Go II

["Mahoney, John" <jmahoney@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Sing for your supper and aim for the car stars:
"The AACA was formed from among a small group of men who attended Antique
Automobile Derbies that had began, in 1931, in connection with the
Automobile Show in Philadelphia. After the fourth such Derby, Mr. Frank
Abramson and Mr. Theodore Fiala conceived of the idea to form an antique
automobile club from among the previous year's Derby participants. They
approached Mr. Jack Dlugash, promoter of the Derbies, for the participant's
names and addresses, which he gladly provided. Their letter, dated September
20, 1935, successfully interested these people in forming such an
organization. A meeting was held on November 4, 1935, in the auditorium of
the Automobile Club of Philadelphia. Attendance included the fourteen
founder members, plus the wife of one. Thus was born America's first
historical automotive society, the Antique Automobile Club of America.
The Club's first President, Mr. Frank Abramson, served the first three
years. At a March 16, 1936 meeting, automotive pioneer, and AACA Honorary
Member, Mr. Charles E. Duryea was scheduled to speak, but had to withdraw
due to illness. Mr. Duryea and his brother, J. Frank Duryea, had created
America's first commercially successful automobile. This same year a
constitution was drawn up and submitted to the membership for approval.
Unfortunately, Charles Duryea passed away September 28, 1938. Mr. George M.
Hughes was elected President in the fall of 1938 and did much to keep our
small club and magazine going, while serving five of the next six years,
with 1942 being the exception, when Hyde W. Ballard served as President.
During these years, beginning January 10, 1938, various AACA members had
meetings in their homes. It was also in 1938 that club member George Green
and his wife called attention to the club by making an 8834 mile cross
country trip from their home in Lambertville, N.J. to California, touching
on Canada and Mexico. The over three month journey in their 1904 Oldsmobile
was made with virtually no problems. The first published drawing of the club
emblem, as we know it today, was designed in 1939 by Mr. Herbert van Haagen
of Upper Darby, Pa. Using a power engraver attachment, many months of labor
were required for Mr. van Haagen to produce the original master pattern.
Volume 1, Number 1 of the magazine was first published in 1937 and called
the Bulletin of the Antique Automobile with the first elected editor being
Theodore Fiala. Beginning with the January, 1943 issue, it was renamed
ANTIQUE AUTOMOBILE. Through 1944, there had been a number of editors and
club membership had reached 400. One of the leading personalities of our
Club during this period was Mr. M.J. Duryea, the son of Charles E. Duryea.
During the years following, he became Editor of ANTIQUE AUTOMOBILE, and, as
such, his influence was felt far and wide.
The first Annual Banquet was held on March 1, 1941, with 78 members
attending. Speakers were ***James Melton*** and Ralph De Palma."
(You can read more --- about things automotive --- at http://www.aaca.org)