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Join Our Club
We welcome you to join BATOC and come travel with us on the open road in a group of Classic Ford Thunderbirds; what an awesome experience – One you don’t want to miss!
BATOC is affiliated with the Classic Thunderbird International Club which allows us to stay connected to other Thunderbird clubs around the world http://www.ctci.org
Guests are welcome to attend our breakfast meeting in person or remote. Our club meets the 2nd Saturday of every month at the Buttercup Restaurant, 660 Ygnacio Valley Rd, Walnut Creek, CA 94596.
We start gathering at about 9:30 and start the meeting at 10:00
or join our meeting remotely (click here)
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President’s Message
Here we are in April, enjoying some delightful spring weather in California. A few warm days and our garden is in full bloom. Matthew planted hundreds of bulbs spread out over our little half acre. Matthew also completed the process of preparing our beehives for pollen collecting and nectar creation, I only got stung once. The flowers and trees are blooming and the bees are buzzing around enjoying the warm sunshine
As we say good-by to March (Women’s History Month). We Celebrate Women’s historical importance to innovation in the automotive industry which cannot be overlooked and I feel it is appropriate that we celebrate their achievements.
Margaret Wilcox (1838-1912) – advancements in automotive climate control. Recognizing its potential, the Ford Motor Company integrated a refined version of this system into their Model A in 1929.
Bertha Benz (1849-1944) – Bertha helped Carl successfully developed a two-stroke engine. Bertha even created rudimentary brake pads with the help of a smith in Bruschal to solve a braking issue.
Mary Anderson (1866-1953) – Mary Anderson is credited with inventing a car feature that many take for granted — the windshield wiper.
Charlotte Bridgwood (1861-1929) – Charlotte Bridgwood, initially a Vaudeville actress, later became the president of the Bridgwood Manufacturing Company, where she pioneered several automotive safety innovations. She is best recognized for improving Mary Anderson’s windshield wiper design. Bridgwood’s significant contribution was the mechanization of the wiper, eliminating the need for drivers to manually operate it using a lever.
Florence Lawrence (1886-1938) – As a passionate driver, she was perturbed by the lack of communication on the roads, leading her to invent the first turn and brake signals. Her turn signals were innovative placards indicating direction, while her brake lights prominently displayed the word “stop.”
Emily Post (1872-1960) – Emily known for her books highlighted, travel across country with her son and writing about the luxury and everyday nature of the driving activity, making it relatable to women of her generation. Using her authority in etiquette, she played a pivotal role in normalizing the idea of women having autonomy in driving, a concept that was not commonplace before World War I. She also firmly believed that it was entirely appropriate for a woman to drive alone unchaperoned or even with a male passenger.
Dorothée Pullinger (1894-1986) – Acting as a driving force for the advancement of women’s rights and autonomy. A prominent figure in this movement was Dorothée Pullinger. She took the helm of an automobile factory in Scotland, serving as its superintendent and managing 7,000 employees in car production. Pullinger later rose through the ranks to the role of director at Galloway Motors. In this capacity, she oversaw the production of the only automobile model explicitly designed for women.
Claremore Stennes (1901-1990) – Claremore Stennes embodies the human spirit of adventure. She was the first person to circumnavigate the world by automobile — no small feat, especially in 1927.
Helene Rother (1908-1999) – Prior to Rother’s influence, car interiors often featured shades manufacturers believed would effectively conceal dirt. This dull design was the industry norm until Helene Rother was brought on to breathe new life into automotive interiors. She changed the entire industry by creating vibrant interiors that were aesthetically pleasing and practical. She was given free rein over the interiors, including fabrics and hardware like door handles. Her innovative departure from the conventional beige palette distinguished GM from its competitors.
Suzanne Vanderbilt (1933-1988) – In the 1950s, recognizing the need for a fresh perspective, General Motors established an all-female design team Among these trailblazing designers was Suzanne Vanderbilt. The contributions of these women were transformative, introducing innovations that have since become automotive staples. Features such as retractable seatbelts, backseat storage compartments, and childproof doors. However, their design purview was limited to interiors, with areas like the dashboard deemed exclusively male territory. She played a pivotal role in shaping the automotive industry and championing the capabilities of women designers. Her work at GM underscored the fact that design transcends gender, focusing on functionality merged with aesthetic elegance.
June McCarroll: The Advocate Behind Road Safety Lines – In an admirable effort to improve shared-road safety, June McCarroll campaigned for painted lines on the roads. This idea visually aids drivers, significantly reducing the risk of head-on collisions and fatal accidents. It’s because of her advocacy that road stripes and markings are now a universal safety-promoting standard that every driver continues to rely on every day.
Happy Motoring & Enjoy the spring weather
Best Regards,
JOE
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BATOC is affiliated with the Classic Thunderbird International Club which allows us to stay connected to other Thunderbird clubs around the world
