Denny Oestreich

2021 Special Western National Meet Nov 12-13, 2021 

By Denny Oestreich

   In August 2021 it was time for some travel adventure when I noticed that AACA had planned a Special National Judged Show in Phoenix, AZ November 12-13, 20211. I have family and friends who live in Phoenix, so I decided to sign up to judge at the show and combine the trip with visiting. I wondered what type cars I would see at a show out West. I signed up to judge Tri-5 (55-57) Chevrolets and maybe some other Chevrolets. I took the Apprentice Judging class in 2019 and Judged interiors for foreign sports car class at Concord this spring. I have also taken may judging classes and several Continuing Judges Education classes. I am gaining judging experience and credits.

    I wondered if there would be anyone else from North Carolina at the Phoenix event.  Leaving from Raleigh I met Mike Peterson in the waiting room at the RDU Airport who was on the same flight.  Mike is an AACA Special Awards Committee Member. Then at the event I recognized Steve Eason’s 1957 Corvette in the hotel parking lot. Steve is from Sanford and attends many of the AACA events and enjoys driving to them, even at great distances. There are updates on Steve’s 5000 mile adventure on the NC Region Website at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/354295168008068/. Other North Carolinians at the Phoenix event were Eric Marsh, National Awards Committee Member who drove his 1993 Ford Ranger from China Grove, NC. I also met David Bowman of the Hornets Nest Region, Chair of the HPOF Committee.  With five members from North Carolina, we had a good representation. I took a picture of Steve Eason’s Corvette and did not realize until later the 1993 Ford Pick-up parked next to Steve belonged to Rick Marsh.  

     The host hotel for the event was the Hilton Garden Inn in Tempe, AZ. They provided rooms for many of the AACA guests, and their parking lot was also the show field. The show vehicles were parked interspersed with the Hotel Guest vehicles. This was a bit confusing.

    Typical of the of AACA judged events the first day (Friday) activities included Registration of Show vehicles, a Judging School taught by Dain King, and a round table discussion. Round table topics included how to get more youth participation, requests for tours to be separated by a week or two and not back to back, and what to do with modified cars that want to participate. 

    Judging activities were on the second day. There was no traditional Judges breakfast because catering was not allowed at the Hotel and Covid restrictions. The first activity on the agenda for the judges meeting was Judging Point recognition.  As a surprise I was awarded a plaque and pin for having 10 judging credits. The five person judging teams were then assigned.  There were no 55-57 Class 33 Chevrolets, so I was assigned to a team judging 9 miscellaneous vehicles. There were only 55 vehicles with a wide variety of classes entered in the show. 

     Next, our judging team scouted the Show field and identified the vehicles our team was to judge. The first vehicle was a 1970 Dodge Challenger going for a Repeat Preservation. Other vehicles we judged were an early production 1954 Corvette, a 1975 Chevrolet Impala Convertible, a 1960 Checker, a 1989 Mercedes, a 1956 Thunderbird, a 1965 Corvette, a 1960 Rolls Royce, and a 1954 Buick Skylark.  What a variety. It took about 2 hours to judge the 9 vehicles we were assigned.  The team worked well together, and the judging was enjoyable. The owners were anxious to help you with anything you questioned or looked at too long.

2021 NC Region Fall Meet – Spencer September 18, 2021

As reported by Jack Harris
     The Furnitureland Chapter hosted the NC Region Fall Meet again this year at the Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC.  The weather was good for a car show.  There were 78 cars entered and 71 cars judged. The trophies kept the theme of railroad cars with a Southern Railway Hopper Car featured.  The dash plaque on the trophy featured a 1963 Pontiac Catalina owned by Bill and Cathy Sykes.  During the morning registration and parking the NC Region Board of Directors held their meeting in a room in the back shop.
    The transportation Museum offered bus rides down the street to the working Auto Maintenance Shop which the Museum acquired and restored for working on the vehicles which are part of the museums collection.  The shop is now outfitted with lifts and tools and is displaying some vehicles and providing space for auto maintenance.
    A Highlight of the show was the display of a quilt assembled of squares submitted by the NC Region Chapters in 1992 and raffled off to benefit the NC Region. The winners of the quilt raffle, the McMillans of Roxboro, kept it all these years hoping it could be displayed at the Transportation Museum.  When the McMillans passed away their daughter contacted Jack Harris and asked if the Region would be interested in the quilt.  Jack accepted and arranged for it to be displayed at the Fall Show and will also include it in the NC Region display cases at the Transportation Museum.
    When the quilt was assembled each NC Region Chapter was contacted to prepare a quilt square which was then assembled into the quilt that was raffled. Each Chapter was asked to design a square and place a star representing their location on the map. The chapters also donated $4.25 for material to assemble the quilt. Jack Harris has asked if you can recall any history of preparing the quilt or your chapters square to contact him at:  336-888-8211.  

See more pictures Click 2021 Fall Meet Pictures

2021 Southeastern Nationals September 9-11, 2021

By Brian Wingler 

The South Carolina Region AACA hosted the 2021 Southeastern Fall Nationals at the Benson Campus of Greenville Technical College in Taylors, SC September 9-11, 2021. Besides the business meetings, on Friday a tour of the local BMW plant, a judges school, and a catered BBQ dinner was available. The car show took place on Saturday the 11th. That being the 20^th anniversary of the 09/11 terrorist attack on the US, the Region honored First Responders as part of the gathering. Approximately 200 vehicles were registered for the show and with the very accommodating weather probably most of them were there. Some of the highlights for me were the 1911 Thomas Flyer and the 1934 Packard V12. There was also the 1941 Chevrolet Fire Truck restored by the members of the local Greer, SC fire department. This truck was part of their fleet from new, sold, and eventually donated back to the department. There was a 1920 Anderson, made in Anderson, SC with the radiator badge which proclaimed: ”Anderson, A Little Higher In Price, But Made in Dixie”.

See more pictures Click  2021 AACA Southeastern National Pictures

2021 AACA Annual Convention, Williamsburg, VA June 4-5, 2021  

The AACA Annual convention was held moved from Philadelphia, PA to Williamsburg, VA  this year. The planning committee was able to successfully re-plan this event in a short time.  Below is a sample of pictures from the AACA Annual Convention taken by Joel and Annie Goldman.  To see many more of their pictures (Click Here).

2021 Founders Tour May 20-25, 2021

Three NC Region couples participated in the 2021 AACA Founders Tour of West Virginia.  Joel and Annie Goldman, Jeff and Lorrie Oaks, and Bob and Linda McAdam were on the tour.  The tour was a five-day event from May 20 through Tuesday evening, May 25 driving about 150 miles per day. The Tour was planned by Franklin Gage.  The participants visited several sites in West Virginia including Spruce Knob, The Railway Museum, Cass Railroad, Smoke Hole Caverns, Black Water falls, a private car collection, and a mulch factory.  Annie said “We met old friends and made new friends. We drove over 1,400 miles  on many roads many of them twisty with 7-10% grades up and down the WV mountains.”  Joel Goldman took many great pictures of the tour which are below for enjoyment.  Thanks to Annie and Joel for sharing the story and pictures.

To see more of Joel Goldman Pictures Click on: 2021 AACA Founder Tour Pictures