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Over
the next couple of years hardly a mainstream classic car publication
hit the shelves without some mention of their existence. And not one,
but two publications existed dedicated to just American vehicles.
Press releases where springing from HQ with increasing regularity
- the name was everywhere... literally. And so began what long-term
members jovially refer to as the Motorvatin' USA Roadshow period.
Prestigious indoor car shows provided the stage for breath-taking
displays of true US classics. Ever seen a full-size Ford Retractable
operated by remote...? Did it creak to life through streams of theatrical
smoke in time to the Thunderbirds' theme via a professional mega-watt
sound system hidden within? The British public certainly hadn't! Yep,
that caught the press. Then there was the fifties US-style stage show
with five-piece bass-slappin', sax wailin' rock n roll band and jiving
couple. This notorious stunt brought the whole Classic Car Show at
the famous Alexandra Palace to a halt! No one was quite prepared for
that (unofficially known as "Motorvatin, USA Unplugged"
and available at a record store near you). The
promotion train was rolling and it seems that every serious enthusiast
who could offer a service was on the phone - and those that didn't
call were painstakingly tracked down. The recruitment net was then
cast further afield in a bid to attract overseas contributors. Response
was excellent, and those chosen as representatives remain with the
organisation to this day, providing regular articles from all around
the globe.As well as welcoming new individuals into the fold at a healthy pace, the organisation began attracting the interest of small one-marque clubs who, for different reasons, were finding it more and more difficult to survive. Rather than swallow them up into the larger club it was decided they should keep their independence within, from where they could enjoy all the benefits and support needed to continue. This worked well, and other clubs followed, however it was decided that all clubs should go under a banner name that would reflect both the individuality of each club and the unity of one strong body. Individual members belong to one of the five clubs, each club as a whole being a part of the Association of American Car Clubs UK. The web site was launched in October 1999 and has since become the largest of its kind in Europe.  The
boom times may be over, the retro revival past its heyday, but the
cars remain. Enthusiasm among today's owners is just as strong as
ever - and cars are still coming in, albeit at a slower pace. With
the technology of the Internet accessible to everyone, ownership has
become easier, but still there is an ever-growing need for the services
a well-organised body can provide.There are issues to be addressed,
damaging legislation to be fought, a new generation of American car
owners to protect. Think about it...Without clubs there would be very
little of what the modern day American car enthusiasts have grown
to rely upon. The American car scene exists today because many people
strive to make it so. Each member, whether contributing by just joining
and enjoying what membership offers, or by taking on a more active
role, is investing in the future of our hobby.< Previous Page  |
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