American Auto Club North West

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American Auto Club (NW)
(From September 1981 to 1993 + 1995)
(by John Smith member No. 22)
Part 1
This is my part in the history of this club, which was omitted from the recent history article in the May 2011 edition.
I joined this club in May 1981 after I had bought a 1972 Mustang Convertible, saw an advert in “Street Machine” for a new meeting at the “Westward Ho” an ex Isle of Man Steamer, moored at Pamona Dock in Manchester. I went along on a Friday night and joined along with another 20 new members. The club was originally called “American Auto Club” the (NW) was added later as a result of a “clash” with another club with the same name in the Midlands, who actually started 2 weeks later in May 1981.
I was the 29th member of the club we all contributed each time towards the cost of the room on the ship. The meetings were held either weekly or fortnightly it’s a little vague now (my memory, it was 30 years ago!)
1981/1982 were local shows usually held on a field with other events going on, all in the North West. The other events which were available included the Leeds Cruise and another held in Bolton (for a very short time). We did find a abandoned WW11 camp up at Rhodes Green near Middleton and we were able to get onto it for a spot of Drag Racing on an intact piece of concrete, all good fun at the time. We had the “KING” of burnouts with us at that time…Tony Jones.
In the September of 1982 at a meet up at Pomona Docks, the then secretary of the club “Chrissy”, threw the club’s books at me and said “bleep, bleep this club, you do it”. I know I like a challenge but, “How the ‘ell do you run an American Car Club”
The Friday meets were badly attended down to 6-8 members a time and were costing me personally, each meeting (to pay for the room), it couldn’t go on. So come October 1982 I shut it down for the winter months, so I would have the time to find a pub with a big car-park and in a better location.
I found a pub, but it was The Whitegate at Chadderton and re-started the Club in April 1983 here. I sent a single page flyer out to all who had previously attended the Westward Ho meetings, to advise them that the club had a new venue and was now on a Tuesday night from 8.00 pm. Over the winter I had “persuaded” Paul Beebe to help me promote the club. He became the first Chairman. Paul was a courier for G.U.S. in Manchester and went around daily collecting the internal mail from different sites in the North West and along the way stopping every American Car he saw and handing out membership forms, most of which came back filled in and with the fee to join. We also took a stand at the Rod and Custom show at Belle Vue, showing Pauls Shelby Mustang 350 and my 72 Mustang Convertible and over the 2 days 80 new members joined.
The Whitegate proved not to be a good venue as the car-park was getting too busy, so I found another pub about half a mile away The Red Barn at Chadderton with a massive car-park, the landlord welcomed us with “open arms” later I found out why.
We set up a car show along with other attractions for early July ’83, it was very well attended and we had around 220 cars there, some people brought 3 cars each!! The pub ran out of beer twice.
The totting up of the takings revealed, 2 things, the guy who ran the pub was a convicted bankrupt, only the brewery didn’t know that and he pocketed the proceeds. Needless to say he lost his job and I received a cheque from the brewery for £500 for the club.
 
Here is where Harold English comes into it. This is his part of the story.
He says: I first met the AACNW at Adlington Hall, near Macclesfield sometime in June/July 1982 or 83 He says I was involved with a friend of mine who organized the show, I had at this time my 1978 GMC “Jimmy” and matching caravan and I used this at the entrance gate to book in the cars, it was a good base should it rain and my “Jimmy” parked by the side was always admired – about 10 American cars turned up. I booked them in and directed to the arena for parking. Among the drivers was our much respected John Smith…Somehow he coerced me to join the Club. My first meetings were up at the Red Barn, on Broadway, nr. Chadderton, Oldham, I certainly wasn’t impressed, Paul Beebe was Chairman (in name) but there was no sort of cohesion or coordination, nobody seemed to know what was happening, just standing around the car-park or inside the pub chatting!
Some sort of problem occurred (see previous page) and we had to find another venue.
This was the Black Swan at Hollins Green, near Cadishead on the A57 and was a lovely little pub but had NO club room as such – being in the bar area we were in with the normal customers so communication was pretty near out of the question. Around this time late ‘83 Paul Beebe decided to resign and after much consultation I decided to become Chairman. The Club certainly needed some sort of direction and identity – the main man and “chief spanner” by my side at this time was my old pal John Smith. I then made certain appointments for a Committee to run the Club – in the early days at the Black Swan I asked the guys to congregate at the far end of the pub lounge and I would stand on a chair to address the members and give out the necessary information. Problems soon arose with certain hotheads “burning off” outside the Pub which aroused the local neighbourhood and upset the Landlord, Bill, who was a really nice guy but just wanted a peaceful existence. We were given warnings – I then tried to advise members but to no avail and we were given notice to quit from the following month, it is always the minority who spoil it for the rest!!! By this time the committee was firmly in position, so we made enquiries about a better venue for our fortnightly Club meetings. I may be wrong but the committee comprised John Smith (Secretary/Treasurer), Alan Clark (Events), Bob Cook (Professional Drinker) and Elaine Renolds (Editors) and Les Jones. Our tasks then concerned driving around all areas to vet any potential venues, this was a hard, time consuming task! Eventually we dropped in at the Brown Cow (present venue) and right away everything dropped into place, the room, the car-park and the landlady, Joan, who was very accommodating. We were unanimous and declared this to be the club venue and this was recorded in our newsletter to advise members of dates and location.
Bob and Elaine were by this time producing a much better and informative newsletter. Remember guys, NO COMPUTERS in these days! I then set about preparing a format for Club nights and for the A.G.M’s every year. I tried to make it a proper Club Night, sometimes we got guest speakers, sometimes mini auctions and then of course I sorted out the “Christmas Party”!
The next hurdle was the AGM, always full, I devised the current “Motor-mind Quiz”. Most times my mate Chris Jackson came over to set down the “Committee” for re-election, we had some really good meetings. It is pleasing for me to see that most of the things I implemented all those years ago are still going strong in the same format. As the years went by certain members wanted to have our own show, tell me about it! We were not a rich Club and we were always made welcome where ever we went with membership growing steadily, so I saw no point in crippling the Club with debts. I did spots on radio Manchester, articles in Manchester Evening News (motoring page August 1985), a full feature in Lancashire Life when we did Woodvale Show at Southport around 1988.
My only concession to members who attended “our show” was that pre-entered members would receive our specially minted Club plaque. For our first one we asked for designs for the plaque from members and the design was voted for by all members. Every year a new plaque with the Club design plus the current venue for the show was issued. I have all my plaques somewhere in the loft, will try to find them and get a picture for the magazine. We used to do a few long distance shows, I took my “Jimmy” and Caravan and used as a Club Stand. Surprising how much interest was created and how many new members came on board. As the years went by the Club more or less ran itself, changes at the committee, Barry Dunnett, Barrie Cunliffe all followed in my footsteps but I did almost 8 years as Chairman. I was made Honorary President in 1991 for my efforts but for the last 2 years, up to 1990 I did all the editorials myself as well as being Chairman… I thought the early days of the Club were overstressed in the magazine, but people have different perspectives… there were certainly some good days at the Club meetings, c’est la vie- All the Best…..Harold English

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Well here we are at the start of a new season and I'm lucky enough to find myself at the helm of this great club of ours, as I've often said I'm just an ordinary member just like any other member of the American Auto Club North West FAMILY,  who as a whole are part of the American Car scene worldwide, with the way we can communicate through the internet these days it's just as easy to strike up  relationships with like minded people across the globe as across the road,to help and inform one another or purchase vital parts and yes even buy that much dreamed of motor you always promised yourself (too easy at times according to Lesley !!)
         As you may of guessed from last months front cover my Ranchero has finally hit the road, it being on the front had nothing with me pulling strings but I can tell you I have had my leg pulled over it many times (just like in my own family being one of nine no one was allowed to develope an EGO) LOL.
        Heading up your committee again this year means I can oversee the great charity work we have always done, last year we managed to raise nearly three grand for our charities which ment so much to me especially when I was able to hand over a cheque for £1500. 00 to Ronald McDonald House Alder Hey.   Through personal experiance and other members letting us know they have also had to use these FREE facilties while their child was in Alder Hey Childrens Hospital, we decided to carry over the nomination of Ronald McDonald House for another year which will Kick off on our usual Krispy Kreme Charity ShownShine Day at the start of April . yes we know this falls on April the 1st but you'd be a fool to miss this great fun day.
         Another event we are carrying over from last year is our Lakeland weekend up at Oak Head Caravan Park, you told us how much you all enjoyed last years and how it reminded you of the good old days, we had a chat with Bev and Glen to try and improve what was a good weekend, apart from the cold wet Sunday in May??? not being able to control the weather if you recall it was cracking the flags a week before, we have moved the event a whole month later to June which should benifit those camping, we have also taken onboard a few helpfull pointers to fine tune a fun weekend.   To ease bookings and pitching of motorhomes, Bev and Glen at Oak head will be taking care of all the bookings for what we hope will be another memorable weekend.
         With so much going on this year I think it would be wise to book early into all your intended shows this year and that includes the free ones its mad ringing round at the last minute and getting frustrated when you cannot get a pass, 
                            looking forward to Sunny Days    Graeme S.

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February is a bit of a funny month for me, especially when it comes to writing my gas. Due to Nick's editorial demands, and the printers work schedules, I end up composing this article before the AGM so I don’t know IF I've been re-elected or fell at the post. But as I have said on numerous occasions, "I am just a member of the American Auto Club North West like anyone else". So this coming season will be like any other, I'll be there enjoying the cars, the sun and the banter regardless. This coming season I'll have my 1972 Ford Ranchero out on display along side a few of the other winter imports that have recently crossed the pond.   Going by conversations leading up to and over the Christmas period, I have not been the only one hitting the buy button on eBay, LOL!
This new 2012 season will also be a first time show season for a few new to the American car scene, but I'm confident they'll find us a fun loving friendly bunch of souls. No doubt they will soon learn Tommy only likes Yorkshire Tea bags and his legendary TIGHT WAD status, and Val ‘the rotty's’ bark is worse than her bite. OH! And not to upset our editor Nick or you'll find yourself in Kippers Corner if you ‘appen to nod off within camera shot??! As most of you know these are just a few smiles along the way that make up an entertaining summer, so be it your first or your thirty first with the North West..........enjoy enjoy enjoy!! Graeme S. 

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World's only remaining 'Ghost Car' headed for auction

An extraordinary transparent car is set to fetch as much as $475,000 when it goes

up for auction.

The motor, dubbed the 'Ghost Car', is a Pontiac Deluxe Six which, bizarrely,

has been covered in the see-through material Plexiglas.

Built in 1939 by General Motors and chemical company Rohm and Haas at a cost

of $25,000, it was the first transparent full-sized car to be made in America.

One of a kind: The 1939 motor is a Pontiac Deluxe Six which has

One of a kind: covered in Plexiglas, developed just a few years earlier in 1933

Innovative: General Motors and chemical company Rohm and Haas b

Innovative: General Motors and chemical company Rohm and Haas built the

vehicle for $25,000 - an astronomical price during the 1930s

Billed as a vision of the future, it was made for the 1939-40 New York World's

Fair, where it became a sensation at General Motors' 'Highways and Horizons'

pavilion; and it continues to cause a stir today.

Just two were ever made and this model, which has a three-speed manual

transmission, and is thought to be the last of its kind..

It has clocked up just 86 miles in its lifetime; and now its set to go on sale

for the first time since the early 1980s. It last sold for an undisclosed amount.

American auctioneers RM expect it to sell for between $275,000 and $475,000

when it goes under the hammer on July 30.
Seventy-two years of wear: The Plexiglas does have some chips a

Seventy-two years of wear: The Plexiglas does have some chips and cracks

but is mostly in good condition, according to auction notes

Not for touring: The collectible is unlikely to be seen on the road

Transparent: Wires and a spare wheel can be seen through the tr

Transparent: Wires and a spare wheel can be seen through the trunk of the car

A spokesman for RM Auctions said: 'The car is in a remarkable state of

preservation.

'It's a testament to the longevity of Plexiglas in an era when automotive plastics

tended to self-destruct within a few years.

'Although it has acquired a few chips and cracks, it is structurally sound and

cosmetically clear, showing off the Ghost Car's innards as it did in 1939.

Mechanics: The model has an L-head six-cylinder engine, coil sp

Mechanics: The model has an L-head six-cylinder engine, coil spring independent front suspension, live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs,and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes

At the wheel: The steering wheel features rings of chrome-plated hardware, and Pontiac's insignia in red
Artefact: The car has clocked up just 86 miles in its lifetime;

Rohm & Haas used drawings for the Pontiac four-door Touring Sedan to create an exact replica body out of the transparent acrylic.

It was completed with structural metal underneath, which was given a copper wash, and chrome-plated hardware.
 

Sensation: Billed as a vision of the future, the car was made f

Sensation: Billed as a vision of the future, the car was made for the 1939-40 New York World's Fair in San Francisco, pictured here

Two Ghost Cars were made but the 1939-1940 Pontiac Deluxe Six is the only one known to survive

It toured the nation's dealerships and went on display at the Smithsonian until 1947, and was subsequently owned by a series of Pennsylvania Pontiac dealers

Rubber moldings were made in white, as were the cars tires. The only recentmechanical work has been replacement of the fuel lines.

According to the GM Heritage Center, a second car, on a Torpedo Eight chassis, was hurriedly constructed for the 1940 Golden Gate Exposition on Treasure Island, a man-made island in San Francisco Bay.

Once their respective showcases had closed, both 'Plexiglas Pontiacs,' or 'Ghost Cars' as they were sometimes known, toured the nations dealerships.

The 1939-40 Deluxe Six is the only one known to survive.

It appeared at the first annual meet of the new Pontiac-Oakland Club International in 1973 and was purchased by Don Barlup of New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. Barlup commissioned a partial restoration from S&H Pontiac of Harrisburg and sold it to collector Leo Gephart in 1979.

The current owners father purchased it from Gephart in the early 1980s, and it has remained in the same family ever since.

Not surprisingly, it has no conventional vehicle identification number; even the machined boss for the engine number is blank.

A collection of period photos and other memorabilia accompanies the car, which still turns heads as much as it ever did.

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Happy NEW YEAR! .....And welcome 2012. The dawn of a brand new season, a year we your committee hope will be even greater than the previous years. We know how you lot work hard at this great hobby of ours, be it in the preparation of your beloved motors, or just enjoying the social side of the club. That’s why we strive to maintain the NO BOLLITICS rule, God knows as I've always said "there’s enough crap in our lives with work and sometimes home, we do not need it in our HOBBY”. The grey suits are always coming up with ways to screw us down, be it through our pockets or with green issues.
On April 15th one hundred years ago RMS TITANIC hit an iceberg. We all know what happened on that fateful night, but did you know that there is an iceberg season every year, when during the spring the newly broken off bergs flow south. Shipping has always kept track and documented these flows, it just happened the TITANIC sailed head long into an unusually high number of icebergs one hundred years ago; it must have been down to the global warming back then.....all those gas guzzling modal T’s??? Did you know two other boats sank just 17days earlier? Yes folks, two boats sank with all hands. Both Oxford and Cambridge crews had that sinking feeling, whether there were icebergs on the Thames that year was not reported, but oxford went on to win the race two days later on April 1st 1912.  19 days later on the 20th Bram Stoker died; the author who wrote about an aristocratic blood sucker who bled the innocent to death. Yes folks, that was one hundred years ago, global warming and a nation being bled dry. It’s a good job we don’t have that sort of thing going on these days.........
Can you tell I've not spent as much time in the garage as I should of over the holidays. As some of you know, my Christmas present arrived in October and thanks to the pen pushers, no documents till November keeping me off the road. As frustrating as it was, it did give me time to make sure the Ranchero was thoroughly waxoyled and prepared for this new season, kicking off with January's Krispy Kreme meet, and hopefully as many events as I can fit into the ever growing show season. I know Glen and Bev will sure make us all welcome for our Lakes weekend in June, and the Jackson clan surpass themselves every year with Americana International setting the standard for any show organiser to aspire to.  So come on, shake off those winter blues, let’s all go for a cruise. Hang the garlic from the mirror and watch out for icebergs............
                                         Here's to a great year with great friends.  Graeme S.