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OUR BEGINNINGS
Sometime around June, 1969, five men - Rusty Parker, Bill Johnson, Charles Mullins,
Knox Longshore and Frank Williamson - attended a car show at Holiday Inn in
Chattanooga, Tennessee. There, in the motel room, the idea to start a club was
initiated. Others soon joined the group which began meeting at the Forest Hills
Elementary School's library in Florence, Alabama.
A delegation from the North Alabama Region, AACA in Huntsville met with the group
to explain the procedure for becoming a chapter. By being a chapter, the group felt
that this would eliminate a great deal of paper work. After a few meetings with the
delegation, the group became the Muscle Shoals Tri-Cities Chapter of the North Alabama
Region, AACA. Bill Johnson was elected the club's first president.
The club held its first car show in August, 1970, at Bradshaw High School in Florence.
Other shows were held at Joe Wheeler Lodge, Holiday Inn in Florence, Forest Hills
Elementary School and Holiday Inn in Sheffield. As many as 130 cars could be seen at
these early shows. Local tours were also provided for those who wanted to see the
sites in the area. The club would send as many as 30 cars to out-of-town shows. The
club felt that if they traveled to shows outside the area, other clubs would
participate in its show.
In 1977, the club began the process of becoming its own region. A charter from the
national AACA was granted in February, 1978, and the club became the Muscle Shoals
Region, AACA.
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The Antique Automobile Club of America, founded in 1935, is the world's largest
automotive historical society with over 60,000 members and 400 regional clubs
worldwide. The AACA is dedicated to perpetuating the memories of early
automobiles by encouraging their history, collection and use.
"Dedicated to the preservation and display of all forms of historical motor
vehicles and related memorabilia, the AACA Museum exists to educate and provide
enjoyment for the hobbyist and the public"
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