You Meet the Nicest People in Charlotte
(Southeastern National AACA Meet)

By Bill Cox

We are so blessed to have such a grand AACA event in our back yard… well, maybe it’s not exactly around the corner, but easy enough to get to for a weekend. I went down Friday morning in the rain… not the best time to go, but I was able to get down there, have some lunch and greet some friends in the AACA tent by the showfield. After lunch, the mist was tolerable and I actually got to spend a few hours in the flea market and had a good time.

The displays inside the buildings always have something interesting and this year there were El Caminos and land speed racers (LSRs). These are the rocket shaped race cars built to set speed records on the Bonneville salt flats. I enjoyed both of these displays, but the prize possession here was a 1970 Monte Carlo that was treated to an incredible restoration to a concours level. It was certainly the best I have ever seen.

Saturday promised to be a better day with dry weather and temps in the 70s. It did not disappoint as I arrived at the judges breakfast around 7:00 to meet friends from around the country who had come to join the fun on the show field. There were 250 judges present to review 301 cars. It was overcast in the morning, but that gave way to clear sunny skies and 70 degrees in the afternoon. There were lots of folks from the NC Region, Alamance Region, Mountain Regions and of course all those Hornets Nest folks with those yellow hats… they certainly looked like a swarm of bees all over the place.

As cars started pulling in to the field, my eye was drawn to the 1917 Locomobile as it pulled in to be greeted by Mel Carson, our new AACA President. I wasn’t alone as many people turned to see it drive in and enjoy something you don’t see very often. Equally engaging was Jim and Becky Aldrich’s 1923 Stutz Touring Car. A beautiful little touring car that you can just imagine traveling the back roads of America in the roaring 20s! These and many other fine automobiles are what brings me to Charlotte every year. As a judge, I get to see some extremely nice cars, either restored to very high levels, or preserved with care to maintain originality. We are very fortunate to be able to see these examples of automotive history so close to home. If you haven’t been to an AACA National recently or at all, I highly suggest you put it on your list of things to do. You’re sure to have a great time, and… you meet the nicest people! 

Happy motoring,
Bill

To see more pictures Taken by Bill Cox and Denny Oestreich Click on:
2019 AACA Southeastern National Meet Pics 

NC Transportation Museum Display update “Help Wanted”

By Tom Wright
For the 2020 NC Transportation Museum exhibit, the NC Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) is looking for sport cars, foreign and domestic, to exhibit at the North Carolina Transportation Museum (Spencer) from 18 November 2019 to 24 February 2020. An earlier E Mail asked for mini cars, which we now know there are too few to make an exhibit, thus the change. 

For your car to be considered for this upcoming exhibit, it must be twenty-five years or older and be more a sports car than a muscle car. We currently have five cars to exhibit, a 1993 Cadillac Allante Sports Roaster, and a 1950 MGTD, a 1956 T Bird (awaiting application), a 1991 Toyota MR2, and a 1978 MG (awaiting application). We need ten more cars, but would like fifteen. If you want to participate in the exhibit contact me ( tjwgiw@gmail.com) before 30 August 2019. 

Final Comments:
    * Don’t let your car winter over in your garage, put it on exhibit for all to see and enjoy.    
    * Last year’s Muscle Car exhibit was very successful. It provided the NCTM an additional exhibit, promoted AACA, and above all, was enjoyed by the public.      
    * Any questions regarding insurance coverage, available trailer parking, vehicle drop-off/pick-up date, vehicle placard information, and participant recognition, will be answered by me once I receive your request to participate.

For an Application Form to display and store your car for free  (Click Here)

Tom Wright
910-327-3858

   
See pictures front the 2019 Display at: 2019 NC Transportation Museum Display Pictures

NC Transportation Museum News

By Tom Wright
North Carolina Transportation Museum & North Carolina Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America 2020 Sports Car Exhibit

According to Freebase – “A sports car is a small usually two seat two door automobile designed for spirited performance and nimble handling. Sports cars may be spartan or luxurious but high maneuverability and minimum weight are requisite”.

      For the 2020 NC Transportation Museum exhibit, the NC Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) is looking for sport cars, foreign and domestic, to exhibit at the North Carolina Transportation Museum (Spencer) from 18 November 2019 to 24 February 2020. An earlier E Mail asked for mini cars, which we now know there are too few to make an exhibit, thus the change. 
       For your car to be considered for this upcoming exhibit, it must be twenty-five years or older and be more a sports car than a muscle car. Example of some sport car makes include: Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Austin Healy, Datsun, De Tomaso, Delahey, Ferrari, Fiat, Ford (T-Bird), Chevrolet (Corvette), Jaguar, Jensen, Lamborghini, Lancia, Lotus, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes, MG, Mini, Morgan, Nash, Opel, Porsche, Puma, Saab, Scorpion, Sunbeam, Toyota, Triumph, TVR, Volvo, etc. I did not include the many models as the list would greatly lengthen this Email.
      If you have a sports car and want to exhibit it next year, please contact me (tjwgiw@gmail.com) before 31 July 2019 so your car can be considered. Owners will be notified NLT 31 Aug 2019 of their selection.

         Last year’s Muscle Car exhibit was very successful. It provided the NCTM an additional exhibit, promoted AACA, and above all, was enjoyed by the public. To see a report and pictures of last years exhibit,  Click on: 2019 NC Transportation Museum Display Pictures

Final Comments:
Don’t let your car winter over in your garage, put it on exhibit for all to see and enjoy.          
Any questions regarding insurance coverage, available trailer parking, vehicle drop-off/pick-up date, vehicle placard information, and participant recognition, will be answered by me (Tom Wright, (tjwgiw@gmail.com) once I receive your E Mail request to participate.