AMERICA’SAUTOMOTIVETrust
SUMMER 2017 / VOLUME 13 / ISSUE 2
OPENROAD
FRIDAY, JULY 28
SUMMER SIGNATURE EVENTS Visit americascarmuseum.org for more information.
FREE & Open to the Public | Musi Food Trucks & Beer Garden | Cruise-In a Master Collector Exhibit Opens to the P Friends N’ Fenders Drive
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Welcome to OPENROAD a publication of
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OPENROAD 1
F E A T U R E S
10
FEATURE:
FIVE AND VERY MUCH ALIVE!
Five years on the road and going strong, ACM sets the standard for what an automotive museum should be.
20
ROAD WELL TAKEN:
THE SNAKE RIVER & HELL’S CANYON
D E P A R T M E N T S
Club Auto takes you on one of the region’s best kept secrets... a trip through time. 5 BEHIND THE WHEEL
22
A report from David Madeira, America’s Automotive Trust President & CEO
AUTOBIOGRAPHY:
WHITE ON WHITE ON WHITE
America’s Automotive Trust presents an immaculate 1957 Ford Thunderbird.
7 ALONG FOR THE RIDE Random musings by the managing editor of OpenRoad 8 SIGNPOST Late breaking news 8 DOWN THE ROAD Happenings worth saving the date 9 ACM STORE New arrivals for summer 9 RECENTLY READ Interesting and informative car themed books 14 RPM FOUNDATION Restoration, Preservation, Mentorship 16 CLUB AUTO Club activities and tours 17 CONCOURS CLUB
Club activities and tours
19 FUEL FOR THOUGHT
Advice for car enthusiasts
26 ON EXHIBIT New exhibits gracing ACM’s galleries 27 EDUCATION AT ACM Learning opportunities for all ages
PRESIDENT & CEO David Madeira
BEHIND THE WHEEL SUMMER IS IN FULL SWING AND WITH IT EVERYTHING WE LOVE ABOUT THIS TIME OF YEAR, ESPECIALLY IF YOU’RE INTO CARS AND THE LURE OF THE ROAD. THE SUMMER EDITION OF OPENROAD FITS PERFECTLY INTO THE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON. IT’S OUR KICK BACK ISSUE. THE ONE WE PUT ASIDE FOR THOSE CAN’T MISS GOOD TIMES… AND THERE ARE QUITE A FEW COMING AT YOU “PEDAL-TO-THE-METAL.”
“FUN” LETS EXAMINE THE WORD AND BREAK IT DOWN INTO ITS COMPONENT LETTERS...
Y
ou may have just experienced one — the Wheels & Heels Annual Gala. Quite a night! To say it has taken its place at the high point of the region’s social calendar is no overstatement. Our sponsors, staff and volunteers go the extra mile to make it an evening to remember. And the ‘wheels’ we had on hand in the Exotics@ACM: Seductive Supercars exhibit certainly lent that extra punch.
F. U. N.
What all this boils down to is very simple. “Fun.” That’s it in a nutshell, simply going about the time-honored business of having a good time. Oh, it helps if you learn something interesting along the way. And it’s nice knowing America’s Automotive Trust is there doing its vital work keeping this party and passion alive for the next wave of enthusiasts. At least three of AAT’s entities come into play here; our two touring groups Club Auto and Concours Club and of course, America’s Car Museum. ACM has more than fulfilled its mission as ground zero for the movement … a place for events, activities, concerts, exhibits… exploration! Maybe, just a simple cup of coffee and some quiet conversation with friends.
“FUN!” Let’s examine the word and break it down into its component letters… F, U, N. When I think of “F” in this context, I think of “festivals, far off places, things found, old and new friends.” Cars can be the connection to each of those, if you let them. Nothing gets us engaged with the world out there like a road trip. You see it. You smell it. You taste it. You experience it… from ground level not 30,000 feet up. “U?” That’s easy, the unexpected, the unscripted, the unique. Trust me. They’re there, hiding in plain sight. All you need to do is see beyond just looking. Takes a little effort but you’ll get it. When I’m thinking “N” I’m thinking “natural.” Nothing is more natural than that pure, unforced smile when you’re just having a good old time. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention America’s Car Museum’s 5th Anniversary celebrations taking place this year. We mention special offers, promotional events and high points marking this important mile marker in ACM’s history throughout this issue. So, enjoy your summer. Make ACM part of it. Now, get out there and have some fun!
OPENROAD 5
IN THE HEADLIGHTS
America’s Automotive Trust BOARD OF TRUSTEES Karl Anderson, Chairman Concrete Technology Corporation Tacoma, Washington Dale Bloomquist, Auto Enthusiast Seattle, Washington
CELEBRATING 5 YEARS OF AMERICA’S CAR MUSEUM
Stephen Boone, President Northwest Harley-Davidson (retired) & Collector Olympia, Washington
(Numbers are through June 2017)
Nicola Bulgari, Vice Chairman BVLGARI Sp. A New York, New York Larry Gordon, Gordon Truck Centers Inc. Pacific, Washington
NUMBER OF VISITORS: INCLUDING
McKeel O. Hagerty, CEO Hagerty Traverse City, Michigan
• ALL 50 STATES • ALL 5 U.S. TERRITORIES
Tom Hedges, Co-Owner Hedges Family Estate Benton City, Washington George Ingle, President/General Manager The Ingle Company Tacoma, Washington Nancy LeMay, CEO LeMay Investments LLC Tacoma, Washington David L. Madeira CEO & President America’s Automotive Trust Tacoma, Washington
• 47 COUNTRIES
815 DRIVER LICENSE
have been displayed in
Keith Martin, Publisher Sports Car Market Magazine Portland, Oregon James Gary May, Owner/President Hopewell Land Partners LLC Winter Haven, Florida
EXHIBITS
Dan McDavid, Executive Director - Retired Chrysler Corporation Leland, Michigan B. Corry McFarland, President Cedar Management Company Fife, Washington Paul E. Miller, President America’s Car Museum Tacoma, Washington Tom Nault, Managing Partner Middlerock Partners, LLC Kirkland, Washington Michael J. Phillips, Chairman Altaria Wealth Management Geneva, Switzerland Manfred Scharmach CEO & President Scharmach Enterprises, BMW Northwest Northwest Mini, Seattle Mini, NW Preowned Center Fife, Washington William Sterud, Vice Chairman Puyallup Tribal Council Tacoma, Washington Ed Welburn, CEO The Welburn Group Detroit, Michigan Todd Wells, General Manager Global Marketing Operations, Microsoft Redmond, Washington William T. Weyerhaeuser, Director/Chairman Columbia Bank Tacoma, Washington James M. Will, President Titus-Will Enterprises, Inc. Tacoma Washington
6 OPENROAD
OPENROAD PUBLICATION CREDITS Managing Editor & Head Writer Walt Tomsic, Tomsic Sullivan Design
Michael Craft ACM Official Provider
Professor Emeritus at Pacific Lutheran University, Walt is an unapologetic “car nut.” He started with a ‘53 Austin-Healey in High School and continued through a procession of Triumphs, an Alfa Romeo, ‘67 Shelby GT-350, three ‘60s vintage ‘Pagoda’ SLs and a couple of E-types. His current rides are a ‘79 FIAT 124 Spider and another Healey 100.
Special thanks to Advertising Photographer Michael Craft for creating many of the beautiful images printed in OpenRoad, most notably in our Autobiography section starting on page 22. MichaelCraftPhotography.com
Art Direction & Graphic Design Deni Sullivan, Tomsic Sullivan Design Deni has a BFA in graphic design from Pacific Lutheran University and has operated her own design business for over 30 years. Passionate for sports cars, she has owned several throughout the years including a ‘64 TR4 Sebring, a ‘72 TR6, and a 1979 Porsche. Her current ride is an ‘08 Special Edition Miata.
America’s Automotive Trust STEERING COMMITTEE Rod Alberts, Executive Director North American International Auto Show Troy, Michigan
HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN. THE SKIES ABOVE ARE CLEAR AGAIN. SO LET’S SING A SONG OF CHEER AGAIN. HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN... AND BOY, IT’S ABOUT TIME!
M
John Carlson, CEO National Association of Automobile Clubs of Canada Corp. Belcarra, British Columbia, Canada
I can hardly wait for this one, cars on the road going places, people in those cars doing things. A lot of the aforementioned “doing things” will involve, thanks to America’s Automotive Trust, ACM, Club Auto and the Concours Club. Oh, and need I mention the 5th Anniversary of America’s Car Museum fete that’s taking it to the next level around here. The celebration lasts all year
and it promises to be a hoot. You might have noticed it has already kicked off. Keep your eye out for special items, offers, promos, events and activities. Could it have been five years ago, June 2, 2012 that the doors of ACM swung open? In a word, yes! This is a great time to be spending time around your ACM. Speaking of ACM proper, have you seen the new exhibit yet, EXOTICS@ACM. Wow! What a stunner. You –and I– may never aspire to such vehicular grandeur, opulence and raw power, meh, but who cares! Seductive Supercars indeed... I can dream. Just being around these babies gets my ticker ticking. See everything. Do everything. Attend everything. Take the tours and check out the mind expanding stuff. It’s all at America’s Car Museum and it’s for you! You’re why this place exists. It’s yours! Now, time to see if the 124 Spider or Healey will start.
CHEERS!
Thomas L. Bryant
Editor Emeritus, Road & Track
McKeel Hagerty CEO, Hagerty
Sandra Button
Chairman, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
Pamela Chevez Rosen, External Advisor Fuels, Lubricants and Motorsports Shell Oil Company Houston, Texas Doug Clark, Vice President of Marketing Hagerty Traverse City, Michigan Bob Falleur, Owner and Collector Bob’s Toys, Rods and Restoration Milwaukie, Oregon Keith Flickinger, Owner Precision Motorcars Inc. Allentown, Pennsylvania Mark Gessler, President Historic Vehicle Association Potomac, Maryland Gerald Greenfield, Automotive Enthusiast Lake Tapps, Washington Peter Hageman, Founder Suite 200 Automobile Collection Santa Barbara, California William Hall Writer, Car Collector and Classic Car Broker Milwaukee, Wisconsin Tabetha Hammer Manager, Advocacy & Public Relations Hagerty Traverse City, Michigan Paul Ianuario, Executive Director, BMW Museum Reidville, South Carolina Rock Jenkins, Executive State Farm Insurance Tacoma, Washington Al McEwan, Founder Suite 200 Automobile Collection Kirkland, Washington
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Car Designer, Writer and Photographer
Sandra Button, Chairperson Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Carmel, California Gill Campbell, CEO Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Monterey, California
an, this was one brutal winter. The wacko jet stream acted like some kind of 150 mph tropospheric firehose pumping system after system smack into my little piece of this mortal coil... no doubt yours as well. At one point we had four feet of snow piled up on our hovel in the pines here in Bend. They’re calling it a “100-year storm.” I don’t think Mother Nature reads actuarial tables. I heard she flunked Statistics 101. This could happen again... and again... and again... forever! But enough of my blithering. On to a more pleasant topic... Summer!
Peter Brock
Thomas Bryant VP/Editor in Chief Emeritus Road & Track (retired) Bainbridge, Washington
Bill Warner
Chairman, Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance
Keith Martin
Publisher, Sports Car Market
Jay Leno Website Host
Collector & Enthusiast
Lyn St. James Racer, Collector & Enthusiast
Subscription to OpenRoad triannual magazine published by America’s Automotive Trust is a benefit of Bronze Key Driver membership and above. America’s Automotive Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. A portion of your gift towards membership and sponsorship are tax deductible. Administration: David Lowe Madeira, President & CEO – America’s Automotive Trust | CEO – America’s Car Museum Paul E. Miller, President & COO – America’s Car Museum | Sr. VP – America’s Automotive Trust Diane Fitzgerald, President – RPM Foundation I VP America’s Automotive Trust I Michael Clark, Major Gift & Planned Giving Director Scot Keller, Curator of Exhibitry – America’s Car Museum I Keith Flickinger, Curator of the Collection – America’s Car Museum Please Address Correspondence to America’s Automotive Trust/OpenRoad, 2702 East D Street, Tacoma, WA 98421 Phone: 253.779.8490 Toll Free: 877.902.8490 Fax: 253.779.8499 Website: americasautomotivetrust.org Please note: Not all of the automobiles depicted in OpenRoad are on display or part of the ACM Collection. Some of the photographs were chosen in order to illustrate or enliven a featured story while others were selected purely for their artistic merit.
Mark McKee, Chief Gearhead ACE Café NA Leawood, Kansas Glenn Mounger, Former Chairman Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Bainbridge Island, Washington Brian Remsburg, Director of Consumer PR Michelin NA Greenville, South Carolina Candida Romanelli, President Romanelli Event Services Frisco Texas Lyn St. James, President/Founder LSJ Enterprises Phoenix, Arizona Bill Warner, Chairman Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance Jacksonville, Florida John Weymer, Media Relations Puyallup Tribe of Indians Fife, Washington
OPENROAD 7
SIGNPOSTS WALTER LEE TOMSIC It is with heavy hearts that we bring you the news that OpenRoad’s Managing Editor & Head Writer, Walt Tomsic, has passed away. His energy, humor, and years of tireless efforts and contribution to OpenRoad and America’s Automotive Trust will be truly missed and remembered forever. Here is Walt’s obituary published in The News Tribune on July 22, 2017: Walt Tomsic of Bend, OR, passed away on July 16 with his wife, Deni Sullivan, of 35 years, by his side. Walt was a retired professor at Pacific Lutheran University. He had a passion for his work as managing editor of OpenRoad magazine. As a huge car lover, Walt started the UnClub Vintage Sports Car Club. He was also an illustrator, painter, and outstanding athlete. He particularly loved tennis, pickle ball, paddle boarding and mountain hiking. Walt will always be remembered for his witty since of humor and his love for cars. He will be missed.
A MOMENTOUS MEMENTO The following story was shared with us by a caregiver who visited the Museum as part of a group tour: “A long-term care resident in his early 60s had suffered a stroke. It robbed him of his ability to walk and speak. Through regular visits, I learned that he had been interested in cars, and I planned a facility outing to America’s Car Museum. The day finally came and he sat up tall and proud in his wheelchair and listened avidly to the docents. He pointed out a car he had had. After the outing, I went around the bus cutting off the wristbands, but he covered his with his sleeve and put his arm down beside him in the wheelchair. “Don’t you want me to cut that off for you?” I asked him, and he shook his head vehemently. He also refused to take it off for showers and I saw him at times spinning it around on his wrist as he watched TV.
DOWNTHEROAD September 5, October 3, November 7, December 5 If Cars Could Talk September 5, October 5, November 5, December 5 ACM 5th Anniversary Celebration September 9 Summer Ender Fender Bender September 9 Friends n’ Fenders Tour September 16, October 21, November 18, December 16 Family STEAM Days September 14, October 12, November 9 Race Night at ACM September 23 Take A Spin September 24 RPM at Concours d’Elegance – St. Michaels, MD September 26–27 RPM at Geneva Concours d’Elegance – Geneva, IL October 5 RPM Breakfast with the Board – Hershey, PA October 6 RPM Summit Meeting at the PRI Show – Indianapolis, IN October 12 Educator Night at the Museum – Museum of Glass October 21 Trunk or Treat October 21 Member Double Discount Day October 21–22 RPM Shop Hop – Phoenix, AZ November 1 - 30 Drive Down Hunger Food Drive November 11 Club Auto Heritage Distilling Tour – Gig Harbor, WA December 1 - 23 Santa’s Castle Toy Drive December 14 Club Auto Happy Hour
See “Events” link at www.americascarmuseum.org. All events at ACM Campus unless otherwise noted Member Benefit/Discount Applies
That outing was a turning point. He began eating in the dining room. I heard him laugh for the first time – he had a wonderful deep bubbly laugh—I had never heard his voice before that. He passed away three months after that, seven short months after the outing to ACM. But his last seven months were full of more light and life and good things than all the other three years since his stroke. He was still wearing his wristband when he died, and the family has it as a memento.”
ROADSIDEASSISTANCE Ashley Bice Marketing & Communications Manager Renée Crist Collection Manager Jeff Keys Guest Services Manager Debbie Kray Education Manager Ann Sweeney Sales Manager
8 OPENROAD
Kristen Wells Annual Giving & Membership Manager Contact AAT Administrative Office 253.779.8490 or info@americasautomotivetrust.org
RECENTLY READ
ACMSTORE
Items
C
heck out these recently read books dealing
Custom “Exotics@ACM” T-shirt $19.99
Museum Quality Framed Ferrari Photos by Michael Furman Prices Vary
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ONE AND
with the world of the automobile
THING WINTERS DO, THEY GIVE YOU TIME TO READ.
HAVE WE BEEN READING.
I
RECENTLY RECEIVED A LIST
ACM’S RECENTLY READ.
OF BOOKS CURRENTLY RESIDING ON THE SHELVES OF
STORE. HENCE, A NEW POLICY HERE AT FROM NOW ON AT LEAST ONE VOLUME IN OUR STACK IS FROM THE STORE. THIS TIME, BOTH WERE THERE AT LAST CHECK. THAT SHOULD MAKE THINGS A BIT EASIER FOR YOU... ENJOY!
Gears, Grins & Gasoline – My Wheel Life Adventures By Lance Lambert From building a first car (that’s “car” with a huge flanking of quote marks) through Elvis at the Lincoln Dome and on to days behind the Dairy Queen, this is the sort of book that fairly oozes nostalgia for a time that’s slipping slowly away. You don’t have to be from Puget Sound to find yourself sliding comfortably into this breezy narrative of a life lived on and around wheels and asphalt... though it helps. Lambert’s style is humorous and engaging, definitely not stuffy. His account of a meeting with Cassandra Peterson is a gem. I’ll leave it to you to find out who that is. The Ultimate Route 66 Cookbook – Numerous Contributors Oh my! The drool cup is firmly in place. Just a tad over 100 pages of recipes that will drive you where you want to go... and get you there smiling. The culinary delights come from roadside restaurants and well-traveled chefs and span the gamut from the plebeian to the princely –– Mamaw Ruth’s Roadtrip Biscuits to Nessa Shue’s Venison Molokai Steak. Heaven help us all! With Route 66 still so much a part of the American historic fabric, this book is definitely a piece of that cloth. One more thing, while you’re strolling the galleries of ACM this summer, don’t miss the Summer Drive Series: Convertibles in the Route 66 exhibit.
OPENROAD 9
ACM: 2012 – 2017 ...AND BEYOND
Celebrating it’s Fifth Anniversary, America’s Car Museum Looks in the Rear-View Mirror and onto the Road Ahead.
As ACM drives into its fifth year, CEO David Madeira and President & COO Paul E. Miller talk to OpenRoad on the challenges of running North America’s largest automotive museum. OpenRoad: You helped raise more than 60 million dollars during the largest recession in a generation leading up to the launch of ACM. Looking back, what are you most proud of as the Museum celebrates its 5-year anniversary? David Madeira: Most people that I ran into early on when we began the effort, said ‘You’ll never do it,’ and we did. When people say something like that – it’s kind of a challenge. I’m proud of the fact that we didn’t build a monument to a person. We tried to break the mold of the traditional car museum and focus on Americans’ experience with the automobile and their stories, not just the story of the founder – who of course we do honor – but it’s much more than that. We’ve sought to build a much more active entity than most museums and it’s a work in progress that I’m proud of. Paul E. Miller: Building what is the North America’s largest automotive museum was a feat in itself before the doors opened in 2012, which was in the midst of a very hard economic time for this country. That alone was probably the thing that stands out the most to me. In five years of operation, what pleases me the most is that we remain fresh – we’re constantly changing our exhibits out so that we’re not stale. We don’t stick to just the Museum. We look at doing activities and gatherings that go beyond the Museum, whether it’s our Drive-In Movies or our Cruise-Ins or our national-stage stuff like The Drive Home that occurs every year. OpenRoad: Where do you see the Museum in the next five years? What would you like to accomplish? PM: We need to maintain our position as an ever-evolving institution as we strengthen our educational outreach. We’re about to put in place an educational lab that is called “Powering the Future” – which will allow us to reach out (to a greater degree) in the science, technology, engineering, math venue to teach school-age kids and adults about the choices we’re going to have to make in the future on fuels. To me, this museum is not just about history; it can’t just be about looking back and reminiscing. It has to be looking out to the future and covering the full spectrum of the automobile and its impact on America. We can’t be afraid to start looking at all of the new technology that’s coming into play in automobiles and what impact that has on the driver and on our ability to still enjoy and select cars that mean something to us.
OpenRoad: Do you think that the types of vehicles that you display are going to continue to skew towards being vintage/classic or does ACM have any plans to really stretch future technology into one of the staple exhibits? PM: If I was to walk out onto our exhibits and look, we have cars from 1908 and 1911. We have an exhibit that is focused on the custom coach works of the ’20s and ’30s. We have a ramp exhibit that is focused on Route 66 with cars from the ’50s. We have a ramp that’s on the British Invasion with cars from the ’60s. We’ve got our Exotics@ACM exhibit right now that stretches everything from the 1960s on up to 2016 models. So, we have the luxury given 165,000 square feet of space in the building to really not be limited or constrained to try to pick one marquee, one brand, one era, one age. Since we are about America’s love affair with the automobile and the American experience with the automobile, it’s incumbent upon us to make sure that we cover that full spectrum and that we don’t just become a stodgy old history museum but that we are relevant to today’s population as well. OpenRoad: Do you think that once self-driving cars are prevalent that America’s love affair with cars will still exist? DM: There’ll be always be a group interested in it. How long that fascination lasts – I have no idea. People still love speed and as long as they have the experience of driving the open road, there will be core groups that will still do it. However, when we talk about museums, I think more and more car museums of the smaller variety will go away. They’re largely individually owned or about an individual’s collection. Who’s going to carry them on? I don’t see large groups interested in it. That’s why I think it’s very important that the several major automotive museums in America are active and reaching out into the culture to keep attention on collectible cars – not just vintage but cars that we like to drive, like today’s sports cars. That’s one of the things I like about our annual winter road rally called ‘The Drive Home.’ It shows vintage automobiles on the road being used – and they draw a lot of attention. People come out and whether they’re car people or not, they all react. I think we’ve got to promote driving activities through Club Auto and The Drive Home, among other things, to keep collector cars out on the road and not just sitting in a museum. That goes back to my ‘we’re not the traditional museum’ comment. I think that model is dead in the long run, I really do. But if we’re out there keeping these cars on the road, giving people opportunities to drive and enjoy them, and keeping it in the public eye, then I think there will keep a core group of enthusiasm. OpenRoad: Now that The Drive Home is two years down, what do you guys have planned for next year? And how do you gauge the event’s success? PM: The Drive Home III will start in Florida, so we’ll be coming from a different direction. Even though there are different institutions and different cities, we’re still headed to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit – being the impetus of The Drive Home – because Detroit is the heart of the auto industry in the United States. I would anticipate that there will be The Drive Home IV and The Drive Home V as long as we can continue to spur this large interest in this activity of getting collector cars on the roads, not just having them on platforms to be viewed from a distance. Continued page 12 OPENROAD 11
OpenRoad: ACM is one of AAT’s entities. How is that working, and where do you see that partnership going? DM: ACM is our centerpiece. Really, the whole movement started when we decided on a vision for the Museum. We thought: ‘Where do we showcase America’s love affair with the car? Where do we help people come together to gather, celebrate and have fun? How do we develop an interest of cars in young people?’
DM: The first gauge of success was the amount of social media and traditional media interest. Followed by support from sponsors, who immediately backed the The Drive Home II – and now they’re back on board for The Drive Home III. They believe in it and are putting money behind it. The number of events we had on The Drive Home II, compared to the first, was just gigantic in terms of gatherings being created by people along the route. And now, there’s the interest from other people in coming along. What I want to do next year is to start it down in Miami and drive north with a new set of vintage vehicles. OpenRoad: What have been some of the other major challenges or obstacles that the Museum has faced and how have you overcome them? PM: We operate in a different manner than most car museums in that we don’t limit ourselves based on our own collection. Seventy percent of the cars on display, in terms of the ramp or gallery displays, are not our cars. They’re cars from collectors who put their vehicles in our exhibits. That’s a very unique model of operation, but it’s also one that gives us the flexibility and the breadth to be able to present the displays that we do. It was a challenge to convince individuals that this was a viable model. To be blunt and honest regarding obstacles, there’s really only one that keeps coming back over and over – that’s funding. We are a nonprofit institution. As such, we’re always going to be out there trying to overcome the funding solution through either increased earned income or broadening our base of donations. OpenRoad: You guys just launched America’s Automotive Trust (AAT) last year. Has it been successful to you? What are your goals and objectives now? DM: We just really announced it last June, so it’s hard to demonstrate great progress. I was recently in Scottsdale at our annual gathering, where a few hundred-people gathered to talk about America’s Automotive Trust and all of the key elements of its mission: giving people the opportunity to drive collector cars, passing on the skills to keep those cars running, the ability to preserve them or store them, and having a museum to showcase them – makes sense to people. 12 OPENROAD
Sure, people go to Washington, D.C. for history, science and art, but there’s no Smithsonian for the automobile. We decided if there’s no place for that, where are the places that are going to encourage its creation? I think America’s Car Museum has the potential to be the Smithsonian, if you will, for the automobile in this country. It’s a place where cars can be donated to and become part of an amazing and important collection. PM: America’s Automotive Trust is a way in which to garner a much more national platform. It’s a way to link a number of institutions and individual entities together. It certainly will be the mechanism that will go out and help fundraise for the Museum. But, it will also be out there fundraising for the RPM Foundation, the educational arm, fundraising for other endeavors that are ongoing. So, AAT alone is not a direct activity. It’s a mechanism. It’s a way in which to reach a broader audience. The endowment campaign for America’s Car Museum is more linked to the Museum than it is directly to AAT. AAT is the mechanism for doing that fundraising. OpenRoad: Is there anything about the Museum that you’re very excited about – whether it’s short-term or long-term? PM: I would say we’re in a very beneficial position in that as a car museum, we’re not committed to a single brand or a single era. We’re not the Model T Museum or the Studebaker Museum or even the Ferrari Museum. That gives us the opportunity to showcase the entire spectrum of the automobile and really connect with people no matter what their age is. [ Continued page 13 ]
We can put any vehicle in this museum that we believe has had an impact on the American experience of the automobile. To me, that makes us very unique in that regard over a lot of museums. We also have a reputation, in just five short years, that allows us to really attract some of the best vehicles on the road to put on display. I will say one more thing. We don’t want to be known as merely a collection of cars – we don’t want to just be known as a museum. We want to be known as an exciting gathering place, a place where people do come together to drive their cars, where they gather, celebrate and party. The fact that it’s in association with something we all love, which is the car, is just a piece of that.
RPM FOUNDATION
By Diane Fitzgerald, President, RPM Foundation
T
he RPM Foundation (RPM) adopted an acronym and a
touchstone to a generation, an absurdist example of hippy visual art and
mission statement: to promote Restoration, Preservation and
a prized possession from a legendary musician who once implored us to
Mentorship in the classic automotive skilled trades.
“imagine no possessions”.
■ The first directive – Restoration – is easy enough to grasp,
■ It is the archival research on such a car, through private and public
though varying degrees and interpretations in the past contributed
records and other means of deduction, which expand and enrich the
to the need for uniformity and standardization of that act. Mentorship,
understanding and importance of the vehicle to history.
too, is fairly easy to agree upon. But what exactly is Preservation? Subjectively practiced by individual car owners for decades, as a new academic principle, a working definition needed to be codified.
■ This is the mission spearheaded by the Historical Vehicle Association, and adopted most by recently The College of Charleston in South Carolina, which has implemented a curriculum of automotive conservation
■ Participants at the May 2016 Summit Meeting in Mesa, AZ
and heritage studies. It is believed to be the first such post-secondary
adopted the definition criteria which is colloquially summed up
course of study ever offered. RPM provides funds for this program.
by saying that while Restoration is considered “Under the Hood,” Preservation is “Behind the Desk,” owing to its research and documentation-heavy disciplines.
■ Still more schools – such as the Academy of Art University (CA) and James Madison University (VA) – are looking into similar coursework and degree programs, as the collector car market- at-large
■ Just as historical buildings and monuments have gained pres-
recognizes and values fully documented, historically significant cars
ervation status, there are cars among us that represent a unique
with provenance. This augments the skillset needed to fill employment
snapshot in our history and must be preserved.
positions within the classic car industry. With RPM’s help, tomorrow’s
■ Consider the 1965 Rolls Royce Phantom V once owned by John Lennon of The Beatles. At the time, Rolls Royce was a proud symbol
restoration professionals will have the hands of craftsmen, and the minds of archivists.
of proper British society, and it was nothing short of scandalous when Lennon commissioned a bright, multicolored psychedelic paint job to be applied over its staid black livery. It was thumbing a nose at the status quo and the trappings of wealth. The car was witness not only to emerging Beatlemania, but to the counterculture revolution that influenced all levels of society in the late 1960’s. ■ Obviously, the importance of such a car is not to restore it to its original, as-new state. Rather the significance of this vehicle is everything that has happened from that point onward; acting as a
OPENROAD 14
You can be a part of the movement to secure a future for America’s automotive heritage… and that includes classic wooden boats as well. To learn how you can be an active participant visit www.rpm.foundation.
John Lennon’s 1965 Rolls Royce Phantom V, part of the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria, BC. Photo courtesy of Flickr user: edvvc.
(From Left to right:) Dana Roberts, Kailyn Gifford, Mallory Banks, Josh Perez, Jessica Cantrell, Benjamin Thomas. RPM Scholars; College of Charleston.
Restoration HOT SPOTS Victoria, BC
Williamsport, PA
Royal British Columbia Museum
Pennsylvania College of Technology
San Francisco, CA Academy of Art University
Gaithersburg, MD & Allentown, PA Historic Vehicle Association
Harrisburg, VA James Madison University
Stanford, CA The REVS Institute, Stanford University
McPherson, KS McPherson College
Charleston, SC Naples, FL
College of Charleston
The REVS Institue
College of Charleston students - all RPM scholars - at the Historic Vehicle Association (HVA) Conference at the NB Center for American Automotive Heritage in Allentown, PA. OPENROAD 15
CLUB AUTO Kristen Wells, Annual Giving & Membership Manager
Take the Road Less Traveled to Destinations That Surprise and Delight
I
T’S ONE THING TO ENJOY A GREAT DRIVE IN A NICE CAR. IT’S QUITE ANOTHER TO ENJOY THAT ROAD ADVENTURE IN THE COMPANY OF LIKE-MINDED AND FUN PEOPLE. CLUB AUTO MEMBERS LOVE GETTING OUT ON THE ROAD. CLUB TOURS AND RALLIES ARE DESIGNED TO TAKE THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED TO DESTINATIONS THAT SURPRISE AND DELIGHT…AN OUT-OF-THEWAY WINERY, A GREAT LITTLE ITALIAN OR FRENCH RESTAURANT, A MOUNTAIN ROAD WITH JAW – DROPPING PHOTO OPS. TECH SESSIONS, SEMINARS AND PRIVATE COLLECTION VISITS ARE ALSO PART OF THE MIX.
CLUB AUTO UPCOMING EVENTS
September 9 | Friends n’ Fenders Explore some of Western Washington’s most scenic roads! Sport and classic cars are welcome to participate. Enjoy a light breakfast on the Anderson Plaza, experience a private collection tour, take home a commemorative Club Auto tumbler and receive a food & drink voucher for the Summer Ender Fender Bender at America’s Car Museum. Contact Kristen for more details. kristen.wells@americasautomotivetrust.org 253.683.3955
October TBD | Private Collection Tour Details and invitations to come. November 11 | Lunch & Heritage Distilling Tour RSVP to Kristen by November 1. kristen.wells@americasautomotivetrust.org December 14 | Club Auto Happy Hour Club Auto members are invited an “Ugly Sweater” party full of holiday cheer and socializing.
Join the movement....join Club Auto! Call 877.902.8490 for information or visit clubauto.org.
CONCOURS CLUB ne of the benefits of membership in the Concours Club is the opportunity to participate in exclusive driving tours in the U.S. and overseas. Over the past few years, Concours Club members have toured Italy while watching the Mille Miglia; toured French wine country in brand new BMWs; visited automotive museums in England, France and Germany while enjoying each other’s company in private motor coaches, and much more. This past May, seven couples drove Alfa Romeos in the Italian countryside while enjoying beautiful hotels, fine dining and the cultural offerings of Roma, Firenze and Milan. The tour was organized by our good friend, Mark Rodino, proprietor of Veloce Tours who grew up in Italy, speaks Italian fluently and arranged for visits to private collections and to the flagship winery of the Antinori family in Tuscany. We return frequently to Italy for Concours Club trips for there’s so much to love—especially for ‘car guys’ because in Italy you’re actually encouraged to drive! Of course, the highlight of every trip we’ve taken to Italy is a visit to the automotive collections of our friend and Board member, Nicola Bulgari. Nicola’s passion for and knowledge of American cars was ever present as he hosted our group in his ‘garage’ in Rome. He enthusiastically showed us his wonderful collection and answered our questions, then served us fantastic food prepared on-site by his cooks. This year we enjoyed Rome’s quintessential pasta dish—‘Matriciana’—spaghetti with a sauce of fresh tomatoes, Pecorino cheese, garlic and small chunks of pork jowls. That was followed by wonderful veal saltimbocca, wonderful wines and dessert. We dined in the finest restaurants in Rome and Milan— but the only dinner menu I remember in detail was that evening at Nicola’s for it was superbly prepared, ‘real’, Roman food served with the warmth of friendship. Our 2017 Concours Club trip to Italy continued a great tradition of bringing together individuals deeply committed to the work of the Trust and providing them with wonderful experiences related to our love affair with the car. There will be more opportunities to come, so, stay tuned for 2018! Concours Club Summit
January 17, 2018 | Scottsdale, AZ Please make plans to participate in our first Annual Concours Club Summit and help shape the future of the Concours Club! We look forward to having time with you, sharing ideas and goals and learning what you feel are great opportunities for this special group. If you will be in Scottsdale the entire week, please join us for a Club Auto/Concours Club Drive on Tuesday, January 16, 2018. This is a great opportunity to get out and drive there should be sunshine aplenty!
OPENROAD 17
SaTuRdAy, SePtEmBeR 9 Car & Motorcycle Show Show off your collector car or motorcycle at the Cruise-In and enter to win a People’s Choice award or come as a spectator and check out the vehicles on display. Open to all marques.
Music Food Trucks Beer Garden Visit americascarmuseum.org for more details. 2702 East D Street | Tacoma, WA | 253.779.8490
America’s Car Museum is an entity of America’s Automotive Trust.
FUEL FOR THOUGHT
Your Estate Plan - That “Someday” Might be Now
By Michael Clark, Major & Planned Giving Director
“SOMEDAY I’LL GET TO THAT.” TO THAT VACATION. TO THAT NEW RESTAURANT. TO BUYING THAT DREAM CAR. TO ME, “SOMEDAY” IS ALMOST LIKE A 4-LETTER WORD, ALLOWING ME TO LEGITIMIZE PUTTING SOMETHING OFF. DESPITE THAT, I’M GUILTY OF USING “SOMEDAY” MYSELF FOR EVEN SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE,…MY KIDS.
Estate Planning This material is provided for education and illustrative purposes only and does not guarantee the success of any strategy or recommendation. This material is not intended to constitute tax or legal advice. Each individual’s tax and financial situation is unique. Individuals should consult their tax and/or legal advisors for information concerning their unique situation. This material is based on data obtained from sources we consider to be reliable. Effort has been made to ensure that the material presented is accurate at the time of publication, although this material does not purport to be a complete explanation of the tax laws or strategies available.
I knew upon having kids that it was imperative to get my affairs in order and create an estate plan. Despite that, I kept putting it off. My wife and I knew we needed to do it but life was busy and it was never convenient. (I work in this industry …how much more convenient could it be?) That is why I was so thankful when the decision to do it was made for me. I had been thinking “someday” when my in-laws decided someday was today during the planning of their own estate. No more excuses. In hindsight, it wasn’t a hard process. It wasn’t full of difficult decisions. In fact, I’m not sure why I put it off. Basically, I was forced to think about how I wanted to make an impact for the things I am most passionate about should the unthinkable happen. By putting it down on paper, my “someday” became a reality and there was a comfort in knowing that my family would be taken care of. So, when it came to writing my first ‘Fuel for Thought’ article I thought to myself, what should I write about? Should I go into a bunch of technical jargon about tax benefits or scare you with a story about how your heirs won’t be taken care of? No…I wanted you to actually read this page.
Rather, my goal from these paragraphs was to ask you, how many times have you said “someday” to yourself when it comes to your estate? When you think of your family, heirs and assets, how do you want to be remembered? Better yet, how do you want to make an impact while you’re still here? Once you answer those questions, get out and go do it. Tell me your story by emailing me at michael.clark@americasauto motivetrust.org. Still having trouble figuring it out, tell me the biggest challenge you are experiencing and perhaps we’ll feature it in the next issue. Oh, and for those of you who already have your estate plans figured out, this applies to you too. Smart estate planning also involves a periodic review to make sure things are still correct and accurately depict your intent. Times change, people change, companies changes but our passion for ‘Securing America’s Automotive Heritage’ will drive on. We know you share our passion for automobiles and we’d welcome your support in securing that mission for generations to come. As you go through this process, consider America’s Automotive Trust as your charity of choice. Until next time, take care and thank you!
For assistance with questions, please contact Major & Planned Giving Director Michael Clark at 253.683.3943 or michael.clark@americasautomotivetrust.org.
OPENROAD 19
ROAD WELL TAKEN
Great American Road Trips
By: Walt Tomsic, Managing Editor, OpenRoad
Snake River ~ Hell’s Canyon Start: La Grande,Oregon
Finish: Baker City, Oregon Distance: 200+/- miles Main Roads: Highways 82/I-84/86 Time Required: 1-3 Days, your call
Take this journey to the upper right hand corner of Oregon and prepare to be ever in our debt. You’re going to love it. First off, it’s easy to access via those long strips of boring road we call Interstates (I-84 in this case). Once you’ve escaped tedium-travelorama at La Grande, it’s road tripping as it’s supposed to be. Cue the clouds parting and that perfect shaft of sunlight glinting off the mountainside. Okay, maybe it’s not quite that good but it’s pretty close... one of our best kept little touring secrets.
T
HE DRIVE:
Take State Highway 82 northeast out of La Grande and settle in for a nice drive. The first part of which is kind of vanilla! But fear not, things start getting better about Imbler/Elgin. From there the road kicks west through some spectacular canyon country. We’re talking “gentle-sweepers-beside-tree-lined-creek” spectacular. The road will dip southeast along the eastern flank of the Wallowa Mountains and deposit you in Enterprise (you know, like that goofy thing wandering the cosmos). If a day or two is your pleasure, Enterprise and/or Joseph, a bit down the road, make for a pleasant small western-town experience. While there, need a little hike? Don’t miss the blanch inducing tram ride to trails at the top of Mt. Howard... spectacular! There’s that word again.
CONTINUING THE DRIVE: This may be your ‘bestie.’ Departing Joseph, take the E. Wallowa Ave/Imnaha Highway east out of town. It bisects N. Main Street so watch for it. Take a right turn onto Wallowa Mountain Loop (a really, really right turn) and get ready for the payoff. What follows is a loop drive of uncommon beauty and incredible geological diversity all the way to Baker City. You’ll scale the heights to a Hell’s Canyon overlook before dipping on to a gentle slalom of sweepers beside grass and sage blanketed rolling hills. I could use that “S” word a few more times but I’ll restrain myself. State Highway 86 will get you back to Baker City and the 21st Century... or not, depending on you. You might decide to hang a left on 86 and head over to Oxbow Dam on the Snake. The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is where you can see actual ruts left by covered wagon wheels. There are some enticing strips of little traveled road arcing out in every direction from I-84. Explore one. What have you got to lose?
Chief Joseph keeps a watchful eye on his little town in the west.
SIDE STOPS: We scoped out a few places to eat and stay while on the drive. These recommendations are strictly comp- free... no special consideration asked for or accepted. As is our usual manner, we did things on the down low to attract little attention and get an unscripted view of the scene.
PLACE TO STAY: Try the Eagle’s View Inn & Suites 541-426-2700, $255 for two nights. I’m sure there are other motels and inns in the area but this is clean and reasonably up-to-date.
PLACES TO EAT: 1. La Laguna Mexican Restaurant 2. Stubborn Mule Saloon & Steak House PLACE TO QUAFF: Terminal Gravity Brewing PLACE TO TRAM & TREK: Wallowa Lake Tramway PLACE TO GET COFFEE AND YUMMY ON THE WAY OUT OF JOSEPH: Red Horse Coffee Traders, Joseph, OR
OPENROAD 21
TEWHITEWHI
T
WO FORD SUITS WALK INTO AN AUTOSHOW. The year is 1951 and the show is at the Grand Palais in Paris. After perusing through the assembled bling and blang, one of them, Louis D. Crusoe, points to a sports car and asks the other man, chief stylist and Ford VP George Walker, “Why can’t we have something like that?” “Oh, we’re working on it.” Walker replied. Makes for a good bit of corporate lore, whether or not it’s true... let’s just say we’ll leave the subject open.
on
What is truth is that on February 20, 1954 at the Detroit Auto Show, a full-blown prototype T-bird was unveiled to the public for the first time. It was a svelte (for the time), ground-hugging (for the time), gleaming two-seater missile of a car and it wowed the crowd.
To be sure, Chevrolet’s Corvette of the year beforehad much to do with prodding Ford to introduce the “T-Bird” but in a prescient move, Ford decided not to challenge the Corvette on common ground, declaring instead, what we have here is a “Personal Luxury Car.” Trumpets blare, niche born. Incidentally, it wasn’t until some years later the reality of the Vette lived up to its sporting pretensions.
■ Words by Managing Editor Walt Tomsic
■ Photography by Michael Craft
22 OPENROAD
on
So what, exactly, is a personal luxury car? According to the design brief, it’s an open-top, relatively light, relatively petite, two-seat cruising car with modest performance best suited to the boulevard not the track. In contrast to the Vette’s initial torpid 6, every T-Bird came standard with a V8. What’s more, to hit its price-point, it dipped into the company parts bin for shared bits and pieces with the rest of the Ford fleet. The glow of the halo was thus spread among the corporate herd.
Production began on September 9, 1954 at Ford’s Dearborn plant with over 3,500 public pre-orders in-hand and panting. In the first year, 16,155 units began rolling out of showrooms on October, 22, 1954 badged as 55s. What resulted was the perfect upper middle class aspirational statement... looking good and selling like silver dollar pancakes. Compared to the ‘Bird,” Corvette sales in its third year numbered 700. Chevy one, Ford—twenty-three... Ouch! In 1957, Thunderbird sales reached 21,380 scoring it a major marketing success for a niche vehicle.
1957 Ford Thunderbird 1957 Ford Thunderbird
When you compare a 1957 Thunderbird to other cars aof1957 that Th era,underbird to other cars of that era, When you compare let’s just say there is the Ford let’sT-Bird... just say there is the Ford T-Bird... and there is everything else. and there is everything else. OPENROAD OPENROAD 23 23
Continued from page 23
Let’s turn our attention to the subject of this article, the 1957 Ford Thunderbird. First off, I have a confession. Yes, I know matters of taste are subjective but I love this car! I came very close to buying one once. One cannot look at this thing without seeing an object like nothing else... clean sheet of paper... unique. Granted it borrows, everything borrows. But it does it without all the shouting and pointing. Yes, the egg crate grill casts a glance toward Maranello and the restrained fins hint at cliches to come, but that slim profile and tall greenhouse... perfect proportion (perfect for the time). Looks aside, there really isn’t anything ground breaking about the Bird. It’s all very conventional, very derivative and very metal. None of that silly glass here. Even the engine options were standard gear Y-block V8s. (Chevy’s ‘bust the box’ 1955 small block would come as a nasty surprise). Whereas 1956 had seen a rash of safety upgrades, 1957 was the year for comfort, convenience and surfacing, a reshaped larger grill, altered bumpers, an elongated trunk to house the spare, larger round tail lights and rear fender lines crowned with slim fins. Inside, the revisions continued. Features, both optional and standard, saw a fully padded dash surface added and a Volumetric Radio System that increased sound volume as speeds rose. The Dial-O-Matic power seat provided memory settings—ignition off—seat slides back for easier exit—key on—seat slips forward into driving position. Naturally, one could have power windows, power brakes a push-button radio and automatic windshield washers. For an extra $500 or so you could even have a supercharger bolted to the high output engine option. Ah, glorious upper middle class personal luxury. So what happened? Chiefly, Robert McNamara and his jar of magic beans happened. He rightly concluded that there was more profit potential in a 4-seat car than there was in a 2-seat ‘image’ car. Did that conclusion make for a sound business strategy? Of course! Was he right? Yes and no. The answer depends on how much you value personal luxury.
24 OPENROAD
1957 Ford Thunderbird No. Produced:
21,380 total; only 641 (3%) were ordered in the triple white color combo
Engine:
312 CID, 245 hp, V8
Carburetor:
Holley 4V
Transmission:
Ford-O-Matic torque converter with planetary gears
Brakes:
11 in. hydraulic drums
Dimensions:
Wheelbase – 102 in. Length – 181.4 in. Width – 72.8 in. Height – 51.6 in. Tire size – 7.5 x 14 Steering Wheel Diameter – 17 in.
*Specification data can, and often does, vary from source to source. When in doubt, we use those specs most often cited.
A U T O B I O G R A P H Y
MOTO TRIVIA
Additoinal options ordered with the car were: radio and radio antenna, Ford-O-Matic transmission, power steering, power brakes, heater/defroster, windshield washer, power windows, rear fender shields (skirts), full wheel covers, white side wall tires, outside driver’s side rear view mirror and the “Lifeguard Safety Equipment Package” which included seat belts.
The origin of the name “Thunderbird” is still debated to this very day. Originally the its name was to be the Ford “Savile” but instead a contest was held and Alden Giberson submitted the eventual winning name of “Thunderbird.” However, George Walker claimed that the name actually came from Ernie Breech after he joined the Thunderbird Country Club in Palm Springs and that the naming contest was just a PR stunt.
The iconic porthole is often thought to have originated with the ‘57 model, but both the 1956 and the 1957 versions of the T-Bird had both porthole and non-porthole options. However, it wasn’t until later in 1956 that the portholes were introduced as a fix to the poor visibility created by the hardtop. Due to this increased visibility, many early ‘56 models and 1955 models have had the porthole installed, so the porthole does not intrinsically denote the model year. Thanks to it’s low cowl height, the Thunderbird’s hood sat too low to clear the air filter, so a bulge needed to be added, thus creating the T-Bird’s signature hood scoop, and while purists were quick to deride the fashion-before-function scoop (as well as the false louvers), the general public fell in love with the decorative additions.
Michael Craft, an ACM Official Provider, created these striking photographs. To see more of his work visit www.michaelcraftphotography.com
ON EXHIBIT ACM Goes Top-Down on Route 66 & launches Exotics@ACM
N
With twenty cars, spanning nearly fifty years, there is a lot to like in our newest exhibit. Exotics@ACM – Seductive Supercars exhibit runs for a year with new exotics rotating through the exhibit so there is always something new to experience.
early eighty years after John Steinbeck penned the name in his 1939 novel Grapes of Wrath, ACM takes its annual Summer Drive Series trip on The Mother Road. This year the Museum’s annual homage to historic Route 66 features a sensational selection of 50’s & 60’s convertibles. Included in the assemblage of eleven cars are three exceptional 57’s; a Chevy Bel Air, Ford Thunderbird and a superbly restored Buick Roadmaster. Celebrating their 60th birthday these cars are as striking as the day they rolled off the assembly line. Convertibles in the Route 66 - Dream of the Mother Road exhibit runs through September 24, 2017. Unveiling a new exhibit at America’s Car Museum is the culmination of months of hard work from many individuals. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and in the case of creating a new exhibit, it takes a community of enthusiasts, collectors, designers and advisors to shape an exhibit. A year in the making, Exotics@ACM - Seductive Supercars had its red carpet premiere at a member’s opening on May 5. The first celebrity to walk down the red carpet for the night’s festivities was the Ferrari 250 GTO that Graham Hill piloted in the 1962 Goodwood Tourist Trophy. Exotics@ACM features a variety of rare cars that embody the world’s best designs, technology and performance. Specifically: cars derived from a prestigious brand, were limited production, sport great design proportions and stance, designed with highly crafted interiors with the finest materials. They possess technically advanced powertrains with high specific output and are capable of stunning acceleration, top speed, braking and lateral acceleration. For Seductive Supercars we choose to begin the story in the late 60’s and early 70’s, with prized cars like the Ferrari Daytona Spyder, De Tomaso Mangusta, Lamborghini Miura and the Maserati Bora. These important automobiles set the stage for the main emphasis of the exhibit, which are cars built in the 21st century. Importantly, each car selected was based on its performance characteristics in the year it was launched to the public. That allows the visitor to contrast the difference between the 330 horsepower in the 1974 Maserati Bora compared to the asphalt rippling 731 horsepower in the 2016 Ferrari f12tdf. 26 OPENROAD
Exhibits aren’t the only thing on tap at ACM. Be sure to explore the Speed Zone, Family Zone, ACM Store and Classics by Pacific Grill. Stop by the Photo Car for a complimentary souvenir.
EDUCATION
By: Debbie Kray, ACM Education Manager
Recipe for R
eady to mix up your own lifelong learning recipe?
TINKER IN OUR FAMILY ZONE ON ANY VISIT, OR JOIN US FOR ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS: FAMILY STEAM DAY Every third Saturday of the month, from 11 am – 4 pm, families are invited to enjoy our added activities to build, engineer and explore open-ended projects. Our Family STEAM Day programs are free with Museum admission, so come and play together! IF CARS COULD TALK The first Tuesday of the month, from 11:30 am – 12:30 pm, join our brown bag lunch series. There are many chapters to the story of the automobile. If cars could talk, they might just share stories we never imagined. Each month, our speaker will pick a favorite car or automotive story and offer a fascinating peek into its history. Free with Museum admission. INSIDER TALK Get the inside scoop on new exhibits or featured vehicles from staff and experts. Free with Museum admission. (Quarterly, check events listing) EDUCATION GROUP VISITS The Museum offers engaging tours and hands-on workshops for students of all ages. Schools, scouts, youth community organizations and homeschools are eligible for discounted visits. SCOUT PROGRAMS We offer scout workshops to fulfill most requirements for Boy Scout or Girl Scout automotive related badges. Contact the Education Department for more details. education@americascarmuseum.org | 253.683.3978
FUN
@ ACM
• Equal parts curiosity and imagination • Heaping handful of materials • Healthy dose of desire to learn • Tableful of tinkering • Dash of creative engineering Combine all ingredients and race to the starting line for ACM’s funfilled education programs for learners of all ages! At America’s Car Museum, our informal learning programs allow visitors to rev up their thinking through open ended projects and experiences. Projects at our Family STEAM Days get young and old alike cooking as they design, test and tinker. Similar projects abound at our summer camps, education group visit workshops and scout programs. Activities spark conversation, collaboration and creative solutions. Our inquiry-based discussions encourage discovery through science, technology, engineering, art and math. Come in and sample a selection of our handmade creations. Share this recipe with teachers, friends and family. We look forward to cooking up some fun with you soon. To learn more about ACM’s education programs at americascarmuseum.org.
Hemmings
OpenRoad_full (outlined).indd 1
Hemmings
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Preferred Providers
Puget Sound BMW Centers
TM
TM
Providers Ace Cafe NA
Fresh Northwest Design
MFD Classic Motors
The Ingle Company
Athletic Awards
Gallopin’ Gertie Model A Club
Michelin North America
The NB Center for American Automotive Heritage
Audi of America Auto Warehousing
Properties, LLC
Butler Valet
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
Chase Bank
Neil Walter Company
Uptown Gig Harbor Rodda Paint Company
KeyBank
Romanelli Event Services
Chihuly Workshop
Lambert Edwards and Associates
Selden’s Home Furnishings
Collectors’ Car Garage
Lincoln of Troy
The Arizona 500
Chateau Ste. Michelle
Wells Fargo
Thank you to all our current sponsors!
Administrative: 2702 East D Street, Tacoma, Washington 98421 Phone: 253.779.8490 Toll Free: 877.902.8490 Fax: 253.779.8499 Website: americasautomotivetrust.org
S e c u r i n g A m e r i c a’s Automotive Heritage
AMERICA’SAUTOMOTIVETrust
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