Do you have a friend that has been thinking about joining AACA?  Regions & Chapters - are you trying to recruit new members for your club? This is an excellent time to encourage new people to sign up for membership.

Beginning on June 1st AACA National Headquarters will process any new 2013 membership application as a � year membership.  The � year membership includes the months June through December at a cost of only $18.00.

The � year membership gives new members an opportunity to get a taste of AACA without paying the full year membership fee.  Anyone that includes the yearly payment of $35.00 with their new application will be refunded $17.00. 

� year members are entitled to the following benefits:

• Members receive three bi-monthly issues of ANTIQUE AUTOMOBILE magazine, July/August, Sept/Oct, & Nov/Dec.
• Members are eligible to join an AACA region and/or chapter.
• Members can exhibit vehicles & compete for national prizes & annual awards.
• Members receive unlimited free admission to the AACA Museum.
• Members receive limited free research by the AACA Library & Research Center staff.

The � year membership is for first time new members only.  It doesn't apply to current members that are late in paying their yearly dues or members that have left their membership lapse for a year or more and wish to reinstate their membership.

Join the Mississippi Valley Region for the 2013 Grand National held June 27-29, 2013.  Nestled between Illinois and Iowa on the Mississippi River, Moline, IL, it is the headquarters of John Deere, filled with river folk lore, and in the close vicinity to the Home of the Pickers, I-80 Truck Museum and the largest government-owned weapons manufacturer in the western world for more than 150 years.  Moline was a hub of early car manufacture which included the Velie and Moline.  Come join us for our Thursday Night Complimentary Dessert Buffet filled with delicious homemade treats. You also won't want to miss the sightseeing at your own speed on Friday to the various attractions listed on the Mississippi Valley Region's website at www.mvraaca.org.  As an extra-special treat, one of our members is opening his own private Oil, Gas, and Automobilia Museum.  Details on this open house are available only when you register.  Friday night is our Barbeque where our local cars not participating in the Grand National will be on display. This will be a night to get to know each other without show pressures.  Saturday is the Grand National Meet.  We hold the show on the streets of downtown Moline, IL steps away from the host hotel and free trailer parking.  We always have a great time and hope you will join us.  Hurry - Registration closes June 7. Click here for the meet brochure. 

June 14-16, 2013 � Hershey, Pennsylvania

 

In its relative short two-year history, The Elegance at Hershey has gained a growing  reputation as one of the most unique vintage and antique car events in the country, bringing together  some of the world's finest collector cars  to "The Sweetest Place on earth", all in the name of some very deserving charities.

 

"The Elegance at Hershey, this year June 14-16 at the historic Hotel Hershey�, features, a once in- a- lifetime opportunity for many to see exquisite automobile art in the unique setting of the formal gardens at The Hotel Hershey," explains Car Selection Committee Chairman Mark Lizewskie, Executive Director of the AACA Museum and a member of the Elegance at Hershey Board.

 

"Families in particular will enjoy seeing the cars on our show field, all of which are new to The Elegance at Hershey concours," Lizewskie said.  For example, attendees will have an opportunity to see a 1928 Gardner 85 Sports Roadster. One of an estimated 800 produced, the car coming to The Elegance is only model said to still exist.  This event is the perfect Father's day outing the entire family can enjoy not only the historical vehicles, new this year the event will feature life style displays including floral demonstrations, wine tasting and more.  

 

Can't make it Sunday? Support the event on Friday or Saturday by attending the historical hill climb, visit the web site for hours and pricing www.theeleganceathershey.com.  Special guests include Wayne Carini host of "Chasing Classic Cars, former Philadelphia Eagles Coach and Vintage Sports Car Racer Dick Vermeil and on Saturday and Sunday NASCAR Nationwide Driver and Type 1 Diabetic, Ryan Reed.  Make plans to attend and show support for the JDRF, AACA Library and AACA Museum.

 

 

Click here to order your tickets today!

 

 

 

As a young boy of 8 years, I first saw my 1928 Model "A" Tudor sedan in the spring of 1950, and it was across the street from my new home in an older neighborhood in Jacksonville, Florida.  Looking back, the car is what started my love of antique automobiles.  Now 63 years later, I have a greater appreciation of the historical significance of this two owner car.  It was first owned by John S. Babcock (b: 1863 - d:  1958).  Do the math - when he was born Abraham Lincoln was in the White House.  Mr. Babcock was a bachelor and a banker in Peoria, Illinois.  In 1928, at the age of 65, he retired; went to the local Ford dealership; bought this Model "A"; and got the salesman to teach him to drive.  The car was assembled on Sept. 28, 1928 in Ford's Chicago assembly plant.  Following the purchase Mr. Babcock proceeded to marry a dance hall girl named Georgine Carr.  She was 12 years his junior, and I understand that Mr. Babcock's family was horrified with their marriage.  The honeymooners left Peoria in the Model "A" and traveled south to New Orleans.  Later they traveled along the Gulf Coast staying first in Pensacola, then Tampa, and then Miami.  By 1931 and after about 2200 miles, they were in Jacksonville.  There they rented a small framed one bedroom house, and that is where, 19 years later, I met them.

Mr. Babcock was a quiet man.  Always attired in brown slacks, a long sleeve white shirt, suspenders, and a brown fedora, he spent his days sitting on the back stoop of his house.  As a young man, he had cancer of the nose, and he wore a very obvious rubber nose.  Looking back on it he was very shy, and his nose was probably the reason for his shyness.  Mr. Babcock drove the car daily.  He never titled the car in Florida, and each year he got new Illinois plates.  As 1957 approached, his heath started to fail, and I jacked the car up off the dirt floor of his single car garage.  In April 1958 he passed away at the age of 95.

As for Mrs. Babcock, I must say she was just the opposite - a real treasure.  When Mr. Babcock died the sale of the Model "A", of course, became his widow's responsibility.  Mrs. Babcock sold me the car for $150.  This was at a time when Model A's were selling in Jacksonville for $300.  I think my father was just as interested in it as I was as he gladly loaned me the money to purchase the car.  It is hard to believe that 55 years have passed since that purchase in the first week of May 1958.

Mrs. Babcock was the daughter of T. Jeff Carr, who in the 1870's, was the first territorially elected Sheriff in Cheyenne, Territory of Wyoming.  Her father was the man who arrested and personally hanged Jack McCall, the man who shot Wild Bill Hickok in the back.  Yes, I bought the car from the good Sheriff's daughter.  Mrs. Babcock passed away in May 1968 in her 93rd year.

When I bought the car it had been repainted once, and in 1958 I gave it a very amateurish repaint.  In 1966, after towing her to Merritt Island, Fla., I started a full body off restoration that took almost 10 years.  The car was repainted in its original Niagara Blue with Duchess Blue reveals and belt moldings; interior trim and pen striping in French Gray; and, of course, black fenders.  After 38 years, she has her share of nicks, dings, and scratches.  The motor is original to the car, and the mileage is a little over 108,000 miles.

Of all my antique cars, she is still my favorite.  In 1984 I drove her to the mountains of North Carolina, and over the years on many short hops around Florida including several trips to the Florida Keys.  In April 2010 we participated in the Model "A" Ford Club of America's tour of the Natchez Trace, and in May 2013 we are scheduled for the MAFCA tour of the Blue Ridge Parkway.  I'm calling that event her "55th Anniversary Tour."

Now she is 85 years old.  She will surely outlive me, and I wonder where she will be 85 years from now?  If I am lucky, I may see her hit her 100th birthday. 

The AACA Library's eBay Store!

Are you looking for the perfect gift for your favorite motor head?  The Library's eBay store offers a wide variety to choose from, including our latest auction with 10 very hard to find items.  Read below to find out more!

• Automobilia
  • AACA Ertl banks
  • Dash plaques
  • Models
• Reproduction Factory Photos
  • More than 2,000 different vehicles!
• Books:
  • Pre-War
  • Racing
  • Biographies
  • And much more!
• Sales Literature:
  • 1948 Tucker Reprint Brochures
  • Vintage 1950s Pontiac and Chrysler catalogs and brochures

Check back often, as we will continue to add new items throughout the year!

For more information, contact our Library Assistant, 

Matthew Hocker, mhocker@aacalibrary.org or 717-534-2082. 

Ray Carr's Postcards: Peking to Paris

A Book Review By: Matthew Hocker

Title: Ray Carr's Postcards: Peking to Paris

By: Raymond H. Carr & Patricia A. Carr

Published By: Cignature Press

Year: 1999

Number of Pages: 98 

May 28th marked the date of the 5th Peking to Paris Motor Challenge.  Organized by the world renowned Endurance Rally Association (ERA), more than 100 antique vehicles will embark on an incredible journey taking them across an entire continent, from Beijing, China (formerly known as Peking) to Paris, France. The event commemorates the original Peking to Paris race of 1907, a time when few thought an automobile could withstand such an arduous journey.  In the autumn of 1997, ninety years after the original historic race, ERA staged its first reenactment. 

Among the 96 participants was Ray Carr who, by then, was already well known for setting world record trips driving antique cars across the North American continent: the oldest car (a 1902 Northern), oldest electric car (a 1912 Baker Electric), and oldest steam car (a 1909 Stanley Steamer) to complete this feat.  With these experiences behind him, he was well-prepared with his 1939 Ford which, according to Carr, managed to make the entire trip without a major breakdown...not even a flat tire!  He would later share the highlights of his trip in his book, Ray Carr's Postcards: Peking to Paris.

Those looking for a comprehensive travel memoir may be disappointed, although Carr offers more in-depth personal reflections of the race in the last four pages.  Carr chose to share his experiences through a journal format, complete with personal notes and transcripts from postcards which he sent to family back home.  In effect, this allows the reader to connect with Carr on a more personal level because it feels as though he is writing directly to you. 

While Carr's statements are fairly brief and to the point, he does make a nice effort to discuss the culture, topography and history of the areas he visits without overwhelming his audience.  Likewise, his witty sense of humor will keep you paging through.  I couldn't help but chuckle at the postcard detailing the culture shock he experienced at a Chinese hotel.  Carr was especially less than thrilled with his dinner, which "...sent [him] scurrying for [his] Golden Grahams."

While passages are generally upbeat and positive, Carr doesn't sugarcoat his adventures either.  This makes his work feel down-to-earth and genuine.  He experiences frustration sharing the road with erratic drivers in India, fear and anxiety over the possibility of engine failure, as well as sadness over the unfortunate deaths of two of the participants.

Personal photographs breathe life into every entry, giving insights into the different cultures and challenges encountered along the way.  One particularly memorable photograph taken in China features a group of onlookers around the Ford.  Westerners visiting any small town or city in China tend to stick out like a sore thumb and are often met by inquisitive stares and a chorus of "hellos."  Therefore, one would expect a Westerner driving a '39 Ford to attract double the amount of attention!

Along with photographs, each entry features an excerpt from the step-by-step directions given to each participant of the race.  These are particularly interesting to read because, while we take GPS for granted today, drivers in the 1997 race only had printed directions to guide them.  Consequently, they are packed with detail, right down to river crossing tips and spots with bad bumps.

While Carr's book lacks the length some readers might prefer, it is filled with character and insight into his cross-continent trip.  Through his pictures and personal notes, you will feel as though you're along for the ride.  Whether you're interested in racing, travel or even old Fords, Ray Carr's Postcards makes for an enjoyable read. 

Discover More:

Interested in learning more about Ray Carr's adventure or the original Peking to Paris race of 1907?  The Library has Carr's book, as well as books detailing the 1907 race, including Luigi Barzini's Pekin to Paris: An Account of Prince Borghese's Journey Across Two Continents in a Motor-Car (1908).

If you have any additional information on the first Peking to Paris race, feel free to contact the AACA Library.  While the Library has a lot of information on the 1907 race, we would love to add more period articles, postcards, etc. to the collection for future researchers.

Interested in Doing Research with the AACA Library?:

More info available on our website. Visit AACA Library or

contact our head librarian, Chris Ritter, critter@aaca.org or 717-534-2082.

http://aacalibrary.tumblr.com/

At the AACA Museum in Hershey

May 15 - October 13, 2013

This is a year for celebrating anniversaries.   The Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Museum is celebrating 10 years, Buick is celebrating 110 years and the Buick Riviera model is celebrating 50 years.   The AACA Museum working in conjunction with the Buick Heritage Alliance is excited to showcase a variety of Buick years, makes and models as part of our 10th Anniversary exhibit line up.

Named after founder David Dunbar Buick, the firm is one of the oldest active makes both in America and in the World.  The First Buick made for sale was in 1903 in Detroit, Michigan, and the factory was moved to Flint the following year.  Buicks were originally built to replicate a living room within a moving automobile and were nicknamed the "moving couch of America."  Buick became one of the original members of General Motors when the corporation was formed in 1908.

This special exhibit includes the following vehicles:  1910 Buick Model 10 Surrey, 1935 Buick 96S Sport Coupe, 1964 Buick Riviera, 1967 Buick Sport Wagon, 1970 Buick GS Stage I, 1972 Buick Riviera, 1975 Buick Indy 500 Pace Car Replica and the 1987 Buick GNX.  Click here for more information.

 For a full listing of exhibits and events at the AACA Museum visit www.AACAMuseum.org. 

Each $20 ticket has a chance to win a 1973 Mustang (or $15,000 cash), $2,000 cash, or $1,000 cash. Proceeds benefit the Antique Automobile Club of America, The AACA Library & Research Center, and The AACA Museum.  The drawing will take place on October 12, 2013 at the AACA Fall Meet.

• Less than 25,000 Miles
• Exterior: Red
• Interior: White
• Newly Rebuilt Engine
• Newly Rebuilt Air Conditioning system converted to r134a

Winner need not be present to win and is responsible for all taxes. 

Mustang Donated by George and Margaret Vitale.