October 2022 | Volume 166 |
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What Did You See at Hershey? |
Enjoy a few photos from Hershey Week, and remember to check out the
complete wrap-up article and even more photos in the
November/December issue of Antique Automobile magazine...
Also, if you missed the car corral or just want to take another “walk” through it, check out this awesome video from AACA member Matt Murray and Mike Hamm from IronTrap Garage.
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Hershey Facebook Posts Worth Repeating |
This year, I saw several Facebook posts about the Hershey show from members that really caught my eye and I thought they would be great to share here in Speedster… I hope they make you smile. 😊 |
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I have seen quite a few posts and comments throughout the week that share a negative narrative in one way or another, so I thought I would share something positive. I am very new to the hobby, and just experienced my first Hershey. At age 31, I am the proud owner of a few prewar cars, and have really caught the bug of the hobby. As soon as I saw some success, it was not a modern-day supercar that intrigued me. It was a 1928 Buick Roadster and more recently a 1928 LaSalle, and a 1930 Packard.
As a newcomer, walking around the grounds, was an opportunity to meet vendors and fellow enthusiasts. The program the AACA sold at the entry points was fabulous. As a newcomer, it helped me know where to go, but more importantly it is now a great resource for connecting with vendors following the show, either through social media, websites, or by telephone. I know that I personally have a list I intend to connect with in the weeks to come.
It is very easy in all aspects of life, to reflect on how things used to be. I wish I had been around for the “good old days” of Hershey, but as someone who did not get to experience them, I’d say the present is pretty damn incredible! Obviously, it takes a community of volunteers, vendors, clubs, associations, enthusiasts, and committees to make it all happen – to you, I say thank you! By keeping this tradition alive, you are giving new enthusiasts, like myself, the opportunity to meet those with knowledge, stories, and advice, that we will hold on to for the rest of our lives. To me, the value of those moments is priceless and why I will return annually!
-- Kyle Ecclestone, Queensville, ON
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I might not be the average member of AACA, or even close to a percent of the normal members. Having a car that made the judges scratch their head on what class to put me in and being of an age group that generally doesn’t appreciate the preservation of classic cars. But I absolutely loved Hershey today. For my first AACA event ever it was just an absolute blast. I had so many amazing conversations, met so many different people, and just saw so many other happy people. I can’t wait to come back for years to come. AACA thank you so much for a wonderful day, definitely worth taking the day off of work.
-- Dominick Hyatt, Chambersburg, PA
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He sold over 25 hubcaps and misc car stuff. He is hooked!! Said dad we need to hit some auctions to get stuff for next year! lol
-- Matthew Riley, Lilly, PA
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Go enjoy the show today! As I leave this morning to head up to Hershey for Judges Breakfast, I'm going to be a slightly grouchy old man about the last day's events. Every year, regardless of the day of the week, folks talk about all the venders leaving and the last day being a waste. And I know not everyone has this attitude, but it's a lot of folks. It becomes a self-fulfilled problem. The last day is the best day! Face it, the parts these days ARE available online, so are the connections to the bigger and rarer stashes. Maybe not directly through you, but someone you know. Today is a GREAT day to go to the show... it's the day of the show!!! So many members have put so much work into what the spirit of the club has been for decades. Preserving and restoring the cars we love. Maybe you're done with your car and just need a part or two, maybe you haven't found your car at all yet... maybe you do value going row by row looking for parts to complete a project, maybe you own 100. If you never venture over to the show field, get over there today and enjoy. Stop at the vendors on your way through. Give them a reason to stay late. Yes, I worked in a vendor tent every year growing up and I know you want to get cleaned up and start traveling home... but the last day of the show should be the best day for everyone to enjoy and to spend money. Let's start working on a new tradition of staying a little later and enjoying one another's company and the cars many have worked so hard to present.
-- Doug Frantz, Lewisberry, PA
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RM Sotheby’s Auction, Chris Ritter and One Amazing Night
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Upon our Library Director’s tragic death, I somehow had the presence of mind to contact my friends at RM Sotheby’s about the possibility of doing something for the Ritter family. My immediate worry was how would Tamara Ritter, Chris’ wife, manage to support the family and make sure her children had a chance for an education without Chris’ income? I sat down with Rob Myers, the founder of RM, and easily made him understand the gravity of the situation. He asked how he could help and eventually said, “Let me talk to our team. We will do something.”
Rob later informed me that RM would auction a car on Thursday night and give the buyer’s premium of the winning bid to the Ritter family. A very nice gesture! However, he then took it a step further and said that he wanted me onstage with him to reach out to the audience to participate in a fundraising drive. I am not ashamed to say that Chris’ death left me teary-eyed from the day I got the news. The loss was just too raw, and I really did not want to be on that stage that night, but as they say, “The show must go on.”
What happened next was nothing short of miraculous and as Rob indicated in his words to the audience the old car hobby has a heart like no other. Rob’s speech was very heartfelt, and his support was genuine. He extolled the packed house to donate, and a prominent collector immediately pledged $25,000 to the gasp of the audience. Another very important person to our club matched that donation and we were off to the races. With Rob’s unique style of pushing his friends the bids kept coming. We finished the night with the astronomical sum of $150,100, including a second donation from Rob!
The money continues to roll in and we fully expect the fund to go over $200,000. This money will be put into a protected account for the future education of Chris’ two boys Pierce and Case. As of this writing various legal fund options are under consideration, but you can be assured that Tam will honor the requests of all donors. For now, you are welcome to send any donations to the Pierce and Case Ritter Fund, c/o AACA, 800 West Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, PA 17033. Checks should be made out to the Pierce and Case Ritter Fund. Donations are not expected, but for those who decide to give they are deeply appreciated.
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Remembering Chris Ritter: Candid Moments from The Appraisers
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Please enjoy this collection of outtakes and candid moments Chris had while filming for the TV show, The Appraisers. You can tell he's truly in his element, and this is how many of us remember him. We really appreciate Chip Taylor Productions taking the time to provide this footage and for allowing us to share these treasured moments with all of you.
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Scholarship Application Deadline is November 1! APPLY IMMEDIATELY!!
Click the links below for more information and to download the applications for each scholarship.
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How do I apply?
Completed applications should be returned to:
Debbie Nolen, AACA VP Youth Development/Scholarship
5805 Centralia Rd, Richmond, VA 23237
REMINDER: All scholarship applications are due by November 1 and will be awarded at the AACA Annual Convention in February.
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LAST CHANCE TO VOTE!!!
2023 AACA National Board of Directors Election
Send Your Ballots in Right Now!
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In the September/October edition of Antique Automobile is a postpaid ballot for the 2023 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 postmarked by November 15, 2022.
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It's Time to Renew Your AACA Membership
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As most of you know, your AACA membership runs for a calendar year – January 1 through December 31. From now through the end of the year, AACA Headquarters gets a little crazy with membership renewal phone calls and mail. It's not uncommon for us to receive several hundred renewals in a day. Even though it's our busiest time of the year, making sure we get our 45,000+ members renewed is always our top priority.
A renewal form was included with your most recent issue of Antique Automobile magazine. Simply fill out the form and send it back to the office with a check or credit card information in the blue envelope that was provided. If you have misplaced that form, don’t worry. You will receive another form with your November/December issue of Antique Automobile magazine.
If you prefer to renew your membership over the phone with a credit card, please call us at 717-534-1910 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. EST.
We look forward to hearing from all of you very soon!
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Give the Gift of AACA Membership |
We can't think of a better gift to give someone who loves this hobby than an AACA membership. Do you have friends and family who aren't current members and enjoy antique cars as much as you do? With the benefits of Antique Automobile magazine and the Library & Research Center alone, how can you go wrong?!
An AACA membership is a unique gift that gives
all year long! Call us today at 717-534-1910 to purchase a gift membership for 2023!
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AACA Library: Fall Hershey
Wrap-up & October Happenings
By Amoi Goldman, AACA Reference Librarian
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October was an intense time for the AACA Library. To quote from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”
The week of the Eastern Fall Nationals in Hershey brought people from all over the country and around the world to the library. Some visitors came to see the new building and library for the first time, and others took advantage of the opportunity to do some in-person research. It certainly seemed like the busiest week of the year in the library.
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This was also the year that the Library Yard Sale returned after a two-year hiatus. Even though it had been raining throughout the day on Tuesday, many enthusiastic participants showed up in the late afternoon to attend the sale and pore over duplicate sales literature, shop manuals and books held in two tents behind the new AACA Headquarters building. Grilled hotdogs hit the spot for tired, hungry and chilly volunteers and shoppers.
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The 2022 Library Yard Sale was a great success! Many people found items to purchase, and as a result, $23,272 was raised for the library, which more than doubled the previous record! We owe our success to dedicated customers and our extremely talented volunteers. A big shout out to Karns Fresh Foods who helped to sponsor the 2022 Library Yard Sale. We are excited about the next Library Yard Sale and have already begun discussing ways to improve the experience. |
During Hershey Week, the library also sponsored three seminars on interesting topics. Alexander Soultanis returned to share the remarkable restoration story of his 1944 KdF-Wagen Beetle. Soultanis also manages the KdF Beetle Registry. Author Ronald Sieber discussed speedsters which is the topic of his most recent book, Classic Speedsters. Pat Mescher, owner of Bill’s Speedometer Shop in Bellbrook, Ohio, demonstrated the repair, maintenance and calibration of speedometers.
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Beautiful weather ushered in the car show at the end of the week. Inspiration was in the air. The library staff led by Matt Hocker, Acting Library Director, set up the first ever pop-up Library Yard Sale. Special items that remained from the official Library Yard Sale earlier in the week were brought back out for purchase. Many items sold and another $2,154 was raised for the library. It was another resounding success! |
Those of us associated with the library were proud of our achievements leading up to and including Hershey Week, but it was bittersweet. We were saddened not to be able to share our accomplishments with Chris Ritter, our fearless leader. His leadership and guidance as Library Director allowed us to carry on after his passing and to be successful.
To honor the life of Chris Ritter, a Celebration of Life event was held on October 16th at the Grimes Airport in Bethel, Pennsylvania. It was well attended by friends, family members and classic vehicles. Some of Chris’ favorite vehicles were on display, including his small 1946 airplane and the AACA Library Bookmobile. The somber “missing man formation” was performed by pilots flying four small airplanes including Chris’. It was followed by Taps. Although we have said good-bye to Chris, we are fortunate to have many timeless memories of him.
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Chris was very supportive of our outreach activities. He was especially instrumental when we invited the Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA) to include our library as a tour destination for their 2022 conference attendees in Harrisburg. They were delighted with the idea and incorporated a dessert reception arranged with a local caterer as part of their visit. We continued with the event as a legacy to Chris. The PaLA tour and reception took place on October 18th. It was a great opportunity to show off our facility to library professionals throughout the Commonwealth. To bring the event full circle, several of Chris Ritter’s former library colleagues attended the event. |
Interested in Doing Research with the AACA Library?
More information is available on our website. Visit AACA Library or contact our
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Still Looking to Get This Year’s Official Hershey Poster? |
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Did you forget to pick up this year’s official Hershey poster while you were here? Did you “misplace” your poster while you were wondering around the flea market? Were you unable to make the trek to Hershey this year, but would still love to get a poster? Well, you are in luck! We happen to have a small supply of this year’s poster remaining.
World-renowned automotive artist David Snyder received the honor of creating this unique work of art gracing the official 2022 Hershey poster. The posters are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The cost is $25, plus $9 shipping.
Please send an email with your order to Karen at kwhite@aaca.org or give us a call at 717-534-1910 (M-F, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. EST).
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RM Sotheby’s Auction Recap:
Brass Era and AACA Classics Shine at Hershey
Photo Credit: Ethan Gibson ©2022 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
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Whether arriving from all points west, south, east or north, in 2022, truly all roads led to Hershey. Kicked off with a rally of classic cars which departed from Detroit with several RM Sotheby’s staff leading the way to the home of classic automobiles and automobilia in the scenic Pennsylvania hills. This year marked the 16th anniversary of serving as the official auction of the Antique Automobile Club of America Eastern Fall Nationals, and once again RM Sotheby’s brought our brand’s signature lineup of quality selections to the Hershey Lodge. Inside, the bidding remained strong throughout the auction, with 94% of all lots finding new caretakers after the final gavel fell Thursday evening.
Among the noteworthy sales were two standout headliners, representing top-tier technology for their respective eras. A 1914 Thomas Model K-6-90 Flyabout, formerly part of the famed William Harrah Collection, hammered home for an impressive $594,000 USD. The lot of the whole two-day event was undoubtedly a 1930 Cadillac V-16 Sport Phaeton, one of a mere seventeen built with the rakish body style, resplendent in its original Bottle Green color scheme. An AACA Full Classic owned by a string of collectors including John Runyan, Otis Chandler and Keith Crain, it sold for a well-deserved $880,000 USD.
As RM Sotheby’s Car Specialist Jake O’Gorman summarizes: “Hershey is one of our favorite events each year. The auction offers a unique opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts to see some of the greatest examples of brass era and pre-war cars. It’s exciting to see collectors with such a high interest in these incredible cars, with a span of over 80 years crossing the block in Hershey – proving that the market for pre-war cars is still very strong.” Indeed, the two-day total amounted to over $10 million.
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Top 10 Lots
1. 1930 Cadillac V-16 Sport Phaeton by Fleetwood, $880,000
2. 1914 Thomas Model K-6-90 Flyabout, $594,000
3. 1931 Pierce-Arrow Model 41 Convertible Victoria by LeBaron, $418,000
4. 1931 Marmon Sixteen Convertible Sedan by LeBaron, $330,000
5. 1923 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Pall Mall Tourer by Merrimac, $297,000
6. 1941 Packard Custom Super 8 One Eighty Convertible Victoria by Darrin, $264,000
7. 1987 Buick Grand National GNX, $231,000
8. 1931 Cadillac V-12 Convertible Coupe by Fleetwood, $198,000
9. 1934 Packard Super Eight Coupe Roadster, $192,500
10. 1958 Buick Limited Convertible, $187,000
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American classics took home nine of the top ten spots of the Hershey auction, with eight of those representing pre-war. With a wide-ranging offering that spanned two days ranging from three London-to-Brighton-eligible Veterans to a generous assortment of automobilia curated by RM Sotheby’s in-house specialist Kurt Forry. One notable exception of this pre-war trend would be the always-venerable 1987 Buick Grand National GNX, which brought a respectable $231,000 USD. For those aficionados of American classics, once you experience Hershey, there is nowhere else like it. Until next year.
In an emotional moment in the middle of the second day of the auction, company founder Rob Myers paused the proceedings and invited AACA CEO Steve Moskowitz to the stage to solicit donations for a good cause. As many of you know, the AACA family has suffered a recent tragedy with the unexpected death of its Library Director, Chris Ritter. Myers’ call for donations was miraculously heeded, and in a matter of minutes more than $150,000 was raised to help Chris’ family followed by a spirited round of applause showing sincere appreciation on everyone’s part.
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Please scroll all the way to the end of Speedster to find the answer. |
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In 1943, Columbia Pictures released the first Batman theater film serial which was inspired by the DC Comics character. Then, a Batman and Robin series followed in 1949.
What were the original Batmobiles used by Columbia?
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Hershey: The Early Years, Part 2
Photos provided by the AACA Library & Research Center
This is a member submitted story.
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After my first trip to Hershey in 1972, I was determined to go again in 1973 and maybe a day or two earlier. The first thing I thought I should do was to find a motel closer to Hershey than York, PA. I found out rather quickly that that was going to be a challenge. Most hotels/motels were already booked early for the event in 1973, but they all said they would put me on the wait list in the event of a cancellation. Then Joyce saved the day. In her travels throughout the area in 1972, she had checked out the Hershey High Meadow Campground. Her suggestion was, “Why don’t we stay at the campground? We have the camping equipment.” I said, “You can’t be serious?”
She was! I had no problem camping out. I certainly had enough experience with it in the military. Joyce thought it would be fun and pointed out how close I would be to the flea market area (only three miles!). She said when she was a Girl Scout it was great fun, so why not? So, I called Hershey High Meadow Campground and had no problem getting a campground space for tenting.
Now, what happened next some would call strange, others would say unbelievable or even ironic – you choose... After setting up our tent at Hershey High Meadow Campground, we met our neighbors in the next space over to the right as you face the creek. They were three friends from Indianapolis, IN, and their names were Paul, Michael and Steven. Joyce and I looked at each other and said, “You have got to be kidding?” They wanted to know what was wrong. Nothing we told them, except for the fact that we had three sons whose names were Paul, Michael, and Steven.
They were a crazy bunch, but 44 years later they are still friends and when we take our trip to Denver, CO, we always stop in Indianapolis and have dinner with them. It’s so true when they say that many times you meet and make lifelong friends at Hershey.
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The weather in 1973 was sunny, warm and hot. Everyone seemed to be having a great time. While roaming through the Blue Field, I got a lead on two Cadillacs. A 1938 60 Special and a 1948 61 Series sedan. The ‘48 was in the New Jersey area not far from where my brother and his family lived. The ‘38 was somewhere in eastern Pennsylvania – I just don’t remember where exactly. The owner of the ‘48 said he was heading home on Saturday if I wanted to come and look at the Caddy on Sunday. I told him, “This will work out great.” My brother lived in the area, so I thought we would head over to his home to visit and on Sunday we could go check out the Cadillac.
On the way to Suffern, NY, we stopped and checked out the ‘38 60 Special. It was not a bad looking car, but the owner wasn’t there so there was no opportunity to hear it run. So, on to New York we went. It was dark when we arrived at my brother’s home. The garage, which was located under the house, was open. So, I walked through the garage to the door to the family room. I opened the door to the family room and see my nephew Kevin and my niece Karen sitting there watching TV. Karen took one look at me, jumped up and went running through the house shouting, “Mommy! Daddy! There’s a strange man in the house!” Kevin just stood there and looked at me.
My brother Roger showed up and said, “Hiya Bob, what’s up?” He turned to Karen and said, “It’s your Uncle Bob and Aunt Joyce.” Karen, 13 at the time, just laughed. My brother said they were just getting ready to go out to dinner. I told him what was going on and we didn’t want to interrupt their plans, but it was family, and we always had a very strong relationship, so everything was fine. We had a good time at dinner and the next day my brother and I hiked over to New Jersey to check out the ‘48 Cadillac. There it was in this huge garage underneath this large upscale apartment complex sitting between two Rolls-Royces.
The Cadillac was nice, low mileage at 34,000, beautiful original interior, and sounded and ran well. It did have one grille bar that had a dent, but that was about it for imperfections. It had been repainted sometime in the past and it was okay, but not the original color. It was a deal! I gave the owner a deposit and told him I would be back with the balance in a few weeks and pick up the car then.
A few weeks later, we rounded up our kids and headed back to Suffern, NY, for a combined family visit and to pick up the Cadillac. The trip home was uneventful. A 25-year-old Cadillac and it ran just great without a single problem. I drove the Cadillac, Joyce drove the station wagon, and the kids took turns riding in the “old car.”
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We want to hear from you! 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 about 500 words or less. And, we love photos, so make sure to include some! Please send your photos and stories to Stacy Zimmerman at szimmerman@aaca.org. |
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2023 AACA Annual Convention – Save the Date! |
The 87th AACA Annual Convention returns to Williamsburg, Virginia, February 9-11, 2023. The plan is to bring back a lot of the great activities that you have come to love and expect at the Annual Convention including educational seminars, trade show vendors, multiple-level judging schools and of course the Awards Banquet.
We also want to shake things up a bit with a few surprises up our sleeve including changing the traditional First Lady's Breakfast to a Special Luncheon hosted by the First Lady, which will be open to all attendees. We will also be adding a Welcome Reception hosted by your AACA Board of Directors on Thursday evening. Plans are also in the works to possibly add a daytime tour activity on Thursday.
The Annual Convention committee is hard at work finalizing all of the details for the big event. Registration materials, hotel information and the seminar schedule should be available very soon.
We hope you will consider joining us for this very special annual event!
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Trade Show Booths Available at AACA Annual Convention |
Does your business want direct exposure to AACA members? Do you like selling your services face-to-face to hobby enthusiasts? Are you hosting an event in 2023 or 2024 that you want our members to know about? Then why not secure some booth space at one of the best AACA events of the year?
The past few years have been tough for everyone, but especially for small businesses. So why should you pick our trade show over all the others? Our trade show is not a mammoth show with thousands of vendors in a convention hall the size of a city block. We do not have tens of thousands of attendees running past your booth so fast that it's all just a blur in the end and no real leads to follow-up with.
We keep our show a little more intimate by limiting our vendors to no more than 100, which allows our attendees plenty of time to visit all of the booths. We also hand-select our vendors to meet the specific needs of our members. Our event usually draws about 1,000 super-active members, which makes us one of the few shows to offer you a significant amount of one-on-one time with your ideal target market.
New for 2023! We are offering all trade show vendors the opportunity to present a pre-scheduled 15-minute mini-seminar inside the trade show room at your booth, so you can pitch your products and services directly to our members.
Interested? Have questions? Want to get your name on the list right now?
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Membership Corner: Thank You Membership Volunteers
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The last quarter of the year is always a busy one when it comes to recruiting new AACA members and this year is no different…
On the last Sunday of September, AACA was invited to participate in the Concours d’Elegence on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. What a beautiful day and location for a display of such wonderful automobiles on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. With the help of my son Gary, Jr., we were able to set up a membership table and spend the day speaking with those in attendance regarding the many benefits of becoming a member of AACA. Throughout the day, it was surprising how many people did not know what AACA was and what we have to offer. When you are out with your car or sharing the hobby with others, please remember to tell people about AACA and what they do to promote the automobile hobby. The day was productive, and we have been invited back for their show in June of 2023.
As we approached the month of October, I braced myself for what I knew would be a whirlwind of events. The first event was Fall Carlisle, where members of the Gettysburg Region who have set up a great display of their members’ cars and an AACA membership table for the past couple of years were eager to do so again. This year was the first time that our new membership tent was displayed. It looks very professional and has a large picture of our new Headquarters and Library Research Center displayed on the inside back wall of tent. It was a great attraction as people commented on it who had not had the privilege of seeing the new building yet. The next 3 days were busy obtaining new members and having existing members pay their dues for 2023. Due to a tropical storm coming into the area on Saturday, we were not able to have the tent up. I would like to thank everyone from the Gettysburg Region that participated at Carlisle and ensured that AACA had proper representation.
Fall Hershey quickly approached as we hoped for another busy week. The weather at the beginning of the week was not great. It rained most of the day on Tuesday and much of Wednesday as well. Despite the weather, we were ready to man the locations in the Chocolate and Green Fields for membership. I would like to thank the many volunteers that helped at all of the locations during the week. It turned out to be a very successful week with many renewals for the upcoming year and many new applications being obtained. I was also able to sign up a new life member – a young gentleman only 29 years old who had been wanting to join for some time. After he completed his application, I asked him if he had any friends as he now joins the efforts of recruiting.
As the year winds down, let’s remember that membership is the key to the success of AACA and it is everyone’s responsibility. Just think… if every current member brought in just 1 new member in 2023 how great would that be? An effort like that would absolutely solidify AACA’s future for years to come!
Again, thank you to all of volunteers at all of the membership events this year and those who may be asked to help at events in the future. We couldn’t do this without your commitment.
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Check Out These Upcoming AACA National Activities... |
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Start 2023 Off Right With Your Official AACA Calendar |
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The AACA Calendar is always a hot item this time of year, so be sure to order yours before they are gone! This 13-month calendar runs from January 2023 to January 2024 and highlights AACA National Activities 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 only $12 postpaid, these calendars also make great, inexpensive gifts for all of the car-lovers in your life!
To order, please call AACA Headquarters at 717-534-1910 or go online to the AACA Store. An order form was included with your most recent issue of Antique Automobile magazine.
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It's Time to Order Your AACA Holiday Cards |
AACA Christmas and holiday cards are an annual tradition for many members. These beautiful 5x7 cards feature artwork from renowned artist Ken Eberts, whose paintings have graced Antique Automobile magazine covers. This year, we have two new designs...
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“All the Presents Are Loaded
in the New Mercury”
1954 Mercury Monterey
Inside: Season’s Greetings
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“Christmastime at Pop’s Station”
1953 Ford F100 pickup and
1949 Mercury station wagon
Inside: Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
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The cards come in packs of 12 and include envelopes. Each pack is only $12 (plus shipping). An order form was included with your most recent 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).
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AACA’s Oral History Project |
AACA has hired an outside company named PCI to coordinate the Oral History Project for us. Yes, this is a legitimate project and a credible company. No, you do not have to purchase anything to take part in the Oral History Project. We have included several articles about this project in recent issues of Speedster, as well as a lengthy article in Antique Automobile magazine. If you still have questions, please read this short FAQ page from our website.
We are sorry if you are upset about receiving the yellow postcards in the mail or email messages about this project. These are the only ways we are allowing the company to contact you on our behalf. If you do not want to receive these notifications about the project anymore, all you have to do is give us a quick call at AACA National Headquarters (717-534-1910) and request that your name be removed from the list. We will be happy to help you.
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Holiday Shopping Online? Make it Count for AACA! |
Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases to the Antique Automobile Club of America whenever you shop on AmazonSmile.
What is AmazonSmile?
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you'll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization.
How do I shop at AmazonSmile?
To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to smile.amazon.com from the web browser on your computer or mobile device. You may also want to add a bookmark to smile.amazon.com to make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile. Once you are signed into your account, search for Antique Automobile Club of America and choose it as your charity. Now, you are ready to shop & support AACA at the same time!
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Schedule a Tour of AACA National Headquarters & Library Research Center |
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Would your AACA region or chapter like to visit?
What about any of the other car clubs you belong to?
If you are planning a tour or day excursion for a group near the Hershey area, why not include a stop at our building as part of your itinerary? We even have a back patio with picnic tables where your group can host lunch.
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.
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Do You Know a Military Veteran Who Would Like to be an AACA Member? |
The Military Sponsorship Program is available to all of the Military Veterans that have proudly served to protect our homeland and freedoms. With this program, AACA is extending a limited number of complimentary 2023 memberships for first-time AACA applicants. More information on this program and an application can be found on the AACA website under Join/Renew and drop down to Military Discount, or simply click here.
These complimentary 2023 memberships are for first-time AACA applicants and are limited by the funds available for this program. These complimentary applications for membership are intended for individuals who have a genuine interest in the antique car hobby.
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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 group. Don't forget to connect with the AACA Library on their official Facebook page as well.
Be sure to use these hashtags: #DrivingHistory, #AACA, #AntiqueAutomobileClubofAmerica, #Hershey, #AACAHershey, #AACAproud, #AACAstrong
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AACA National Activities Calendar |
January 26-28, 2023
Winter Nationals
Miami, FL
February 9-11, 2023
Annual Convention
Williamsburg, VA
April 13-15, 2023
Southeastern Spring Nationals
Charlotte, NC
May 1-3, 2023
Southeastern Divisional Tour
Oak Ridge, TN
May 18-20, 2023
Eastern Spring Nationals
Gettysburg, PA
June 25-28, 2023
Eastern Divisional Tour
Denver, PA
July 16-22, 2023
Founders Tour
Ontario, Canada
July 26-29, 2023
Eastern Summer Nationals
Norwich, NY
August 10-12, 2023
Grand Nationals
Bettendorf, IA
October 3-6, 2023
Eastern Fall Nationals
Hershey, PA
October 22-27, 2023
Revival AAA Glidden Tour (VMCCA)
Thomasville, GA
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Mark your calendars now
for all of the 2023 National shows and tours you would
like to participate in...
then let the planning begin!
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Would you like registration information and materials about any of these 2023 National Activities? You can:
1. Fill out the activity request card that came with the last issue of Antique Automobile magazine and mail it to us.
2. Sign into the members only area of the AACA website to print your own registration form and brochure. You will need your member number and your pin. If you don’t remember your member number and your pin, give AACA Headquarters a call, and we can provide you with that information.
3. Call us at AACA Headquarters and we will fill out a request for you and mail you the materials.
Call 717-534-1910 Mon.-Fri. from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
REMINDER:
Your 2023 membership dues MUST be paid prior to registering for any 2023 National Activities.
If you request registration materials for a show or tour and those materials are not finalized and printed yet, you will be put on the mailing list to receive them as soon as they are available.
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Batman originally romped around in a 1939 Cadillac Series 75 convertible sedan, which was often chauffeured by Alfred, the butler. The dynamic duo went on to also fight crime behind the wheel of a then more contemporary 1949 Mercury convertible in the second series. |
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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. |
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