FROM THE NAM TEAM

NAM TEAM FROM THE

Who Who would have thought that 30 years after the National Automobile Museum opened its doors on Sunday, November 5, 1989; that the collection would remain the Number One attraction in Reno as cited by Trip Advisor and Yelp.

Few sites anywhere generate as many five star reviews as we have.

That’s quite an accomplishment when you think of all that’s changed in three decades: gasoline was $1 a gallon then, the minimum wage had just been raised to $4.25; and the stock market hit a record high of 2,560. Just before our opening, the Oakland A’s were celebrating their World Series win over the Giants; just as the 49ers began the year savoring their victory over the Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII. Germans were bringing down the Berlin Wall, about the same time as the Loma Prieta earthquake brought down the Bay Bridge. The Mirage in Las Vegas opened just two weeks after we did on November 22nd.

If you were an automotive journalist, you got a sneak peek inside the building with late-author Leon Mandel on Friday the 3rd, and VIP guests were invited to an Odyssey d’Elegance the next night where they danced to the music of the Peter Duchin Orchestra in the Museum streets. Today those same streets continue to be filled today with party-goers from high school proms, to weddings, holiday festivities and even celebration of life memorials. Just as it was in ’89, special events are always more special when you’re surrounded by $60+ million worth of rare automobiles.

Today is also time to look back to those who made this marvelous attraction possible and peek ahead to our future. We continue to celebrate the leadership of the late Ben Dasher, our first Board of Trustees chairman; the artistry of painter Robert Cinkel who passed just last year, and the contributions of our Emeritus board members Gordon Horsley, Ted Bacon and Dr. Louis Sellyei, Jr. We’re also indebted to our generous patrons and members of the last three decades who have been vitally important, but too numerous to mention individually. However, the City of Reno; Verna, John & Tony Harrah and current board chairman Ranson Webster and his wife Norma, each have made above and beyond contributions of time and/or resources to keep us moving forward. You can see all of the current Board of Trustees members in the accompanying feature; along with a look at the current staff.

As we launch into the new decade, the Board is actively pursuing a new vision to use our rich collection to explore the role of the automobile and its profound impact on all facets of American culture and society; past, present and future. We will seek new forms of media to provide better reasons to generate repeat visits to the Museum by locals and tourists from around the world. This will include refreshed “changing” exhibits and more forward-looking projects with links to our past. A good example might be examining the emerging battery technology of Tesla, VW, Ford, GM, Toyota and Mercedes contrasted to their roots of our 1912 Baker Electric; 1914 Detroit Electric, 1973 Battery Box and, surprisingly, the electric Toyota RAV4 of 2002.

A new Executive Director will be chosen soon to help move us along, and he/she will be charged with re-energizing our volunteer group which is so vital to our success. In 2019, we enjoyed a record 9,320 hours of service from these dedicated men and women who represent the heart and soul of the daily operation. Their enthusiasm and willingness to show up 363 daysa-year are the reason that we’re confident that the commemorate issue of Precious Metal January 2050 will be celebrating and reflecting with as much pride as we have today. Thank you all: visitors, contributors, members, patrons, volunteers, staff, Board of Trustees, and fans of the automobile everywhere.

Postscript: As we went to press, it was announced that Harrah’s Reno had been sold, and that the casino of the same name would cease operations later this year after 83 years. At least for now, the Harrah name will live on at our Museum and at casinos in Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, Atlantic City and several other locations. But for the first time since 1937, there will no longer be a Harrah marque in the “Biggest Little City.” The current twin hotel towers and former casino will be converted into the non-gaming “Reno City Center,” consisting of shops, restaurants and housing options.

IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT FOR 38 YEARS While the National Automobile Museum celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2019, it also observed the 38rd anniversary of the incorporation of a nonprofit organization that embarked on a remarkable journey in 1981. The original Board of five trustees accepted a daunting task. Could they have imagined the many successes that would fill the next 30 years? While some may dwell on the struggles, we have the privilege of witnessing and celebrating the successful outcomes. Today, the Board of Trustees consists of 13 members who serve the common goal of ensuring the Museum has the necessary resources to fulfill its mission not only today but for generations to come. Once again, in 2019, the Board made it possible for the Museum to earn The 100 Percent Club award from the Community Foundation of Western Nevada in recognition of Boards that support their agencies with 100 percent financial participation through personal giving. Truly, the Museum’s Board is the model for nonprofit boards, by accepting monumental challenges, believing in the Museum and giving personal donations to support their beliefs, encouraging others to give and governing an ethical and competent organization. BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Numerous Trustees throughout this period accepted demanding responsibilities and made vital contributions. While not all can be named, they are sincerely thanked and respected for their efforts. 1 The first phase was led by Chairman Ben Dasher beginning in 1981 and through the opening of the Museum in 1989. He spearheaded this project through endless negotiations with Holiday Inns, Harrah’s Hotels & Casinos, City of Reno, State of Nevada, and many individuals and organizations. In addition, he oversaw construction of the Museum. Reviewing the history of the Board illustrates there have been four important phases.

RANSON WEBSTER Chairman (since 1997) Elected 1994 PAUL GEORGESON Vice President (since 2012) Elected 2009 JANET L. CHUBB SECRETARY (since 2016) Elected 2001 WILLIAM RAMSEY TREASURER (since 2014) Elected 2014 NED BACON Elected 2013 BRIAN COLODNY Elected 2009 NORMAN L. DIANDA Elected 2004 JIM ROGERS Elected 2019 PHILIP G. SATRE Elected 2015 TED STOEVER Elected 2004 BJ SULLIVAN Elected 2005 ALLEN J. WILT Elected 2018

2During the 1980s, there was the enormous gift of automobiles and a library worth millions of dollars; however, there were no financial resources. After the Museum opened, there was an outstanding construction debt of $9.6 million. The second phase of the Board involved developing a plan to retire the construction debt and working with the City of Reno, State of Nevada, and others. During this phase, credit is given to John Sande; his service with the organization spanned more than 20 years. He worked on the establishment of the nonprofit organization, then beginning 1981 he served as corporate secretary, became chairman from 1991-1994, and remained on the Board until 2001.

4 3 The third phase was completion of the Capital Campaign to fully retire the construction debt, a task undertaken by key members of the current Board. A driving force during this phase was Chairman Ranson Webster. He and his wife Norma gave a $1.1-million-dollar donation and challenged others to match their gift. Thanks to Ranson and Norma and many donors, the construction debt was fully retired and $1 million was raised for the Endowment. The fourth phase is underway, during which our current Board of Trustees addresses infrastructure improvements, visitor enhancements, and guiding the Museum into the future. MEAD DIXON Chairman EVA ADAMS RICHARD J. GOEGLEIN ROY POWERS JOHN P. SANDE, III Corporate Secretary BOARD OF TRUSTEES WHEN THE MUSEUM OPENED IN 1989 BEN DASHER Chairman E. STANTON WARREN Vice Chairman JOHN P. SANDE, III Secretary/Treasurer MEAD DIXON VERNA R. HARRAH ERNEST MARTINELLI THOMAS J. MILLIGAN ROBERT F. RUSK HON. PETER SFERRAZZA CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, 1981 – 2015 MEAD DIXON,1981 - 1983 BENEDICT J. DASHER, 1983 - 1990 E. STANTON WARREN, 1990 ROBERT F. RUSK, 1990 - 1991 JOHN P. SANDE, III, 1991 - 1994 served the Board for 20 years FERENC SZONY, 1994 - 1997 RANSON WEBSTER, 1997- present {present}

MUSEUM TEAM

Buddy Frank INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Tony Castellanos FACILITY TECHNICIAN

Barbara Clark SR. SUPPORT SERVICES MANAGER

Noah Cole EVENT AND OPERATIONS SUPERVISOR

Donna Goldsmith OPERATIONS MANAGER

Jay Hubbard AUTOMOTIVE COLLECTIONS MANAGER

Jennifer McFarlane STEM EDUCATION ASSOCIATE

Emily Parker BUSINESS MANAGER

Kathy Powers COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Melissa Simmons SALES AND EVENT MANAGER

Marcia Trujillo-Penman RETAIL MANAGER

Dick Petersen VOLUNTEER RESOURCE MANAGER

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By Buddy Frank Harrah and the Maxwell

As our Museum moves into its 31st season, there is perhaps no better time to look back to our beginning. Not just to the opening of our Lake Street location in November of 1989, but back to the very beginning:

William Harrah’s first purchase of a classic car.

It was actually two cars, a 1911 Ford Model T Roadster and a 1907 Maxwell AB Runabout. Perhaps more than any other vehicle, this particular Maxwell is symbolic of what Mr. Harrah later achieved with his auto collection. Arguably, the lessons from this purchase also had a lot to do with the positive changes he made in his lifestyle and casino management around the same time period. It definitely anchored his obsession for good research and his never-ending quest for quality.

Johnny Vogel, the brother of a Harrah friend, died in an auto accident. His mother sold Johnny’s cars to Harrah in 1947 ($1,500 for the Ford and $2,000 for the Maxwell). Feeling sorry for the grieving mother, this was one of the rare times that Harrah overpaid for a car (the Maxwell was worth half that price then). While Maxwell’s have long been gone, they were popular cars of the period ranking #4 in overall sales in both 1907 and 1911. Many radio listeners from the 1930s and 1940s first learned of this marque from Jack Benny who often mentioned the car. A 1923 model that Benny frequently used in his casino stage shows is also in the Museum today. Maxwell ceased production in 1924.

As quoted in Harrah’s Auto Collection by author Dean Batchelor, “Harrah then set about restoring the cars with the help of Jim Gullihur, who had been a mechanic at the Packard agency where Harrah bought his Packards. Unfortunately, Harrah and Gullihur didn’t restore the Maxwell quite right.”

In Harrah’s own words, as quoted by the late automotive journalist Leon Mandel, “I hopped up about everything on the Maxwell as I hopped up about every car I owned. We [had] made a terrible mistake. An antique car should be restored authentically. A 1911 Maxwell should be restored as a 1911 Maxwell.”

Model AB Motor

Indeed, the two not only “hopped up” the engine with wrong parts, they, or the previous owners, tried to make the car look more like a 1907 Maxwell. Those liberties caught up with them when they joined the Horseless Carriage Club and signed up for a tour from Los Angeles to San Diego. As Mandel wrote, it was “the equivalent of showing up at Madison Square Garden for the Westminster Kennel Club show with a part Dalmatian, part Chihuahua.” These folks knew their cars and could spot a “fake” a mile away. They were not kind to this newcomer casino owner.

Not only that, Harrah couldn’t drive the car very well. “The lunch stop was in Long Beach, and I got there just as they were all leaving.” [NOTE: In his defense, driving a Maxwell is not easy for a novice. The internal clutch is cranky and the shift pattern back to front is unusual: Reverse, Neutral, Low, Neutral, and then High.] Regardless, it was extremely embarrassing to Bill Harrah, and he made sure it didn’t occur again.

1911 Maxwell Model AB

discovered the need for thorough research.” At the second lunch stop in Oceanside, Harrah said, “I’ll never forget. He came up to me and he was so polite. ‘Mr. Harrah, I’m Bud Catlett, how do you do?’ And he looked at the Maxwell and instead of sayin’, ‘This is wrong, the radiator’s wrong, the upholstery’s wrong, the fender’s wrong,’ and not even talkin’ about the hop-up part, he said ‘Gee that’s a nice car.’” As Mandel recounts, “Harrah could have encountered a thousand people who would have gone out of their way to humiliate him. Instead, he found perhaps the one man who encouraged his interest. Admirers of the Harrah’s Automobile Collection [and our own National Automobile Museum] owe much to Bud Catlett’s decency, restraint, and diplomacy that 1947 day at Oceanside.”

Harrah quickly hired Catlett, and the former Sacramento police officer became a trusted auto expert and the man that subsequently purchased many of the cars in the collection.

To restore a car correctly, Harrah learned, he needed data and research materials. Thus, his team began collecting automotive literature even more aggressively than they did cars. Thanks to their efforts, our library today is one of the world’s finest containing shop manuals, promotional materials, owner’s manuals, photos, films and more on autos from just before the start of the 20th Century to the 60’s and 70’s. Seldom does a week go by without a commercial inquiry from a collector or hobbyist seeking information about a vehicle. It is rare that we don’t have an answer.

Nearly all the original Harrah’s cars in our collection that were restored are correct to the finest details. Whenever possible, original parts were refurbished, rather than replaced. Paints were custom mixed to original specs. And the library was constantly checked to ensure the smallest details were accurate.

Harrah’s driving skills of classic cars also improved dramatically since that day in Long Beach. In fact, each vehicle was always road tested personally by the owner before receiving a classification and final approval to join his display collection.