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Elsewhere on this website is a thread about the packards shown Concours of America this past weekend. As fun as that was the Packard Motor Car Foundation held a mortgage burning ceremony at the gala dinner held on the evening before the Concours. Below is from their press release.

For Immediate Release:

The Packard Motor Car Foundation is pleased to announce that four very special couples were honored Saturday, July 28th at the Concours of America Charity Night Gala.

The couples were honored for their generosity during a special campaign to retire the $400,000 mortgage of the Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site in Shelby Township, Michigan. The honorees are:

? David & Linda Kane of Orchid, Florida
? Richard & Linda Kughn of Dearborn, Michigan
? William & Barbara Parfet of Hickory Corners, MI
? Frank & Milli Ricciardelli of Monmouth Beach, NJ

The Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site consists of fourteen acres and contains the original Albert Kahn-designed "Lodge" building and gate complex. There is also an engineering and test center built during World War II as part of the Arsenal of Democracy and the aviation hangar that was moved from its original location at the north end of the test track onto the site.

The Packard Motor Car Foundation took possession of the property in June 2002 after a complex series of negotiations between Shelby Township and (then) property owner Ford Motor Land Development Corporation. This historic partnership resulted in the parties being presented with one of the initial Governor's Award for Historic Preservation in 2004.

The Packard Motor Car Foundation was excited to honor these visionary couples as a portion of the evening's celebration on and hold an old-fashioned ceremonial "burning" of the mortgage.

Thanks to their generosity the Packard Proving Grounds are now debt free.


Please join in our thanks to these Packard supporters.

Photo 1: Dick Kughn is at the lecturn, his wife Linda is to his right. Bill & Barbara Parfet is to the far left, with David Kane to their left. Frank & Milli Ricciardelli are in the foreground. John MacArthur, Vice President of the PMCF is on the right side.

Photo 2: Dick and Linda Kughn with their plaque

Photo 3: Frank and Milli Ricciadelli with their plaque

Photo 4: Dick Kughn burns the mortgage as Linda Kughn and Milli Ricciardelli watch. John MacArthur and PMCF Trustee, Bruce Blevins have fire extinguishers at the ready.

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Congratulations! The factory plant site could not be saved, but the preservation of the proving grounds more than makes up for it. Great job to all who had the vision and the energy and the resources to save the proving grounds. Hip, hip, hooray!

(o[]o)

Great news and wonderful event. But I'm a little confused. Where did the celebration take place??? At the Grounds or at The Inn at St. Johns???

The event took place at the Concours Gala Dinner at the Inn at St. Johns thus, the St. Johns logo on the front of the lecturn.

The dinner for 250+ people was already planned and it made the perfect audience for the recognition and mortgage burning. Perhaps the attention given to these couples would encourage some others to do likewise.

Everyone probably knows this already but how much if any of the high speed track was saved? Were any of the testing areas saved?

IIRC, only about 1/4-mile of the banked concrete oval test track could be saved - and only a straight-away section at that.

As for "testing areas", it's doubtful that any of the outdoor off-track areas were saved. Even an airplane hanger and the timing tower had to be relocated to the remaining parcel.

Indoor engineering labs were housed in a garage building, separate from the lodge, but believe it was also saved. Have heard that quite a bit of original equipment was left intact, there.

Rather lucky that even that much survived so many years after the facility was closed.

If you wanna see the place in action, inside and out, get a copy of the factory promo film, "The Watchdogs" (1954, color) - available on DVD. "The Way Ahead" (1940, B&W) and "The Safe Road Ahead" (1956, color) also show cars in action, there.

I am glad you guys are interested in the PPG, but I want to clarify a few misconceptions.

1. We were able to save about 460 feet of the high speed test track - part of our 14 acres
2. ONLY the plane hanger was moved - it came from the middle of the track infield
3. The timing tower was NOT moved and continues to remain at its original location
4. ALL of the structures have been saved
5. Minimal testing equipment remained

Attached are two aerial views from Google and one from the 1930s. Compare the 1930s view with the large view - you can zoom in to the smaller view. And you can go here:
http://www.packardmotorfdn.org/Aerial_View.htm

Yes, the DVDs are entertaining to watch, but the true Packard enthusiast will be AT the PPG on Monday, June 24, 2013 as part of the PAC National Meet. That is Picnic Day at the PPG. We will have a catered picnic, tours, special exhibits and guest speakers, including:
? Roberta (Mocabee) Vincent - daughter of Charles and niece to Col. Jesse, she lived at the PPG.
? Margaret Dunning - 102 year old Packard owner and viral video star
? Francis Hale - executive secretary on PMCC "mahogany row" from 1943 to 1955

You can ONLY do this on that day. Why would you miss this???

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Roger, great posting. Describing what is going to take place at the PPG next year should get us all excited about attending the national Packard meet next year.

I hope to be there, it's been near the top of my list for quite some time.

My thanks to BH and Roger for the answers to my Packard Proving Grounds questions.

It is too bad that the track couldn't be saved. It would have been great fun to take our cars for a spin on that. But seeing the way the area has been built up thanks to the Google Images, BH is right: It a miracle that it possible to save as much as was.

Is this the same Margaret Dunning that is still driving her 1930 Packard AND doing most/all of the maintenance herself? I watched the video some time ago and marveled at her putting a cloth down on the running board before she stepped on it and another cloth on the seat. Not to mention her herding that huge Packard around on the roads!