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It's Time for a Fresh Start
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The holidays are over and it's time to move on. How are those resolutions going? Are you finding it hard to gain any traction on your projects? Are the days flying by too fast already? Thirty days into the new year and anyone feel like you haven't really accomplished anything yet?
Things have been a bit hectic here at AACA Headquarters over the last few weeks. Staff have been reaching out to members to make sure they renew their memberships, which takes a lot of extra time. We've been preparing for the Annual Meeting, which is next week already. We've been working out the kinks on our new merchandise website and helping members set up their accounts. We've been working with all of the regions and chapters that are holding 2017 National meets and tours to print registration materials and brochures. And, just like you, the whole museum issue has been weighing heavily on all of us.
Well, I say let's pick ourselves up and start fresh! A fresh start allows you to start over and move forward. Life is a journey and it's all about the ride - not the destination. If you haven't been steering much lately, it's time to take the wheel with 2 hands and make it count. Start fresh and start today!
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Join us for the 81st AACA Annual Meeting
February 9-11, 2017, Philadelphia, PA
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HURRY! Registration Deadline is February 1!
 The AACA Annual Meeting is about 1 week away! Are YOU registered yet? Do you have all of your seminars picked out? Do you know which vendors you want to visit at the trade show? Are you attending any of the special evening events? If not, you are quickly running out of time! Here's what you need to know...
Meeting Registration Deadline: February 1
Note: This schedule is subject to change. Be sure to pick up the most up-to-date schedule on location at registration.
Don't miss these event highlights:
- First Lady's Breakfast - AACA First Lady Dot Parrish will host Friday morning's breakfast along with her teddy bear friends. It will be a fun-filled event with special entertainment no one will want to miss.
- Join us for a Fireside Chat with Bill Warner! One of the most famous men in the car hobby, Bill Warner, Chairman of the Amelia Island Concours, author of a new book on the cars of Cuba, accomplished racer, race photographer and on and on, will hold a "Fireside Chat" after the Region President's dinner (about 8:00 p.m.). The evening is FREE. If you have never heard Bill speak, you are in for a huge treat. If you have heard him before, you certainly will be excited to hear him again. Anyone who loves cars, is curious about Cuba, racing or any subject whatsoever is in for a great evening! Bill will have some of his books for sale and he will be happy to autograph them.
- 50 Educational Seminars! Topics include: restoration and maintenance, market value trends, estate planning, chrome plating, buying & selling on eBay, steering wheel recasting, effective negotiating for meets & tours, detailing tips, mopar, automobile history, collector car fraud, Shelbys, Chevys, Nash Motors, the Thomas Flyer, the library's new kinograph and much more!
- National Awards Banquet - A chance to celebrate and honor our members' achievements in grand style - 72 car-related awards, 21 service awards and 42 master editor and webmaster awards will be presented this year!
- Annual Trade Show - 34 specialty vendors, hand-picked just for AACA members will be participating this year including: Eastern Etching, D&D Automobilia, Diamond Back Classics, This Ole Coupe, A Blast from the Past, American Autowire and more! Click here for a complete vendor list.
Both the Publications Seminar and Webmasters' Forum are open to ALL members.
Are you currently involved in your region/chapter publications or website? Do you want to be? Or do you just want to learn more? Everyone is welcome!
Parking for Annual Meeting:
The hotel has its own garage and if you are staying at the hotel you will receive a discounted rate for overnight parking of $17 for self-parking and $35 for valet. You will be able to use your room key to come and go from the garage during the day. If you are just driving in for the day time (not overnight), you will receive a discounted rate of $15 for self-parking and $44 for valet. IF THE HOTEL GARAGE IS FULL... We recommend the lot next door (Gateway) as it offers a $5 rate on Friday's after 5 p.m. as well as a $7 all day rate on Saturday and Sunday. The hotel has also provided this list of other parking options.
We can't wait to see you in Philadelphia!
Remember, you must be a current AACA member to attend the Annual Meeting.
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Special Instructions for Region/Chapter Banners at Annual Meeting
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The Sheraton Philadelphia Hotel has undergone some remodeling. Good news and bad news for us. WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HANG ANY REGION BANNERS ON THE BALLROOM LEVEL! All banners must be on the Mezzanine level. We will have temporary stands against the walls to display banners which must be down by 2:00 p.m. Saturday. We are sorry for this change, but this one was out of our control and our solution is the best we could come up with at this time.
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From the AACA Library & Research Center
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AACA Library at Annual Meeting:
Movie Machine, Video Games and More!
This year marks the 81st AACA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. If you plan on attending, definitely be sure to visit the AACA Library's booth. We will be bringing our new video game collection, consisting of consoles and racing & driving simulators from the 1980s and 1990s (any donations are also welcome). Our staff will also be on-hand to answer questions, and a wide range of duplicate books will be available for sale.
We will also be hosting a special seminar on our digital film scanner, which we have affectionately named the "Movie Machine." We are using this film scanner to digitally preserve the fragile films in our collection. Attend this seminar to find out how and why it was built, learn about the challenges we had to overcome and see a live demonstration of the machine! Our seminar will be on Friday, February 10 from 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. in the Freedom Ballroom EF - Mezzanine Level.
Those of you unable to make it to this year's Annual Meeting will not be left out. You can view our digitally preserved films from the comfort of your own home. Click here
to view our YouTube playlist. These are a real treat to watch because many of them document the early history of AACA. Be sure to visit our YouTube channel from time-to-time because we will continue to add more content.
Interested in doing research with the AACA Library?
More information is available on our website.
Visit AACA Library
or
contact our head librarian,
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Harrah & Schuster Discuss the Thomas Flyer in Philly!
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At the AACA Annual Meeting, William F. Harrah and George Schuster will discuss what has been called "the most famous car restoration of all time, and the most challenging." The
World Champion 1907 Thomas Flyer
won the 1908 New York to Paris Race as the first American built automobile to win an international competition. In 1963, Mr. Harrah discovered the iconic automobile and working with Mr. Schuster, driver and winner of the 1908 Race, undertook the restoration project. With detailed images and their actual narration, you will get an inside look at this historic process.
Join us for an incredible "behind-the-scenes" experience, as told by these automotive legends. This AACA Annual Meeting presentation with Jeff Mahl as host starts at 12 noon on Saturday, February 11 in the Freedom Ballroom.
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Hershey Pre-Registration Deadline is February 15
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 In December, the Hershey Region sent pre-registration forms to all 2016 Car Corral and Flea Market participants. The pre-registration materials for the 2017 Hershey Fall Meet Flea Market and Car Corral spaces must be returned and postmarked by February 15. Additional spaces will not be sold during pre-registration. Please complete and sign your pre-registration form and send with payment to: Hershey Region AACA, P.O. Box 305, Hershey, PA 17033. If you have questions, please call 717-566-7720 Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. only, or email
fallmeet@hersheyaaca.org.
Please remember that your 2017 AACA membership dues MUST BE PAID before you send in your pre-registration form for Hershey.
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Let's Start in 1965.......
I went to Baker Chevrolet in Beaver, Pa., and ordered a new full-size Chevrolet 4-speed (small block) Super Sport. It was Willow Green. I was only driving it for a few months when I heard about Chevys new 396 engine. About a month later, the new '66 Chevelles came out with the new 396 engine. Well, I went right back to Baker Chevrolet. They had a SS 396 in the show room and it was not that pricey (radio, heater & 4-speed), so I left with the Aztec Bronze Chevelle. After two years of driving the '66 396 4-speed Chevelle, I totaled it. I had insurance issues, so I ended up with a 396 full-size Caprice.
While driving the '66 Caprice in 1969, I bought gas at a Sunoco station (back then you would get S&H Green Stamps, Top Value Stamps and Sunoco cards with each gas purchase). The little cards from Sunoco had letters printed on them and you had to spell "Camaro" in order to win. Believe it or not - I got an INSTANT WINNER! WOW! I had just won a brand new 4-speed small block Camaro! (I still have the paper work from Sunoco and my winning Sunoco ticket.)
You must remember, I was a lot SMARTER in 1969! So, I went to the car store that sold Cadillacs. I traded my '66 Caprice and the new Camaro that I had just won from Sunoco, plus financed the rest and got a brand new 1969 Eldorado. I never saw so many options in a car... blue padded top, power this and power that, you could change the radio with a button on the floor, air condition, etc. WOW! (I also still have all the car deal paper work from the Caddy & Sunoco.)
The Caddy was a "BOAT." After a few months in the Caddy, I drove it to California where I got a job as a lot boy in a friend's used car lot in Pomona, Calif. I needed to sell the big boat. A guy wanted to buy it, but only if I left the Pennsylvania plates on the Caddy. (That is a story in itself about the Pa. plates on a Calif. car!) Heck yea, I just wanted to sell it.
Okay the Caddy was now gone, so I bought a '56 Chevy Nomad Station Wagon. (Standard Calif. look on the Nomad - fancy black & red cob webs over the pearl green paint.) I drove the Nomad back to my hometown of Monaca, Pa.
I went back to work at Phoenix Glass in the Tool & Die. Dept. I drove the Nomad Wagon for a while, until some guy wanted to buy it. I sold it and now needed some wheels really quickly. I ended up buying a 1964 Red Comet Station Wagon. (Not without its problems of course - for example, when the engine went to idle, the dash oil light would blink like a turn signal.)
All of my buddy's now had GTOs, Chargers, Hemis and SS Chevelles. It was now time for me to get a new car. I went to Sahli Chevrolet in Beaver Falls, Pa., and ordered a 1970 El Camino with all of the options I could get.
My 1970 El Camino has the SS-454 Pkg. along with the M-22 4-speed, G-80 Posi, power windows, power brakes, power steering, aux lighting, A/C, AM/FM, remote D. S. Mirror, V-Top and it's triple black. I wanted it to go fast and be classy - just like the Caddy was!
I have left out some details of this story, but this is a quick view of why the El Camino that I ordered is one of 151 1970 El Caminos built with "M-22 Rock Crusher" 4-speed. That triple black SS-454 M-22 El Camino still sits in my garage today and received its Grand National Senior Award at the Williamsport Meet in 2016. Gosh! Now I got it all - ain't nutten left to get!
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"Decide quickly, make your pitch, nail down the details, don't worry about the money" very much defined the personality of which automotive industry pioneer?
or scroll all the way to the end of the
Speedster to find the answer.
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Exclusive Offer for AACA Members Attending
the Central Spring Meet in Auburn
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 As we wind down from the holiday season and the New Year, Auctions America and the AACA wish to thank those who participated in last year's Special Spring Meet and are looking forward to building on the tremendous success of the event with the 2017 Central Spring Meet. Last year's event brought over 250 registered cars to the Auburn Spring Collector Car Auction & Swap Meet.
Auctions America is pleased to announce a limited time offer to AACA members wishing to purchase vendor or car corral space for the 2017 Central Spring Meet. Simply mention your AACA membership at time of booking to receive 50% off of your booth or car corral space for the entire event weekend!
For those looking for an alternative to a weekend-long vending opportunity, consider the Retro Swap. The Retro Swap is a flashback to the '70s when car clubs would host annual Saturday morning swap meets giving car buffs a quick and easy opportunity to turn extra parts into cash. Clean out your garage and bring out your extra parts or other auto-related automobilia and join us bright and early Saturday morning as we create the ultimate automotive flea market.
This year's Auburn Spring Collector Car Auction and Central Spring Meet will take place May 11-13, 2017, at the Auburn Auction Park. Contact Connie Miller at 260-927-9797 or
vendors@auctionsamerica.com
to book your vendor or car corral space today.
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New Antiques: BMW 3 Series, Toyota Camry,
Honda Prelude Headline Class of 1992
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By Larry Printz, Reprinted from the Chicago Tribune
You might not yet be used to saying 2017 rather than 2016, but the new year brings with it a fresh batch of cars that are now 25 years old and, thereby, considered antique, according to the Antique Automobile Club of America and state legislatures. And if you're not good at math, the year those cars debuted or were redesigned would be 1992. Feeling old yet? Don't worry: You're about to feel older.
Here are the notable vehicles of '92:
- Acura Integra GS-R
- BMW 3 Series
- Buick Roadmaster sedan
- Cadillac Eldorado/Seville
- Ford Crown Victoria/Mercury Grand Marquis
- Honda Prelude
- Jaguar XJ-S
- Mazda 929
- Mercedes-Benz S-Class
- Nissan 300ZX convertible
- Subaru SVX
- Toyota Camry/Lexus ES 300
- Other all-new models in 1992: Acura Vigor, Audi 100, Buick LeSabre, Buick Skylark, Eagle Summit Wagon, Ford Taurus, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Isuzu Trooper, Mazda MX-3, Mercury Sable, Mitsubishi Diamante, Mitsubishi Expo, Nissan 240SX convertible, Oldsmobile 88, Oldsmobile Achieva, Plymouth Colt Vista Wagon, Pontiac Bonneville, Pontiac Grand Am and Toyota Paseo.
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New AACA Merchandise Website Up & Running!
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After almost 3 years of hard work, the new AACA online membership renewal and merchandise website is finally up and running! Yes, it took way longer than we expected, but we are so excited about the final product. Not only does the new site allow you to easily renew your membership, it also keeps track of your order history, allows you to create a wish list, processes payments immediately and automatically calculates shipping costs for you.
- First things first... In order to use the new site, you MUST use your 6-digit membership number and pin number to "RETRIEVE YOUR ACCOUNT" from our database. It is super-important that you "RETRIEVE YOUR ACCOUNT" and NOT create a new account. Once you "RETRIEVE YOUR ACCOUNT," an email with a temporary password will be sent to you.
3. Using your email and temporary password, you can now log in as a "REGISTERED CUSTOMER." All of your information will be retrieved from our database and your AACA store account will be created. You should no longer have to enter your name, address, etc. (unless your contact information changes) when you log in to renew your membership or purchase items. 4. At this point, check out your Account Dashboard and make sure all of your information is correct. If it's not, you should edit the information now. Then click on Account Information and scroll to the bottom where it says Change Password. Go ahead and change your password to something you can remember and hit save. You will now use your email and this password to log in to the store. We are still working on adding new merchandise to the new site, so be sure to check back often.
Now, it's time to do some shopping!
If you have any problems trying to use the new site, or do not receive the email with your temporary password, please call AACA Headquarters and we will help you... 717-534-1910 (between 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. EST).
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Did YOU Forget to Renew Your AACA Membership for 2017?
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Your AACA membership runs on a calendar year from January 1 through December 31. If you have already renewed your membership for 2017, thank you!! If you have not renewed your membership yet, please take a few minutes to do it now. Renewing your membership only takes 5 minutes and can be done one of three ways...
- Renew online - be sure to follow the above instructions and RETRIEVE YOUR ACCOUNT first! Once your account is set up on the new site, you can renew online with your credit card.
- Renew by mail - fill out the form that came with your January/February issue of Antique Automobile magazine, provide payment in the form of a check made out to AACA or your credit card information (VISA, MasterCard & Discover) and then mail it to AACA, 501 W. Governor Rd., Hershey, PA 17033
- Renew by phone - call AACA Headquarters (717-534-1910) and any of the staff here would be happy to take your renewal over the phone with a credit card payment (office hours: M-F, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time)
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AACA Past Presidents' Letter to the Membership Regarding the Museum
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We, the Board of Directors, have tried our best to avoid a continual back and forth debate with the Museum over the merger issue. Museum leadership has made it clear they have no interest in further discussions with the Club, yet they persist in what we feel is a deceptive and negative campaign aimed at every facet of our organization. We are perplexed, as this serves no higher purpose.
We had no intention of continuing to engage their behavior. However, a recent wide-spread letter from former president Art Bragg (1982) has given us cause for concern. Art is a good man and a dedicated AACA member. In this case, Art did not have all of the information at hand when that letter was drafted and sent. Now, after he has been given our side of this issue, his conclusions are not the same today.
Your board has the responsibility to make the best possible decisions for the future of AACA. They have been 100% unanimous in their decisions, which were arrived at through many months of discussions and investigation. Those decisions arose from the careful consideration of each of our 21 Board members without regard to the potential personal distress they would endure as a consequence of such a difficult and emotion-laced decision.
Much time was devoted to finding a FAIR decision for our members which protects their interests. This means all members. The failure to find common ground on a decision that would be morally right, legally correct and one that would restore the integrity to all our donation programs is upsetting. Moving forward, we must concentrate our efforts on the future of the Club and its Library and Research Center, both of which are legally "yours."
As you know your AACA board focuses on working with our regions and chapters to support them, grow the hobby and to do what is best for our membership. After two plus years of failed negotiations it is time to move on and devote even more efforts to improving our club. Your support of our mission is essential!
Our Past Presidents have been kept in the loop regarding the events surrounding the museum. Based upon the facts, they are supportive of our actions. They include many of those who were involved with the Museum both financially and otherwise since the very beginning, as well as those who have been directly involved in our discussions. These men and women care deeply about what the Club is going through, and they understand the responsibilities of the AACA board. Therefore, the following Past Presidents would like their support of AACA and its Board of Directors to be made public:
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'85 M.G. "Pinky" Randall
'86 David K. Strong
'93 Lloyd Riggs
'98 Thomas F. Howard
'01 Douglas D. Drake
'03 Joseph S. Vicini
'04 Earl D. Beauchamp, Jr.
'06 Robert "Bo" Croley
'07 David A. Berg
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'08 Sharon M. Lee
'09 Michael J. Jones
'10 Terry L. Bond
'11 Joe Gagliano
'12 Herb Oakes
'13 William "Tom" Cox
'14 Micky Bohne
'15 Donald Barlup
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Sincerely,
The AACA National Board of Directors
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AACA Custom Car Signs Available
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Do you have an AACA approved car sign for your car? AACA members can have these custom signs created to showcase all of their car's great features or to share the history and story of their car. The signs stand 16.5" high and 12" wide and are made of a hard plastic to withstand the elements. All signs include the AACA logo and website, as well as the year/make/model of your car and owner  information. The rest of the content is up to you. The signs cost $30 plus shipping and production takes about 3 weeks. You can also add an image or photo to your sign for an extra $5.
Click here for complete instructions on ordering your sign. Contact Stacy at AACA Headquarters if you would like to have a sign made or need more information: szimmerman@aaca.org or 717-534-1910.
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20% Off Advertising for AACA Regions & Chapters
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Is your region or chapter hosting a meet, tour, swap meet or other special event this year? Why not advertise it in
Antique Automobile magazine? The magazine has been published since 1937 and has an extremely enthusiastic and dedicated readership of 60,000+ hobbyists! What better place to spread the word about your event!
And as a bonus,
all AACA regions or chapters receive 20% off advertising costs in the magazine.
Click here to download the current advertising rates.
Please contact Stacy at AACA Headquarters with any questions:
szimmerman@aaca.org or 717-534-1910.
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Florida in February? Count Me In!
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HURRY!
Registration Deadline is February 1!!
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Western Spring Meet Will Not Disappoint
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 Western Spring Meet
March 23-25, 2017
Palm Springs, CA
Registration Deadline:
February 23, 2017
The Palm Springs Region AACA is proud to host the 2017 AACA Western National Spring Meet in beautiful Palm Springs, California from Thursday, March 23 through Saturday, March 25.
This sun drenched desert oasis vacation destination is returning to its glory days as a Hollywood playground, a central gathering spot for modern architectural design aficionados, musicians and artists drawn by nature's inspiration, and an increasing crowd of cool-seekers. Palm Springs has more than 350 days of sunshine with less than 5 inches of rain! Winter temperatures average in the 70s with nights in the mid-40s.
No matter how you get here, or how far you've come, it will be well worth the trip.
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Springtime in Charlotte is a Tradition
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 Southeastern Spring Meet
April 6-9, 2017
Charlotte, NC
Registration Deadline: March 14, 2017
The Hornets Nest Region extends a cordial welcome to all fellow AACA members planning to attend the Southeastern Division National Spring Meet. April is a great time of year to visit Charlotte and we are especially pleased to once again be hosting the Spring Meet. The AACA Meet is being held during the Hornets Nest Region's Charlotte AutoFair (produced each April & September) at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Free tickets to Charlotte AutoFair will be provided to each AACA owner registering a vehicle and to each registered AACA Judge.
Come enjoy the Charlotte AutoFair, the Race Car Condition Run on the Fifth Mile Track, Judging School, Youth Program, Car Show, Awards Presentation and a fabulous picnic to wrap up the meet.
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Check Out These Upcoming Meets & Tours
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New Bill Aims to Preserve Route 66 Ahead of Centennial Celebrations in 2026
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By Daniel Strohl, Reprinted from Hemmings Classic Car
Photo by Jannes Glas
While much of Route 66 remains in existence and in use, its decommissioning more than 30 years ago has left its fate largely to the various states through which the Mother Road passes, but a new bill proposes to not only coordinate the preservation of the highway on a federal level but also to provide federal funds for that effort.
The Route 66 Centennial Commission Act, also known as H.R. 66, which Representative Rodney Davis of Illinois introduced in Congress last week, not only proposes the formation of a commission tasked with celebrating the road's centennial in 2026 it also directs the U.S. Department of Transportation to prepare a preservation plan for Route 66.
What exactly of the route would be preserved would be up to the USDOT and the relevant states, according to Miles Chiotti, Davis's assistant in charge of the legislation. "There's a big desire to preserve it so as not to disturb the roadbed as much as possible," he said. "But we made sure to word it to leave it up to the DOT and the states to determine the course of action."
 Bill Thomas, president of the Route 66: The Road Ahead Initiative, which worked with Davis's office to draft the bill, said the road itself could indeed benefit from preservation in some places, as could the route's many bridges, what Thomas described as "architecturally iconic."
"You hate to see them get torn down because what goes up to replace them these days doesn't have a lot of character," he said.
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Don't Start the New Year Without Your Official 2017 AACA Calendar
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The AACA Calendar is always a hot item this time of year, so make sure to order yours before they are gone! This 13-month calendar runs from January 2017 to January 2018 and highlights National Meets and Tours in addition to moon phases, all Federal Holidays and many other observances. The best part of the annual calendar is getting to see the fabulous member cars showcased each time you flip the month. At a cost of $12 postpaid, these calendars also make great, inexpensive gifts for all of the car-lovers in your life!
To order, just call AACA Headquarters at 717-534-1910.
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AACA Calendar Spotlight
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February 9-11, 2017
AACA Annual Meeting - Philadelphia, PA
Click here for the brochure
April 25-28, 2017
Western Divisional Tour - Sonora, CA
May 11-13, 2017
Central Spring Meet - Auburn, IN
May 26-27, 2017
Eastern Spring Meet - Huntington, WV
June 4-9, 2017
Founders Tour - Gettysburg, PA
June 15-17, 2017
Annual Grand National - Independence, MO
July 17-21, 2017
Vintage Tour - Wellsboro, PA
August 17-19, 2017
Central Fall Meet - Bettendorf, IA
September 17-22, 2017
Revival AAA Glidden TourĀ® - Hastings, NE
October 4-7, 2017
Eastern Fall Meet - Hershey, PA
Ocala, FL,
the Western Spring Meet in Palm Springs, CA,
and the Southeastern
Spring Meet in Charlotte, NC.
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Who Do You Contact at AACA Headquarters for What?
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Have you ever wondered who to contact for what when you call or email AACA Headquarters? Here is a list of the current staff and their responsibilities. By clicking on someone's name below, you can email them directly.
Naturally, many of the staff have the capability of answering questions in each other's area as we try to cross train as much as possible. Please don't hesitate to contact us anytime for assistance.
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Trivia Answer
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William Crapo (Billy) Durant. That's the entrepreneurial spirit that drove the fledgling Durant-Dort Carriage Company to dominate Flint, Michigan's buggy business...and then, history repeated itself when Billy Durant used the same strategy to form General Motors.
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The Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is the country's premier resource for the collectible vehicle community. Since its formation in 1935, the Club, through its national office, publications, and membership, aids individuals, museums, libraries, historians and collectors dedicated to the enjoyment and preservation of automotive history.
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