©Antique Automobile Club of America, AACA.org
Hershey, Pennsylvania – They say that Virginia is for lovers. Lovers of antique automobiles, that is… From February 8 through 10, 2024, some 600 AACA (Antique Automobile Club of America) members visited the award-winning Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles hotel in Chantilly, Virginia (which was sold out!) to partake in what’s known as “The Oscars of the Antique Automotive World.” Over the course of three days, the heritage and enjoyment of 25-year-old and older, original automobiles was celebrated. AACA is the only enthusiast organization that’s dedicated to any and all authentic collector cars.
Compared to 2023, overall participation grew by 21 percent. The AACA Annual Convention… which also serves as the National Awards Banquet… was sponsored by Allentown, Pennsylvania’s NB Center for American Automotive Heritage. J.C. Taylor Antique Auto Insurance also graciously contributed to the cause.
©Antique Automobile Club of America, AACA.org
The 2024 convention kicked off on Thursday with a visit to the spectacular Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Washington Dulles International Airport. Attendees who visited the museum also got to enjoy an exquisite luncheon on the Executive Mezzanine, overlooking the Space Shuttle Discovery. That evening, the National Board of Directors welcomed convention-goers to a come one-come all pizza party.
A series of 30 seminars followed on Friday and Saturday, including topics from navigating auctions to carburetor basics and recasting steering wheels. In keeping with the visit to the Udvar-Hazy Center, there were also sessions titled The Invention of the Aerial Age and Wheels and Wings: Automobile Pioneers and Aviation. Meanwhile, a trade show was running simultaneously with 20 AACA vendor-partners displaying their wares.
©Antique Automobile Club of America, AACA.org
In between, AACA’s First Lady held a special luncheon which transitioned topics from horsepower to horses by alerting the audience to the critical concern of horse rescue via the Days End Farm mission. That evening, the hotel banquet area was reinvented into a speakeasy casino, where participants got to play with Monopoly-type money to win prizes at the end of the festivities. It proved to be a great bet because the room was full all night long!
©Antique Automobile Club of America, AACA.org
Saturday was devoted to AACA’s incomparable Judging Schools, along with more seminars and trade show. After an afternoon General Membership Meeting, with prizes also distributed for trade show participation, the red carpet was rolled out and velvet ropes were extended. A pair of giant Oscar statues stood at attention for the National Awards Banquet that evening. In addition to scholarship presentations, Editor/Webmaster Awards and Region & Chapter recognition, 58 special National Awards were presented to owners of the best-of-the-best antique automobiles chosen from the past year’s National AACA shows and tours.
As AACA continues to accelerate ahead, planning is already underway for next year’s Annual Convention & National Awards Banquet. It will be held February 6-8, 2025, at the Embassy Suites Charlotte-Concord/Golf Resort & Spa, so mark your calendars now!
Click here to view the 2023 AACA National Award Winner’s slideshow.
About AACA: Founded in 1935, AACA is dedicated to the authentic antique automobile experience and recognizes any and all vehicles 25-years-old-or-older. It’s known as the most inclusive antique car club in the world. It honors cars, trucks and motorcycles produced in America and throughout the world. With more than 45,000 members, it is also one of the largest clubs of its kind. For more details about the AACA, please visit their website: www.aaca.org
The AACA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, has served as the country’s premier resource for the collectible vehicle community since its formation in 1935. Through its national office, publications, online forums, Library and membership, the Club has assisted countless individuals, historians and collectors, along with other libraries, car clubs and museums, in the quest to preserve and enjoy the antique automobile experience.
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