Oct 11/2025 dawned bright and beautiful for our fall tour in Clark County, Wash. Upps! Wrong weather report! It actually dawned overcast, drizzly, with some on and off rain. Nevertheless seven cars of Rose City Thunderbird club members gathered in Battle Ground, WA to enjoy a tour of three private car collections that Paul Lawson had put together for us.
    Even though he didn't join us for the tour Mike Walsh joined us at the starting location to send us off. Mike was the only one to brave the weather and drive his Thunderbird.
    You rule Mike!
    Those in attendance for the tour were: Paul and Sharon Lawson, Brent Valentine, Jim Sweet and son Jay, Jerry Sharp, John Calkin, John Villanueva, Sig and Cordula Lemke, and John Sailors. At our first stop one more car joined us: Don Smith with Martha Brunelle. The above came in cars ranging from B to T (BMW to Tesla).

    At our first stop (Paul & Crystal Springer, owners) showed us everything from an unbelievable home machine shop (with a drill press that would drill a hole through my drill press without breathing hard, Paul said he had drilled a 2" diameter hole through 5" thick steel without over heating the drill bit) to a massive tree house. Oh yeah, several antique and classic cars including a Studebaker Pickup. Paul took us through his career of buying and selling machine tools and cars. He is an excellent metal fabricator, he even built the spiral staircase up to his treehouse (which he also built). 
    All photos courtesy Jim & Jay Sweet and John Sailors.

Views from the Tree House

Our second stop had about 20 antique automobiles owned by Todd & Sandy Miller. Todd calls her Dr. No (James Bond 1st movie) because of her favorite word when he wants to purchase another car. Their collection included a 1930 Model A Coupe that was a twin to the earliest car I can remember my parents owning. My older sister would sit between our folks and I would lay behind them on the package shelf, or as my Dad called it: the "Turtle Back". What do you mean "seat belts", never heard of those in the mid - late 1940's. There was also a late 1940's Hudson Pickup - pretty rare indeed.
    As we started our visit here donuts & beverages were provided by the club.

    Our 3rd stop was at the home of Jerry & Diane Lane. Their "Barn" contained several antique cars, lots (and lots) of antique memorabilia, a very friendly old dog and what looked like a working restaurant. 
    I asked Diane Lane if it was used as a restaurant. She quietly chuckled and said "No, but I get that question often". Jerry has 7 siblings, all still live in the area with their children and grand children. For family dinners, gatherings, etc. they all meet here because they have the room. Believe me the kitchen was equipped to host 100 or more.

    Our last stop was at the Sportsmen's Public House in Ridgefield. Typical tavern food and very good.

Thanks Paul and Sharon for a great tour!