Happy New Year to all Car Guys & Gals from all of us here at the Association of California Car Clubs (ACCC)! Be sure to be safe and here’s to a great New Year for the collector car hobby going into 2013!

On the bright side we’re all still driving and enjoying our cars but the New Year is here and with comes the task of being vigilant and responsible when it comes to new legislation and regulations that may harm the car hobby.
 
As you all know by now the democrats now have a Super-Majority in the legislature which means that it will be difficult, to say the least, to win legislative battles that may be contrary to liberal ideology.  Hopefully they will have larger issues to resolve and will leave the collector car enthusiasts alone. Now is the time and I would encourage you all to work hard to improve and re-enforce your relationships with the legislators in your districts. Let them know who you are and how important the collector car hobby is to you.

You can also let them know that the collector car hobby generates millions of dollars and thousands of jobs in California that we sorely need. California DMV estimates that there are 325,000 collector type vehicles registered in California. The average reg fee now is approx $100.00 and  that adds up to $32.5 million. So as you can see, California needs the Car Hobby!
 
We were fortunate to have success legislatively with the passage of the Legacy License Plate bill introduced by Assemblyman Gatto. The “Legacy License Plate” bill becomes law this month. This is the legislation that brings back vintage plates, i.e. yellow letters/numbers on black background; black letters/numbers on yellow background; and yellow letters/numbers on blue background. The law stipulates that orders will be filled and the plates will be built upon DMV receiving 7500 orders for each individual plate by January 2015.  It is imperative that we all get the word out about these plates…so pass the word to everyone you meet! More information will be forthcoming and will be posted on the ACCC website and published in the ACCC E-News that goes out electronically each month.

All of us here at the ACCC want to welcome Steve Berg and Paul Baker Printing aboard the ACCC!  Paul Baker Printing will be the exclusive and “Official Printing Company of the ACCC”. This partnership is great for both organizations and we’re looking forward to long and beneficial working relationship with Steve and Paul Baker Printing. For over forty years Paul Baker Printing has represented an ideal balance of tradition and innovation, The Company is a family-owned business with hundreds of happy clients serving as a true testament to a commitment to printing excellence. Over the years, they have developed an ideal formula for successful graphic communications projects: equal parts of careful planning, experienced technical skills, sophisticated equipment and excellent craftsmanship – with a large dose of dependability and personal attention. Welcome aboard the ACCC!

Upcoming ACCC Events!

The ACCC will have an information booth at the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona January 25-27, 2013. In addition we will conduct our 1st Quarter Business Meeting there as well. Stop by and say hi if you are in the area!

The 63rd Annual Sacramento Autorama is coming up Friday February 15th through Sunday February -17th, 2013 at Cal Expo. I would like to invite you all to be sure and stop by the Association of California Car Clubs (ACCC) Information Booth in the “Clubhouse” display in the Pavilion Building. The “Clubhouse” is being hosted again this year by the ACCC and we’re expecting over 200 local car club cars to be on display. You won’t want to miss this show…

Flyers and Registration Forms are now available for the 27th Annual Spring Legislative Conference coming up April 5th and 6th, 2013 at the California Auto Museum. Make plans now to attend this event! We have lined-up some exciting speakers including Assemblyman Mike Gatto; Assemblyman Curt Hagman; Karen McClaflin, Director of the California Auto Museum; Mr. Ken Hamel, Educator and Creator of the Hot Rod Education Program at the Yuba County Office of Education; Barbara Rooney, Legislative Director for the California DMV; as well as other industry experts and legislators. Due to the support and participation of our sponsors we are able to once again offer the conference at $25.00 per person which includes admittance to the conference both days; lunch both days; and the tour of the California Auto Museum! Download the printable registration form here.

Last but not least, I want to invite you all to the First Annual ACCC Butch Gardner Memorial “Save Our Cars” Car Show. The show is scheduled for Saturday, August 3, 2013 and will be presented by Bertolucci’s Body & Fender Shop and will be hosted by Darold Kohout, owner of Sacramento Vintage Ford in Rancho Cordova, CA. There will be Dash Plaques, Awards, Food, Vendors, T-shirt Sales, 50/50 Raffle, DJ Music & Live bands. More information will be forthcoming as the date gets closer.

Happy Cruisin’
Rex Roden - ACCC-President