Stanley Steamers Among Antique Automobiles at Regional Show

CEDAR RAPIDS - The oldest car registered is an 1897 Aldrich; the newest, a couple of 1987 Buick Grand National muscle cars that have just passed the 25-year-old threshold to become antiques.

In the 90 years between, with 167 entries from throughout the Midwest representing 44 different makes, you'll find a couple of Stanley Steamers, a 1916 Buick in its original (and drivable) condition, and plenty of Model-T Fords and ‘60s muscle cars.

This weekend's 2012 Central Division Spring Meet of the Antique Automobile Club of America at the Cedar Rapids Marriott promises to satisfy any automobile aficionado's appetite. This event is so big because, in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the Cedar Rapids Region AACA, it was selected to be one of the organization's major meets of the year.

"We're very excited to have so many cars and their owners in Cedar Rapids," says Jon Reynolds, president of the local club. He says putting on such a meet requires a tremendous amount of legwork and specifically points to Leland Votroubek of Cedar Rapids, meet chairman, along with Jack Harville of Fairfax, chief judge, and Elvin Tack of Cedar Falls, main registrar.

The cars will arrive beginning today for the highlight of the meet Saturday morning when all 167 entries will be displayed and judged in the Rockwell-Collins parking lot adjacent to the Marriott along Collins Road NE. In addition to 107 judges, the meet will feature all 22 national directors who will hold their board meeting and wander around the cars Saturday morning in search of potential national award winners.

While car setup starts about 7 a.m. Saturday, actual judging begins at 11 a.m. Since that will be a very busy time for all involved, spectators are asked to view the cars (at no cost) from noon to 3 p.m., Jon says. No alcohol and no smoking will be allowed.

The Cedar Rapids club, with 150 members, was founded in 1962, thus the meet's slogan, "Where were you in ‘62?" It raises money for local causes including $1,100 each of the last two years for the Honor Flight and awards three annual $1,600 scholarships to Kirkwood Community College for students who study automobile technology or repair.

At 75, Jon has been interested in old cars for six decades and is being honored at Saturday night's banquet for 50 years in the AACA. He still owns his first car, a 1926 Chrysler Model 60 Phaeton he bought at age 16 and has restored twice to become a national winner. He won't have that car at the show though, opting instead to enter his 1924 Ford Model-T roadster in the driver participation class which is for cars that owners like to drive on a regular basis.

Also popular is the historical preservation of original features class which emphasizes originality. That's where the 1916 Buick Touring Car owned by Larry Beatty of Shellsburg comes in. The car, originally owned by his grandparents who took it camping, has front seats modified by his grandfather so they fold back to form beds with the back seats.

"It is absolutely original," Jon says, "with 127,000 miles on the odometer. His grandparents drove it everywhere."