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Established in 1996, we are a group of passionate car enthusiasts who live and breathe American classic cars, and are based in Auckland, New Zealand.
Our mission in life is to provide an environment for other like minded car aficionados to savour and enjoy their American classics, without the rules and restrictions that seem to dog other areas of everyday lives. If you are an American classic car owner who feels the same as we do, we invite you to take a small journey through our site to see if this sounds like you. If you like what you see, and want to be involved, then send in a membership application. The only hard and fast condition of membership is that prospective members must own an American classic car that is pre-2000 model year which must be of historical interest. |
UPCOMING ACCCA EVENTS
Saturday 18 January - Kumeu Hot Rod Show. A&P Showgrounds, Kumeu, Auckland. Sausages and drinks will be provided, club BBQ and tea/coffee facilities will be available. Meet onsite at the club's reserved parking area from 7am onwards. Sunday 9 February - Ellerslie Concours. The club has entered a judged section of the show featuring 8 member's station-wagons and a towed retro matching caravan, all based on a summer theme, organised by Alex Ross. This is not a formal club run but all members welcome to attend, but note you will only be able to park in the public car parking areas. Sunday 16 February - Run to view a private car collection in Whangaparaoa. Details TBC. Sunday 15 March - late afternoon run to President Rob's home in Pukekawa for an early evening BBQ. RSVP to Club Secretary by 28 February for catering requirements. Run details TBC. American Classic Car Club members are unable to provide classic vehicles for events such as weddings, birthdays, family outings etc, as they are not licensed to undertake these activities.
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►►►►► 12/11/2024
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Xmas BBQ - 8 December 2024
This is my first Christmas Picnic not being one of the organizers for many years, and what a cracker it turned out to be, so joyous congratulations to all those hard working committee members who made it work.
The venue of the Helensville Historic Museum was that organized for 2023 (which was cancelled due to a very wet and stormy day you may recall), so it was with much pleasure that the day dawned bright and sunny for this year. There was plenty of parking in the museum grounds for the 42 American classics, and attendees in excess of 100 made numbers close to the halcyon days of Wenderholm Reserve, so well done all who made the effort. The only difference was that there is not much natural shade around the reserve, which in an inverse way made all the attendees congregate together under the clubs and many private gazebos, which made for a much more sociable gathering. One of the great things about our club, is that there is always a great variety of cars to observe and admire, with many well detailed classics from all the great US manufacturers. There was also a beautiful 34 Chev Master 5-window hot-rod of new members Terry & Delia which had amazing workmanship to drool over, and the first ever Bricklin (look it up online for more info; an American made Delorean lookalike) I have ever seen in the wild, so plenty to see. Another new car not seen before was new member Dave's 81 Pontiac Trans Am turbo who had just joined the Club the day before, and won his money back with a spot prize for free membership for next year! After the usual welcome and chatter from President Rob, lots of prize draws were given out, before lining up for the catered Spit Roast BBQ Christmas lunch, which was as usual of very high standard and delicious. More prize draws followed, thanks to our wonderful sponsors Advance Publishing, Marshall Batteries, and of course some from the club itself. Then followed all the Christmas goodies for desert provided by the attendees, so well done all those who slaved in their kitchens churning out all the sweets. Secret Santa was another highlight for those that participated, which either gave something useful or something else to recycle to one’s favourite Mother-in-Law or Auntie! It was obvious that many were starting to flag after partaking in such sumptuous Christmas fare, so things started to wind up mid-afternoon. I had a cunning plan on the return trip to avoid the Kumeu/Soljans Roundabout traffic, by going back on the Old North Road, but something went awry and we turned up on the Bridgewater Estate road, and after a lot of country driving, arrived at Silverdale! Never mind, it was a great drive and at least we saw some lovely scenery with not much traffic. Merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year to you all, from Russell and Cindy Wilson. See photos from the day here.... Gordonton Alpaca Stud - 3 Nov 2024
A cool but otherwise fine morning greeted the very small group of 5 club cars and 10 members at the Beststart Papakura meeting point, in readiness for the 100+ km journey to Gordonton, through the scenic back roads of Waikato. A very pleasant, almost cone-free cruise as it turned out, via roads that were neither too challenging, nor boring, just the right mix indeed, through mostly rural farmland.
Once we arrived and parked up – not a difficult exercise considering so few takers for this run (why was that anyway?) – our host Sam greeted us and led us into the conference room, a tastefully rustic building that could actually seat over 80 and even had a bar for private functions! Hmm… We had a very interesting, educational and sometimes hilarious presentation from Sam about the Alpacas (did you know, for instance, that they only give birth between 9.00am and 2.00pm and never in the rain? Or that they are only ever in labour for about an hour? No, neither did we!) before heading out to hand-feed the “girls & boys” , being mindful not to step in the heavily grassed areas of the paddocks – as they indicate the communal defecation zones - followed by lunch in the quaint but licensed café, where much joviality was had over our burgers and fries. Such a shame that so few members took the opportunity to come on this run, as it was really rather pleasant in every respect, and despite the odd ‘spit’ that Alpaca’s are renown for (Sam warned us in advance and even had tips to avoid any direct hits!) even they were very well behaved and hugely engaging. Such a change from our usual automotive and/or mechanical fare, it must be said, and all the better for it. Maybe next time? A huge thanks to Steve Plester for organising this run for us See photos from the event here… Te Aroha Cruise-In - 5 October 2024
Another early Saturday morning start for the hardy 6 cars meeting at the BP Drury motorway at 7am for a 7.30 departure to be down and parked by 9am as the organisers wanted. Luckily the weather started out as a fine Spring morning which lent for a leisurely cruise straight down SH2/27 to Te Aroha with little traffic to speak of. Once there we met up another 2 cars on the convoy down, and another 4 at the venue, ending up with a turnout of 9 cars between the flags plus one interloper, and another 5 odd not parked with the main group.
Since Maureen Kan was unfortunately attacked by an errant footpath kerb, Mark & Maureen couldn’t make it on the run. However thanks to Mark’s sterling efforts at organizing the run, the marshals at the gate were expecting us and this time we were fortunate to be told to turn LEFT and park in the favoured VIP spots in the main block right in the middle between the two hotels., where they were holding a gap in the cars specifically for us. And the T-shirt weather was just as good there when we arrived. So up went the two swoopers at either end of the cars, with the one non-club car who sneaked in behind us, but nevertheless helping to swell the ranks and make a reasonably impressive club display. Unfortunately the main club banner wouldn’t even fit into the usually commodious boot of the Cadillac, so had to be left behind. The usual arrangement of show cars lined both sides of the street with a double-row down the center, but this year there was such a plethora of food stalls in the main and side street outside the Grand Tavern one could be forgiven the thinking there was a food stall convention in town, and not one was very little duplication competing against one another. Scuttlebutt heard was that there were some complaints last year about not enough food outlets with the queues and waiting time at those cafés who were actually open were intolerable, so perhaps the organisers have this time gone to lengths to ensure that doesn’t happen again! Also different this year, the main domain was absolutely chocka full of various merchandising kiosks. So along with all the usual shops and second hand/antique stores and the same huge second hand book bazaar, and the beauty pageant show, there was certainly plenty to look at and do after one has seen all the cars. Prizegiving was held at 2pm, and the very good news is that we unexpectedly, and deservedly of course, won the best Club display award receiving a certificate and trophy – Mark’s going to have to make some space on his mantelpiece…. |
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