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Everyone here at AACA National Headquarters & Library and the AACA Board of Directors wishes you a happy, healthy and safe Labor Day!
Please note that National Headquarters and the Library will be closed Monday, September 7, so the staff can enjoy the long holiday weekend with their families.
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TODAY IS ABSOLUTELY THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER YOUR CAR FOR THE HERSHEY SHOW!! | | |
Eastern Fall Nationals – Brochure
October 6-9, 2026 – Hershey, PA
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Important 2026 Hershey Reminders
- Show will run Tuesday, October 6 through Friday, October 9
- Flea Market set-up will be Monday, October 5
- Judging School will be Thursday, October 8, at 2 p.m.
- Judges Breakfast will be Friday, October 9, at 7 a.m.
- Car show will be Friday, October 9
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The Hershey show really NEEDS you!
With almost 900 cars registered and less than 200 judges signed up, it is going to be a VERY LONG day without your help. Please DO NOT wait! Sign up right now and join us for the last show of the year!
Judges Registration Deadline: September 14
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Important Hershey Information
By "Mac" MacAdam, Flea Market/Car Corral Registration Chairman,
Hershey Region AACA, fallmeet@hersheyaaca.org
With a show as big as Hershey, there are a lot of moving parts for our Hershey region volunteers to coordinate. Please help us by reviewing this important information:
1. Don’t forget to sign up for awards banquet tickets and/or antique car trailer parking if you need it.
2. There is a $20 parking fee for show car trailers parking on Boathouse Road. The fee covers the period of Tuesday, October 6, at 7 a.m. through Saturday, October 10, at 12 p.m. All vehicles must be removed by 12 p.m. Saturday or they will be towed per order of Derry Township Police.
3. TO RESERVE & RENT A SCOOTER OR GOLF CART: ScooterBug has been contracted for the 2026 Hershey show to provide pre-reserved, single passenger ECVs and double occupant golf carts for those guests who have a valid, state-issued driver's license & handicapped placard in the state in which you reside. Guests can pre-reserve this mobility equipment online at www.scooterbug.com/aaca (preferred) or call 800-726-8284 directly to reserve. There are NO refunds under any circumstances once the payment is received and equipment is reserved. (NOTE: Personal mobility vehicles are not registered by ScooterBug personnel.)
4. YES, YOU CAN BRING YOUR OWN SCOOTER: Personal electric mobility vehicles are authorized; however, they must be registered at one of the three registration areas. More information will be available in the literature you receive with your registration card.
5. Flea market and car corral windshield stickers and other important information will be mailed during the 1st week of September.
6. Attention Flea Market Vendors - SALES TAX LICENSE: If you do not have a sales tax license, you can apply online at mypath.pa.gov or call 717-783-1405. Do not use the old pa100 website as it has been discontinued. If you need more information, visit our website at hershey.aaca.com.
| | Discounted Room Rate at the Hershey Lodge | | |
Thanks once again to our partnership with RM Sotheby’s, we are able to offer all of you a discounted rate at the Hershey Lodge during the 2026 Eastern Fall Nationals happening October 6-9. The auction will back again, and the special room block is already set up. The discounted room rate is $308 a night. Selling out this room block is the best way we can ensure that the auction remains a part of our event. So, if you are ready to make your reservations for this year and have always wanted to stay at the Hershey Lodge, now’s your chance!
Book your reservations online: visit this link and use password AACA2026 (all caps)
Or call 855-729-3108 and ask for the room block for RM Sotheby’s, October 4-8, 2026.
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IMPORTANT!!! 2027 AACA National Board of Directors Election | |
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VOTE
By Dave Anspach, VP-Touring, aacadave1054@yahoo.com
One of my duties on your Board of Directors this year was to serve as chairman of the Nominations Committee. This group is charged with reviewing prospective candidates for the Board of Directors election held in the fall. They narrow the possibilities down to a reasonable size to be presented to the membership for a vote. Each year, on a rotating basis, 7 members of the board (out of 21) are voted on.
This year the committee started out with over two dozen possible candidates. This included those incumbents who were eligible and decided to run for re-election. They came from all areas and demographics of our membership. After careful review, this group was narrowed to 11 candidates that will be presented for a membership vote in the next issue of Antique Automobile.
But all of these months of work are worthless without one item...YOUR VOTE!! It is absolutely necessary that every member cast a ballot. PLEASE read every biography in the magazine and see what the candidates have to say. Your vote should reflect your personal views of how the club should be run.
And remember…you MUST vote for 7 candidates…a complete slate. Any ballots that don’t have a full 7 votes will not be counted. And don’t forget your spouse if you have a joint membership. Your ballots don’t have to be the same (mine never are), but both ballots must have 7 votes!!
Maybe next year YOU will consider running for our Board of Directors! But for now, VOTE for your Board of Directors. Your club’s future depends on it!
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In the September/October edition of Antique Automobile is a postpaid ballot for the 2027 Board of Directors election. It is your ONLY ballot and must be filled out according to the instructions or it will not be counted.
Please read the biographies of all the candidates listed in the magazine and vote for the 7 of your choice. Our candidates this year come from widely different backgrounds, so please give serious consideration to those who match your ideas of what is important to the future of the club. All ballots must have 7 names selected or they will be considered "not valid" and will not be counted.
Your ballot must be RECEIVED by November 15, 2026.
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AACA LIBRARY & RESEARCH CENTER | |
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Headquarters Hits the Road for Allentown!
Library and Headquarters staff packed up and headed out for the Grand Nationals show this month, and what a show it was! Spectators were wowed by the NB Center property where we showcased the 2026 Zenith Award nominees, sold AACA merchandise, provided tours of the facility, and held a spectacular car show throughout the multi-day event. In the evenings we visited the America On Wheels and Mack Trucks museums, and ended the week with an awards dinner to celebrate the vehicles and remarkable achievements of so many AACA members.
Thank you to everyone who came out to the event at any point during the week, or visited the library’s tent and the Bookmobile on the show field. As always, we greatly enjoyed seeing our members and friends and having the chance to catch up, talk shop, and look at beautiful cars. We want to extend our congratulations to everyone who showed a car in Allentown, and our gratitude for the many individuals who volunteered their help, support, and time for whatever was needed at any given moment – this was an event with a ton of moving parts, and we are very grateful to have had so many of you ready and willing to help in any way you could. THANK YOU!!!
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Hershey Week Volunteering
We are still looking for volunteers to help in the library during Hershey week, and need to fill a few more shifts covering our open hours on Monday and Thursday. Having enough extra hands to help is what ensures that the library is able to be open during this exciting week, which we know everyone wants to see continue. If you’d like to volunteer with the library during Hershey week, contact Matt at mhocker@aaca.org or 717-534-2082.
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Library Merch
The new AACA Library merch is now available in the online store! Show your love and support for America’s Automotive Library with vinyl stickers, window decals, and a book tote bag (which, of course, holds automobilia as easily as books). Visit the AACA Store, the Gift Shop at AACA Headquarters, or one of our events to purchase.
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| | How long has Ferrari been using the iconic “Daytona” designation for its stellar sports car? | | Please scroll all the way to the end of Speedster to find the answer. | | | | |
GRAND NATIONALS & ZENITH RESULTS | |
| THANK YOU to all of the volunteers, judges, AACA Board, AACA staff, and all of our wonderful members who participated in this years Grand National and Zenith competition in Allentown, PA! | | Winner of the Zenith award: A. Ross Myers - 1932 Packard | | |
From the CEO: Thank You for an Unforgettable Grand Nationals
By Steve Moskowitz, AACA CEO, aaca1@aaca.org
This year’s Grand Nationals and Zenith competition is now in our memory bank, but the bank vault may now be full! What a glorious event! No show is perfect and all shows have challenges including the one in Allentown but overall, we feel we delivered one of the best events in our history. If you follow social media, you will realize this event was over the top with its activities, crowd and 500 car show along with the 18 cars in Zenith.
The AACA national staff and the staff at The NB Center for American Automotive Heritage were responsible for the organization and implementation of our 2026 Grand Nationals and they worked flawlessly together to ensure that the details were covered. Our partners for the evening events were the America On Wheels Museum and the Mack Trucks Historical Museum and they were very gracious hosts.
There is much more to be said but your September/October Antique Automobile magazine will have full coverage which you do not want to miss and check out our Antique Automobile Club of America Facebook page. In the future we expect to have a lot of videos for you on aaca.org. Enjoy and thanks to all who attended or volunteered.
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2027 AACA Membership Renewals Start Soon
By Karen White, AACA Membership Manager, kwhite@aaca.org
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As most of you know, your AACA membership runs for a calendar year – January 1 through December 31.
Beginning September 1 (tomorrow), you can start using our super easy online membership renewal. Renewing online is quick and simple! Just log in with your membership number and PIN number, review the information currently listed on your membership record and make changes if necessary. Payment options include Visa, MasterCard and Discover. Your payment will automatically record to your membership record, and you will receive a confirmation email receipt.
Your membership number and PIN number can be found on your membership card. If you don’t know your membership number and/or PIN number, you can email membership@aaca.org or call AACA National Headquarters at 717-534-1910. Please DON’T try to pay your dues by using the JOIN AACA tab. This WILL NOT renew your membership – instead, it will create a new one.
If you're going to be at Hershey, you can also stop by the AACA trailer or tents and renew your membership in person with us.
We look forward to seeing or hearing from all of you very soon!
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SHARE YOUR GLIDDEN TOUR MEMORIES | |
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Over the years, the Glidden Tour has created countless memorable experiences, lasting friendships, and stories worth preserving. To help document and celebrate this important part of AACA history, we are planning an update to the Glidden Tour Memories booklet.
Members are invited to share their favorite Glidden Tour memories, anecdotes, and photographs for possible inclusion in the revised edition. Whether it's a memorable roadside repair, a special friendship, a favorite tour stop, or a photograph that captures the spirit of the event, we'd love to hear from you.
You can view the current Glidden Tour Memories booklet here.
Please send your stories and photos to vincentdelisi@comcast.net. We look forward to preserving more of the memories that have made the Glidden Tour such a special part of the antique automobile hobby.
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It Takes a Tiny Blue Car to Meet My Neighbor John
By Dennis Moore, Coatesville, PA, dmoore@ameridrill.com
This is a member submitted article.
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Living in the same house for my entire 68 years, I have experienced a time when everyone in the neighborhood knew each other's name, and more recently, a time when if I give a wave, I am lucky if I receive a wave back. This was never the case with John, who moved into the neighborhood a couple of years ago. I didn’t know his name at the time, but whenever I waved, there was always a wave back. It might be the fact that John had a 1970 Impala convertible sitting in his driveway and I my 1953 Ford F-100.
One Friday afternoon, coming home from work, I drove by John’s home and saw a tiny blue car sitting in his driveway. I had to stop by John’s and learn about this vehicle — oh, and also John’s name. John told me about his 1938 Austin Big 7, but more importantly, the story behind the car.
I enjoyed what he told me so much that I asked him if he would write down his story so I could share it with my local car club. What follows is John’s story about the 1938 Austin Big 7. I hope you find it as interesting as I did.
All it takes is a tiny blue car on a Friday afternoon, on your way home from work, to hear a great story and get to know your neighbor.
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"My grandfather, Frederick Naylor, was born in 1898 and joined the Royal Flying Corps at 17 after lying about his age. He spent World War I in France and Belgium repairing biplanes. By 1938, he was married with two children and working as a boiler inspector when he purchased the Austin Big 7 that would become part of our family history. Shortly after, World War II began, and Austin shifted from making cars to munitions. My grandfather, his family, and the car survived the war in London — even a bomb dropped in their back garden didn’t take it from them.
After the war, he tried to buy a new Austin, but the waitlist was four years long. By the time his turn came, he had grown very attached to the Big 7 that had carried his family through wartime. He decided to keep it “a little longer,” which became 28 years. He maintained it himself, driving it daily until he passed in 1965.
A few months later, my grandmother gave the car to a friend's son who needed transportation for university. She couldn’t bring herself to watch it leave, so she asked them to pick it up while she was out.
Though I never met my grandfather — I was only a week old when the car was given away — the Big 7 was a constant story in my childhood. My mother, his youngest daughter, remembered watching him work on the car and handing him tools. It was their special connection, one that shaped her memories.
Years later, after I moved to Chester County and began visiting the Classic Car Auto Mall, I noticed several Austins and wondered if any resembled my grandfather’s. I asked my mum, now 87, and her description was remarkably vivid. She had spent her entire childhood and young adulthood in that car — vacations, learning to drive, even taking her driving test.
With her details, I looked up images online. My final question to her was whether she remembered the license plate. She immediately replied, “HPA 91.” I was stunned she recalled it after 60 years.
The next day, I searched for the number online. At first I found nothing — until I tried image search. There it was: a color photograph of HPA 91 on a jigsaw puzzle box. The car had clearly survived decades beyond my grandfather.
I called my friend Tom in the UK. He helped look up the plate, and we discovered it had last been inspected in 2012 — the year inspections were no longer required. That meant the car could still be out there.
After more searching, Tom contacted the Austin 7 Club Commissioner. Within an hour, he had tracked the car down. With the owner’s permission, Tom and I spoke to him — and soon he was talking with my mum. They were the same age, both from London, and instantly connected.
The current owner had found the car vandalized in a hedge decades earlier and restored it in the 1990s. He had worked in the automotive industry and even serviced cars for Princess Margaret.
Last summer, I visited England and saw the car in person. He took us for a drive. Later, when his health declined, he offered me first refusal if he ever needed to sell it. Over Christmas, he reached out — and I agreed to buy it.
On March 28, the Austin Big 7 arrived in the U.S. after traveling by ferry from Southampton to Newark. The little blue car that began in London nearly a century ago is now part of my family once again."
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We are always looking to feature articles from AACA members in Speedster. We'd love to share your personal accounts of tours and shows you have attended, restoration projects, unique vehicle stories and history, and any other stories you think other AACA members would enjoy hearing about.
Stories should average 500 words or less. And we love photos, so make sure to include some! Please send your photos and stories to Chrissy Arnold.
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2027 AACA Annual Convention Call for Speakers
February 4-6 – King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
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Have you ever thought about speaking or putting on a seminar at the Annual Convention? Well, now's your chance! If you would like to be a possible speaker, please fill out this form and send it in no later than September 15.
Have an idea for a workshop? What topics would you like to hear a panel of experts discuss? This is YOUR Annual Convention, and we want to know what you want to learn about. Please email Stacy with your seminar ideas and/or speaker suggestions (membership, leadership, chapters/regions, marketing, cars, technical, fun, historical, ladies-focused, etc.).
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2026 Holiday Cards - 1965 Mustang
Pack of 12 (5” x 9”) Holiday Cards featuring a 1965 Ford Mustang.
Inside verse reads: "Merry Christmas & Happy New Year"
$12.00
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2026 Holiday Cards - 1948 Town and Country
Pack of 12 (5” x 9”) Holiday Cards featuring a 1965 Ford Mustang.
Inside verse reads: "Happy Holidays"
$12.00
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2027 AACA Calendar
AACA's Official 2027 Event Calendar featuring 2026 AACA President Vicki Bolton.
All AACA Nationals & Tours are highlighted.
$14.00
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Sweet Wheels
By Walt Gosden, Guest Contributor, coachworklines@aol.com
This is a member submitted article.
Advertising on commercial vehicle bodies has been ongoing since “trucks” have been used to transport goods and products, dating back to the horse-drawn vehicle days. To gin attention, special bodies were built to order at considerable expense for materials and labor. The body you see here was completed in early 1928 and was featured in the industry magazine Autobody in April of that year.
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It was referred to as a Bungalow Candy delivery truck and was constructed on a REO truck chassis. The body was built by William Erby & Sons Co. of Chicago. The body was ordered by Mrs. Stover’s Bungalow Candies. The chassis could carry one ton of chocolate candy for delivery to stores!
The body was designed to resemble a house style that was popular in the 1920s, known as a bungalow.
As you can see, it was quite striking in design and appearance. Some details of its construction were an oak and ash frame with poplar clapboards. The windows in the body of the house, aft of the driver’s compartment, were mirrored glass facing out to reflect the sun! The roof covering was metal tiles that were screwed in place. Note the attention to detail: even small garden trees were added to the running boards. No mention was made of the color, but to remain true to the bungalow-style house it resembled, the color was most likely white with a red roof.
It was noted in Autobody that this truck attracted considerable attention when on the road making deliveries.
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ATTENTION: REGIONS & CHAPTERS | |
| Is YOUR Region/Chapter Prepared to Recruit New Members? | | |
$3,000-$5,000 Grants Available to Regions Hosting National Activities
The AACA National Board of Directors realizes that the financial risk involved with hosting a national show or tour has caused many regions and chapters to be hesitant to volunteer to host a national event. Some regions simply do not have the funds available to even think about hosting.
The board has approved a grant program for any region receiving board approval to host a national event. A national car show must not have been hosted for more than ten years. There is no time restriction on national tours, but tours must include a minimum of 30 cars.
Here's how it breaks down:
- $5,000 grants available to regions hosting national car shows
- $5,000 grants available to regions hosting national 5-day tours
- $3,000 grants available to regions hosting national 3-day tours
There are many opportunities to host one of these events. We have Winter Nationals available and will schedule up to three years in advance. Spring and Fall National shows are available to schedule for Eastern, Southeastern, Central and Western Divisions, also up to 3 years in advance.
Touring events share the same opportunities. Founders Tour, Sentimental Tour, Vintage Tour, Reliability Tour, Glidden Tour and all four Divisional Tours have available openings for your region to reserve for up to three years in advance.
For more information, please contact Greg Jackson, VP National Activities, at greg.jackson15@outlook.com or 704-408-6217.
Don’t miss this opportunity to host a national event. Take advantage of this special grant program while the National Board has this offer available!
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Know a Military Veteran Who Would Like to be an AACA Member? | |
The Military Membership Program is available to Military Veterans that have proudly served to protect our homeland and freedoms. With this program, AACA is extending complimentary 2027 memberships for first-time AACA applicants. More information on this program and an application can be found on the AACA website under Membership and drop down to Military Program, or simply click here.
These complimentary 2027 memberships are for first-time AACA applicants. These complimentary applications for membership are intended for individuals who have a genuine interest in the antique car hobby.
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WE APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK | |
| Did this month’s news, events, and member stories hit the mark? | | | | | | |
AACA hosts online forums! AACA hosts a massive online forum area on our website that you can read and/or join in on the conversations on all sorts of topics. People post some really interesting material and pictures on an everyday basis. If you haven't used the forums before, just use the sign-up button in the upper right corner to create your user account. Anyone can join the online forums and it's completely free. | | |
AACA has Facebook! AACA has an official Facebook page for club information and events. We also have an extremely active Facebook group, where group members post, ask questions and discuss everything and anything car-related. LIKE our Facebook page and ask to JOIN our Facebook groupour Facebook group. Don't forget to connect with the AACA Library on their official Facebook page as well.
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AACA is on Instagram! @antiqueautomobileclubofamerica
Be sure to use these hashtags: #DrivingHistory, #AACA, #AntiqueAutomobileClubofAmerica, #Hershey, #AACAHershey, #AACAproud, #AACAstrong
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Ferrari only formally started using the “Daytona” designation in 2023 for its new SP3 which is part of its naturally aspirated V12 Icona range. From 1968 to 1973, “Daytona” was merely an unofficial nickname coined by enthusiasts and the Press for the 365 GTB4 (which is how it was marketed, as a Berlinetta coupe) because it placed first, second and third in the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona race. The Ferrari 365 GTS4 (“Daytona” Spider convertible) stablemate was produced from 1971 to 1973. | | | | |
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Antique Automobile Club of America
AACA.org | 717-534-1910
America’s Premiere Resource for the Collectible Vehicle Community
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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. | | | | |
