Contact Jon Curtis at AACA Headquarters if you would like to have a sign made: jcurtis@aaca.org or 717-534-1910.

The story of the reunion between Carole Wilson Bloom and her beloved 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso not only revolves around cherished memories but also introduces us to the man behind the car's preservation, Orwin Middleton, a passionate scientist and classic car enthusiast who purchased the iconic Lusso in 1986. (Photo Credit: Seth DeDoes)

When Carole and Orwin finally met, it was a moment filled with emotion and nostalgia. The Lusso, which had been missing from Carole's life for over four decades, was now in the hands of a true enthusiast who had kept the car's spirit alive. Orwin's gesture of allowing Carole to once again take the wheel of her cherished vehicle was a heartwarming testament to his appreciation for the car's history and the sentimental value it held for its original owner.

For fellow car enthusiasts eager to witness the beauty of this 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso, the opportunity awaits at the 2023 Western Divisional Tour from September 25-29, 2023, on California’s beautiful Central Coast.

Of course, Orwin and Alma will undoubtedly be on hand with their iconic Lusso to trade stories and make new memories with all you car junkies out there. It truly is these connections between enthusiasts and automobiles that stand as a testament to the passion and devotion shared by car lovers, as well as the rich history and sentimental value they carry. (Photo Credit: Alma Middleton)

What's better than antique cars and ice cream on a hot summer day? The Little Detroit Chapter of North Carolina met at the nostalgic Scoops Ice Cream Shop in Rutherfordton, NC. What a fun way to cool off and great way to celebrate Collector Car Appreciation Day on July 14.

The Suwannee River Region AACA loves to host the National Collector Car Appreciation Day every year. This year was no exception. On July 18th, we met at Sal’s Italian Deli in Lake City, Florida, for some great food, a good time and great cars.

This heat is so hard on our older cars and so many don’t have A/C, but we still had quite the variety of cars show up. Don Downs brought out his newly acquired Plymouth Belvedere convertible – a very fast and beautiful car, and of course my favorite color red.

One of the cars that really caught my eye was a 1960 Buick Electra convertible owned by Dennis Roberts. He also brought his two grandsons with him to shine it up. Just watching these young boys be so careful with their grandad’s car was heartwarming. You could just see that both of those boys will grow up to love the classics. That’s what this day was all about. If we can pass our knowledge, our passion, and the love we have for our cars on to them, then we can be sure that our hobby will live on in the eyes of our children and grandchildren.

Thank you to SEMA for making this event available each year!

I am a second-generation car club member, so I’ve been in it most of my life. As I think back, my dad was an ‘independent collector’ until he was in his mid-40s. He also was not typically a ‘joiner’ of clubs and such. It was also a time when several marque clubs sprang up in the area. The Model A Club was in existence and even though he had one he hadn’t joined the club. To me, the best way to recruit new members is a one-to-one strategy. Dad finally joined the local startup Model T Club because one individual showed interest in him and becoming part of the group. We still belong to this local club. 

The 2024 AACA Annual Convention will be held February 8-10 in the Dulles/Washington D.C. area at the Westfields Marriott. We have a super cool activity planned during the day on Thursday that you will not want to miss, so you may want to consider coming in on Wednesday.

Room Rate: $129 per night OR $169 per night includes breakfast for two people

Reservation Link: https://book.passkey.com/e/50584547

Reservation Phone: (800) 266-9432 (mention Antique Automobile Club of America)

Reservation Deadline: January 16, 2024

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 August 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.).

Over a decade ago, the Hornets Nest Region faced the ever-present challenge of how to involve youth in the antique car hobby. Youth Development Committee Chair Mike Munao had a new idea to put our members’ automotive knowledge to use and share it with young people. Having previous involvement with scouting, the committee began reaching out to local Boy Scout troops. “We need people to lead and teach our Automotive Maintenance Merit Badge workshops” was the response we received. We put this plan into action, and at the Fall Charlotte AutoFair in 2009, a group of five region members led a group of 20 scouts for our first ever workshop.

In the years since, the Youth Development program has expanded dramatically. Each Charlotte AutoFair we pre-register anywhere between 25-75 young people, and we have expanded it to other organizations such as the Girl Scouts, and Trail Life. We do not require membership in any organization to be a part of the program; a signed “Certificate of Completion” is awarded to participants who are not part of a youth organization.

At the beginning of the session, we discuss general respect of vehicles, as well as shop safety. We have a “touch table” where students are allowed to pick up and examine a piston, valve, carburetor, fuel injector, spark plug, distributor cap and plug wires, new and used air filters, oil filters, used belts, and an entire brake assembly. We also have a cutaway model of a small 4-stroke engine. We have a display of region member vehicles, diverse in age from the 1930s through modern era to compare and contrast the differences over the decades. We teach them how to check oil and tire pressure, how to read symbols and dash warning lights, as well as the “why” behind all of these items.

The Hornets Nest Region is proud of the program we have organically grown to serve the young people of our community and look forward to the continued growth of the program. If your region has questions or would like advice on putting together a similar program in your area, feel free to contact me.

Matt Hocker, Cataloger & Volunteer Coordinator:

Although I’ve been with AACA for more than 10 years, this was my first experience with an AACA touring event. I had no idea what to expect on Sunday’s leg of the tour but was excited for all the stops along the way, especially because I had never been to any of them before! In particular, I was blown away by the Boyertown Museum of Transportation’s phenomenal collection of vehicles both built in and with special connections to Pennsylvania; the replica Back to the Future DeLorean in the lobby also tugged on my nostalgic heartstrings. Finishing the day off at the Carousel at Pottstown was a nice touch, and I even took I ride (on a goat of all things) even though I convinced myself I would not. The only disappointment I experienced there was seeing all the fun and unique vintage pinball tables and lamenting my lack of loose change!

While sightseeing is fun, the experience would not have been half as memorable without a great group of people to share the day. I was continually impressed by the warmth and friendliness of everyone involved, including Don Barlup who drove me around in his Pontiac. Over the years, Don has joked about still having a “flip phone” and, acting as navigator, I was initially terrified of getting us lost. We took a few wrong turns in the beginning but hit our stride by the end of the day, combining the yin and yang of our flip phone and smartphone powers.

Wednesday was the proverbial “cherry on top” in terms of being able to share the library with the tour group AND the unveiling of Dan Reed’s painting of Chris. Chris’ family being there made the day even more special, and I was floored when Chris’ wife Tam sent me the message they were on their way in Chris’ Buick and Olds. Moments like these served as a reminder of the importance in seeing through the tour that Chris started planning last year. Though bittersweet without his presence, he was always there in spirit.

Amoi Goldman, Reference Librarian & Outreach Coordinator:

I'm grateful that I finally had a chance to experience an antique car tour. It was a lot of fun, and now I know why AACA members enjoy them so much. It's both a social event and a learning experience, as well as an excellent opportunity to drive or ride in an antique vehicle. I was able to attend both banquets, toured on Monday, and helped lead the experience at headquarters on Wednesday.

As a member of the library staff, attending the tour provided context and a better understanding of our members and their research needs. Many thanks to those who brought Chris Ritter's idea to fruition and provided continuity from one Directorship to another.

Contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Matthew Hocker,

at mhocker@aaca.org or 717-534-2082.

Visit AACA Library or contact our Reference Librarian, Amoi Goldman,

at agoldman@aaca.org or 717-534-2082.

Visit our Booth at Black Swan Antiquities

The cards come in packs of 12 and include envelopes. Each pack is only $12 (plus shipping). An order form was included with your July/August issue of Antique Automobile magazine. You can also purchase them in the AACA store on our website or call AACA Headquarters to place your order (717-534-1910).

If you would like to book a tour, please reach out to Amoi Goldman, AACA Reference Librarian & Outreach Coordinator, at 717-534-2082 or agoldman@aaca.org.