(Editor’s note: During the month of April, the Journal presents a series of stories about vintage rallies and vintage racing. If you have a story about your participation in a vintage rally or race that you’d like to share, please email us at [email protected].)
There are antiques that sit on a shelf. Think Aunt Ida’s fine china or Grandpa’s vintage beer-can collection. Hands off! Admire only.
But there are other antiques that get exercised regularly. Think, for example, the vintage vehicles owned by members of the Antique Automobile Club of America.
With pandemic restrictions being eased AACA members are venturing out of their garages on a series of vintage vehicle tours such as the recent cruise of the midsection of Tennessee by the Honk, Rattle and Roll Touring Region of the AACA.
“HR&R was founded based on the excitement of traveling new roads, visiting collections, museums, new social events, feeling the freedoms of country roads and socializing with friends who share these feelings,” according to the group’s website.
“While we are an AACA club, we also take the position that the five touring events a year we hold are the most important experience for our members, rather than other clubs that focus on shows or cruise-ins. We do not require that you drive an antique on our tours. Due to the heat of summer, the chill of spring and potential rains, we feel that it is fine to cruise in newer iron.”
The region staged its first tour in 1998 and notes that using automobiles as originally intended is the best way for the whole family to enjoy antique automobiles.
For its recent and first tour of 2021, there was snow on the hills as the group headed to Woodbury, taking an alternate route to avoid icy conditions. Stops along the way included The Wooden Boatman, where wooden boats are designed, built and restored, and Third Gen Automotive, a family-owned shop that specializes in providing parts and doing repairs and refurbishing 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s Fords.
The group’s upcoming tours are scheduled for April 25, June 13, August 8 and October 17.
For details, visit the region’s website.
While we’re at it, here are some other upcoming tours organized by AACA regional clubs:
Southeastern Divisional Tour, Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida, April 19-22, with visits to the Tommy Small Collection, Howey Mansion, Dora Canal cruise, Gypsy Gold Horse farm, Appleton Museum or Art and National Parts Depot Collection. For details, visit the website.
Founders Tour, Davis, West Virginia, May 20-25, with visits to Blackwater Falls and Seneca Rock, Cass Scenic Railroad and the Grant County mulch plant.
Eastern Division Tour, Cambridge, Maryland, June 2-5, with visits to the Strawberry Extravaganza, seafood processing plant and shipyard, Harriet Tubman visitor center, St. Michaels Classic Motor Museum, Scottish Highlands creamery and more.
Eastern Spring Nationals, Saratoga Springs, New York, June 17-19, with visits to the Jim Taylor car collection, Cooperstown, Saratoga Auto Museum, and a Lake George cruise. For details, visit the website.
Vintage Tour, Lock Haven/Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, July 11-16, which also will include vehicles registered for the Reliability Tour that was canceled in 2020. Details to come.
Revival AAA Glidden Tour, Saratoga Springs, New York, September 12-17, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Glidden Tour with drives on Adirondacks Mountain roads, visits to private car collections, the National Museum of Horse Racing and Jockeys, the National Museum of Dance, and “a few Vermont covered bridges.” Visit the website for details.
In addition, there are the Southeastern Divisional Fall Tour, October 11-15 at Mt. Airey, North Carolina; the Central Divisional Tour, October 18-22 at Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; and the Western Divisional Tour, November 14-17 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Visit the AACA website for more information.
Window crank handles?