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Welcome to SPEEDSTER!
Spring AACA excitement is in full bloom ... as a rainbow of nearly 1400 magnificent antique vehicles motored into Eastern, Central and Special Spring Meets across the country ~ Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Tennessee. Graciously hosted by each region, enthusiastic hobbyists of ALL ages were entertained and educated as they participated in a wide variety of engaging activities. Cheers to the Gettysburg Region, Minnesota Region and the Middle Tennessee Region for all your hard work and months of planning that resulted in these successful events!
Displaying true AACA passion and spirit in the face of some weather challenges, members arrived in full force to enjoy the events and share their beautiful antique vehicles with fellow hobbyists. Over 1100 proud folks received awards at the Gettysburg, Prior Lake and Lebanon meets! To view a full listing of results from each meet, please click below.
Share the AACA excitement today... AACA has a place for everyone!
Attend an AACA event with family and friends! Visit the Calendar Spotlight section below for information on upcoming events, Click here or Call Headquarters 717-534-1910 for details.
Thank you for helping AACA to thrive as the premier destination and resource for the collectible vehicle community!

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Test your Automotive Trivia Knowledge! Try your hand at the Questions below...
1. Fred Marriott souped up this car to be the first human to travel in excess of 120 mph. Name the car and the year.
2. What car had the most amount of trim in history? 
3. The first superhighway in America opened up in 1940. Where was it?
4. What are the names of 18 automobiles that have borne the names of U.S. Presidents (although not necessarily named after them)?
Curious? Scroll down for the Answers! |
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AACA Welcomes you to the MEET ...

Your antique treasure is ready to go and you are anxious to join the fun, its SHOWTIME!
You just mailed your completed "Activity Request Card" provided on the carrier sheet with your Antique Automobile magazine. This will be the FIRST TIME you are showing your vehicle at an AACA National meet!
Your family is excited and the calendar has been marked. As the anticipation builds, you begin to wonder what to expect.
Not to worry ... detailed communication and friendly assistance will be provided before, during and after the meet! Headquarters will forward the requested event brochure, registration card(s), and other pertinent details along with an AACA Exhibitors Brochure. The Exhibitors Brochure offers a wealth of information to help ensure you have a seamless and enjoyable meet experience ~ please take time to read it over! You will feel at ease as your questions are answered.
 And, be sure to attend the owners briefing meeting the morning of the show! It isn't mandatory, but you will find the information discussed very helpful and  there will be ample opportunities to ask questions. AACA representatives will carefully review each item on the owners briefing checklist. This informal meeting typically lasts about 30 minutes.
Remember we are here to assist YOU, our members!
If you have any questions, please call us at Headquarters, 717-534-1910.
See YOU at the MEET! |
Headquarters Starting Grid... Meet Mary and Nelson Neff!
If you are fortunate, you find a passion that enriches your life as well as someone to share it with ... and, that is just what Nelson and Mary have done since their meeting while working at AMP! Married 35 years, these two devoted AACA members have been and continue to be very active at the National and Region level.
Both retired from AMP on the same day in 1998. With some extra time on their hands, Nelson and Mary decided to take part-time positions at Headquarters ~ Nelson has been with us now for 10 years and Mary 8 years.
Nelson, affectionately referred to as the "Lawn Ranger", keeps Headquarters beautifully groomed and ready for visitors. We also benefit by his mechanical talents as he works on much needed repair and maintenance projects around headquarters and the library. Nelson also assists with AACA merchandise photography. Mary devotes her time to the library, primarily working on filing for the library's vast and growing collection. They both pitch in whenever necessary, lending assistance on special projects such as the library literature auction preparation. It is certainly no small task to properly sort and prepare the large amount of items for the sale!
As mentioned before, Nelson and Mary are avid and giving AACA members. Life members of AACA, life members of the Hershey Region and founding members of the Pennsylvania Dutch Region, they have served as officers, as board members and on countless committees. Nelson was President of the Hershey Region as well as the 1989 and 2002 Fall Meet Chairman. He has also been a dedicated member of the Library and Museum Boards. In addition, Mary and Nelson have chaired Divisional and Founders Tour events.
"Although we enjoy our involvement in all facets and levels of AACA, we find touring particularly pleasurable," Nelson and Mary noted. "And, we have been on many, including Glidden and Founders Tours, as we appreciate the opportunity to visit interesting places, drive our antique cars, and meet fellow hobbyists."
Nelson and Mary are proud to own a garage full of wonderful antique automobiles including a 1935 Chevrolet Master Deluxe 4 door, 1942 Chevrolet 1/2 ton Pickup, 1955 Ford Thunderbird, 1955 Pontiac Starchief, 1975 Chevrolet Corvette and 1979 El Camino.
When not involved in AACA activities you will find these two Central Pennsylvania natives working in the yard, woodworking and caring for their Cocker Spaniel pup, Nelly.
All and all, they make a great team!
When in Hershey, be sure to visit your
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Contest ....Might be Shocking!
Hope we got your attention with the title! We need your help! The AACA Museum has become a world class institution that has received numerous awards and recognition. The addition of the Museum of Bus Transportation and the Antique Motorcycle Club of America's collection has further added to the incredible richness of the museum experience. As you know, as members, YOU get in free which is all the more reason that the museum board and staff must find creative ways to attract area residents as well as tourists. Hersheypark hosts 2.5 million visitors a year and our museum needs a larger share of those paying customers. The museum needs to be self sustaining and the opportunity does exist for much more business. However, marketing of the AACA Museum is a problem. Tourists do not know what an "AACA" is and driving by the museum it is hard to tell there is a car museum up there either! AACA is dear to all of us and we instantly know what awaits us but the public does not. After an extreme amount of debate and research spanning several years the museum has decided they need to modify their name for signage and marketing purposes only. The AACA Museum will still be their heritage and the Antique Automobile Club of America prominent on the sign. A name change will help market the museum to tourists much more effectively and efficiently. Here is where YOU come in! Help us with the name change? The name should be exciting ... remember there are antique cars, motorcycles and buses at the museum. The name could have a subtitle. Use your imagination and passion for our museum and AACA. Give us a winner!
What do you win? Don't know yet, but we can promise you this, you will be more than pleased with the shower of gifts if the museum picks YOUR suggestion! Think of the immortality of it too! You can make a difference!
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AACA, Cool to be "Old School"
Youth, the future of AACA! There are tons of great ways for kids to have fun and get involved in our wonderful antique automobile hobby.
AACA Junior membership is open to any child up to 12 years old (whether or not parents are members of AACA). Dues are $10.00 per Junior member, per year, and each will receive one Membership Card, Badge, Pin and WHEELS.
AACA publishes WHEELS, a youth newsletter, four times a year for distribution in February, May, August and November. Creatively and colorfully illustrated, each WHEELS issue offers engaging articles and interesting activities all designed to spotlight the past, present and future of the collectible vehicle hobby encouraging youth involvement, inspiring educational curiosity and instilling an appreciation for history. For example, the summer 2009 WHEELS issue carried an article entitled "The Story of Walter P. Chrysler" as well as a brief history of "The Chrysler Six." Additionally, previous WHEELS issues have included articles on starting your own car [miniature] collection, model car building is fun, and a look back at school buses from days gone by. Youth of all ages contribute to WHEELS by submitting articles, providing book reports and reviews, designing interactive puzzles and games (i.e., word search, crossword puzzles, identification challenges) and submitting photos. Furthermore, each WHEELS issue spotlights a young member allowing them to be the author and tell their story by writing a short article and selecting pictures. WHEELS objective is to provide an entertaining interactive medium to make learning fun, to spur activity and to demonstrate the rewards of participating in a lifelong hobby.
So don't delay, send in something today! We look forward to receiving short articles, poems, photos, crossword puzzles and word searches from our JUNIOR MEMBERS ... please send to Chris Ritter, AACA Library & Research Center.
By sea or by land ...
AACA encourages special youth activities at National (local local) Meets and events. Educational programs offered acquaint juniors with AACA history, its structure and mission, and a general overview of vehicles and their workings, plus a basic understanding of the vehicle judging system, all at a level each find interesting and entertaining. Coloring books, pins, stickers are examples of items often provided at these events. Recently, as part of the youth program at the Gettysburg Eastern Spring Meet, kids (and some "older kids") were treated to a ride in an Amphicar! There was a pond adjacent to the show field and everyone enjoyed this unique treat. Special thanks to Ron Green from the Gettysburg Region for being so very generous with his time and vehicle!
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AACA Library & Research Center NEWS  Preparation for the Literature Auction Begins!
The Library & Research Center will hold its 15th literature auction on Monday, October 5, 2009 at 10:00 A.M. While that date is still a few months away, volunteers have already begun sorting and preparing the materials for sale. Mary and Nelson Neff (profiled in this issue of Speedster), and Peter Heizmann begin the long process by sorting material by marque and then by year. A full listing of auction materials will be available by September 1st. Check out our website for the status of the list in late August. The sale will be held at the AACA Hershey Region Headquarters, 131 Museum Drive, Hershey PA (approx. 1 ¼ miles north of the intersection of Route 39 and Hersheypark Drive, on the left). There will be a preview beginning at 8:30 A.M. on the sale day. Material to be sold includes sales literature, manuals, periodicals, ads and books.
You Never Know What You Will Find...
 The library has many holdings on vehicles that were not mass-produced. For some of these vehicles we only have a newspaper clipping or two, but for others we have a large collection of resources. While recently looking for a Chrysler sales brochure, we came across a photograph that made us stop in our tracks. The photograph featured a 1956 Chrysler Plainsman - "A bold new experiment in station wagon styling" and Chrysler's "Idea Station Wagon" for 1956. Among other highlights, the vehicle featured a rearward-facing rear seat for two adults, simulated turbine intakes, and an interior of natural calf hide. The library has more than one picture of the vehicle; we have an official Plainsman Press Kit, and copies of articles written about the Plainsman. If you are in the Hershey area, stop in and view the press kit or order copies via email, postal mail, or the telephone.
You never know what you will find in the AACA Library & Research Center, but when you do stumble across something unique and interesting be sure you have set aside enough time to enjoy it!
Support your AACA Library & Research Center! |
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How did you do? Trivia Answers!
1. Fred Marriott souped up this car to be the first human to travel in excess of 120 mph. Name the car and the year.
Answer -- Marriott hit 127.6 mph in his Stanley Streamer Rocket in 1906.
2. What car had the most amount of trim in history? 
Answer -- The 1958 Oldsmobile Super 88. It had 44 pounds of chrome trim and was sometimes referred to as a "rolling juke box."
3. The first superhighway in America opened up in 1940. Where was it?
Answer -- In Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Turnpike, a toll road, was 160.8 miles. The first modern expressway was begun the same year in Southern California - the Pasadena Freeway.
4. What are the names of 18 automobiles that have borne the names of U.S. Presidents (although not necessarily named after them)?
Answer -- Adams, Carter, Cleveland, Ford, Harding, Harrison, Jackson, Lincoln, Monroe, Pierce, Roosevelt, Taft, Washington, Madison, Johnson, Wilson, Kennedy and Hoover.
Thanks for playing!
Source: Automotive Milestones, Trivia of a Most Unique Machine, Edited by Clark Cassell and Charles Merritt, Braddock Publications. | |
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Calendar Spotlight!
64th Revival AAA® Glidden Tour
Golden, Colorado ~ August 23-28, 2009
Hosted by the Rocky Mountain Region AACA, this tour is for 1942 vehicles and earlier. Come join us for a week of adventurous touring the Gold country where the authentic mining equipment still adorns the hillsides. Visit the small mining towns that were busy metropolis during the Gold Rush days. You will travel the canyons and valleys alongside the streams and rivers just as the miners did. Climb the mountains to the high country where the gold mines were, then descend into the small mining towns with unique and unusual antique collections which have replaced the dance halls and saloons. Ladies will have plenty of leisure time for shopping, dining and kicking back while relaxing to the rippling of the water making its way down stream. Men, we haven't left you out since we will be visiting some unique auto and equipment collections in Colorado. A tour of a private collection of antique washing machines and farm equipment is also in store for you to enjoy. For tour registration contact: Lynn at National Headquarters 717-534-1910. Tour information: Mel Bacon - melbacon@msn.com.
Click Here to VISIT the Antique Automobile Club of America's (AACA) online calendar.
Attend and Participate in these Upcoming 2009 National Events:
August 23-28 - Revival AAA® Glidden Tour, Golden, Colorado
November 5-7 - Western Fall Meet, LaQuinta, California (Palm Springs area)
If your AACA Region or Chapter would like to sponsor a future National Event, please contact Hulon C. McCraw, Vice President of National Meets & Tours at 828-606-2918.
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Speedy's News and Notes
● Join the AACA Family for a memorable Night at the Museum during "Hershey", Wednesday, October 7, 2009 from 6-10 pm. Tickets are on sale Now! Consider Sponsoring this exciting automotive event or even Donating an auction item ~ Click Here for additional information or contact Myra Toomey, 717-566-7100.
● View SPEEDSTER issues ... Click Here to access the SPEEDSTER Archives! Read and print newsletters, visit the links provided in each section for more information, join our mailing list, edit your profile, and share issues with family, friends and future AACA members.
● Your Hobby is always under attack so make sure you are keeping up with local, state and national laws that could affect you and your hobby. An excellent source of information is www.semasan.org. | |
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Contact Information Phone: 717-534-1910 Email: speedster@aaca.org
About The Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA)
The Antique Automobile Club of America, 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.
For additional information on the AACA family, please visit www.aaca.org, www.aacalibrary.org,
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