AACA Winter Nationals – Cartersville, TN

March 26-28
We arrived at the show field just as the morning light was settling in, right around 8 a.m. Friday and the weekend was already off to a great start. Barrett jumped right in to help lay out the field, and it quickly became one of his highlights of the entire event. Working alongside Norm Hutton and Fred Bartemeyer, he got a hands-on lesson in everything from spacing each car to calculating turning radius for smooth parking. For a 13-year-old, it was a proud moment, especially being treated like one of the adults and he soaked up every minute of it.
While Barrett was hard at work, I attended the Membership Round Table. It was a well-attended session filled with fresh ideas and great discussion about how to bring new members into the hobby.
Later, Darrin and I attended Judging School, led by Dave Bowman. It was fascinating to learn about the updates and changes, and it gave us a whole new appreciation for the judging process.
Of course, one of the best parts of any event is catching up with friends both old and new and we made plenty of time for that.
But the real treat came with our visit to the Savoy Museum. The exhibits were outstanding, each one worth lingering over. We were especially lucky to hear from longtime Great Race friend Corky Coker, whose stories made the experience even more memorable. Afterward, we were given rare access to the museum’s storage facility, home to more than 150 cars, and even got a demonstration of the specialized car jack used to rotate vehicles in and out of exhibits. It was something not many people get to see.
Saturday came early, and we were back at the show field before long. Barrett returned to help park cars, while Darrin and I headed to the Judges Breakfast to receive our assignments. I was placed on the sports car team and what a treat that turned out to be! Judging such rare and beautiful cars alongside a great group of teammates made for an unforgettable experience.
Once judging wrapped up, I took some time to wander the field and admire the incredible variety of vehicles on display before heading back to the hotel to recharge for the evening.
The awards banquet capped off a fantastic weekend, with several of our members taking home well-earned honors. All in all, it was a successful show, filled with great experiences, good friends, and memories we won’t soon forget. – Charlotte

Easter Egg Hunt

March 22
The excitement had been building for months, and when the day finally arrived, the Easter Egg Hunt Poker Run truly delivered! Swapping playing cards for colorful eggs gave this classic event a fresh, playful twist and turned it into a fun-filled adventure for all ages.
With 87 participants, the weekend kicked off strong thanks to early registration and a festive setup that welcomed everyone in. The tables were lined with great door prizes, and the buzz of anticipation carried right into the start of the run. Even with a quick route adjustment, everything flowed smoothly, and the energy stayed high as participants hit the road, eager for the next stop.
One of the highlights for me was having my friend Kelly Adams fly in from Georgia to join the fun. Kelly took the wheel while I handled navigation though “handled” might be a generous term! I managed to get us turned around once, and we quickly resorted to GPS to make our way from the downtown airport to the next stop, which only added to the adventure and gave us a few laughs along the way.
Driving through downtown Mobile was a treat in itself, with the stunning live oak trees arching overhead and leading us into some of the oldest, least-traveled sections of the city. It was a beautiful reminder of the charm and history right in our backyard.
The day wrapped up with a lively field hunt that brought out participants of all ages from young kids to an inspiring 85+ hunter who joined right in on the fun. Afterward, everyone gathered to enjoy plenty of food, laughter, and prizes. The eggs were filled with candy, along with a few lucky finds containing tickets for door prizes, adding an extra layer of excitement.
All in all, it was a memorable event that brought people together, created lasting smiles, and supported a great cause through the club’s College Scholarship program. – Charlotte

Special Nationals – Guaynabo, Puerto Rico

March 19-21
At the AACA Special Nationals in Guaynabo, all eyes were on Vicki Bolton as she stepped into her new role with the grace and enthusiasm that have long defined her involvement with the Antique Automobile Club of America. Though this marked her first Special Nationals as President, it was far from her first time in Puerto Rico a place she and her husband, Art Bolton, have come to cherish over years of attending this beloved event.
From the moment she arrived on Thursday, March 19, Vicki was immersed in the vibrant hospitality of the Puerto Rico Region. The warm welcome set the tone for a memorable few days, beginning with a scenic visit to La Marquesa Forest Park, where attendees took in breathtaking views from a sky tram ride high above the lush landscape. It was a perfect introduction to the natural beauty and spirit of the island.
Friday brought a blend of learning and culture. Many judges scheduled for the event attended Judging School before joining fellow attendees on a tour of the Galería Senatorial de Arte Puertorriqueño. A highlight of the day was a special visit to the Capitol District, made possible through the generosity of Thomas Rivera Schatz, a gesture that underscored the strong connection between the event and the local community.
Saturday was the main event, and it began early. By 5 a.m., buses were rolling toward the show field, where more than 140 vehicles would soon gleam under the Caribbean sun. Despite the heat, the energy never wavered. In one of her most meaningful roles of the weekend, Vicki personally greeted each participant as they arrived, setting a welcoming tone that resonated throughout the day. With 80 judges traveling in from the mainland, the show upheld the high standards and camaraderie that define AACA events.
The weekend culminated in a dazzling Awards Banquet an evening filled with celebration, laughter, and a touch of magic. Live music and an illusionist captivated the crowd, while beautifully presented food and drinks added to the festive atmosphere. As prizes lined the tables and winners were announced, it was clear that this year’s Special Nationals had once again exceeded expectations.
For Vicki Bolton, the experience was more than just an event, it was a heartfelt reminder of the connections, traditions, and shared passion that make the AACA community so special. And in Puerto Rico, those qualities shine just a little bit brighter.
Compiled from many posts on facebook about the event – Charlotte

2026 Annual convention

Febraury 5-7
This year’s convention was held in Chantilly VA at the Westfields Marriott. It is a location that we have visited before, and the hotel did not disappoint. The convention features the annual business meeting, dinners, seminars, and a trade show. Early bird attendees are usually treated to a special activity on Thursday and this year that was a bus tour to Washington DC, see the details of this tour in a different article.
Thursday night is the Director’s welcome reception, and it featured something new this year, a dessert smorgasbord. The evening was very casual so everyone could visit and enjoy the many sweet treats.
The trade show was open on Thursday for a sneak peek but then open fully for the rest of the weekend.  National Headquarters brings AACA brand items to sell such as shirts, jackets and other trinkets. They usually bring a couple of new items to feature at this show. The AACA Library brings books for you to buy and they had a very interesting variety available this year. Other booths highlight activities that Regions want to promote such as national tour or meet that they are hosting. Then there are the typical vendors that are promoting a service such as a restoration shop or vendors that are selling goods such as restored or new automobilia.
There are seminars on Friday and Saturday about the region’s websites, about the AACA original class and DPC class, car insurance, the art of collecting automobilia, and so much more. Judging Schools are held on Saturday.

Friday luncheon honors the outgoing First Lady or First Gentleman and this year the speaker was Jacy Good who is a young lady that has dedicated her life to bringing awareness to the dangers of distracted driving after her family was in a car wreck and she was severely injured and her parents were killed. It was a very moving presentation.
Friday evening features the Regions and Chapters Dinner. This year I was honored to be one of the speakers as the incoming President.

After the dinner, Friday evening featured a casino night where a company comes in and sets up game tables and everyone gets “free money” to play. Door prizes are awarded afterward based on the number of tickets you have won. The theme of the evening was the seventies and there were lots of people who came dressed up accordingly.

Saturday night was the awards banquet and it was very nice, the food was delicious and this is where the passing of the gavel occurs. This is the evening where the awards for cars for newsletters and websites and for service awards are presented. You can view the winners on the AACA website, just go to the Annual Convention link at the top of the page.

The passing of the gavel from current President Dave Anspach to 2026 President Vicki Bolton

Here is a picture of the head table with our banner featured at the Awards Banquet dinner.

Washington DC Tour

Febraury 5
The Annual Convention was held in Chantilly Va on Feb 5-7. The early bird activity was a bus tour to Washington DC on Thursday the 5^th.  Each bus had a private tour guide and it was an amazing tour. It was extremely cold but we would get off at the memorials and the guide would tell us all about it and then we would jump back on the bus to go to the next memorial. There was lots of snow on the ground which added to the beauty of the tour.

The first stop was at the US capital, you can see all of the snow in the first picture and in the second picture, you can see the flag waving proudly in the wind.

The next stop was at the White House but of course you can’t get too close to that because of security.

This is the World War II memorial and each state is representated in the memorial. It was breathtaking to see and walk aroound the memorail. Part of the Memorial includes the Freedom Wall which illustrates the price of freedom. It holds 4,048 gold stars and each star represents 100 American service personnelk who died or remain missing in the war. The loss of 405,399 dead or missing from WWII is second only to  the loss of 620,000 during the Civil War

The Thomas Jefferson Memorial from across the river and then inside where you see him and quotes attributed to him

Here you see the George Washington Monument across from the Abraham Lincoln memorial. Did you know that the top of the Abraham Lincoln Memorial is made from Alabama Marble? It was an amazing Day!