Adventure at Cherry Hill

[Barry M Wheeler #2189]

Being in the mens (and later on, we added ladies wear) clothing business for many years, I always tried to clothe Gay as befitted a former "First Lady" of the Club at GN events. I believe we had gone to Richmond beforehand to visit my son's family, and then drove up for the GN at Cherry Hill.

Except for having to learn all over again how to make a left turn, we had a great time at the show. Saturday dawned bright and clear, and I got up early to assist the other Past Presidents in judging original cars. As I recall, I hadn't met up with the other guys and wandered out the front door.

And parked along the adjoining street, I noticed a CBS TV truck sitting there. I turned around and went back in, and passed a police SWAT team member toting an M16. Since rifles aren't usually seen in hotel lobbies, I began to get somewhat concerned, as Gay was still upstairs in our room.

I went to a house phone and tried to call her, but couldn't get through. So, I finally went to the desk and asked for a manager. It didn't take long for him to apprise me that there was somewhat of an emergency, you couldn't take the elevator or go up the stairs to the upper floors, but he would take me himself up to our room.

Switching to Gay, she was thirsty, so she decided to go up to the next floor to get ice. (The hotel had drink machines on one floor, and an ice machine on the next.) She had pulled on jeans and a T-shirt and casual shoes, and had the ice bucket in her hand.

She had just turned from closing the door, and found she was staring down the muzzle of an M16. The officer said, "Ma'am, will you please drop the ice bucket and put up your hands?" She looked at him and asked, "Would it be OK if I just stooped down and put it on the floor?"

About that time, the Assistant Manager and I showed up and he explained to the officer that she was not involved in the incident. However, even though we were right in front of our room, we could not go in, but had to immediately go down to the lobby again.

I took her to get breakfast and left to go judge. I don't know what she did after she was through eating, but the "thing" for the ladies that morning was a fashion show. So, Gay attended the soiree in jeans and a T-shirt. At least she'd put on shoes.

She had heard two shots through the walls, but just thought that someone was watching a Western on TV and had the volume up too loud. We heard later that "someone" had seen a wheeled litter before an elevator door closed, and that there had been a murder/suicide.

After we got home, I checked on line all the national news outlets, but evidently, the incident was covered up so that it didn't make the national news. I'd welcome any further comments from local members about further details of "what happened."

Gay told me on the way home that she wasn't really upset with having the rifle pointed at her. The guy was a cop in uniform, and she knew that she hadn't done anything wrong. It takes a lot to faze a nurse.

[Alan Harris CLC#1513]

My wife and I were at the 2008 GN when that happened. We were already outside when the police were showing up. 16 years later, it is interesting to find out what happened.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

From what I understand, there was a military recruitment thing going on, and one of the NCO's (A Marine or Seaman Seargeant or Petty Officer) of the lot decided to commit suicide in one of the upper floor rooms.   Guess he won't do that again.

I was caught downstairs having Breakfast at the time, and couldn't go back to my room to get replacement batteries for my camera, so I had to do my picture-taking until the battery went flat.

Got some pictures of the SWAT and other Military vehicles in attendance, plus a few of the toting officers.   One of the Police was seen getting into a lift carrying Body Bags under his arm, but they all left a lot quieter than they arrived.

And, yes, they sure tried their best to cover it all up.

There were many Members sitting around in the Lobby and eating areas in various modes of dress, some not ready to go outside, so had to just hang around.

Bruce.

[Mike Josephic CLC #3877]

Karen and myself were there in Cherry Hill and I remember all of the fuss in the lobby and the police.  We had just come from breakfast and were going to go back to our room.  However, an armed policeman said "sorry folks no people are allowed to use the elevators right now."  Lots of confusion but I later heard about the suicide.  They did keep it under wraps as nothing
made the local news.

Mike

[Carfreak]

And there was even a sign at the base of the elevators that evening for guests to see; hotel management was apologizing for the 'false alarm'. 

Wish I had a pic of Jack Hotz, GN Director telling the fire truck driver to move his vehicle since he (Jack) had cars to park for the show. The fire truck got moved. 

[Jay Friedman]

My wife and I were at the 2008 GN when that happened. We were already outside when the police were showing up. 16 years later, it is interesting to find out what happened.

I was also outside at the time and I finally found out what happened.

[Barry M Wheeler #2189]

While this was fresh in my mind, yesterday, I mentioned it to my son and daughter-in-law while on a phone call. Sharon said that she remembered Gay mentioning the ice-bucket part once, but not all of the other details. A couple of our more memorable moments have occurred at GNs on the East Coast.

The other was my not getting to finish my steak at the Tyson's Corner GN in 2017. I think I got three bites down before one stuck in my throat. Dr. Lars was a few tables away and came over to give me the Heimlich. He tried three times with no luck, and when he saw I was still breathing OK, slapped me on the shoulder and said, "Enjoy your visit to the ER."

An ambulance soon showed up and I soon had a room full of nurses and a couple of doctors. They tried everything they knew with no avail, and finally called a surgeon that was on call. He put me under and got it out. (Living alone now, I cut my meat up small ALL the time.)

They suggested that I not drive home, and Glenn Brown arranged for his son to drive us, but we sneaked out early in the AM and ended up at the Gettysburg McDonalds for breakfast. We got home with no further problems.

(The hospital dutifully sends me a request for a donation every year without fail.)

Another East Coast happening was for the first Boston meet. We were on either the NY Thru-way or the Boston Turnpike, with no traffic at all and we came on a Trooper attending to an accident in a wooded area. A car was on it's roof on the highway, no sign of an occupant, or anyone else for that matter. Just the cop and the car. I stopped and asked if the trooper needed a nurse. He thanked us and said, "Everything is OK right now." Weird!

On that trip home, I was driving my 1978 SDV d'Elegance and with light traffic, I happened to be out in front of everyone. So, on the last mountain before Ohio on the PA Turnpike, I stepped on the gas and used all three lanes on the curves going up like I was on the 500 track back home. Going up the same hill from Gettysburg didn't seem to give me the same thrill in my 2014 ATS four banger.

I'd have gotten a First in class with the car, but I happened to be in the judges room talking to Carl Steig and when I saw my standing, I laughed and said, "Didn't anyone notice the '79 grill?" At the time, Gay was driving a '79 SDV d'Elegance so I wanted mine to "match." Bill Wilt was VERY pleased with his 1st place trophy  for his yellow-gold '79 CDV.

To date, nothing like these incidents has happened in the Mid-West or the West Coast.

I'm sure that some of you have had unexpected things happen to you on the way to, or at our GNs. Why not share them? 

[Carfreak]

Bill Wilt, that's a name from the Lake St Clair Region past.

He also really liked his Kenosha-Cadillacs including a very pretty 1954(?) Pininfarina.

[Carfreak]

I'm sure that some of you have had unexpected things happen to you on the way to, or at our GNs. Why not share them? 

About a dozen Lake St Clair Region members were driving together from Detroit area to Schaumburg IL GN (1988?). Our travel was leisurely along US-12 aka Chicago Road staying off the highways. Lee & Floy Barthel's 1941 60S developed a problem and we all pulled over to the shoulder in a rural SW Michigan area.

With the hood open and several members trying to figure out what was the issue, a man who lived in a beautiful farmhouse across the road wanders over to see what's going on. It was determined to be a problem that couldn't be fixed immediately. The farmer explained he was a car collector himself and offered make room in his car barn for Barthel's car to remain while we continued to the show.

The farmer obtained parts and completed the mechanical repair while our group was at the GN. After the event, someone took Lee & Floy to their car and they were able to drive it home.

[Art Director]

The other was my not getting to finish my steak at the Tyson's Corner GN in 2017. I think I got three bites down before one stuck in my throat. Dr. Lars was a few tables away and came over to give me the Heimlich. He tried three times with no luck, and when he saw I was still breathing OK, slapped me on the shoulder and said, "Enjoy your visit to the ER."

Cynthia and I were at the same table with you, Barry, and I believe I went to go get Lars to help since I am not trained in the Heimlich Maneuver. I for one was very grateful we didn't lose you that night. You didn't miss much at that Awards Banquet. Cadillac General Manager de Nysschen didn't have anything useful to say anyway.

[Barry M Wheeler #2189]

Thanks for getting Lars, Tim. I forgot that you were there. At a time like that, good friends are a blessing. We possibly should have let Mathieu drive us home, but I felt fine and had no trouble.

We drove Gay's 1979 Fleetwood to Savannah, and on the "way home," took I-95 up to visit our son in Richmond. I got tired after breakfast, and so let Gay drive. I completely missed SC. Upon our arrival, our son was aghast at our driving "such an old car" all that way. (I never had to worry about Gay complaining when I brought home "another" 1979. She loved her first SDV. It was the only one in Cedar Fire Mist in the county and no Deputy ever stopped her if she had a heavy foot.)

[Jacklasalle]

Well folks, no one who was in Cherry Hill will ever forget that Grand National.  Including me!
It was a grand experience and extremely well attended.