AACA News

I was probably one of the first AACA members to sign up for the Oral History Project, and I just have to share that I found it to be quite a positive experience. 

 

Having already read the information in Speedster and Antique Automobile about the project, I guess you could say that I knew what I was getting into. Also, I knew already that Wayne Tuck is the current President of AACA, so the postcard with his name was no surprise. The lady who answered when I called to give my history did a good job explaining the details of the project and the costs to order. She was patient with me when I hesitated during the recording. As she asked a couple of the questions, I had to think a moment about my responses. I suppose it would have been helpful to know the questions ahead of time – that might be the one change I would make to the project. 

 

At any rate, later I received a message verifying my order and how to go online to finish up my information, actually hear my recording, and yes, to pay. Listening to the recording, I was surprised by how much I had covered and was especially pleased I had mentioned how my grandfather and others were such an influence in my love for old cars.

 

When this project is completed, it is my understanding that a kiosk (or something) will be placed at our AACA National Headquarters with my history and others. And thus, as it was stated in Antique Automobile, the stories of AACA members will carry far into the future.

THANK YOU to all of the volunteers, judges, staff,

property staff, AACA Board and all of our wonderful

members who participated in the show in East Moline, IL! 

 

And a very special THANK YOU to the

Mississippi Valley Region for hosting a great event!

 

Click the above link to view the winners list.

 

Enjoy these photos courtesy of Brittany Haas, Director of

Exposition & Sales at Bend XPO, and make sure to read

the official recap article and photos in the November/December

issue of Antique Automobile magazine…

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.

Eastern Fall Nationals

Hershey, PA

TUESDAY, October 4 – FRIDAY, October 7

 

The Hershey Region AACA invites you to make the pilgrimage to antique car Mecca this October. Come join the more than 250,000 visitors who come each year to experience Hershey. The Hershey show is considered the largest true antique car show in the world and includes a flea market with over 9,000 vendor spaces, a car corral with about 1,000 antique cars for sale and culminates in a great car show with 1,000+ vintage cars on display.

 

If you registered for the flea market or car corral, you can expect to see your packet with your windshield stickers and instructions sometime the first week of September.

 

If you registered to show your car on FRIDAY, you will need to pick up your packet on the Chocolate Field at the FOLDER DISTRIBUTION tent located next to the Hershey Region main tent. The FOLDER DISTRIBUTION tent is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Packets will also be available for pick-up on Friday morning at the show vehicle entrance behind the Giant Center.

 

WE NEED JUDGES!! Judges’ registration for Hershey is open online here. Here is a link to the last Judges Newsletter, which includes the Hershey registration form. HURRY! The judges’ registration deadline is September 16.

 

If you have questions, please email [email protected]. If you have questions regarding the car show, please send an email to [email protected].

 

COME JOIN US FOR THE LARGEST ANTIQUE CAR SHOW

& FLEA MARKET IN THE WORLD!

AACA merchandise will be at these locations in the flea market:

Chocolate Field in our blue trailer – C3H 5-7, C3I 5-7 (Tuesday – Friday)

Green Field in front of the Giant Center in a large white tent (Tuesday – Thursday)

Note: Official Hershey poster artist David Snyder will be at the blue trailer location

selling and autographing posters Tuesday – Thursday.

 

AACA merchandise will be adjacent to the show field

in a large white tent on FRIDAY during the car show.

 

AACA membership will be at these locations in the flea market:

Chocolate Field in front of our blue trailer – C3H 5-7, C3I 5-7 (Tuesday – Friday)

Green Field in front of the Giant Center in a large white tent (Tuesday – Thursday)

Chocolate Field C3G 5-9 (Tuesday – Thursday)

Note: Wayne Carini will be at the C3G 5-9 location on Wednesday.

He will be available for autographs, photos and selling copies of his magazine.

 

AACA membership will be adjacent to the show field on FRIDAY during the car show.

 

New memberships and membership renewals will be taken at these locations all week.

 

AACA Headquarters building, including the AACA Library,

will be open to the public Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Don’t forget about the Library yard sale on

Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. behind AACA Headquarters!

The Redwood Empire Region of AACA, located in Santa Rosa, CA, celebrated their 46th Annual Picnic on July 31, 2022. Fifty members and guests enjoyed the day of perfect weather and togetherness. It was also wonderful to see all of the magnificent automobiles our members arrived in that day. Along with a potluck table, a hot dog and hamburger BBQ was served. After lunch, the raffle tickets were drawn. The door prize is a “door,” plus half the pot. The door has been with us since 1984 when it was instituted by then Club President Mike Fancchi. The lucky winner gets to store it until next year.

His other big love was cars, and his first car was a blue 1939 Plymouth business coupe, which he was obliged to sell when he was shipped overseas. He always looked for another car like it, but not until Hersey 2021 did he spot and purchase a blue 1939 Plymouth convertible sedan, one of only 18 known to exist.

 

In 1943 with the World War II raging, Jim Sutcliffe was granted a six-month army deferment due to his work in the aircraft industry, and he used that opportunity to marry Ola Smith of Clarkrange, Tennessee. Jim was inducted into the army in November 1943 and sent to Macon, Georgia, for infantry training. Half-way through the training, Jim was hospitalized for a severe cold and had to start his basic training all over again. Jim believes that this cold saved his life because the training delay caused him to complete his basic training too late for the D-Day Invasion. 

 

However, the severe cold did not keep Jim out of the war in Europe. His troop was sent to France and was involved in the Falaise Gap Battle in August 1944. The German solders retreated to the opposite side of the Meuse River and began an artillery barrage. They were then able to zero in on Jim’s location. He had just moved away from an angry ant hill next to his leg. Moments later shrapnel shredded the edge of Jim’s pants and wiped out the anthill only 8 inches away from him. This was one of many small decisions that would save his life again and again.

 

When Jim and his comrades crossed the Meuse River, they marched into an ambush, were captured, and were sent to Stalag 7A by train. Forty soldiers were loaded in each train car, which allowed nothing but standing room. During the several days that the soldiers were being transported, American bombers dropped bombs very close to the train. Jim and his comrades were shaken-up, but still alive.

Have you ever thought about speaking or putting on a seminar at the Annual Convention? Well, now’s your chance! If you would like to be a possible speaker, please fill out this form and send it in no later than September 15.

 

Have an idea for a workshop? What topics would you like to hear a panel of experts discuss? This is YOUR Annual Convention, and we want to know what you want to learn about. Please email Stacy with your seminar ideas and/or speaker suggestions (membership, leadership, chapters/regions, marketing, cars, technical, fun, historical, ladies-focused, etc.).

Susquehannock Region Automotive Technology Scholarship 

(formerly known as the AACA Student Scholarship)

A cash award is granted by the AACA National Board of Directors to encourage young adults to further their education and stimulate interest in AACA and automotive history. One or more awards may be presented each year.

 

AACA Young People’s Award 

A cash award to an AACA member (student or regular) who has been accepted into an accredited institution of higher learning or is now enrolled in such institution, i.e. a four-year college leading to a bachelor’s degree or a two-year vocational education program leading to a degree. Applicant must be nominated by a Region or Chapter of AACA and must be no more than 25 years old. This award is merit based, and while financial need may be considered, it is not a deciding factor.

 

A cash award to any AACA member (student or regular) who has been accepted to an accredited institution of higher learning or is now enrolled in such institution, i.e. a four-year college leading to a bachelor’s degree or a two-year vocational education program leading to a diploma. Applicant must be no more than 25 years old. This scholarship is granted by the AACA National Board of Directors.

 

Louise (Bianchi) Chiotti was born on June 11, 1914, in San Jose California. The family’s first automobile was a 1926 Dodge sedan. Her two younger brothers purchased a 1939 Studebaker and took delivery in January 1939. They wanted to give it to Louise’s son Dave in 1956. His mother thought it too big of a car for a fifteen-year-old in San Francisco and talked him into buying a 1930 Model A Ford coupe. In 1959 the little Ford was a bit slow, so Dave purchased a 1959 Ford convertible. As Dave sat on the running board of the Ford waiting for the new owner to arrive his mom came and sat next to him. “You really don’t want to sell it do you?” she asked. “No, I don’t” was my reply. “Then don’t,” Mom said. Dave and Marilyn Chiotti still own the Model A; it is a Senior and First Place Grand National Award Winner. The 1939 Studebaker came to the Chiottis after spending 40 years under a walnut tree. It is now a Senior and First Place Grand National Award Winner. The 1926 Dodge was cut into a truck for ranch use in the 1940s. Dave brought it home in 1976 and built a Woodie. In 2000, they donated it to Luther Burbank Home & Gardens in Santa Rosa. After Dave and Marilyn’s uncle’s passing, they acquired their 1968 Cadillac El Dorado. It now lives in the AACA Museum in Hershey, PA. This $1,500 scholarship is based upon the same rules as the Automotive Technology Scholarship and is awarded as funds are available. It was instituted and funded by Dave and Marilyn Chiotti as a way to honor Louise and a way to continue to support youth in the hobby.

 

A cash award to any AACA member, child or grandchild of an active AACA member in good standing for a least 5 years, who has been accepted to an institute of higher learning or is now enrolled in such institution. The award is granted by the family of John and Janet Ricketts in recognition of their love of AACA and their belief in service to the club. It is also in recognition of our first female National President Janet Ricketts in 1999.

 

A cash award to an AACA member currently enrolled in an institution of higher learning leading up to a degree in antique automotive restoration.

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 will also be included with your next issue of Antique Automobile magazine.

AACA Christmas and holiday cards are an annual tradition for many members. These beautiful 5×7 cards feature artwork from renowned artist Ken Eberts, whose paintings have graced Antique Automobile magazine covers. This year, we have two new designs…

Many people choose to join a club based on relationships—family, friends, people they know and trust who invite them, club members who extend genuine hospitality toward visitors and their interests. When initiating a relationship, the goal should not be to get them in the club as fast as you can. Rather invite people to become part of an outing of the club as a way to develop relationships. Most people first come to a club because of a relationship they have with someone who already belongs. Emphasize that knowing and having a relationship with the person must come before an invitation to join.

 

1. Play off people’s passion and strengths. Connect with people based on what you know or are willing to learn about them, their interests and their needs. Some people are looking for advice on a restoration, some are looking to purchase a particular car and some are looking to simply spend time around other car people. When reaching out to people who are not part of your club, know them or about their vehicle(s) well enough to share how being a part of a car community might enhance their lives, project or search.

 

2. Get out and visit. Have your membership team visit other clubs. Let them experience firsthand what it’s like to be a guest and to feel like an outsider. They can bring back ideas of what to do and what not to do that can improve your own welcome program. Never stop trying new ideas to engage with visitors.

 

3. Welcome to the meeting. The first few minutes of someone visiting your club are crucial. I can’t stress this enough. When visitors walk into your meeting, the welcoming effort is just beginning. A club brochure or National brochure will give people an insight as to who you are and will help to open conversation with new people. Introduce your visitor to as many people as you can or connect that person with someone in your club with similar vehicles or interests like touring or showing vehicles.

 

4. Follow up, follow up, follow up. You have invited friends, family and people you have met in the community to your meeting and your team has welcomed them, but you don’t want to stop there. If you don’t follow up with your visitors, you run the risk of not connecting with them again. Collect an email address or phone number and then make sure you follow up in a timely manner.

 

5. Your website creates an impression. The first impression you make with any potential visitor may very well be online. Many people who are thinking about joining a club will search online for information before even thinking about stepping foot into your meeting space. To create a good first impression with your online visitors, here’s a list of information you MUST have on your club’s website: location, directions, meeting times, what to expect and contact information. Don’t take this information for granted. These are the most commonly searched questions by visitors. If you need to, ask someone who’s not familiar with your club (even if it’s a family member or friend) to check out your website to see if they can easily find what they would look for if they were planning on visiting. If you promote your club’s website, people will come. When it comes to promoting your site, there are different tactics you can use, such as posting about it on social media, including it in your club brochure or adding it to your club business card. These will all be helpful in the short term. The most effective thing you can do though to turn your website into a tool that regularly leads new people to visit your meetings is to optimize your website for search engines. This is referred to as search engine optimization (SEO). Claim your local listings (e.g., Google, Bing).

 

6. Advertise on Facebook. Do you know where most people in your community socialize? If you guessed social media, you’d be correct. Practically speaking, to reach people in your community, your club needs to consider advertising on Facebook, since just having a Facebook Page no longer cuts it. It’s not expensive. It doesn’t require a ton of technical expertise. And it’s not like sending a piece of direct mail—it’s hyper-targeted. You don’t have to sign a contract with Facebook or commit to spending thousands of dollars. You can test a short-term campaign for little money and see what type of results it generates.

 

7. Personalized invitations. Stop. If there’s just one thing you take away from this article, let it be this point: Most people will attend a meeting or event if they’re invited by someone. There are no other outreach events or tactics you can use that can even come close to matching these results. Don’t believe the hype from other ideas. Asking someone is still the single best thing your members can do to reach more people. In the business world, this is known as word-of-mouth marketing, and it’s just as effective. I know technology can make it feel easier to reach more people (like social media advertising), and it’s definitely worth pursuing, but don’t overlook the importance of challenging your club members to personally invite people. Cruise-ins, club picnics, car shows and other special occasions are ideal times to invite people who are not members. Personal invitations are excellent for encouraging participation. Encourage your club to interact with others at events like cruise-ins, cars and coffee, local shows and displays. Encourage members to carry business cards with club information, brochures, membership applications and the car cutouts provided by AACA National (email Karen White to order these free for your club).

 

The ideas are endless, so there’s no need to stick to an annual event unless you’re experiencing consistent results. Feel free to mix up what you’re doing to reach different people in your community. AACA and your local regions and chapters have so much to offer to the community. Get out and explore new ways to get the word out about the many ways we can connect and enhance lives through our clubs.

This is the only approved AACA car show sign and is intended for use at AACA events. These signs are only available to AACA members and are custom created to tell your vehicle’s story and history.

 

Signs are 16.5″ tall and 12″ wide and are made of hard plastic to withstand the elements. The signs cost $45, and an image can be added to your sign for an additional $5.

 

If you want your car sign for the Hershey show, this is your LAST CHANCE to order! All orders MUST be received by September 6. There will be no shipping charge on your order because you will pick up your sign on Friday on the show field at the AACA merchandise tent.

 

 

Contact Jon Curtis at AACA Headquarters if you would like to have a sign made: [email protected] or 717-534-1910.

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 2022 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 2022 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.

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.

 

AACA is on Instagram! @antiqueautomobileclubofamerica 

Be sure to use these hashtags: #DrivingHistory, #AACA, #AntiqueAutomobileClubofAmerica, #Hershey, #AACAHershey, #AACAproud, #AACAstrong