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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 over 25 years old at the time of joining, which must be of historical interest. |
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PLEASE NOTE: American Classic Car Club members are unable to provide classic vehicles for events such as weddings, birthdays, family outings etc, as our members are not licenced to do so. Thank you for your understanding.
Christmas party at the Bridgewater Country Estate – 13 December 2020
A windy and cool, but more importantly, nice dry morning greeted everyone at the BP Silverdale meet up spot, prior to the short haul to the Bridgewater Country Estate at Helensville for the annual Christmas party. The service centre was a very busy place on this Sunday morning, with a large number of motorbikes, along with the American Muscle Car Club. Thankfully the Muscle Club departed a half hour before us, and you could tell who it was because everyone of them did a skid out of the car park. Our cars left the centre in bunches of five to alleviate any traffic jams at the venue, as the access off the road is a bit tricky, but all seemed to work well and everyone parked up as directed. The venue was a stunning setting, with manicured lawns and beautiful gardens, and a sight to behold for sure. The main building looked down over a sloping lawn to the chapel, with the whole area surrounded by native bush complete with a gravel walking track. The Master of Ceremonies, President Rob, welcomed everyone at the outdoor bar area down by the boating pond, and commenced to draw the ticket prizes of wine, along with the gate prizes kindly supplied by Advance Publishing of NZ Petrolhead/Rodder fame. It was then off up to the buffet area to partake in the very delicious Christmas lunch, with everyone showing supreme satisfaction at the selection available. The Secret Santa then bought all sorts of delights to those who participated, followed by the club member supplied deserts, which must be said surely surpassed previous Christmas picnic sweets in their variety and deliciousness. By this time it was late afternoon, and well satisfied members began to pack up to head off home, most probably for a short nap after all the indulgence. The committee members received many complements and positive comments from members during the day about the excellent choice of venue, combined with a laid back and very relaxing afternoon. So a bonus for club members, and certainly a massive win for your club committee. Thanks to all who attended, and made the day such a great success. Ciao4now, regards Russell Take a look at the day's activities here..... 
Toy Run – 7 December 2020
There was a great turnout of cars for the annual North Shore Rod and Custom charity toy run on behalf of the Salvation Army, heralding a busy upcoming classic car show scene for 2021. Vellenoweth Green in St. Heliers was fuller than it has been for a number of years, with participants not put off by the darkening skies and spitty bits, which only lasted for a couple of short periods, and was clear when most were leaving around 8.30 pm. Talking of leaving, and I know we have been saying this for some years, the host club really need to do more to stop the dunderheads from doing skids when they leave the Green. There are a small number who just have to light up their tyres on departure, which will bring the wrath from a local resident at some stage. Why don’t the club call up the services of a plain clothes police car to sit down the road for an hour, which would surely pay for the time spent with fines, rather than the very small sign saying “no skids”. This sort of activity is all this anti-car council would need to justify pulling approval for this long standing Summer opening event. Our club was well represented with 15 classics on display, and around 30 members, who soon hoovered up the club supplies pizzas. Very nice they were too, with satisfied club members all giving their approval. Apart from Neil having a slight steam train type issue on arrival in his Corvette, which was quickly sorted by all the mechanics on the scene, all had another laid back entry into the coming Christmas season. Ciao4now, regards Russell Photos of the evening can be viewed here..... 
Yeehaa In Piha!
A rare fine-weather weekend saw 14 cars registered for the November 15th run to the Piha Bowling Club for lunch and some casual Ends of lawn bowls. As Greg Beech was meeting us at the bowling club, and last minute entry from Kevin Forgesson also joining us for the cruise to Piha in his immaculate AMX Javelin, we still had 14 classics and two daily drivers departing Soljans Winery at 10.30am for the 50 minute cruise. Instead of meeting at Westgate shopping centre as we would normally do, because of this mid-morning departure time we opted to instead meet in Soljans carpark and avoid the mid-morning stop-start traffic chaos all trying to get out of Westgate together. Some members were pleased to discover that you can buy takeaway coffees at Soljans in the mornings, so pre-cruise morning tea refreshments were still catered for. Could be another good option for mid-morning kickoff’s out West. Once we were all out of Soljans carpark through the gaps in the SH16 Northbound traffic and out onto Taupaki Rd, the traffic was light to non-existent. The cruise took us through Taupaki, Waitakere and out on to the very scenic rural and bush roads of Bethells Rd, into Te Henga Rd and up the mountain, passing at the top the very burnt out Japanese car replete with Police evidence tape, past the spectacular cliff faces with the recent rockfalls still across a part of the road which was coned off for removal, winding back down onto Scenic Drive, and then South through the forests to Piha Rd. What a great view it is looking down across Auckland through the glimpses in the odd breaks in the bush along the top of the Waitakeres. There was very light traffic on Piha Rd making for a leisurely run down into Piha and arriving at the Club entrance to find Greg Beech and his Buick Electra waiting in the carpark to welcome us all together with Club President Kirk. What a great day for a cruise through the bush in the convertibles, eh Pete! The Bowling Club laid on what I can only describe as a restaurant-quality buffet lunch that you usually only find in a top CBD hotel, with roast pork and crackling, glazed roast ham, huge fillets of Salmon, pork mint sausages, baked cheese cauliflower, medley of pan-fried mixed vegetables, hot baby potatoes, a cold pasta salad, and lashings of cold salad components to assemble your own bespoke green salad. I didn’t see one single plate with anything left on it, and all for just $20 pp – what a bargain, can’t wait to go back again! Discounted drinks were able to be purchased at the Club Bar, and a very a pleasant afternoon was had in a peaceful bush and park surroundings, with casual lawn bowling by those who wanted to partake for the modest $5 green fees, or just sitting outside chatting under the verandah, enjoying the relaxed ambiance and being entertained by the action. Some members also took the opportunity for a stroll along the beach, and there was even one keen swimmer! It was good to see our members spread across the entire Green with all lanes in use for some considerable time. And judging by the various yeehaa’s there were some surprise results and closet lawn-bowlers discovered! Apart from he who shall remain nameless who knocked his teammates winning ball out of contention leaving the opposition to win! Watching all the bowling going on around us I think a great day was had by all. Many thanks to Greg Beech for once again organizing another fantastic day out at his Club and looking after us all so well. Might have to organize another informal bowling day out based on this successful outing. Cheers, Phil Officer Check out the day's photos here..... |
UPCOMING ACCCA EVENTS
Saturday January 16 Kumeu Classic Car & Hot Rod Festival. Meet at club site at Showgrounds from 8am, parking on first come-first in basis. Tea/coffee/BBQ available, BYO meat/picnic/chair Sunday February 7 Waipu Car Show, Caledonian Park, Waipu Northland. Meet at BP Northern Motorway, Silverdale from 7.30am to depart sharp at 8. $10 entry fee for charity Sunday February 14 Display at Ellerslie Classic Car Show, Ellerslie Racecourse. Limited spaces available which must be pre-booked with either of the 2 Phils on committee, with meet up details TBA. No entries on day |