Slipstream - November 2015

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The East Texas Tour: Who is Ben Wheeler, and Why did Brooks Gremmels Buy His Town? By Tom Martin I needed a place where I could go for a beer. So declared Brooks Gremmels when asked why he dedicated all his efforts and a lot of his own money to resuscitate a tiny town in East Texas. One could only imagine that Brooks’ tongue was planted firmly in his cheek when he uttered that reply. Ben Wheeler isn’t much more than a bend in the road, 12 miles east of Canton, in a land where men are men and sheep are nervous. The town is named after its first mailman from the 1870s. Benjamin Wheeler delivered the mail on muleback. If postman Wheeler were alive to deliver mail on this particular day, he’d see 37 sparkling Porsches and a couple of exotic sports cars along his route, along with a dozen or so Model A Fords that gathered in the parking lot of Moore’s Store on the main drag in town. The Model A Club just happened to be holding one of their events on the same day . . . at the same place . . . at the same time. Go figure. An eclectic collection of cars in Ben Wheeler Poor Ben Wheeler had suffered the fate that so many towns had. Some towns came out winners, some didn’t. Ben Wheeler did not. The place was falling down. Buildings were vacant. Roofs were gone. Doors were missing. Weeds grew in the sidewalks. So, Brooks went to work to see if he could recapture the sense of community that existed before. Last year, some Maverick Region members from Tyler suggested holding a Saturday Drive somewhere between Dallas and Tyler. We extended an invitation, and Kurt Reuland came up with a pleasant 67.1-mile jaunt on the smooth, gently winding roads of East Texas. The town park was cleaned up, and now there is a gazebo and a stage. Musicians showed up and started playing fiddles and guitars. Soon there was a farmers’ market. An old wedding chapel and a library were physically moved to the town. The Children’s Library of Ben Wheeler got help from Half Price Books through their book donation program, “Half-Pint Books.” Children are encouraged to select five books to keep upon each visit and then pass them on to five more kids when they finish reading them. Kids now learn how to read because of Brook’s leadership. Photos by Tom Gomer Shortly after 10:00 am, the first of four drive groups headed out, led by Kurt in his voluptuous Ferrari 458 Italia. He was joined by a Lamborghini Murciélago and seven Porsches. The remaining Kurt’s Ferrari 458 Italia groups left at five minute intervals. The route was neat, clean and quick, and the roads were super smooth. And as expected, everyone’s radar detector went off while rolling into Brownsboro. Brooks Gremmels transformed Ben Wheeler, turning the Van Zandt County town into a thriving arts mecca. He and his wife Rese convinced artisans, including a hat maker, an embroidery expert and a master knife maker, to relocate to Ben Wheeler by offering them space, virtually rent-free. They created art galleries and shops, as well as two restaurants that feature live music. Gremmels created a non-profit foundation for Ben Wheeler, and obtained a federal grant to install a sewer system. The route was comprised solely of gentle sweepers and straights, so the pace seemed to be more leisurely than the typical Maverick drive of twisties that sap all of one’s concentration and attention. In fact, I discovered that there are these things called “cows” populating the very countryside that we hold all our drives on! Is that cool or what? Portrait of Brooks Gremmels Brooks was as generous with humor and fun as he was with money. He had Ben Wheeler declared the Feral Hog Capital of Texas, and then he created a huge party to celebrate what others find a nuisance. And boy, do they celebrate: there’s a hog queen, a parade with hog floats, and a pig bus. Instead of candy or Mardi Gras beads, plastic pig noses fly into spectators’ hands. And so after an hour enjoying the perfect weather out in the boonies, we landed once again at Moore’s Store for some lunch and camaraderie. After a chicken fried steak meal, my wife and I enjoyed the best apple cobbler we’ve ever had. A couple more things Ben Wheeler and nearby town Edom are known for: cobbler and pies. 16 <strong>November</strong>
In January of 2014, Brooks Gremmels passed away at the age of 70, from pancreatic cancer. He continues to be held in the utmost highest regard in Ben Wheeler and its surrounding hamlets. A picture of Brooks on the wall at Moore’s Store Go into any Italian joint in Hoboken, NJ, and you will see a picture of “Old Blue Eyes,” a Hoboken native, hanging on the wall. In Ben Wheeler, pictures of Brooks Gremmels shine upon those who come to visit the town he rebuilt. And why exactly did he do it? Because, in his own words, he came to realize that “Building a town from scratch was what I was meant to do with my life.” Many thanks to the drive group leaders: Kurt Reuland, John Glover, and Voy Mitchell, and to all the Mavericks who ventured out to East Texas for the drive. Kudos to Lindsey at Moore’s Store and her staff for accommodating us, and special thanks to Sherri Reuland and her Boot Campaign crew for speaking at the drivers’ briefing to raise awareness of the plight of our military veterans returning from the battlefields. See you on the next Drive! Jon Glover and Isabele Lombard, along with many other members, enjoyed lunch at Moore’s Store Mav members ready to drive! The Art of Paint Protection After Installation A virtually invisible urethane film professionally applied to high-impact areas of your vehicle to protect your paint job from stone chips, sand, road debris and bug acids. During Installation Owner Installed Highest Quality Guaranteed 2530 Tarpley Road, Suite 100 Carrollton, TX 75006 17
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