Grand National / Southeastern Fall Dual Meet
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June 12 - 14, 2014 � Lebanon, TN
Join the Middle Tennessee Region for the Annual Grand National and the Southeastern Division Fall Meet. The Grand National will take place on Friday, June 13 and feature the "Best of the Best" cars in competition. To participate in the Grand National, your vehicle must have received a Senior Award prior to 2014. The Southeastern Fall Meet will take place Saturday, June 14. As a special gift to people who register their car for this Dual Meet we will be offering a free souvenir photograph of their car taken in front of a vintage service station. Click here for more information.
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Eastern Spring Meet - Very Last Chance to Register (April 30)!
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May 30 - 31, 2014 � Buffalo, NY
This is your last chance to take part in all that the Buffalo Region has to offer- including great cars, great sites, and great food! In addition to the meet, attendees can enjoy a welcome party, tour to Fort Niagara & Niagara Falls, tour of the Buffalo Transportation Museum & Canalside (Buffalo's Waterfront), and eat some famous Buffalo fare. Click here for more information.
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Reliability Tour - Deadline May 1
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June 15 - 20, 2014 - Lancaster, PA
Is your vehicle a "Little Old & Slow?" If so, join the Hershey Region AACA and the Susquehanna Valley Region HCCA for the Reliability Tour! This tour is open to automobiles that were made during 1915 and prior. Those that come along for the ride can enjoy six beautiful days of touring through Southern Lancaster, Lebanon, and York Counties. For more information, including a full tour schedule, click here.
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Final Countdown to Auctions America's Auburn Spring Weekend
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Auctions America presents the first of its two annual Auburn sales, the Auburn Spring collector car weekend, May 8 - 10 at the historic Auburn Auction Park in Indiana. The 2014 event is set to be the largest to date, with approximately 900 collector cars and 250 lots of automotive memorabilia expected to cross the block. In addition to three days of auction action, the weekend also features a swap meet and car corral, along with the return of the AACA Special National Spring Meet, making for a must-attend hobby weekend for enthusiasts.
Headlining this year's Auburn Spring sale is the respected John Scotti Collection, a magnificent group of approximately 400 vehicles offered entirely without reserve. Carefully amassed over 25 years by Mr. Scotti, a lifelong enthusiast, the collection spans from Model T's to 1950s American convertibles, 1960s - 1970s muscle cars and late model exotics. Highlights include a distinctive 1934 Chrysler Custom Imperial Airflow, beautifully restored to concours show quality (Est. $100,000 - $140,000); and a thoroughly restored, one-year-only body style 1958 Pontiac Parisienne Convertible (Est. $80,000 - $100,000).
Reinforcing Auctions America's reputation as an auction house of choice for private and estate collections, the sale will also lift the gavel on an exceptional group of seven Chrysler 300 Letter Cars from The Rigoli Collection, including a 1960 Chrysler 300F Convertible (Est. $150,000 - $175,000); along with a fantastic selection of 18 cars from The Duffy Grove Collection, which is comprised primarily of 1950s and 1960s General Motors examples.
Among a long list of other auction highlights, Auctions America is honored to present five cars at its Auburn Spring sale benefitting the AACA Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The group is led by an HPOF-certified, survivor example 1959 Pontiac Star Chief Vista Sedan, which has been in single family ownership from new (Est. $25,000 - $35,000, offered without reserve).
For those unable to attend the auction in person, Auctions America offers a broad range of remote bidding options, including Internet, absentee and telephone bidding, and the auction will stream live online at auctionsamerica.com to provide real-time coverage of the event. In addition, and new in 2014, Auctions America's Auburn Spring auction will broadcast on the Sports Emmy Award-winning NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) from May 8 - 10. Delivered to more than 80 million homes across the U.S., the exclusive, in-depth coverage will track live gavel-to-gavel action as well as showcase the stories behind featured automobiles, providing a glimpse into the characters of the global collector car hobby. A full coverage schedule is available here.
For further information on Auctions America's Auburn Spring event call toll free 877-906-2437 (or +1 260-927-9797 outside of North America), or visit auctionsamerica.com for the digital catalog and a frequently updated list of entries.
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Come see some of the best sites Nebraska has to offer at the Central Spring Meet, hosted by the Nebraska Region AACA. Attendees can take group tours of The Nebraska State Capitol, The University of Nebraska Athletic Complex, and The Museum of American Speed. You can also take tours on your own to the International Quilt Study Center and Museum, the Nebraska Tractor Test & Power Museum, the Lincoln Children's Museum, the Lincoln Children's Zoo, and the Lincoln Haymarket District. Be sure to check out the brochure for more information.
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My Antique 1976 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible
Used for the 2014 Swim Suit edition of Sports Illustrated
Submitted by: Bob Patterson
In an effort to help promote the Hurricane Sandy recovery of the New Jersey Shore, Sports Illustrated shot a portion of its 50th Anniversary Swim Suit Edition at beaches in Wildwood, Cape May, Cape May Point, Seaside Heights and Island Beach State Park. Additionally, my 1976 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible was used by photographers in this historic edition!
The models and crew spent several days in Cape May County, New Jersey shooting at the various beaches. My car was used in a shot in front of the WILDWOOD sign at Rio Grand Ave and the Boardwalk in the heart of THE WILDWOODS. The black body with red leather interior was a great background for the camera shoot on the sunny September day!
I'm the second owner of my 1976 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible. My Caddy is mostly original except for a new convertible top and plastic fender caps. I'm a proud 15 year member of the Jersey Cape Antique Auto Club and the AACA! I also belong to the Cadillac/LaSalle Club. I'm excited to have my antique automobile included in this iconic magazine, and there is even an online edition!
Do you have a story about your vehicles, restoration projects or adventures you would like to share in SPEEDSTER? If so, send your story and photographs to Mary Clayton at mclayton@aaca.org!
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Meet the Newest AACA Chapter
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TCC (Tidewater Community College) Classic Car Chapter
By: Bob Parrish, VP - Membership
I would like to introduce the newest AACA Chapter, TCC (Tidewater Community College) Classic Car Chapter of the AACA, Tidewater Region. It was created in March 2014. TCC has over 45,000 students on 5 campuses in Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake (2) and Virginia Beach, VA. One of the campuses is an automotive technology center, located in Chesapeake, which offers an associate degree in automotive technology where students are introduced to state of the art testing equipment and the latest technology. The Regional Automotive Center has full accreditation from the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation. Upon graduation the students are prepared for careers in the automotive field and updated training for those already working.
Tidewater Region members have embraced the idea of supporting a Chapter and have personally sponsored some of the students' AACA memberships. Melanie Kordis, a Tidewater Region member is on the staff of TCC and has been very helpful organizing antique car displays on the various campuses to stimulate interest in AACA. Plans have been made to have displays at all the campuses during April. There has been a tremendous amount of support from the TCC staff and students to continue this AACA membership campaign. This is the type of action needed to bridge the age gap for AACA to prosper into the 21st Century.
A similar Chapter was started at Penn College in Williamsport, PA, and they received their Charter at the 2014 AACA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. This Chapter is known as the Penn College Classic Cruisers, a Chapter of the Susquehannock Region.
If you know of any areas that have similar student automotive interests that could become a Chapter of a local Region, contact Earl Mowery, who is VP of Youth Development or me by emailing Bowtiebobp@aol.com or calling me at (757) 547-5034.
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Member Benefit of the Month - Century Club Recognition Award
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We are excited to announce that we have introduced a special recognition award for vehicles 100 years and older - The Century Club Recognition Award! This badge was created to help encourage and increase the participation of these very special vintage vehicles at all AACA national events. The Century Club Recognition Award is a onetime badge that will be presented to 100-year old AACA-recognized vehicles upon participation in a national meet or tour. So be sure to dust off your 100-year old vehicle and enter into a national meet or tour!
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Automotive Museum Partnership Pilot Program
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Wisconsin Automotive Museum
147 North Rural Street, Hartford, Wisconsin 53027
Take a fantastic drive through time
By: Casey Hanna
Come see Wisconsin's largest automotive museum featuring a continuously growing display of over 100 beautiful classic cars and automotive artifacts. The Wisconsin Automotive Museum features automobiles such as a collection of authentic Kissel luxury cars, early Nash models, and the Hudson Essex Terraplane collection. The museum also showcases famous Pontiacs, Studebakers, Chevrolets, Fords, Kaisers, and even a 250 ton 1913 steam locomotive!
The Wisconsin Automotive Museum is also the home of the Southeastern Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame. This exhibit displays the popular sport of dirt track car racing and preserves its legacy in Hartford, Wisconsin through the collection. The exhibit consists of restored vintage race cars, Hall of Fame Plaques, a history of racing in the area, and a collection of photographs, articles, and memorabilia.
If you are going to the AACA Central Fall Meet in Oconomowoc, be sure to check out the museum while you are in the area. It is easy to get to and only a little over 20 minutes away. Regular admission is $10 for adults, $6 for children 6-12 years old, and $8 for seniors. Children under 6 years old can come for free. REMEMBER: members of the Antique Automobile Club of America will receive a discount in association with the Partnership Pilot Program. From May 1 to September 30, the museum is open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12:00 a.m. To 5:00 p.m. Sunday. From October 1 through April 30 however, the museum is closed Monday, Tuesday, and all holidays. Please visit www.wisconsinautomuseum.com and www.steamlocomotiveheritage.org for more information.
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Enter to Win a 2014 Camaro 2LS Coupe!
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Drawing will take place on October 11, 2014
 Each $20 ticket will give you a chance to win the grand prize - a brand new 2014 Camaro (or $17,000 cash)! Second place will win $3,000 cash and third place will take home $1,000 cash. Proceeds from this charity raffle will benefit the AACA, The AACA Library and Research Center, and The AACA Museum. Winner need not be present to win and is responsible for all taxes. Click here to order a raffle ticket today.
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Library & Research Center
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The First Solar Powered Car
By: Matthew Hocker
Thanks to diminishing resources and rising gas prices, alternative fuels have received a lot of press coverage in recent years. Of course, alternative fuels are nothing new; gas may have won out, but the brass era was also characterized by electric and steam-powered vehicles. In 1960, renewable energy would take center stage when International Rectifier Corp. of El Segundo, California unveiled the first solar powered car.
Oddly enough, the car used to harness the sun's energy was a restored 1912 Baker electric. These early battery-powered vehicles had a reputation for quality and developed a strong following, with clients such as Thomas Edison and the King of Siam (present-day Thailand). When President Taft introduced the White House's first official fleet of motor vehicles in 1909 a Baker Victoria was among them.
The primary purpose of the 1960 experiment was to demonstrate the future potential of solar energy, which was then still in its infancy. A solar powered brass era car afforded an excellent means of promoting the technology, as it turned heads wherever it traveled. However, the main reason the vehicle was used for the project was because the surface area of the roof was large and level enough to accommodate the massive 26 square foot solar panel, dubbed the "Solar King." Over the next two years, the modified Baker went on a 23,300 mile world tour and was demonstrated at several scientific exhibitions.
The entire project cost a whopping $40,000 which, adjusted for inflation, would be more than $319,000 in today's world. A considerable portion of the funding went toward the development of the roof-mounted solar panel, which consisted of more than 10,600 silicon cells. The panel could be tilted in order to catch the sunlight from multiple angles, providing power to the car's rechargeable 72 volt battery.
While the demonstrations were impressive, the scientists behind the project acknowledged that, "to be usable, efficiency of the solar cells must be increased, and efficiency of current use in the car would likewise need to be made greater." When fully charged, the modified Baker was capable of driving for approximately an hour at a top speed of 20 mph. Recharging the batteries required leaving the car under direct sunlight for eight to ten hours.
Since the 1960 experiment, several other examples of solar powered cars have been built, but we have yet to see one hit mass production. Despite this, the scientists were arguably successful in achieving their primary objective of proving the commercial possibilities of solar energy. The homes, boats, and even toys powered by solar panels stand as a testament to their vision.
Discover More:
Interested in learning more about Baker cars, including the solar powered version from 1960? The story of these cars comes to life through our collection of sales literature and period articles in our trade publications. To find out more, pay us a visit or drop us a line. We'd love to hear from you!
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The AACA Library's eBay Store!
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New Items in the AACA Library's eBay Store!
Looking for the perfect gift for your favorite motor head? The Library's eBay store offers a wide variety to choose from, with everything from automobilia and photographs to books and sales literature.
We will also be holding our monthly eBay auction, with over seventy unique listings! The auction began on Sunday, April 27th at 7:30 PM EST and will end on Sunday, May 4th at 7:30 PM.
To view our available selection, be sure to click the links below!
Items Available for Auction (4/27/2014 - 5/4/2014):
* Books & Periodicals:
- The Automobile: It's Economic & Commercial Development by Ralph C. Epstein (1928)
- The Lincoln Highway: The Story of a Crusade... by The Lincoln Highway Association (1935)
- Jack of All Trades signed by actor, Jack Warner (1975)
- Ford V8 Cars and Trucks by Victory Page (1938)
- The Evolution of the Racing Car by Laurence Pomeroy
- And more!
* Sales Literature:
- 1960s & 1970s Dodge data books
- 1940s Reo
- 1940s Chevrolet
- 1940s Buick
- 1949 Cadillac
- And more!
* Manuals & Guides:
- National Service Manual (covers model years 1929 - 1942)
- National Service Manual (covers model years 1929 - 1937)
- Bound copies of Delco System instruction books (1914 - 1922)
- And more!
Items Available for General Sale:
*Reproduction Factory Photos:
- More than 2,000 different vehicles!
*Books:
- Pre-War
- Racing
- Biographies & In-Depth Histories
- Car & Truck Reference Books
- Manuals & Guides
- And much more!
*Sales Literature
*Shop Manuals
Check back often, as we will continue to add new items!
For more information, contact our Library Assistant,
Matthew Hocker, mhocker@aacalibrary.org or 717-534-2082.
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What city has the most Rolls-Royce vehicles per capita?
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The AACA Museum is excited to have new featured exhibits for the summer!
Indian Nation: Indian Motorcycles & America features a wide variety of Indian Motorcycles from the early 1900s through the mid 1950s and runs through October 24th.
The Scrutineer - The automobile photography of Jay Texter May 5 - July 13
Jay has worked as a photographer since the mid 80's. Jay's early influences into car culture were the New Hope car show and Vargo Dragway. The photography started with his first trip to Watkins Glen in 1971 and took off from there to become a profession. Car photography is just one aspect of what Jay does; he also enjoys doing still life and people as well. Jay currently resides in Allentown, PA but grew up in Perkasie, PA. Jay's automotive art has been featured in "Automobile Quarterly" and "non sequitur" of Automobile Magazine and at the Detroit Public library. Jay's work for clients has included "Automobile Quarterly, Autoweek, Vintage Race car Journal, Automobile Magazine, Hagerty Insurance and various private collectors.
The work on display at the AACA Museum will be both film and digital based. Jay does his own scanning and printing and the prints are pigment on paper with materials that are the highest archival standard. A number of the featured images were taken at the AACA Hershey Fall Meet. The name of the show is a variation of the word "scrutinize" which is defined as to examine somebody or something closely and carefully. We hope that you will enjoy this art exhibit in that way.
Motoring Mysteries of the Far East: A Curious Collection of Asian & Pacific vehicles starts May 16th and runs through September 14th. In these modern times, vehicles originating from far-away countries such as Japan and South Korea have become household brands such as Kia, Hyundai, Toyota or Honda with millions of loyal customers and followers. Other vehicles manufactured in Russia, India and beyond are still relatively unknown in this country and remain curiosities. The AACA Museum will celebrate and showcase the early roots and later creations of the Asian and Russian motoring industry and their impact within the United States. From the Pre-Wear years to the Kei class microcars of the 1960s, to the trucks and sports cars to appear later, these unique and seldom-seen vehicles are examples of an important historical part of the auto industry. Join us on this fascinating journey to the Far East.
Upcoming Special Events at the Museum:
Vintage & Vineyards Wine Festival - May 9 Special Note: The AACA Museum will be closed during the normal daytime hours on 5/9 in order to prepare for this special evening event.
4th Generation Honda Civic/CRX EF Car Show - May 18
Bus Spring Fling - June 7
19th Annual Museum Car Show - June 21
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New AACA Library Website!
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We are excited to announce our new and improved website, which we completely redesigned from the ground up. You will still be able to access the online catalog and research request form, but we've also added some fun new features. For example, you will find video tours of our collection and special collections, as well library column articles featured in past issues of Antique Automobile. Be sure to stop by often, as we will continue to add new content down the road, such as literature and memorabilia video spotlights. Be sure to visit us at www.aacalibrary.org today!
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What city has the most Rolls-Royce vehicles per capita?
Hong Kong - Rolls-Royce cars are an admired status symbol of Hong Kong's wealthy.
Source: Automotive Milestones, Trivia of a Most Unique Machine, edited by Clark Cassell and Charles Merritt, Braddock Publications.
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AACA Official Custom Car Signs
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Show off your car and your AACA pride with the only AACA approved Car Show Sign! AACA Car Show Signs are approximately 16.5" high by 12" wide and display your customized information alongside the AACA Logo. A great accessory for all members! The cost is $30 plus shipping. To order, send your 200-word description in a word document to mclayton@aaca.org today.
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Calendar Spotlight
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May 8 - 10, 2014
June 15- 20, 2014
June 12 - 14, 2014
June 26 - 28, 2014
September 18 - 20, 2014
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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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