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By Randy Stone |
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My name is Randy Stone and I would like to greet you as the new Vice President of Technical Matters for the Antique Automobile Club of America. I'm honored to be working with a long time Director as the Assistant Vice President Technical Matters: Dave Berg. Now Technical Matters may sound like a mouthful, but it is really quite simple. Our task is to answer questions from the membership about their vehicle, judging classifications, and other details that involve available options and documentation. As you can see quickly see. it is important that we work in close partnership with both the ice President Class Judging and the Class Judging Committee as these questions can be developed from many areas. Other groups we work with include the AACA Library staff and he Judges Administration Committee. This partnership is even more important as these groups are responsible for updating the Judging Manual each year when (or if) changes have to be made. The manual is really the core of our judging system and the maintenance of this document is critical to the communication and consistent application of our judging standards to our field judges. Lets talk about how the Technical Matters function really works. The questions that we typically discuss come in the form of a question from a member about two main areas: 1) in what class should my vehicle be shown and 2) is this option appropriate for my vehicle? In what class should my vehicle be shown? This question can cover some ground as we can see numerous vehicles that the owners would like to show in the AACA National Meets. Some are welcome on the Meet grounds, in some cases vehicles do not meet our criteria. An example of a vehicle that is not allowed for competition at an AACA National Meet is a vehicle that is not approved for road use. The vehicle may be a beautifully restored 1949 Ford 8N tractor and the owner would like to achieve the awards we offer. I love old Ford tractors, but they are not approved vehicles for AACA National Meets. Another example is a beautiful 1965 K-Code Mustang, should it be in class 34A or in Class 36D for Ford high performance vehicles? Good question, in 2006 this car is listed in class 34A (1965-1966 Production Mustang), we will consider moving this vehicle to 36D (Ford High Performance) in 2007 after discussions with the other Committees. Thanks to questions like this, the three committees mentioned earlier, working together, can offer our membership the best judging program available in the old car hobby. Is this option appropriate for my vehicle? Options are really tricky as many were offered by the factory and could also be sold and installed by the dealer. This question is best answered by factory documentation. the question comes up during judging, the Team Captain will ask for the documentation from the owner. This is why you as the owner should always have documentation, for options in particular, handy at the meet. In this case the result can be offered immediately as the Team Captain can make an educated decision. If the question comes to me, I have the AACA Library as a wonderful resource to look to and help resolve the question. We also have the good people in the various marque clubs that are always willing to work with us to help answer these ticklish questions. The marque clubs are a tremendous resource we in the AACA strive to keep in close contact. While we do not always follow the same rules, the educational potential for both the AACA and the marque club is excellent. Other tasks that your Technical Matters team works on are the updates to the judge's manual, updating the judging forms, and the care and the maintenance of the judging computer program that we use at all of our National Meets. I look forward to working for you, the members of the AACA, in this fascinating job. I've been a judge for many years in various clubs, but find the judging in the AACA to be both fair and fun. And I've got to tell you: I like to Have Fun with mu old car. Isn't that the reason we're all here?
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By Earl D. Beauchamp, Jr. |
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A number of Editors have told me they aren't interested in "contests'" and don't like to participate in a "contest." I agree, at least to some degree, that editing a newsletter shouldn't be a "horse race" to see who can first get to the finish line. So, I'm offering up a new contest. Isn't that original? Seriously, I'd like to have suggestions from our editors, or other members for that matter, for a better name for the annual Region/Chapter newsletter publications awards "finals". What would be a better term than "Publications Contest?" Give me your suggestions. To the person with the best answer, and the one chosen by the Publications Committee, I will personally pay your Region or Chapter dues for 2007. That's right, out of my own pocket. |
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BY J. C. Taylor Insurance Company |
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You might think that your antique auto is safe and sound when you park it in your garage. But think again! Over the years, we’ve seen many autos that were severely damaged, even totally destroyed, while stored in a garage. Please review the Top Ten list carefully to see if there are any changes you may need to make at your garage location: 1. Fire! When you store gas cans in your garage, you create a fire risk. Gas cans should be kept off-site in a tool shed, or better yet, not kept at all. Fuel lines that have corroded or floats that are sticking from lack of use also present a fire danger. To prevent these type of fires, run the car dry before storing or drain most of the gas at season’s end. 2. Danger from Within Do you hang bicycles from your garage wall? Do you have shelves that hold paint cans or garden equipment? Do you hang tools on a peg board? How about rakes or shovels leaning against the wall? All of these items can spell disaster for the hood and roof of your antique auto. While your car is out of the garage, find out if these items are secure. Slam doors, stomp your feet and jump up and down. Nothing shook or fell? It may be OK to pull the car in the garage. If you are in an earthquake zone or live in an area prone to aftershocks, you might want to place your paint cans on the floor and your tools in a tool box. Move the bike to a tool shed. If at all possible, it is best to use a separate shed to store all these things and make the garage the domain of your antique auto only. 3. The Sky is Falling! Don’t forget about objects that fall outside the garage through the garage roof or walls. Its time to get rid of that tree that is rotted. Keep the branches of other trees trimmed. And examine the garage door. Garage doors fall onto cars more often than you think. Check the wood for rot and see that hinges and tracks are secure. Make sure automatic garage door openers are properly installed. 4. Things on Wheels Wheel barrows, bicycles, lawn mowers and children’s toys can all scrape the sides of the car when they are rolled out. Leave enough clearance between these objects and your beloved antique. Better yet, keep them in the tool shed. 5. Clutter (or miscalculation) Your prized antique is minding its own business in the garage when you decide it’s a nice day for a drive. While backing out of the garage, you either hit one of the sides of the wall or some of the stuff stored next to the wall. Make sure the garage is big enough to maneuver the car in and out, keeping in mind that your antique does not have the quick braking and steering response time that modern cars do. Always walk around the car before pulling out to make sure no one has placed things in back of or around the car. 6. The Little Angels What is the most attractive toy in your house? That’s right, the antique car! Even if your children know that they are forbidden to go near the antique, their friends may not have been informed. We handled many claims for damage caused by children climbing on cars, especially with toys in their hands. Keep an eye on children at all times, or lock them out of the garage. 7. Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My! Animals, both pets and wild, can wreak havoc on antique cars. Mice, squirrels, and other animals with teeth and claws cut and bite through wires and hoses. Cats practicing garage Olympics can knock almost anything on top of your antique. Make sure that all doors to the garage stay closed. Inspect walls and doors looking for a tight seal with no loose boards or large cracks. To double check go into your garage at night with all the lights out. Have a buddy walk around the outside of the garage while running a flashlight along the baseboard and lower third of the building and doors. Secure any places where light shows through. 8. Charge it! What a great invention, those battery chargers that you can leave on for extended periods of time. Unfortunately, we have seen trickle chargers short out and cause a fire. Moral of the story – never leave the garage with your battery charger left on and unattended. 9. How Much Does a Snowflake Weigh? A better question might be “How much does 10 million snow flakes weigh?” The weight of ice and snow often causes roofs to collapse, especially flat roofs. The way to prevent this calamity is to treat your roof like your sidewalk, making sure that you keep the area free of ice and snow. It only takes a few inches of snow, water or ice to collapse a roof, especially with older, framer, or flat roofs. If you need help, there are contractors you can hire to maintain the roof during adverse weather conditions. 10 – Crooks, Outlaws and Vandals Never underestimate the creativity of a thief. Keep the car and the garage locked at all times. Never hang an extra key to the car or garage on the inside of the garage wall. If you have a window in the garage, replace the window pane with a glass block. Consider installing a “kill” switch for your car’s ignition. Keep a low profile about your antique car ownership. Beware of being followed as you drive home. Irreplaceable We offer national claim service, Taylored to the unique needs of the antique auto hobbyist, and we recognize you cannot replace the joy and memories from your antique auto. We hope that some of these suggestions will keep your prized possession safer for years to come.
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AACA Museum Achieves Significant Milestone! By Terry Bond |
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The AACA Museum was recently granted Affiliate status with the Smithsonian Institution. As only the second automobile museum in the nation to be so designated, the AACA Museum is now able to share exhibits and information about artifacts. There are many other advantages that will be announced on the Museum’s website, and it is a wonderful benefit for AACA and Museum members. This important credential will also open doors to additional funding sources for Museum operations and programs. It has been the result of hard work and the commitment of the Museum staff and board of directors over the past several years that made this possible. A special announcement and press conference was held on January 11th at the Museum The Museum has also recently announced their “Home Stretch Campaign” designed to retire the Museum’s only debt – the remainder of a construction loan that permitted timely completion of the Museum facility itself before significant cost increases for materials and construction. By taking advantage of this, the Museum itself was completed ahead of schedule and well under expected costs. It is now time to retire this debt and make better use of the money it costs to service this debt each year. The past contributions of our Regions and Chapters has been significant, and as an expression of thanks, the Museum recently distributed a free DVD that highlights the Museum, its history, construction and its future. Each AACA Region and Chapter will receive a free copy of this DVD and we hope you share it at a club meeting so those of you not able to visit can still see what a wonderful facility we have. Now is the time to begin a special project at the Region and Chapter level – a monthly raffle, funding a suitable memorial for a former member, or some other small project so you can be a participant in our efforts to make the AACA Museum debt-free. To learn more about how you can help, contact Chad Barger at the AACA Museum through the Museum Website, or contact Terry Bond, Division Chair, AACA Regions & Chapters Home Stretch Campaign.
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Let's Introduce Your 2006 National Activities Committee By Joanna Cooper |
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We are very excited about the activity calendar for this
year and the coming years. We have lots of plans for everyone to have a
great time. We will be traveling to areas we have never been before. We
have regions hosting a National event for the first time. We want each of
you to help and support our hosting regions by attending as many of their
activities as possible. We know a lot of you have a great local activity
calendar. Why don’t you share your lovely areas with all of us and host a
National Meet or Tour? Our committee is here to help you in anyway we can. Please feel free to contact any of us to help your region with your activities. Regions have reported by hosting a national activity that they have gained new members. We have activities on the calendar up to 2011. So come on and join the Fun and have the honor to host a national activity. Remember that is where all the fun is. In order to fill the 2007 calendar completely, we are needing someone to step forward and volunteer to host one of the following:
1. Vintage Tour Think about hosting a national meet or tour. Let’s have fun. We are looking forward in meeting and working with all of you.
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