Friday, July 13 was Collector Car Appreciation Day (CCAD). Car clubs and auto organizations around the USA held a multitude of events to celebrate the holiday. From the west coast to the east, the north to the south, auto enthusiasts banded together to show their love for this fantastic hobby.
Below, we've chosen five events to highlight, but CCAD certainly led to more revelry than just these - take a look at this list on the SEMA Action Network's website!
In Brookfield, Wisconsin, the Wilson Center for the Arts hosted their sixth annual Starry Nights Cruisin' in honor of CCAD. A "T-Bucket Reunion" focusing on modified hot rods based on the classic Ford Model T was one highlight of the day; another was a free concert by local band The Rockin' Robins, which took visitors back to the '50s and '60s with memorable tunes. Three lucky autos received a special prize: the “Kids Favorite Car” award, determined by ballots filled out by children in attendance at the show.
Image courtesy wilson-center.com
Image courtesy wilson-center.com
Image courtesy wilson-center.com
The Valley Collector Car Club of Connecticut held their 17th Annual Charity Car Show in Simsbury a few days after CCAD, but the connection was clear - the quality of the machines present at the event was very impressive indeed. About 280 cars put in an appearance, despite the foreboding forecast for the day's weather - fortunately, the predictions were off, and pleasant weather reigned for the duration of the event.
Image courtesy VCCC Facebook page
Image courtesy VCCC Facebook page
Image courtesy VCCC Facebook page
Almost all the way across the nation, the New Mexico Council of Car Clubs celebrated with a Collector Car Appreciation Day Drive-in Movie. Event-goers gathered at Albuquerque's Enchanted Trails RV Park & Trading Post on Route 66 for a showing of the '70s comedy American Graffiti and the chance to see each other's righteous rides. Car and film fans alike had a great time, and some unusual vehicles appeared for even more fun.
Image courtesy Antonio Montoya via Enchanted Trails RV Park & Trading Post Facebook page
Image courtesy Antonio Montoya via Enchanted Trails RV Park & Trading Post Facebook page
Image courtesy Antonio Montoya via Enchanted Trails RV Park & Trading Post Facebook page
Moving up to Tacoma in Washington, America's Car Museum didn't want to stay out of the celebrations either; they decided to put together some 'National Collector Car Mini-Talks,' a series of presentations by docents on some of the vehicles in their collection which are listed on Hemming's "Top 100 American Collector Cars of All Time." The talks took place at multiple times over the course of CCAD, and provided fascinating information for anyone interested in the USA's long-lasting love affair with automotives.
Image courtesy americascarmuseum.org
Image courtesy americascarmuseum.org
Image courtesy americascarmuseum.org
Back in the Mid-West, Missouri's Annapolis Car Enthusiasts (ACE) Car Club held their Collector Car Appreciation Day Show on July 14, allowing members time to re-polish their automobiles after the Kent Island Cruisers event which ran on the 11th. All kinds of amusing and amazing rides showed up here; it served as an excellent demonstration of just how broad and varied the car enthusiast community can be.
Image courtesy acecarclub.org
Image courtesy acecarclub.org
Image courtesy acecarclub.org
Next year is sure to bring even more exciting celebrations of CCAD, so start looking around now for organizations in your area; maybe you'll find several awesome events to attend!