Clutch Chatter

Mike’s Message

Twenty-two club members enjoyed our annual picnic back at Lost River State Park. While it was a little gloomy and overcast, we never saw any rain. Many thanks to Eddie, our grill master for the hot dogs and burgers. I’ve had a suggestion that we try a different park next year, so we may enjoy the picnic in a different location. This month marks our annual Father’s Day tour. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for more of the good weather. I hope everyone can join us.

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Note: Mike is working on a tour, in July, to the Roanoke Transportation Museum and he had also considered going to the Tractor Museum in Richmond. The club may rent a van so that members can ride together. Mike would like your input on suitable dates in July and if you would wish to travel to either one of these Museums. Email him at yankeymd@jmu.edu , so he can plan accordingly.

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Rocktown History, AKA - Harrisonburg Rockingham Historical Society, has asked if the club would be willing to provide 5-6 members to bring their vehicle to the Museum in Dayton for a Tuesday morning Cars and Coffee Mill at 9:30am. Rocktown would like to have the event outside and would like the owners to tell something about their vehicle. The event is open to the public to attend and see the vehicles. Tuesday July 8 is currently open. Please email Greg by Thursday June 12, at gmrauto@aol.com or call 540-435-4349 if you would be able to participate.

Tri-County AACA – Fun &

Fellowship Since 1966

William “Bill” Jeffries Hunter, Jr.

August 16, 1936 – June 2, 2025

Bill and wife Cathy are long time and faithful members of the Tri-County AACA.

Here is the funeral information for Bill:

Friday June 6 ^th at:

Grandle Funeral Home

148 E. Lee St. Broadway, VA

Visitation at 10am.

Service at 11am.

Burial at Rest Haven Cemetery following the service.

Our sincere condolences to Cathy and the family.

Club Picnic at Lost River State Park. May 18, 2025.

Larry Emswiler, Donnie Callahan and Brian Slough talk in the parking lot while waiting to head out to Lost River State Park. Larry’s 1964 Studebaker and Donnie’s 1956 Pontiac wait patiently behind them.

When arriving at the Shelter #1 picnic pavilion we were greeted by Ronnie and Liz Fawley’s sporty red 1966 Chevrolet Impala convertible! The Fawley’s grandchildren reported that it was too cold to ride to the park with the top down. Ronnie only put it down once they got there and parked!!

The deserts are out and the meat is on its way!

Notice the club members in jackets. It was in the upper 60’s with a slight breeze. Earlier this table had had a lively discussion. It started out with Craig talking about bananas, then his wife Shari chimed in with foods she eats but he will not. Craig then mentioned that he used to help his Grandparents butcher when he was younger. He remembers taking a fresh cow’s liver, frying it and eating it right then. Another person asked him “Have you ever had brains?” Craig replied, “No, never had any”. The revelation that Craig never had any brains struck Shari as very funny. She couldn’t’ wait to tell their son Josh this tidbit, when he returns from his trip!

If you were wondering what our picnic shelter from last year was being used for this year, here is a picture – storage. There has been money appropriated to build an onsite campground at Lost River State Park and this shelter is not usable while the construction is proceeding.

It is hard to tell from the picture, but this building is now in the middle of the parking lot the club used for Shelter #2 at our 2024 picnic. It appears that it will be the campground office.

Looking down the field from the parking lot at Shelter #2 is the new 35-site campground. Richard and Janet Slough, who have routinely camped before attending the club picnic at LRSP, may be able to camp onsite in the future.

Members Corner

Sunnyside Retirement Community Car Show.

Friday May 2, 2025:

Roxanne – in the pink top and Larry in the white shirt and short pants - enjoy the car show by a beautiful VW bus. They stated that because of the threatning weather they had left their antique cars at home. And, of course the weather was great!

Sunnyside Show – Continued….

Larry and Linda Zirkle made it their 1963 Studebaker. They were over listening to the band play oldies!

A rare 1931 Chrysler four door phaeton and a Model T were some of the oldest vehicles at Sunnyside.

Tri State Antique Truck Show, Bridgewater Va.

Saturday May 17, 2025:

Chester Bradfield’s late 1930s Studebaker truck was looking bright and spiffy on the show field.

Bridgewater resident, Carl Rhodes, purchased this 1971 Ford truck new at Wheatley Yetzer Ford in April of 1971. It now has 148,187. Miles. The interior and paint are original.

2025 Memorial Day Community Celebration Cruise-In by Wingfield Ministries, Rockingham Co. Fairgrounds. May 26, 2025:

Donnie and Sue at the Cruise-In with their 1956 Pontiac. The picture was taken at 5:32pm. They had arrived at 1pm, had not had any rain and were fortunate to have been able to talk to many people they had not seen in a while! They stated that earlier Pen Grove had been there in his 1956 Lincoln and Chester Bradfield in his Chevy Monte Carlo.

Though this was not a Tri-County club members car it is one you do not see very often - a 1928 Pontiac four door sedan in almost new condition. I was not able to get the name of the owner.

Rockingham County resident Bob Hill’s

stock 1956 Chevy four-door sedan. It

sports a six cylinder under the hood and

looks great in turquoise and ivory.

Sonny Henkel receives the prize for spotting the error in the heading of the May Clutch Chatter. It was listed again as an “April” edition. Your editor had a birthday in May. He must have subconsciously been trying to avoid it by extending the month of April!

AACA National 2025 Dates:

June 19-21, 2025 – Eastern Spring National – hosted by Whitewater Region AACA. At the Tamarack, Beckley WV.

July 2-5, 2025 – Central Spring Nationals – Auburn, IN – hosted by Crossroads of America Region AACA.

July 24-26, 2025 – Grand Nationals / Zenith – Dayton, OH – hosted by AACA National.

August 12-15, 2025 – Eastern Divisional Tour – Northern Maine – hosted by Maine Region AACA.

September 7-12, 2025 – Revival AAA Glidden Tour® (Pre-1943) – Owensboro, KY (VMCCA Hosted).

October 7-10, 2025 – Eastern Fall Meet – Hershey, PA – hosted by Hershey Region AACA.

October 18-22, 2025 – Central Divisional Tour – San Antonio to Gonzales, TX – hosted by Texas DFW Region.

October 23-25, 2025 – Central Fall Nationals – Galveston, TX – hosted by Gulf Coast Region AACA.

Area Events - Save the Dates:

Saturday June 14, 2025. 10am – 2pm . Myers Ford Annual Car Show. Held at Myers Ford, Elkton, VA. Food, door prizes and music. The theme this year is “Christmas”!

Saturday June 14, 2025. 4pm-8pm. BBQ Ranch. 60 ^th Cruise-In.

Saturday July 19, Bridgewater Steam & Gas Meet Car Show. 9am.

Saturday June 28, 2pm-8pm. Keezletown Cruise-In. Keezletown Ruritan Club. Keezletown, VA. No entry fee.

Saturday August 2, 2pm-5pm. 4 ^th Annual Summer Bash & Car Show. At Hose Company No 4, Port Republic Rd. Harrisonburg, VA. $15 registration fee.

Friday August 15, 2025. 4pm-8pm. BBQ Ranch. Cruise-In.

Saturday September 20. 10an-3pm. 17 ^th Annual Car & Truck Show. Mt. Carmel Christian Academy. Luray, VA.