The efforts of O. Clyde Davis and Bob Kelly resulted in the club being incorporated and granted its Charter as a Region.

 The Charter was granted to the Region on February 7, 1974 from National headquarters and signed by then National President Jerry L. Hodge.

 This Charter was granted to this Region as "an organization whose purpose is to perpetuate memories of the pioneer days, of automobiling by encouraging the preservation and collection of antique automobiles and automobilia."

 The newly formed Region took the spirit of this Charter to heart and plunged headlong into the planning of its very first "annual" auto show. The first show was held on August 14, 1974 in Wolfson Ball Park. This show brought out a total of thirty-six cars, ranging from a 1910 Model T Ford owned by a founding member Don Boas to a 1949 Cadillac owned by another founding member Carl Bowles.

 A change in leadership occurred in December of 1974 with the election of Raymond Huppee. "Huppee," as he is known, also started the Region's first newsletter: vol 1. Number 1, which was published on January 1, 1975. The newsletter remained "the newsletter" until 1977. During several months, from about May to July, a contest was held to give the newsletter a name. Several names were suggested and the winning one, Gas Buggy Gossip, was submitted by John S. White, Jr., winning the vote eight to seven over the name Antique Brass Bearing News. The new name went into effect in August of 1977. Huppee also changed the car show date and location and set a precedent, which lasts until today.

 Our second show was held on May 3, 1975, the first Saturday in May, the date on which all shows have been held. It took place on the grounds of the Orange Park Kennel Club, where the show was held .

 Club membership has seen its highs and lows throughout the years, starting with 30 members, to our present membership of 55. Our club members own a total of 55 vehicles. This figure always varies somewhat due to recent sales and purchases. Our vehicles range from a very rare and beautiful 1902 Holsman owned by Fred Ames to a fairly common 1966 Mustang convertible owned by Larry Gaynor.

       20 Year Plus Anniversary

  One of our members did a presentation at our meeting, celebrating 5 members, who have been active and participated in our club for 20 plus years. They are “TRUE CLASSICS”- Fred Ames, Charlie Downing, Marlin and Gladys Crider, Dave and Anne Kurtz, and us- The Towers.

                I realized this when I found in a drawer, two old rosters of NEFlA. AACA, of 1984 and 1985, when husband, Bob was president.  In looking over the many names, of up to 57 families in 1985, I saw that only five of us, families, are still active in 2005.  So, I decided to set up tonight to celebrate our 20 plus anniversary!

These old rosters brought back many memories of event, recognizing good friends, who are now gone, and also initiated in me curiosity of our early history.          

        As you see, our roster was quite simple, being before computers. We were called both AACA and Model T club. We met in the 1980’s at different restaurants, on both sides of the river, so that members did not have a hardship to travel far each time.  Often, the restaurant would rope off an area, because we drove out cars, which would be parked out front and draw a crowd. We were large and diverse because there were not many other car clubs in the area.

     Most months there were programs.  The car show was always behind the Dog Track.  In those days, more couples came to the show, and often had picnics.  We had vendors, used car lot, and great shows, often with added entertainment, as clogging or barbershop singing. There was the Friday night hospitality room for those who came early.The rosters of 1984 and 1985 also listed previous presidents before Bob: 

1982-1983- Fred Ames

1980-1081- Jack Hale

1975-1979- Ray Huppee 

1972-1974- Carl Bowles

1966-1971- O. Clyde Davis 

               I joined this group with Bob in 1978, so I knew of the club with Huppee, Jack Hale and our Fred.   So, I decided to do some detective work. Taking oral history over the phone with some, and also calling national AACA!

                In talking with Jerry Foley, I found out that he started the Florida Region in 1953.  In Orlando, John Russell headed the region.  It moved to Jacksonville area in 1957 with Jerry Foley in charge.  AACA members met at the YMCA- had tours and picnics.  The region then was headed by someone in New Smyrna in 1960 and now is in St. Petersburg. Husband, Bob, joined AACA in 1954, while in college, and participated with this group in the late 1950’s.  As listed on the roster, O.Clyde Davis formed the North Fl. chapter of the Fl. region in 1966.  He was an accountant with the Ford Motor company here, and had quite a collection- ( 8) cars -from 1911 Studerbaker to even a Graham sound train.  I even stumbled on the train one day while driving down Main St. out by Trout River. That was a first for me. a car looking like a train..(picture)

Mr. Davis died May 1976 and I remember the picture in the newspaper of the old cars, honoring him, by attending in respect his funeral.           However, under the president ship of Carl Bowles, we became NE Fl region of AACA by Feb. 1974.  To my excitement, AACA national found in a box in their basement, these documents, which I am handing over to our Archive protector, Ed. It appears that these early groups from 1966-1979 met at Carl Bowles home.  I hope to talk with a few other previous members of those early years and add more to our history. 

           NOW.. To our “ true classics” tonight…Here's to Fred.. Who served as president and has always please our show crowds with his 1902 Holsman surrey  I remember one of our trips to Penney Farms, and Fred gave all who were celebrating 50 or more years of marriage a ride.. One of the cute couples wore their original clothes. Knickers for the man, and lovely, petit dress and hat for the lady!

               Here’s to Charlie- helping yearly with the vendors’ part of our show. Helping members with items they were trying to find to buy, and bringing a quiz to many of our car meetings. 

               Here’s to Marlin and Gladys-  Marlin served as a secretary… and together, we could count on them driving their “his” and “her” cars to our shows..  Although busy with volunteer jobs, at church and with the Highway Patrol, as did Fred, the Criders have been faithful car lovers of their Desotos. Here’s to Dave and Anne:  always helping out.. Ann as the perfect person to be OUR SUNSHINE LADY-many, many, many years … Dave serving as president (2??) plus chairman of our 1996 National meet- jumping in with gusto after the chairman moved away. Dave also gave so much time with his woodcraft skills for many, many plaques.

              Bob and I have also had the privilege serving as secretaries, sunshine lady, assistant meet director, newsletter, which was not too elegant on simple typewriter, and president.

             All of us can say that the joy in being part of this club has been genuine friendship of those who all love the hobby of antique cars.. We, “true classics”, are all experiencing health challenges at this time, but hopefully with next year, 2006, being our 40 year anniversary of the club, We’ll celebrate AGAIN perhaps with a vintage costume party!!!