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By Brenda Shore Kaiser |
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We belong to the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) so does that means that we only focus on American cars? No, we appreciate all vehicles that are an antique whether they are a car, scooter, truck or bus. It also means however that we appreciate any make, model or type. I didn’t know what to expect when I started to spend a lot of my time in Europe, specifically France, and I sure haven’t been disappointed. It may be hard to believe but there has not been a single trip where I have not had the chance to see at least one antique vehicle. It is really pretty cool! There may be better, more articulate words, but regardless, it is cool! The biggest surprise wasn’t seeing antique cars made by European makers, but the number of American cars that are in existence. In addition there are great museums, car rallies, shows and expo’s for new cars. The love of the automobile (or any other wheeled vehicle) supersedes language, culture and countries. Who would have thought that in one single day I would see a Corvette and a Mustang – in France, and then a Harley Davidson soon after? That doesn’t mean that the European set of wheels isn’t fantastic. I have enjoyed looking at the newest Peugeot, Mercedes, Citroen, BMW and who can forget the Smart Car! Enjoy the pictures, recognize the common love of a hobby and ask the next time you see me ~ what’s it like to drive in Paris, take a trip on the Autobahn and go to Le Mans (planned for next year!). If you can’t find me, my husband has some exciting stories himself. Don’t forget to ask what car he wants to buy next and bring back to the US! Isn’t it great to have a love that is shared around the world? I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I have enjoyed sharing them with you and writing this article somewhere over the Atlantic. In the meantime I have more cars to go see. Picture #1: Brenda Shore Kaiser
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Notes from National Headquarters By Steve Moskowitz |
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Make sure you and your region/chapter members have your email addresses on file to receive our new monthly publication the AACA Speedster. In January we will publish our 3rd edition and it appears that our members are really enjoying it. We are able to give you important information on a very timely basis. Make sure you open these emails and click on all the links. Also, this is not spam so make sure you are getting it! The club has lots of new merchandise so check out our store on the website. www.aaca.org continues to be one of the best kept secrets in our club. There is a wealth of news, fun on the forums and information about the club. Hopefully in 2009 we will complete an “extreme makeover” of the site as well. Speaking of merchandise, please let us know if there is something you would really like to see us produce. We have some new signs and new clothing items we think you really will like. We have run into a serious roadblock on our AACA authorized Revell model car kits but hope to resolve that as well. We are looking at a collector series of jigsaw puzzles of Antique Automobile covers and are already gearing up for 75th anniversary merchandise. If you have not seen two special offerings you really should. Go to www.mycarfever to purchase a great CD of this year’s “Hershey”. You will really enjoy this lengthy video and will probably see a few of your friends throughout the show. Also, the jacket offered at www.hotrodjacket.com is nothing short of phenomenal. It is a bit pricey but be assured that you will not find a better quality letterman jacket anywhere and it is handmade in the USA! Make sure you keep up with all the changes in our Library and Museum. We have new leadership at the top and they will be bringing fresh ideas to the AACA family. We will miss Kim dearly but Chris Ritter, our new librarian, brings a youthful mind set to how we operate and he has some exciting plans. Holly Bedsole at the museum is a real “car guy” and she, as well, has a huge “can do” spirit so we can expect our museum to move forward in some exciting ways. We have a unique perspective at headquarters as most everything club related eventually passes through our office. One thing is very obvious to us. Those regions who really want to grow and add membership find ways to do so! Inspired leadership all around the country have proven that clubs can grow even if they have been stagnant in the past. With the four free memberships provided each year, a new half year membership and a benefit package that is not remotely matched by any car club in the country there is no reason for AACA not to be increasing our ranks in large chunks. Just yesterday we heard of the possibility of a club gaining 100 new members by joining forces with a non-AACA club. Obviously the memberships of both of those clubs are very progressive. Your region and AACA need an aggressive campaign to grow and provide activities to keep the enjoyment of our hobby at a high level. Make a personal commitment to make this happen in 2009! As always, we are only a phone call, letter or email away if you need anything or have any ideas for us. Thanks and have a happy and healthy new year!
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By Tom Cox |
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Most of us, and our cars, have been hibernating for the
winter, excepting those diehards attending parades and “Polar Bear”
runs. Before long, we will be inspecting, detailing, and making plans
for that hallowed time of year known as “Car Show Season”. Each of us
looks forward to breaking out the cars and heading for the road, but
mostly we look forward to renewing old friendships. An aspect of AACA
that garners a lot of attention these days is the perceived “graying” of
our ranks. One can hardly argue that we are all getting older, and many
younger people don't seem to be as interested in the hobby as we would
like. The Teenagers all seem to be into compact “Tuner” cars, and many
recent retirees are buying Harleys and hitting the road ala “Easy
Rider”. Sometimes, we just don't seem to be getting our fair share of
new recruits.
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By Terry Bond |
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Philadelphia in February has been on my calendar as indelibly as Hershey week for many years. Those are two items that I block out time for as soon as I can on our schedule at work. Never to be missed! Today, somebody at the office asked me “why?” Philadelphia and the AACA Annual Meeting are very special. There is just a lot of tradition surrounding that event, and I’m a great traditionalist. Years ago when I made my first trip there just to attend a judging school, I was in awe of the numbers of hobby greats who made that trip a part of their year’s itinerary. I’ve had the chance to mingle with legends like Austie Clark and Beverly Rae Kimes. There were also the many greats of AACA itself including Bill Swigert, Howard Scotland, Hank Krusen, and of course who could ever forget Ron Barnett, mustache and pipe ever-present! I always enjoyed a traditional Saturday breakfast with Murrell Smith when the event was held at the old Ben Franklin Hotel. For many years I drove straight up from Baltimore just for that Saturday Judging school, but one year, I came a day early and took in some seminars. Wow, was I hooked! Over the years the seminars have run through a host of topics demonstrating the breadth of our hobby. There have been some great teachers over the years like Harold Sharon who knew more restoration tricks that anyone I ever met. No, I’m not going to make this a roster of everyone who has attended the event, and I apologize to anyone not mentioned. The impression should be that the AACA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia is all about great people and great things – the two ingredients that make this hobby so wonderful. I know not everyone is excited about the annual meeting as I am. Geez-one year we even had someone complain about the little sticky labels on the apples in our box lunches! What I want to convey is that we have one fantastic event up there in February where you can meet great people, learn great things, and have a great time literally living, breathing, eating and sleeping the old car thing. Everything from the trade fair to the closing awards banquet is first class and thrilling to be a part of. For me, it’s a chance to meet some of our members and renew old friendships from across the country. It’s a chance to learn some things about our hobby and to share thoughts and ideas. It closes out the old year, ushers in the new one, and we get a chance to clap hands and cheer for all of the great people who brought out their beautiful cars, or worked hard on their newsletters and websites. When you see all those Region and Chapter banners hanging from the balcony at the hotel, you realize what makes this club great - the members. And Philadelphia is the place to honor them. Consider joining me in Philadelphia in February. It would be an honor to meet you, and I’m sure it will begin a tradition for you as well.
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