It has come to my attention all the way out here in the burning West, that the National Board of Directors will be presented with a proposal at their Board meeting this coming week in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to accept pre-1949 'Hot Rods' into the AACA System.<P>Where did this proposal come from?<P>What group is supporting it?<P>What is a pre-1949 'Hot Rod'?<P>Does it mean a 'Rod' that was actually built before 1949 and can be proven as such, or can you just build one next week out of pre-1949 parts and call it a "pre-1949 Hot Rod," and display it at an AACA Meet?<P>Is this the Direction in which our Board feels the AACA needs to go?<P>Is this what the general membership wants or is it the desire of a special interest group within the AACA leadership?<P>Why is it just now slipping out of the closet a matter of days before a vote may be taken to implement the concept?<P>If it is passed will the supporters be willing to stand up and be counted?<P>Inquiring minds want to know?<P>This post is neither pro nor anti 'Hot Rod'. It does however question the modus operendi of some of our leadership.<P>hvs

[Bill Stoneberg]

Howard, <BR>In the Hot Rod world, 1949 is the dividing line between Hot Rods and Customs. Dont ask me why though, Thats the way it is. But a pre 1949 Hot rod can be built of of parts that we made yesterday.<P>You can take a new chassis, a small block 350 motor & 700 r4 transmission, new suspension and a 1932 Duece body (or a 34 Vickie, or a 39 Willies, or lots of other Fiberglass or repro metal bodies) and build yourself a hot rod that can be titled and registered as a YOM hot rod. Stupid isn't it.<P>I like Hot rods, I have had plenty in my life but the AACA is not the place for them. There are plenty of other clubs that are set up for that already.

[another old car]

hvs<BR>I myself and this is only my opinion that the aaca should have a class for modefied cars , only to be veiwed , Not judged <BR>I myself have seen very nice cars , but I would use the word ' modefied cars 'and not Hot Rod . Hot Rod a open fender car [img]images/icons/confused.gif" border="0[/img] I might get blasted for this but have you seen the cars in events parking areas

[Ccar]

Howard,<P>There were two, maybe three, at Hershey last year in a special "display" near the stadium entrance for registered show cars. I was there watching the arrival parade when one arrived. Of course we asked what was going on and the owner told us about the petition to form a class. If I understood it correctly, his car was an "orginal" pre'49 hot rod. Not restored, but in what may be considered original or older repaint. I think it was used on the Happy Days TV show. If not his, one of them claimed to be of TV fame. The point is, they were built pre'49 and would be documented and approved by some governing group as the racers are now. Was also told they are currently AACA members and have been showing antique vehicles for many years. <P>Do they belong, can't really comment on them. I'm sure there is a following as with the racing vehicles. I don't pay much attention to them either. If I had a vote, particularly at Hershey, I would say include the driven class and eliminate the hot rods, and other racers if space is a factor as it was last year. Just my thoughts. <P>Chuck [img]images/icons/wink.gif" border="0[/img]

[D Binger]

Hot Rods in AACA? That would bring some up <BR>questions that will need some very good answers.<P>Does this mean that a Hot Rod made out of a<BR>Model T body with a flat head V-8 in it be eligible for <BR>an AACA National Meet and the same trophies <BR>that the person who restored a vehicle? Wouldn&#8217;t <BR>that be a slap in the face , so to speak , to the person <BR>who restored a vehicle?<P>Will there be a special committee to certify <BR>these cars as to the authenticity of all the parts <BR>used, and that this vehicle was indeed a hot rod <BR>before 1949 and not just put together from parts,<BR>like the race vehicle have to go through now?<BR>What kind of judging standards will be used?<BR>After all, it is said that AACA has the best judging <BR>system in the world for antique motor vehicles.<P>Will they be allowed to participate on tours? <BR>Can you see a 1932 Ford Roadster with a <BR>flathead and no fenders on a Sentimental Tour, <BR>or a 40 Ford with flames and big tires on a <BR>Founders tour?<P>Is this the latest in the &#8220;We need younger members&#8221; <BR>effort? I hope that the board members that will be voting <BR>on this take a long hard look at what this might turn <BR>into. They need to remember what the first A in AACA <BR>stands for. Will we loose creditability in the antique <BR>auto hobby?<P>Isn&#8217;t there a national club for Hot Rods already?<P>Dan Binger

[1937hd45]

I don't know how the proposal is worded, but would vote YES! This new class is going to be of "DOCUMENTED HOT RODS" just like the Race Vehicles. You will have to prove the car you have is in fact that car not a look a like replica. Use in a movie, TV show, Hot Rod Magazine feature are things that the commettie will be looking for. Jerry Duncan who filmed the AACA Hershey vedio for years owns the "Happy Days" car, and is one of the AACA members interested in this new class. I don't know if it is planed to be a display only or judged class. A Hot Rod is a pre 1949 vehicle, but I don't know what year of the buildup should be the cutoff date. For example: any Hot Rod that won the National Roadster Show should be in this new class. The show started in 1949, should cars up to 1960 be admitted or should 1965 be the cutoff date? There aren't that many original (as they looked in the year of the buildup)Hot Rods out there. Just like trucks, motorcycles, and race vehicles, they are a unique part of our automotive history, and should be on the show field.

Now the AACA can really have some 'Big' Meets. Instead of 1,500 or 2,000 cars at Hershey maybe there can be 8,000 or 10,000. Even better, perhaps now we can have beer, 'wet T shirt' contest, and that loud 50's music on the PA system. That's just the direction the clubs need to go, don't you think? [img]images/icons/shocked.gif" border="0[/img] [img]images/icons/shocked.gif" border="0[/img] [img]images/icons/shocked.gif" border="0[/img]

[1937hd45]

As I said in my first post, this will be for "DOCUMENTED" Hot Rods, I doubt that the class would ever have more that 25 cars at any meet encluding Hershey.

[1913Moline]

I used to think that Hershey was a big car show until I started to drive to the "Back to the 50's Show" here in Minneapolis. This weekend I drove my "stock" 1929 Pierce as well as 1914 KisselKar down to the show. I was car number 10,085 registered!!! They have over 10,500 pre 1964 cars on display. It is absolutely incredible.<P>I am not a street rod collector nor do I want to start the debate on whether modifying these cars is "right". I find this event is an incredible place to show my kids a wide variety of 20's to 60's body styles. The cars come driving in from every direction- I would guess that way less than 1% come in trailers.<P>Greg

[SalG (Sal Grenci)]

Forget about Hot Rods. What about Howard's proposal for national director reform, it has been blocked for over a year. [img]images/icons/confused.gif" border="0[/img]