IN THE HEADLIGHTS

The popular television show My Classic Car has just posted a past episode with LeMay – America’s Car Museum founder Harold LeMay on their YouTube channel. (youtube.com/@MyClassicCarTV)

The video was recorded September 13, 1999, when ACM was just in the planning stages. In it, Mr. LeMay is prescient about the challenges of running a national automotive museum, with wisdom worth reflecting upon as ACM celebrates it’s 10-year anniversary.

“I’ve always tried to not just stick to Fords, or Chevrolets, or Cadillacs or Duesenbergs, or Cords; but to have what may appeal to another party, another person, or another age,” said Mr. LeMay.

“A museum, contrary to a lot of people’s belief, has to be self-sufficient. They give you so much time to get it going…there is limitations on it – it’s not all roses, and it’s not like people think. They have to work at it, and it has to be self-sustaining after a period of time.”

At 11:58 in the video, the camera comes to rest on Harold’s red 1957 Chevy Nomad wagon, a car that has subsequently logged thousands of miles on The Drive Home events, appeared on the front page of major newspapers and publications, and was displayed on the floor of the Detroit Auto Show. If Harold only knew how just one of his cars could touch so many people.

But mostly, the video makes us wish Harold were still with us to share his genuine love of old cars, and the people that drive them: “I like the cars. I like the people I meet. I’ve met and made many, many friends. I can say that I can’t think of anybody I’ve bought a car from that I couldn’t go back and talk with or meet them, because it’s always been a pleasure.”

Book Shelf

The cars and drivers of AAT’s The Drive Home to the Mustang Stampede are set to appear in Robert M. Kennedy’s upcoming book, Unbridled: The Passion, Performance & Politics Behind America’s Favorite Pony Car. For more on this past year’s The Drive Home, see our feature on page 10.

Openroad Publication Credits

Managing Editor & Head Writer William Hall

Friend of AAT, journalist and historian Kyle Yarber tells the automotive history of Kansas City in his book, A Car-Crazy Town, 150 pg., ISBN 978-0-692-29224-2, available on Amazon. Kyle and his fellow enthusiasts at the Kansas City Auto Museum have welcomed the Drive Home crews as they pass through the Midwest.

William “Kid” Hall is an automotive journalist based in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, whose work has appeared in Hemmings Motor News, Classic Car Journal, RM Shift and Prancing Horse magazines, among others. His personal collection of cars skews classic Italian, with a few ‘70s era Muscle Cars and a growing collection of vintage motorcycles for good measure.

Contributors: Thanks to Michaela Chiconas Ristaino for the back-cover family shot, Jake Welk for his sharp lens throughout the issue, and Jeff Malin and Lauren Stoney for help with The Drive Home feature. Travis Gallatin covered the huge opening of ACM’s Porsche at 75 exhibit. Vivian Hsu helped out with photos for the Concours Club gathering.

Art Direction & Graphic Design Jennifer Weitzman, jamgd: jamgd a design firm located in Madison, Wisconsin — having a long history working with the RPM Foundation — they now bring their talents to this publication. jamgd.com