago....he said that it was a tradition started by Larry Scarinzi....
of course, Larry knew nothing about it....
But we have been doing it since!
Once it was the coldest day of the entire winte!  About 4 degrees!
We have flown in a foot of new snow...
Folks generally wander by with their (soon to be) stale Christmas cookies....someone has coffee and we inagurate the year correctly....
I crank up Fox 35 powered Phil Cartier combat planes....great fun!
All are welcome to join us at the club field on Two Bridges Road in Lincoln Park....we usually begin around 10:00 am
Have fun!

[Frank Imbriaco]

Rich,
I remember when it( New Year's Day) was a big event called the "Snowbird Meet" . In 1969 or 70, there was a significant snowstorm ( much like the one yesterday) ,but the turnout was great and sections of the circles were cleared. What fun !

Flew a Detroit Stunter back then. Sure wish I had that ship now .

[Joe Mig]

A friend of mine by the name John Kelly keeps telling me about this event and says he would like to go.
I'm out and not sure if he will make it.

[peabody]

Okay then…..
The GSCB parking lot is drifted snow and the plows have made parking on the side of the road a bit precarious……..
So….
We are going to gather at the Versailles Diner for an informal New Year’s breakfast and to determine if anyone is nutty enough to venture to the field to fly!
The diner is located at:   516 RT 46, Fairfield NJ, NJ 07004 ….. (973) 227-0508
We will meet around 10:00 a.m.
We hope to see you there!
Thanks!

[Tom Niebuhr]

No. the idea did not come from me. Scarinzi was doing it earlier.

As to moving it to the diner, one flight should be flown and then go to the diner!

I am however, guilty of starting the tradition in Dallas by telling them if they could do it in terrible weather in NJ they certainly can also be crazy in Dallas. The Dallas weather has varied from 6he 60's to the low 20s with brutal wind.

The old Snow Bird Meets at GSCB were great, but everyone got older and decided that they wanted to be warm.  I have many pictures of the 1964 Snowbird Meet. The participants were a who's who of East Coat Stunt: Bill Simons; Gene Schaffer; John D'Ottavio; Ed Elasick; Moses Quintana; Harold Price; Fred Miles; Andy Lee; Tom Niebuhr; Bob Miller; Larry Scarinzi: and many more that I can't remember at this time. 

[Tom Luciano]

Rich & Frank
 My father and I were planning on attending. How much snow is on the field? I'm crazy enough to give it a try!

Happy New Year!
Tom

[Peter Ferguson]

I'd love to come but I'm heading to Florida tonight. Its a little warmer there!!

[Frank Imbriaco]

Hi Tom,

It sounds perfect for snowmobiling.

Good Luck,
Frank

[Garf]

It's about 75* right now in Miami.

[Neal Beekman]

Hay Peabody who showed up this year. It cost us L I   NY people a few dollars Moore to show up , besides the Blizzard.

[Jim Damerell]

I stopped by the field, just for the memories. Met Doug Benidetti there and we wished each other a Happy New Year. The field was flyable, but the Parking lot would have been a problem. The Snowbird Meet was always in February, never on New years Day.
Jim D