New Jersey Open Road Thunderbird Club Chapter 41 - Classic Thunderbird Club International

The New Jersey Open Road Thunderbird Club (NJORTC) is a local chapter of Classic Thunderbird Club International (CTCI), serving the northern half of New Jersey. Our club is a fully insured, non-profit corporation and has been in existence for more than 25 years.  We have 45 members (85 people) on an average -- with about two thirds of these active at any given time.  Club dues are $36.00 per year and membership in CTCI is encouraged, but not required.

The common bond for our club is the classic Ford Thunderbird, manufactured in 1955, 1956 and 1957.   Most of our members own a classic T-Bird  --  or a New 2002-2006 T-Bird, or a "Big" Bird.  However, you do not have to own a classic T-Bird to be a club member.  Enthusiasm for the "early bird" is enough!

Some of our club member T-Birds are masterpieces of restoration and national show winners.  Others are driven daily.  Still others are in pieces on the garage floor in various stages of assembly or disassembly.  We have members who are self-taught expert mechanics that work on their cars a lot.  Others consider checking the oil a technical challenge. We have people who are true authorities on almost any aspect of these great old cars.  They are available and willing to offer advice and help, within reason, about the purchase, care and feeding of the "early bird".

We have a mixture of men and women members, and an assortment of ages. Spouses are always welcome and usually participate in most club meetings and functions. Our monthly meetings are usually held on the third weekend of each month, at the house of a member. We have a short business meeting, followed by social time, refreshments and a simple buffet style meal provided by the host or hostess.  A new member should expect to host a meeting after about three years of membership, and approximately every three years thereafter.

In addition to monthly meetings, we have a very active schedule of activities. Whenever possible, we drive the T-Birds to a function. A flock of little Thunderbirds is a sight to make your heart thump! We usually try to get together several times a year for Sunday brunch, or a dinner somewhere. We may stage a road rally when the leaves change, go to the horse races, or even go bowling.  We have a club picnic in the summer,  a tune-up clinic for those that want to work on their cars, and we host an annual Classic T-Bird car show.  There are usually groups traveling to the CTCI International or Regional Conventions, to regional shows, or to other events. Finally, we end the year with a Christmas party.

We hosted two CTCI Northeastern Regional Conventions: "T-Bird Fun - New Jersey '91" and "Thundering Thru Time - New Jersey '99".   In 2002 we hosted the CTCI International Convention, "Migrate to the Garden State - New Jersey 2002".   This year we're hosting the CTCI Region 1 Convention, "T-Bird Heaven -- New Jersey '07", the only CTCI Convention East of the Mississippi!

As you may be able to tell, NJORTC is more than a car club where people get together to talk about transmissions and brake shoes. The New Jersey Open Road Thunderbird Club is really a club where the cars serve as the catalyst for having fun and making friends! We hope that each new member will also become a new friend. We encourage anyone interested in the club to join us at a meeting or club function with no obligation. Almost everyone who has taken the time to do this has become a member of our club.

For more information about our club, contact our club President, John Kefalonitis, at 908-459-4201, drop us a line at: New Jersey Open Road Thunderbird Club, P.O. Box 565, Hewitt, N.J. 07421, or send us an E-Mail.  

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