Recent Event Photographs
Chesapeake Region at the AACA Convention in Williamsburg, Virginia
Determined to not let the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns in Pennsylvania further delay the 85th Annual Convention of the Antique Automobile Club of America, arrangements were made by AACA management to hold the year 2021 event in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Our host facility for the event was the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at 50 Kingsmill Road.
Events began Thursday evening with a gracious invitation to visit the nearby antique automobile collection of AACA President and First Lady Jim and Donna Elliott.
Shuttle buses from the hotel provided transportation to the Elliott antique automobile collection several miles away and attendees lined up to enter as rain threatened.
Inside the initial display area, were two Cadillac vehicles: a 1903 Cadillac, representing the first year of Cadillac production...
... and this 1973 Cadillac Limousine, originally assigned to the White House Motor Pool.
The 1973 Cadillac Limousine of the Motor Pool was used by First Lady Patricia Nixon.
Within the main display area of the collection were a variety of vehicles and automobilia.
Where floor display area became scarce, a lift provided some additional space.
Vehicles on display ranged in age from the early 1900s to the early 2000s.
Jim's 1966 Chevrolet Corvair.
A year 2016 Chevrolet Camaro Indianapolis 500 Pace Car.
Jim's interest and involvement in automobile racing events is evident by the many autographed photographs displayed.
No traveler can resist driving through Wall, South Dakota without stopping to see the unusual items at Wall Drug - after seeing it repeatedly advertised for thousands of miles.
Sometime you just have to take your chances and disregard the posted warnings!
Chesapeake Region Newsletter Editor Bill Wurzell was enjoying the grand display.
A local caterer provided plenty of food to enjoy under the tent, out of the rainy weather.
Visitors line up for delicious fried chicken, barbeque and all the fixings.
By Friday morning the rain was gone and it was warm and sunny. Several antique vehicles graced the hotel entrance such as this stunning Jeep Grand Wagoneer.
Also displayed was this early 1940s Packard, with doors opened to better view the interior.
Four seminars were held in the hotel auditorium on Friday. This afternoon seminar by Richard Lentinello discussed how the editorial direction of car magazines has changed.
A seminar by historian Darci Tucker then followed, discussing the many interesting historic sites to explore in the nearby area.
In the evening we were entertained with some good-natured, amusing bantering among Richard Lentinello, Tom Cox and and West Peterson.
Saturday afternoon's main event was the General Membership Meeting held in the auditorium.
Addressing the assembled membership were AACA President Tom Cox...
... AACA chaplain Don Barlup...
... and AACA Executive Director Steve Moskowitz.
When the attending AACA Region officers and members were invited to speak to the audience, our President Paula Ruby took the microphone and discussed the operations and activities of our Chesaapeake Region.
At 5:30 pm it was time to don the more-formal attire and proceed down the red carpet to the National Awards Reception.
Everyone gathered at the hotel Promenade for an hour of socializing prior to the beginning of the National Awards Banquet.
Our attending Chesapeake Region members assembled for a group photo.
At the National Awards presentation, Chesapeake Region newsletter editor Bill Wurzell would receive a year 2020 AACA Master Editor award and Chesapeake Region webmaster Buzz Diehl would receive a year 2020 Master Webmaster award.
Inside the hotel's Presidents Ballroom, tables were set for the banquet dinner.
At the completion of the dinner, awards were announced and presented to those awardees in attendance. Here, Chesapeake Region's Bill Wurzell receives his Master Editor award.
At the completion of the evening, our Chesapeake Region members gathered for some "award" photos: Paula with Bill and Buzz.
Paula with Bill.
Paula with Elizabeth. Elizabeth won our "table prize" -- her very own model car.
Paula and Buzz
Bill and Buzz with their AACA "Master" awards.
In the paraphrased words of Rear Admiral David Farragut, it was "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead" for the 85th Annual Convention of AACA. With hosting at our traditional location of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania becoming increasingly unlikely, AACA management secured the Williamsburg, Virginia location for the event.
Of course the change of venue had its pluses and its minuses, but overall it was a refreshing change that surely most attendees truely appreciated. Hats off to the dedicated AACA management that organized the event.