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THE CHESAPEAKE BULLETIN The Official Monthly Newsletter of Chesapeake Region Antique Automobile Club of America Volume 58 Number 8 August 2018 lected dinner tickets at the door. 2018 AACA EASTERN SPRING MEET, GETTYSBURG, PA TODD AND ANDREW WILMER: Ever since they were little kids, they have helped Ches- apeake Region advance. They returned home for summer break from their engineering studies at Clemson University. During the week of the meet, they were on the job all week, Andrew had WEBy Bill Wurzell, Editor DID GARY, VICKY, TODD IT! & ANDREW WILMER: his broken left arm in a sling and carried on just The Chesapeake Bulletin Where would Chesapeake Region be without the same. We would be remiss if we didn’t in- In the classic 1964 movie, 'My Fair Lady' the Wilmer Army? If Gary was in the military clude Andrew’s girlfriend, 'Mattie.' During show- Colonel Pickering (Wilfrid Hyde-White) lauds during World War II, the war would have end- day Mattie was all over the place in her golf cart, Professor Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison) for his ed in America’s favor much sooner than it did. passing out cold bottles of water to all. She also recent triumph by saying: 'You did it’, you did it.' Logistics! Director Gary Wilmer is a planner, taxied show car owners and others to wherever 'You said that you would do it, and indeed you and a 'leave nothing to risk' kind of guy. Gary they needed to go across the sprawling campus, did!' Well, my friends, YOU DID IT TOO! knows the answer to your question before it’s THANKS MATTIE! It was a lot of work, by a lot of people and asked. Mrs. Wilmer, the affable 'Vicky' knows MANY OTHERS TO THANK... members coming together to achieve a com- where everything is, and if it’s not a right angle... Vice-President, Al Zimmermann and Nancy mon goal. Chesapeake Region members an- it’s the wrong angle. She is always prepared to Mattheu; Treasurer, Jack Treadwell, and Elaine swered the call for assistance and responded. In 'fix' it! Vicky is oftentimes a 'one woman army.' Treadwell; Secretary, Tom Dawson and Judy a situation like this, there are always many peo- During the meet, she supervised the unloading Dawson; Activity Director, Phil Hack and Shelly ple to thank for service above and beyond, that of equipment and support stuff and where it Hack; Director: Tom Young and Linda Rogers; requires special notice. I’m going to attempt to goes. On Sunday morning July 15 at 8 o’clock in John and Christine Young: Website Administra- mention some of the people that were instru- the morning Vicky is supervising the loading of tor: Buzz Diehl and Barbara Diehl; Chief Judge; mental in carrying out the duties necessary for equipment and support stuff that was used for Gene Sauter; Craig Whitcraft; Tom and Anne a successful 2018 Antique Automobile Club of the meet. On the evening of July 14, after a very Kenney; Willis and Jan Terrett; Ken and Nancy America, Eastern Spring Meet. busy day, Vicky took dinner tickets at the door Schaffer; Ken and Sally Stevenson; Cher Galla- PRESIDENT, PAULA RUBY: It was at Pau- for the banquet, for this, she had help. Her son gher; Michael and Cheryl Bianco; Henry Chau- la’s beautiful home, late last year former AACA Todd after a very busy day of his own, also col- dron, Sr., and Carol Sorrell. President, Don Barlup laid out the request to the forty-plus assembled members for Ches- apeake Region to take on the task of hosting the 2018 Eastern Spring Meet. Paula kept it all together. Supporting officers and board members in their respective roles. During the week of the meet, July 11th to the 14th in Gettysburg, I don’t think Paula ever got more than a couple hours sleep. But, ask her a question, she gave you an answer because she was 'tuned' into every aspect of the meet. Paula is always ap- proachable and a problem solver. Much credit is due her husband and partner, Gary, who is always johnny-on-the-spot with assistance or a cold bottle of water for anyone that needs it. Gary helps Paula shine! NORMAN HEATHCOTE: Norm is an ‘or- ganizational wonk', and thank heaven he is! He brought to the table lots of experience from pre- vious automobile meets. As Chairman, Norm was the 'clearing house' for most everything re- lated to the meet. Norm coordinated with Trea- surer Jack Treadwell on accounts payable and receivable right down to the last penny. Norm helped negotiate contracts with vendors including the Wyndham and Marriott Courtyard Lest we forget--A very authentic looking Union General portrayed by a reenactor for the benefit Hotels. On top of everything else, Norm Heath- of visitors touring Gettysburg Battlefield. The actual battle during July 2nd to the 4th of July, 1863 cote is a great guy, just don’t call him 'Meethead!' took the lives of 7,058 Union and Confederate troops--Gary Ruby photo THE CHESAPEAKE BULLETIN PAGE 2 AUGUST 2018 Parking Issues At The AACA 2018 Eastern Spring Meet Didn’t Materialize Truck and trailer parking, along with show- sylvania held just last month. That show also Kalamazoo but the showfield was in Hicko- car and spectator parking did not turn out to had around 500 cars. However, the Greens- ry Corners, Michigan. The famous Gilmore be the nightmare that I thought it might be- burg Campus of the University of Pittsburgh Automobile Museum is in Hickory Corners, come. I believe the reason is because of the could not accomodate all the trucks and trail- nearly 15 miles from the host hotel. Truck and meticulous planning that Al Zimmermann, ers along with spectator parking. Therefore a trailer parking there was just about a 'free for Gary Wilmer, Ken Stevenson and many other shuttle service was used to transport people all.' Early arrivals were parking far apart from members put into action. from Westmoreland County Fairgrounds to one another and that meant late arrivals had This group had a considerable amount of the Pitt/Greensburg Campus. Even though nowhere to park, a hot mess! real estate to work with, and they used every there are a lot of hotels in the area no two adja- Of course, at our meet this didn’t happen square inch. One of the reasons The Gettys- cent hotels could offer enough rooms for over- because Al had each trailer position staked burg Wyndham and Marriott/Courtyard com- night stay. Each hotel in the area including the out. Same for showcar parking, Al and Gary plex was selected was because of the huge foot- host hotel had a prohibition against truck and placed flags at each location in all the parking print it offered. trailer parking or it was very limited. lots for the show cars. Additionally, they had Over the years, I’ve been to a number of In 2015 I along with former Chesapeake large painted signs planted in the ground with large car shows and meets. A couple of them Region Secretary, Jim Turner accompanied the class for that particular lot. were nearly a disaster. Fresh in mind is the Willis Terrett to Kalamazoo, Michigan for the I was working with Bruce Knott, who, I might Grand National Show in Greensburg, Penn- National DeSoto Meet. The host hotel was in add was still recovering from surgery, Bruce nev- er missed a beat. We were working section E-1. Other sections for 'E' were adjacent. Chief Judge, Gene Sauter was working section E-2. When show cars approached our lot and held up their large registration envelope with the parking section number, we could tell at a glance where they were to park. Simple, but very effective. I had several compliments from show car owners. One fellow that had a real nice 1966 Ford Galaxy 500 two-door hardtop with the seven liter V8 said: 'This is the best national show I’ve ever been to.' I walk out of the hotel (Wyndham) and I’m on the show field!--Bill Wurzell SIDEBAR Why Was The 2018 AACA Eastern Spring Meet In Gettysburg, Pa.? Why Gettysburg? The simple answer is, it’s the best place to have the meet. The Gettysburg venue checked all the boxes. The Wyndham and Nick Prevas brought his daughter and son-in-law along with three of his grandchildren, from L to R: Marriott/Courtyard Hotels had enough Olivia 8, Maddie 13, and Naomi 4, who are all Chesapeake Region Junior Members. rooms to accommodate all the visitors, the huge campus of both hotels had enough parking for over 250 trucks and trailers, with room left over for over 500 plus show cars and spectator parking. Several members of the AACA Chesa- peake Region are also members of the Early Ford V8 Club and successfully hosted the 2014 and 2016 Eastern National Meets at the Wyndham. There are few if any locations in the Baltimore area that can accommodate the number of show cars and trailers anticipated. Onsite restaurants and a theater add to the venue. A free shuttle service to nearby attrac- tions, and the uncongested area roads makes driving our vehicles, both on and off the hotel property, pleasurable. The Chesapeake Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America is the largest antique, classic and collector vehicle club in the Baltimore Metropolitan Area. Ches- A 1949 Buick Roadmaster convertible with 'sweep spear' side trim. When I was six years old I use to apeake Region members reside primarily in ride my pedal car up and down our sidewalk.

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