Doug Novak

I'm not sure if the Class Changes occurred or if the Auto Cross Classes were same as IMSA or SCCA back then. The Gremiln SCCA/IMSA cars did very well back in the early 70's. They actually were Inline Six modified engines, the cars were Red White and Blue driven by George Alderman and Amos Johnson. There was a third Gremlin with these guys but don't remember who the driver was. I had some pictures of them finishing First, Second and Third against mostly BMW's in 1974, that were published in the "Stop Watcher" sentinel. This one was at the Daytona Goodrich Radial Challenge it's George's Car and he and Bill Scott shared driving. Gremlins First and Second, BMW 2002s Third and Fourth. Never understand why the Gremlin was and still is so under appreciated. Coolest thing in this picture is he's lifting the right rear wheel in the turn going up hill.

I Yes Randall was AMC's answer to Chevy's Yankel, sort of. They dropped Modified 401 CI engines, the biggest CI AMC made, in Gremlins. When I ordered my Gremlin X I asked the dealer to put a 360CI V8 and 4 Speed in it but they said the Federal Regulations would not allow them to do it, however Randel could take the 304CI engines out after the cars were Titled and replace it with a 401. Actually though I think the fastest AMC's ever were the (51) Red, White and Blue AMX's built by Hurst for Dealer Show Room Display and Drag Racing, using highly modified 390CI engines. They could not be titled for the street in '69 and were running 10 second quarter mile times.

I ordered this '72 Gremlin from the factory with the V8, Manual 3 speed Tanny, Posi rear, quick ratio steering and Heavy Duty Suspension to go Auto Cross racing, and as my daily driver. E Stock qualified, I had a total of 8 First place wins in a class that included BMW 2002s, Datson Roadsters, Solid Axle Corvettes, Corvairs, etc. The only mods, as allowed, were bigger tires, a rear roll bar and traction bars to stop rear wheel hoping under hard braking. I also clamped the front springs down one coil height and raced with a full tank of gas to give the car 50/50 weight balance and neutral steering. The BMW guys were use to Winning and called foul all the time but the rules were never broken. The engine was stock 2 Barrel, 150HP which at the advice of an AMC Mechanic, I advanced the timing 10 degrees and change the clutch from a 10" plate to an 11". Sadly, most Auto Cross Racing in Md, Va, and Pa was shut down with the removal of the Blue Laws, that kept the Mall Parking Lots where we race,Closed on Sundays and the stores were allowed to Open. Loved the Gremlin and is still my most memorable car.

Yep! http://www.weilinet.com/Info.aspx?mid=3016&fn=1914-Buick-B-25-Touring

https://youtu.be/b7fxU3HkuSU I walked and Video'd most of the Show Field at the 2016 Grand National at Williamsport and posted it on You Tube. It rained a lot the day before and also late in the afternoon around 2PM an hour before the Show Ground close at 3PM. Hope you enjoy this, I'm not sure I've seen any other Video coverage of this event.

Wow beautiful '55 Beetle CCF.........is it a small rear window? The Canvas Sun Roof models are really getting a lot of attention these days. Did you keep the old engine in it? I use to work in a Texaco Station when I was a kid and got pretty good tuning and setting the timing was so simple. Not sure exactly what year the one I had was. Bought it in '66 when I turned 16, think it was early '60's. Might be older judging from the condition it was in. It had the larger rear window and the Bumpers had the rolled steel nerf bars across the top. The only engine mod I did was to shortened the muffler end pipes 4 inches and take the baffles out. Didn't make it any faster but it was a lot louder and made it harder to sneak home late at night after a date.

That's funny Doug, but so true. Now 50 years later I'm still infected with the condition. I upgraded though, to a '74 VW-Porsche 914, and a '68 AMC/AMX.

Early '60's VW Beetle 36HP, Canvas Sun Roof, Flipper Turn Signals. It was freedom and opened up the World to me. Best fun was trying to get up to Highway speed while getting on the Baltimore Beltway before getting run over by a 18 Wheeler. No gas Gauge, had a switch under the Dash that would open up the reserve area in the bottom of the gas tank but I would forget after filling up to switch it back and be stuck with no gas. Purchased in 1966 , wish I had it now. Sold it in '68 and bought a new Javelin while a Senior in HS.

Here in Shrewsbery Pa. near the Mason Dixon Line there is a large Amish Markets where a local Car Club is welcomed to have a Show the 4th Friday of every Month from Easter to Halloween. It runs from 4PM to 10PM and usually draws 1,000+ Street Cars, Antiques,and Custom cars if the weather is nice. Cars should be 1972 or earlier. There are Car Shows nearly every Saturday, at a Fire Company, Lodge or Community Park in our area.

Steve I agree with what you 100%. We're still Posting a lot about the Museum, all negative understandably. The good thing is we see now that a merger is, and never was going to be possible due to lack of mutual support from those running the Museum. There's a lot of "stirring the pot" on this subject which is a distraction to us looking forward to the new direction the AACA Club is partaking in for the good of our Club. The best position I believe to take with the Museum is to just ignore them for now and hope time will change things for the better.

It was my understanding from the earlier Postings in the Forum, and the Museum's Documents, that what the Museum wanted the Club to do was build a 3 story addition to the existing Museum Building so that they could use 1/3rd of the new addition, the first story at ground level, for their own expansion at our cost? This would have given the Museum control over our space and some authority to be involved in our intentions. See Documents in GRIMY's post #185 DOC #1, page 4 Absolutely, Not a good deal for the Club, as the Board of Directors correctly responded to.

I just received the AACA Magazine in the Mail today. The explanation given there in was well stated. I don't see that anything more is needed to be said. Well done!

Bob, per my original comment, "After the Magazine has been given time for review by the Club Membership", I think this is agreeing some what with what you are saying, but lets get the wheels rolling with what happens next.

The problem I see is that we are starting to see the same conversations here, over and over again with people starting to raise the same issues, concerns and questions that have already been addressed, answered and explained with in the 20 pages of 495 Posts. Once the Magazine is issued there is the potential that the number of people who have not reviewed the information within this forum will dramatically increase and bury the BOD in having to respond, slowing the work that they need to be doing to get things moving. We have a good BOD and ultimately they need to do what they were entrusted with for the good of the Club and begin the work needed to enlarge the HQ & Library.

I don't know exactly when the AACA Official Publication, "Antique Automobile", is coming out, hopefully it's coming soon. With in the Magazine we should have the Final Word about what has been discussed in this forum pertaining to the Club and the Museum. After the Magazine has been given time for review by the Club Membership, I suggest we close the book on this forum Topic ".......What is Going On" . Then start a new Topic in the forum, "Information and Details of the New Construction of our HQ and Library.

That's interesting Jack, never saw Black Wax? Wonder if it was for Waxing Black Cars, Black Trim or Vinyl Tops. If it worked for you and you like it, doesn't matter. Here's my '68 AMC AMX which is painted Calcutta Russet. When bright sunlight is on it the color turns lighter with a little Brownish tint to it, but in indirect Sunlight it has more of a Burgundy color which I actually like best. I wax it twice a year and never wash it. It's garaged and kept clean with a California Duster and Meguair's Spray on Detailer.

I've always been concerned that the newer Wax Products from companies like Meguiar's and Mother's, adds a lot of High Gloss Shine to my car and over the years of polishing has possibly even tinted the original color. It hasn't caused a Judging problem but people have questioned if it is the original color, which it is based on the factory information paint code plate and VIN. It has had one repaint which is most likely not the same type of paint the factory used, but it is an exact color matched to what was indicated. There are also some small remote areas such as in the bottom of the trunk lid where original paint is exposed, and although faded it does match.

Bottom line, as I see it is in the long run the Club can control the cost per sq foot, and time frame to build a new HQ & Library, with far less hassle if we were to do it independently. To do so we can not build on the Museum grounds as hoped due to the requirements coming from the Museum. The annual donation we have given the Museum in the past, which we are no longer going to do is just one of the costs that will be better spent towards our Clubs immediate needs. The Museum has stated they are fine with out our financial support, so be it. I do hope and agree with what has been stated previously, eventually there will be renewed good relations between the Museum and Club, on an equal level, as long as we are not living in the same house.

Unless the Museum changed dramatically their position in favor of what the Club was trying to accomplish, I have to agree with you totally. We need to move on and do it on our own. I've lost faith that the Museum will help the Club in any way that we can protect the Club and control our expenses with the relocation and expansion of the HQ and Library.

Looks like everything is out in the open and clearly shows the direction we're going. The only thing left to do now is get it in the Magazine for the entire Club to see where we stand, and why. Good job to our Club's Board of Directors, Thanks!

I seriously doubt that the AACA Museum will change its venue to a Bus and Truck Museum in order to allow us to build another Museum dedicated to the Cars. As to the cost to build our new HQ and Library Building large enough to include a new Museum it would cost a tremendous additional cost with a much longer construction time to create such a facility. There would also be an additional cost to run and manage the facility. Looking back at the history involving the current Museum the following info can be found in the AACA Museum's Web Site. "In 1993, following feasibility and planning studies, the Museum launched a $12 million Capital Campaign to build a dedicated museum facility. By the time of the ground-breaking for the 71,000 square foot building in October, 2001, seven million dollars had been received or pledged. The initial concept of a collector’s museum had also expanded to encompass a broader interpretive charge that focused on presenting America’s automotive heritage to a general audience. The new Museum opened to the public on June 26, 2003. "

Best to keep this thread open and to be able to see the direction we as a Club are going on this issue, rather then having people read it in the Hemmings Blog. Hemmings was the one that stirred up things and created the need for us to get this line of communication going within the Club, for AACA Club members to know directly what's up. OT...I stopped looking at the Hemmings Blog about AACA when posters started conversation condemning AACA for not allowing Non Stock Cars and Replica Kit Cars to enter in the AACA National Shows. LOL

I would have to think at this point, the negative far out ways the positive in continuing to move towards a merger. The Club clearly needs to move on with finding a new location for expansion, other then accept the terms of the Museum as described in the recent posts.

Agree with you Mark and would remind everyone that The AACA Hershey Fall Meet, the biggest Car Show in the World, requires that to enter you must have an AACA Club Membership the year of the Show. You wouldn't want to miss this event, ever.

Fortunately there are learning centers that are bring Youth down to the our old world technologies with Modern Day Tools with great success. Two institutions come to mind. One being the PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY in Williamsport Pa. were the AACA Club's Susquehannock Region hosted the 2016 Grand National. The other College that I think of is Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology close to Hershey. Imagine living the dream.