Grand Classic weekend in Dayton Ohio, September 26-28

That, Matt and Melanie, is how to put on a real and inclusive vintage car event, foster a future for our pastime.  Good going.

Su8overdriveJun 28, 2024

That, Matt and Melanie, is how to put on a real and inclusive vintage car event, foster a future for our pastime.  Good going.

Thank you for your kind words! The Ohio Region CCCA has the same frustrations so many car clubs do at this time, mainly with members aging out of participation. The board has always worked hard to find ways for our chapter to share our vehicles, and not just use them for our own enjoyment and events. The Carillon Park venue is going to be a wonderful opportunity for us to share! 

In the past, CCCA Grand Classic events were often closed to the public, or at least frequently held at facilities that were not open to the public. I don't think they actively prevented people from wandering in if a Grand Classic were held in a public parking lot, but they did not promote them as public events and invite the public to join the festivities free-of-charge. This one will be in a public park where there are other guests and activities going on and the show will be integrated into that day's displays and events at the park and promoted as something that the park will be featuring that day. As a result, I suspect we will have a much larger turn-out than most Grand Classics in terms of spectators. It is designed to be as inclusive as possible rather than trying to keep it exclusive and private as has been CCCA's tradition in the past.

Matt HarwoodJul 1, 2024

It is designed to be as inclusive as possible rather than trying to keep it exclusive and private as has been CCCA's tradition in the past.

Well stated Matt. Most observant and glad you are actively trying to get "enthusiasts" to participate. I hope other regions of CCCA follow and learn from the example you set.

Packard enthus.Jul 1, 2024

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May I inquire about a portion of Mr. Harwood's post?    Where he says "Unlike most CCCA Grand Classics, however, this one is not only open to the public"....

What am I missing here?   What national or regional-operated Grand Classic (or any other CCCA Nat. or Region event) has EVER been closed to the public? 

From my admittedly brief contact with both Nat. & Regional CCCA events< apparently not as well-educated on CCCA policy,   my recollection is that virtually all are held in places open to the public. 

True,  if the Club has hired out a banquet hall  or similar dining facility where members and guests have paid in advance with a reservation for their meals - yes, in that case,  the general public can't just wander in.

True, if the Club and/or its Regions hire out the lawn of some fancy hotel to conduct its events,  the property owner, (as distinguished from our Club)  may show some  interest and/or concern if some scruffy individual waddles onto the property, who is dressed and/or acts like he, she, or it dosn't "belong" to their clientele...

Bottom line.   Mr. Harwood may have been active in CCCA National and/or Region events longer than I have, so he may know something I do not.   But until otherwise corrected,  it is my belief the public is always welcome to come see our cars.

.

The famous art collector Albert Barnes was killed in this Packard crash. If any of you ever find yourself in Philadelphia, I would highly recommend visiting the Barnes Collection museum. Also, the documentary “Art of the Steal” is very interesting and can be found online and is worth the watch.

Walt GJul 1, 2024

Well stated Matt. Most observant and glad you are actively trying to get "enthusiasts" to participate. I hope other regions of CCCA follow and learn from the example you set.

The 2024 CCCA annual meeting car show was open to the public  and held in a public parking lot adjacent to the Pacific Ocean free of charge. Unfortunately rain kept most of the cars and spectators away. 

Everyone who is focused on letting the public see the classic cars and having shows open to the public should be commended. 

Packard enthus.Jul 2, 2024

Someone correct me if they can note ANY CCCA event, ever,  where our displays of our cars were held in a situation where public access was denied.

Here you go, Peter:  A younger (but now ~55) friend whom I took to the airport this morning, then a CCCA member, was in an East Coast city on business in the early-oughts (2003?) and seeing that a CCCA meet was based at a neighboring hotel to the one where he was staying, went to the CCCA hotel parking lot to just look at the cars for a few minutes.  When challenged by a CCCA organizer, my friend displayed his CCCA membership card and explained his situation.  The CCCA organizer told him that he would have to pay the entire day's activity fee just to walk around the cars for 20 minutes.  My friend dropped the CCCA like a hot rock for almost 20 years.  His largely self-restored Packard took 2nd in class at Pebble Beach a few years ago.

I myself was out from 1975-1995 after having my production 1939 Cadillac 75 7-p sedan overtly dissed as being neither custom nor open.

My friend and I are now older and much crustier than those days.  I participate in my CCCA region's activities where we lack control-freak snobs.

I hope if anyone has any questions about the actual event they will reach out and that some of you will make the trip to join us. I sure hope this thread can keep to its purpose and we can enjoy a conversation about the events we have planned. Here are a couple pictures of the Cold War Gallery where our private, catered lunch will be taking place at the air force museum! Our setup will be different, since it is for a meal but these pics give you an idea of what the space is like. 

It seems a little over-reactive to drop a club that focused on the things you enjoyed because one

or even two people acted offensively. Those folks, like all of us, aren't the Club they are only members.

I also would not leave a Country that I liked because some idiot or two acted offensively. I would simply

work that much harder to make things better. When the good people leave, they increase the power of those

whose actions we don't like.

But I do agree that these Grand Classics (and other events) are an opportunity to get in front of potential

new members and to show the  beauty of these cars to those younger than the cars. The mentioned event

was well hidden at the very back of this very very active hotel. Even as an invited guest I had trouble locating

it.

Johnny

I think most members are coming around to the realization that any and all interest in the cars is a good thing and having it locked down like it is still 1970 is counter productive.   At least I think so.

jcrowJul 3, 2024

It seems a little over-reactive to drop a club that focused on the things you enjoyed because one

or even two people acted offensively

I too did quit CCCA after 45 years membership and 30+ years of contributing to all  the publications on a regular basis, starting a region, and being elected to the national board twice. Yes, it was due to attitude of the President at the time and her direction to the club manager to send me a letter requesting that I resign from the board because I could not attend board meetings  ( due to open heart surgery) but it was at a time when those that could not attend could communicate by an open phone and did...............that didin't count for me.

The majority of the other national board members just kept mum and did not object. 5 did but of course they were a minority. the current CCCA President is one of those who stayed mum.

It is what it is and was what it was, life is short so one has to choose what is worth participating in . It is obvious that I do not participate where I am not wanted. CCCA is a "healthy " club, you have your health you are welcome , if you don't , well ........

Melanie HarwoodJul 2, 2024

I hope if anyone has any questions about the actual event they will reach out and that some of you will make the trip to join us. I sure hope this thread can keep to its purpose and we can enjoy a conversation about the events we have planned. Here are a couple pictures of the Cold War Gallery where our private, catered lunch will be taking place at the air force museum! Our setup will be different, since it is for a meal but these pics give you an idea of what the space is like. 

Getting under the wingspan of a B36 is worth the price of admission alone. I'll be in the area for my daughter's family weekend events but I already know I won't be excused for this. Best success though!

I am still of the opinion that if one likes what the Club is about (i.e great classic cars and their history and

preservation), which you seem to do, it would probably be best for you and the Club that you stayed as

active as your health allowed. I know nothing of Club politics or of the details of the affront that you suffered,

but very little is gained by walking away. That only punishes you more and rewards bad behavior ( if it was

bad behavior and not just simple misinformation). Local officials, Board Members, even Club Presidents are

just people, who at the end of the day are doing what they think is best for the Club. Doesn't mean that it is

always right.........

My view is that if you think things should be done differently it certainly won't happen on its own. It takes people

who have seen the less than perfect parts of the Club to help make changes. Running away doesn't accomplish

much.

Registration deadline is September 12, and you can register and pay online: OhioGrandClassic.com

One of these days I have to attend a CCCA event,  since I am a member of the national ,metro and Long Island sound regions. I wish on Long Island there was a ccca event 

I just signed up two cars to show. Looking forward to it.

West PetersonSep 10, 2024

I just signed up two cars to show. Looking forward to it.

Awesome! It'll be great to have you there. Thanks for coming!

BuickTom87Aug 23, 2024

I wish on Long Island there was a ccca event 

Their used to be when that region was active . A great meet in Sept that was taken over by LI Sound region from the local HCCA region , but after I left CCCA and that region the rules of the site ( vehicles only from 1948 and earlier) were not really paid attention to and the whole event lost momentum . I had to deal with the federal government as the site was a national historic registered place but that kind of lost focus by the current region officers. Sometimes you have to "play by the rules" ( not your whims) and that didn't seem to mean much eventually. I spent hours mailing flyers to CCCA car owners and others to keep the event going  and once upon a time it was great

Is there not something ridiculous, self-anointing, in the term "Grand Classic?"    "Classic" is overblown, desperate enough; a scream of look at me, I'm special, better, more important.  Michael Lamm tried to correct that myopia when he started Special Interest Autos in 1970.   In a wonderful photo feature in SIA, CCCA member, SUNY Buffalo English professor Bob Mehl recounted fellow car mad boys like himself calling such "fine cars" in the late '40s, early '50s , taking pictures with their homemade pinhole cameras.

 We understand that no one was calling the white elephants available on the back row of any big city's used car lots for want of tires "classic" before Los Angeles attorney and car buff, Robert J. Gottlieb, contributor to Motor Trend, coined the term in one of his columns in 1951.  The next year, the "Classic Car Club of America" was formed by several greater NYC/tri-state 20- and 30-something fans of  expensive, limited production prewar automobiles.   The term made sense, had a certain harmless cachet.

   But to call that club's insular gatherings "Grand Classics," makes us think of Grand Poobah, and the Raccoon Lodge (varyingly the International Order of the Friendly Sons of the Raccoons, the International Order of Loyal Raccoons, even the Royal Order of Raccoons) which Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton attended, wearing double-breasted military jackets with oversized epaulets on each shoulder, white shirt, dark tie, hat with raccoon tail.  One of Norton's fellow sewer workers, Morris Fink, being the Grand High Exalted Mystic Ruler, wore three tails on his coonskin hat. Their motto was "E Pluribus Raccoon."   Monthly dues were $2.  The Honeymooners first aired the year the CCCA formed.   Those dues adjusted for inflation would be today, in 2024, $24, which seems about right for CCCA membership.

   It is telling that "Grand Classics" are not always welcoming to any owning a suitable automobile who might want to park and hobnob with fellow owners.

   "Grand Classic."   Gosh.  Gee whiz.  My oh my.

   Add the ridiculous fees and charges for every event, and little wonder the CCCA is withering despite a nation of 350 million people,  global population of 8 1/5th billion.  Classical music, Victor Hugo, Shakespeare, da Vinci, Renoir aren't shriveling.

    "Classic" Car Club of America should be enough pomposity.  It is hardly the CCCA's fault that 20 years later, in 1972, a Duesenberg said to belong to Greta Garbo -- which it never did, she merely drove it several times -- became the world's first car to approach $100,000 at public auction.  Overnight, everyone wanted a piece of the action, including boomers tired of their esteemed "muscle" cars second tiered, nor Coke, pizza, drywall and other companies.

     Why the "....of America?"  Is our patriotism so tenuous?  Cars from both sides of the Atlantic and Channel are equally lauded.  Is not Classic Car Club enough?   We also observe a CCCA thread on the overblown, ridiculous, ohv inline eight, 115 hp (purportedly 180 w/ blower engaged for not more than 20 seconds), 2 3/4-ton Mercedes 500/540K is by far the longest, bulging with 62 pages of posts,  while the most widely owned CCCA car is the 1941-47 Cadillac flathead V-8 sharing every sheet metal panel with Pontiac, perhaps in part as they came with HydraMatic, enabling an increasingly decrepit membership vintage golf carts. 

    In recent years, the snarl of  "Full Classic."    Opposed to "Partial Classic,"  "62% Classic?"

     Pardon this discourse, but there are scads of owners of CCCA acceptable cars who might have interest in reading about notable automobiles,  attending occasional meets of such,  but can do without the steak and rubber chicken dinners and trophy swapping at Marriott hotels.

     Neither is it lost on many that sheer size is as much CCCA attribute as style, expense, noting the paucity of sport cars.     

     At least most CCCAers are not party to affixing raccoon tails to their cars.