Our History

A history of Sugarloaf Mountain Region of A.A.C.A., Incorporated

by Charles H Zierdt, former SMR/AACA Historian, March 7, 2001

In 1969, Irvin L. long and other upper Montgomery County members of the National Capital Region, AACA, traveled 50 miles, each way, to attend club meetings in the District of Columbia. In fact, Irvin Long had been doing this for 16 years. Many of the National Capital Region events were planned for areas even further south of the District of Columbia area. Irvin talked to other antique car hobbyist in his area of upper Montgomery County and was assured, by at least 25, that they would support the formation of a new region. On August 21, 1969, Irving wrote to Fritz Van Winkle, AACA Vice President for regions, asking for information pertinent to the creation of a new region. In a return letter, dated September 10, 1969, Mr. Van Winkle offered to present Long’s application, provided that he received it by October 9, in time for the AACA Board meeting in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He asked for a letter of approval from the National Capital Region and he asked for a calculation of the distance from upper Montgomery County to the meeting hall of the National Capital Region. Cliff Jenkins, President of the National Capital Region, transmitted the National Capital Region Board’s approval to Irvin and to Mr. Vanwinkle.

A Certificate of Charter from AACA President, Albert Whiting, and Secretary, Henry L Heisinger, was dated October 10, 1969. Pretty fast work! Further, Articles of Incorporation for Sugarloaf Mountain Region of A.A.C.A., Incorporated, were created and processed by Bernard T Welsh, a prominent area attorney, and known collector of antique cars.  Barney directed that letter heads, and anything bearing the club‘s name, should read, Sugarloaf Mountain Region of A.A.C.A., Incorporated.

The 21 Charter members were:

The first annual banquet was held January 30, 1971, at the Peter Pan Inn, in nearby Urbana, Maryland. This banquet included an exhibit of historic items, collectible items, and the installation of new officers, following the dinner. There were speeches, then dancing to band music and socializing until late in the evening.

The first winter Parts Meet was held March 28, 1971, at the Frederick Fairgrounds. This indoor/outdoor Parts Meet has grown in size and popularity through years. It is a two day event and attended by a large number of vendors.

The first tour for 1971 was on Sunday, April 25, and was named the Rain and Curtain tour because of the possible need for side curtains.  A country road tour, it wound up at the Tridelphia and Brighton reservoir Dam for picnicking. The early spring tour soon became known as the Cobweb Tour (as we get rid of the cobwebs of winter) and later also named the Irvin Long Memorial Tour.

On Sunday, October 3, 1971, Sam Gladhill arranged an SMR outing to B. D. “Buck” Gladhill’s barn, in Damascus, Maryland.  Mr. Gladhill’s barn contained an amazing collection of fire engines, farm tractors, farm machinery, household furniture, clothes, kitchen utensils, milking machines, carpentry tools, and much, much more!  The club returned a number of times.  Buck Gladhill was an interesting host and welcomed visitors to his museum.