The Regina Antique Auto Association was started in 1962 by a handful of founding members and two of them wrote articles in the Antique Tymes commemorating the tenth and thirtieth anniversary of the club. Here are those articles.
By Lorne Turner
Last October was the tenth anniversary of the founding of our
Association.To commemorate the occasion plaques were presented to all members
attending the Christmas
Social. It was also suggested that ten year membership pins be awarded to all
qualifying members.
Now let's reminisce.
The first few meetings were held in private homes, the National Cash Register
offices and Foreign Car Service garage.
As I recall, the first meeting was held in the home of Gordie Watt and those
present were Don Chapman, Jack Wilson, Gord Watt, John Moroschan, Lorne Turner,
Hugh Brown and Len Schmidt. It was decided that there was sufficient interest to
form a Regina Club.
The second meeting was held at the National Cash Register offices and it was
here that the name "Antique Auto Association" was decided upon. Don Chapman was
elected President and John Moroschan as Secretary Treasurer. The annual dues
were set at $5.00 and Lorne Turner became the first paid up member..
The Antique Tymes was published in April 1963 with the heading:
Antique -Something old and rare, of a former age.Auto -A self propelled vehicle. One for use on a highway.Association -A union of persons with a common interest.
John Moroschan was the Editor.
Over the winter months membership had grown from five to eighteen.
Jack Wilson kindly donated space for our meeting room and we now had a permanent
home.
The Antique Tymes was changed from a monthly to a bimonthly issue with Lorne
Turner as Editor.
The 1963 membership roster listed 63 members. Would you believe that of those
listed only remain among the 1972 members of the Association.
Our first full photo page appeared in April 1964. Three separate cover designs
have been used in the past.
The first Fort valley tourwas held in July 1964 and who can forget the Cross
Canada Centennial tour of 1967. I drove from the Alberta border to Kenora, Ont.,
but several of our members (with one piano)" went all the way to Montreal Expo.
Our first motor toboggan outing was also held in 1967. 1968 was the year of our
first Antique Auto Show. The show made a $500 profit with an entry list of fifty
vehicles.
The Sask. Association Antique Auto Clubs was formed in Nov. 1968.
In 1971 we participated with other Saskatchewan clubs in the Sask. Homecoming
Antique Auto Circle tour with 64 vehicles registered and many fond memories of
this tour remain.
1971 was also the year of our move to our new meeting headquarters. A lot was
accomplished under the capable guidance of Dan Rooke who supervised the
volunteer carpenters and worked hardest of all to give us the meeting room we
now enjoy.
Our thanks also to Mr. Bill Tobin who made it possible by donating space in his
building.
In 1972 we were on a Circle Tour again. This time in the Cypress Hills area of
the province. Forty three vehicles took part and I am convinced this is the best
way to see our Province.
During the past ten years we've participated in tours, rallies, parades, shows,
picnics, suppers, socials and other events in several localities and in
co-operation with other Antique Auto enthusiasts.
Each trophy and plaque we possess brings back fond memories of things past.
In conclusion I think all will agree that the past ten years have been memorable
ones and we will be looking forward to more of the same.
Lorne Turner
By Len Schmidt
"Here in 1992, we mark the 30th anniversary of the Antique
Auto Club of Regina.
Like most clubs. it started when a few people had an idea and did something
about it. I was asked by a good friend by the name of Gordie Watt, to attend a
meeting in the winter of 1962. for the purpose of forming an antique car club in
Regina. This meeting was held at the National Cash Register Company office on
11th Avenue. (Gord Watt was an employee of National Cash.) In attendance at this
meeting (as near as I can recall.) were some names that some of you will
remember: Don Chapman. John Moroshan. Gordie Watt. J.C. Wilson. Lome Turner.
Lloyd McEwen. and myself, Len Schmidt. After the meeting. we had another
get-together across the street at a cafe called "The Bright Spot," and this
get-together is still traditional today.
A few meetings were held in member's homes until a good member of our newly
formed club. offered the upstairs office of his place of business for us to
conduct our meetings twice a month, at no cost to the club. This gentleman was
Mr. J.C. (Jack) Wilson. Many years later, the business was sold, so we moved to
the upstairs of Tobin Tractor. Mr. Tobin was good to us and we used his
facilities for many years. When we finally did have to move, club member
Tony Cooper arranged to have us rent the place we are now in, the Regina Flying
Club.
Going back in time. I recall the first Club event we had. It was the summer of
1963. with a tour around Regina. where we ended up in Pony Park near Wascana
Creek in east Regina
for some car games. One game was where the drivers lined their cars up. shut off
the gas at the tank. then started up their cars and drove as far as they would
go. Of course. the one going the farthest was the winner. I was in the event
with an original 1927 Model "T" Touring. which had
a carburetor bowl on it about the size of a 4 lb tobacco can. In fact. one of
the event marshals in charge was running towards my car to see if I had actually
shut off the gas. Just about the same time the old tin lizzie died.
I won the event. My prize was a small blue felt banner. handmade by a club
member's wife. (Pat Moroshan.) The Inscription read "A.A.A. FIRST." The reason
Pat had to make
the banner was that we did not always have thousands of dollars in the bank.
A big event in the Club today. is our annual auto parts swap meet. This also
started a long time ago. Our first one was held in the warehouse of the Regina
Leader Post " building on Park Street. This was made possible by another good
Club member by the name of Mr. Elmer Clow. who went out of his way to have a
section of the building cleared out. so that we could have the swap meet in the
fall and also have it inside where it was comfortable. Because it was a success.
the next year we moved out to White City to a place known as '.The Chicken Fry."
which is also the
golf club. We outgrew that place in about 2 or 3 years. and it was again time to
find something larger. After a lot of searching and checking. a group of us
called "The Swap Meet Committee." zeroed in on the Tartan Curling Club where we
still hold the event today. Another function of our Club has been to host the
Antique Auto Association International car Meet. We had our first
successful International Meet in Regina in 1979. and then again in 1989.
Something I have noticed about our Club. is that we seem to be able to keep on
going year after year and thrive at it. As some of you know. there are clubs in
this province that are not making it and may quite well become extinct. But here
we are. 30 years later. still with a large membership each year. I think it is
due to a good executive and the faithfullness of our members. .
So keep up the good work. and I hope this Club survives for another 30 years. I
thank you.
Len Schmidt