Auto Clubs Council of Indiana

If you're looking to be involved in the hobby, join the Auto Clubs Council of Indiana (ACC-I) this Saturday for their 2010 kickoff meeting! The Council was formed to help govern car clubs in Indiana and also to fight for hobbyist's right in legislation. The 2009 year was extremely successful and we're looking forward to an even better 2010! To learn more information about the ACC-I, go to their website at: http://www.acc-indiana.org/index.htm
Here are some more details on the meeting:
The next meeting of the Auto Clubs Council of Indiana, Inc. is set for Saturday, February 6, 2010 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm at Gearheads Performance Center in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Address: 5125 Decatur Blvd, Suite F, Indianapolis, IN 46241
Directions: From I-465 on the Westside of Indy; take I-70 west (towards new airport) to Exit 68 (6 Points Rd/Ameriplex Pkwy) and go south on 6 Points Rd/Ameriplex Pkwy to Decatur Blvd. Turn left on Decatur Blvd and follow it around to 5125 Decatur Blvd, Suite F (hint: if you get to Kentucky Ave you missed the turn for Decatur Blvd).

Cincinnati Cavalcade of Customs

While the Bengals may have lost last weekend, downtown Cincinnati was still going strong for the annual Cavalcade of Customs at Duke Energy Convention Center! It was great to see younger generations getting involved in the hobby. With Sponge Bob, Dora the Explorer, that kid from Hanna Montana, and BMX riders in attendance, how could the kids NOT attend?!? To get a list of future Cavalcade of Custom (aka Autorama, aka World of Wheels) events, check out their website at http://www.autorama.com/casi/ . You certainly won't be dissapointed with the amazing machines in attendance. Check out some photos from the event:

Hagerty's Cars That Matter

If you're looking for a price guide that reports the most current and up-to-date prices, look no further! Hagerty's Cars That Matter price guide is published quarterly, so you never have to wonder if the price you're looking at is outdated. With the economy moving up and down like a rollercoaster, it's nice to have current prices to review. Check out their website to read more: http://www.carsthatmatter.com/ What's nice about this price guide, is you get the paper copy, online access, and even mobile access! Yes, those people over at Cars That Matter are pretty tech savvy! Below is an intro of their newsletter sent out via e-mail (if I were tech savvy, there would be some sweet pictures on here, but you're out of luck!):

Hagerty lists top "threatened, endangered and extinct" cars
Rob Sass - 2009-12-04

The passenger pigeon was once the most common bird in North America. Flocks were said to have blackened the skies. Yet history records that the last passenger pigeon-a bird named "Martha"- died in the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914.

Scant attention, however, was paid to the last chirp of the Plymouth Cricket. Thousands of these British-made captive imports were sold by Chrysler-Plymouth dealers in the early 1970s, yet evidence of it in the automotive fossil record is nearly non-existent. The Chevrolet Monza did an even bigger disappearing act. More than 300,000 Monzas were produced between 1975 and 1980, yet recent sightings have been so infrequent that the Chevy Monza must surely be considered "threatened."

Other once popular cars have likely disappeared to the extent that they're "endangered" or even "extinct." Honestly, when's the last time anyone saw a Chrysler Cordoba (with or without the "rich Corinthian leather?")


Continue reading on the Hagerty Insurance Website: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102895830540&s=3498&e=001amIGiigWOBX8juFEcWwj5trEOhhlNqZJkS6Xt87w6GRL2n8I8O05S2UPu8LACFtOE-NQOBtbvmBa8f0FJbreG9xv_d2UYwG4ynyLlBZfSkFRkvg8IvAyND4ccCOOnhj4lhKRUETqE_1f0MxP8U_Ss2ItOO1KyA1-_O7SVS7c4Kg=.
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It's a bird! It's a plane!.......No, it really is a plane!!

What a great place to have a club meeting! The Indy Hi-Winders car club, founded in 1962, hosted their monthly meeting at Signature Flight Support for December. The Hi-Winders are a very active group in Indianapolis and extremely passionate about the collector car hobby. Check out their website for more information: http://indyhiwinders.com/index_home.html December's meeting gave enthusiasts a chance to see some vintage airplanes. We toured the famous Tom Woods collection. Below are some photos and some random notes I took on the planes. I apologize if some of the information is inaccurate.


Sorry for the bad picture, it was freezing outside and I wasn't about to get out of the car. This is the sign for 'Signature Flight Support'.

An overview of the airport hanger

Above is a 1944 Grumin Bearcat. It's 1 of 16 still flying. It can reach about 435mph top speed.

This is a North American F86 Sabor from 1952. It has a 'hot seat'. This particular plane burns about 500 gallons of fuel per hour and reaches top speeds of 600-625 mph.

I was able to sit in the cockpit of this plane. One thing for sure, you were in the wrong profession if you were tall and wanted to fly planes!

This is a B51 Mustang built by North American in 1944. The gentleman climing out of there use to fly these back in the day! The owner paid $25k for this in 1965 and today it's worth around $1.6 million. It has a 1650 cubic inch engine and pumps out an outstanding 1400 horsepower! There were about 15,000 built and today there are around 280 left, 150 of which are still flying.

Hello Mr. President! This plane is a Cesna Citation XL. It was bought new in 2000 for about $9 million. Let me repeat that.......$9,000,000!!! Today, it might bring $5,000,000 on the open market.

This is a North American built AT6 Tech Advanced Trainer (that may be wrong, I can't read my scribbled notes). Anyways, it has a 1,340 cubic inch engine and travels at about 155-160 mph powering out 600 horsepower.

A Beachcraft Bananza. It went new for $180-$225k.

This is a 1996 Experimental Home Kit with a Continental engine. It was used in a race a while back and averaged 342 mph. Apparently, it's difficult to get insured because people keep crashing them.

Happy Holidays!

With the Holiday season in full swing, it's time we think about giving back. Consider helping someone this Holiday season, whether it be a complete stranger, family, or friends. We're on this planet for a greater good other than ourselves, we're here to make the world a better place! One company that is doing their part is GodSpeed Rides in Brownsburg, IN. Each year, they host a Blanket Run, where car enthusiasts can gather and donate a blanket to help the homeless. This is their 7th Annual Blanket Run! It's going to be from 8:00-5:00pm on Saturday, December 5th, 2009. Here's some more information about GodSpeed and their event:

Help the homeless stay warm. Donate a blanket and tour some of Indy's hidden treasures. Free lunch served by the Cluster Buster's.

GodSpeed Rides
55B Mardale Drive
Brownsburg, IN 46112

317.858.1782

Thom@godspeedrides.com

You can also follow them on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/GodSpeed-Rides/168358908777 or check out their website at: http://www.godspeedrides.com/

The Hunter and the Hunted

I hope you enjoy this story as much as I did!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009
The Hunter and the Hunted - by McKeel Hagerty


"This photo was taken last week in a farmer's field in South Dakota. The truck is an International and it won't be moving under its own power ever again. The hunter is a guy who seems to shoot with his eyes completely closed…but that is another story.

As I reflect on this truck I wonder how many cool old vehicles like this are sinking into the ground in farmer's fields. They are not valuable "barn finds" or hidden gems but rather the detritus of another time, a utility vehicle that lost its utility. This one probably spent its years of use hauling light loads around the fields of Kennebec, SD. It was probably inexpensive, it had no creature comforts and it served its purpose. Maybe it hauled blind shooters like me around on hunts of yesteryear but it never drove in a parade. As I drove around from farmstead to farmstead over a few days, I think I answered my own question; there are tens and likely hundreds of thousands of lost vehicles like this. Evidently, their only use these days is target practice.

It makes me realize that the vehicles we insure are truly an elite group, each with an elevated purpose. Even if a collector car of today was originally a utility vehicle like this International truck or a salesman's sedan or a plain-Jane four-door hard top, it is now a cherished object for someone and it made the cut. There is, after all, a kind of natural selection with the cars we drive. In their days of active use, the first ones are likely lost to traffic accidents or acts of God. The ones that make it a few more years are repaired and maintained and then slowly retired or traded in or scrapped. Only a few are saved from the scrap heaps and fields of South Dakota to be preserved or restored and then elevated to a new use of providing smiles, fueling egos, getting girls, winning races and trophies or just putting in a few scenic miles on a Sunday afternoon. There are likely only single-digit millions of these rare machines left in the entire world and their kind will likely never be made again. We at Hagerty are the trustees of the most cherished vehicles ever built and I, for one, promise never accidentally to shoot one again."

McKeel Hagerty wrote this blog to the employees of Hagerty Insurance on his recent experience. Thank you, for sharing your reflection with other collectors in classic car hobby.

Nicky's Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals

There was certainly no shortage of muscle this past weekend, and we're not talking Swarchenegger or Hasselhoff! Nicky's Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals, hosted in Chicago, was packed full of muscle cars and Corvettes (I guess you could have figured that out based on the title of the show)! People came from all across the U.S. to partake in the two day extraveganza. From the show cars to the commercial vendors and swap meet, you could tell a great deal of effort went into planning this successful event. Check out their website to get more information: http://www.musclecarandcorvettenationals.com/index.htm . Without shows like this and the people who support them, the collector car industry would be suffering a great deal. Next time you're contemplating on whether or not to sit in the recliner on a Saturday or check out a show, make the right choice, go to the show!


This was during move-in day.

If you're wondering why the ropes? It resembles an advertisement that was done when these first came out.

I wonder what this sounds like sitting inside the car?