2011 July/Aug

What can I say? Finally we have some good weather in NC! The Sandhills chapter has lucked out in that we have had our major events during times of not good, but great beautiful NC Blue skies. The chapter started out at the Stoneybrook Steeple Chase

on April 9th. A big thanks to the Aberdeen Police Department for leading the first leg of our caravan towards the race grounds. We arrived and circled the wagons, chariots, antique autos for display and settled in for a day of friendship, food and steeple chase horse racing. Audrey Bronk (known as Audrey the Book) again led our attempts to select winners. It is always surprising how interested people are in the cars. I can’t tell you how many times somebody said “I used to have one of those and I really regret selling it.”

We are possibly thinking of another name for our chapter. We are thinking of Sandhills AACA and Restaurant Critics chapter (just kidding). Yes, we had another drive-in at the Snack Shack. Just like our cars need gas, we never go anywhere without trying new and different restaurants.

Question: What goes with food? Answer: Wine. Come the end of May, we had a caravan to the Horizon Winery in Siler City. We were greeted by Tammy, our hostess, and given a complete tour of the winery, ending with an excellent selection for wine tasting.

We are all getting ready for our next big event at the Pinehurst July 4th parade to end in a chapter tailgate party to watch the fi reworks. Remember, now that the heat is up be sure to hydrate your vehicles and your own body.

by John& CJ Sayre

May/June News

So soft, so cuddly, so smooth, so wonderful to behold. No I am not talking about your beautiful Corinthian leather seats (by the way I always wondered where Corinthia was). I am talking about the latest cruise of our Sandhills Chapter. We took a nice ride to Russell’s Seafood Buffet to partake of some of the wonders of the ocean,then a short jaunt on to the Crystal Pines Alpaca Farm in Carthage. We arrived there with absolutely no expectations except alpacas and a hay ride, were we in for a special surprise.

The owner Joe Picariello met us at the entrance with a big smile and preceded to a Fantastic Mystery tour (Beatles quote). Joe was most delightful and gregarious really making the hay ride we were on most pleasant.First we stopped by the lady Alpacas with their two large bodyguard dogs. Needless to say if they could make mini (not the cooper) alpacas, everybody would be taking them home for pets. We got to feed and pet them. If our autos were just so manageable and soft. Next were the greenhouse and the other farm animals. One of the nicest things was that all the animals had names and came when called. Of course there was a gift shop where, to the delight of the ladies, all sorts of items made from alpaca wool.

Next on our schedule was the Casavant’s “Breakfast for Dinner” chapter evening. What a wonderful time we all had. It reminded me of my senior prom, when all the students did an all nighter and had breakfast all night. This evening was very similar. Everybody brought a breakfast dish. It was an evening of really good food and camaraderie.

To end this month’s events the Chapter participated in the Pinehurst Village St. Patrick’s Day parade. We had a record 22 cars there, on a perfect weather day if not slightly warm for this time of year. Sorely, the parade went at a snail’s pace, and the chapter had many of our aging antiques sidelined of threat age old nemesis, the temperature gage. There was a new wrinkle this year. Finally, we had a place after the parade to show the cars. Of special note, was the presence of Fred Renner, long absent due to his stroke. He arrived in his newly purchased 1947 Triumph Touring car. Welcome back Fred

March/April 2011 News

by John & CJ Sayre

Wow, what can we say? This is the season for giving, and the Sandhills Chapter of the AACA is just like the Energizer bunny. Instead of drums, we have shiny automobiles. We had three really big events in December. First was the Annual Southern Pines Christmas parade, which every year gets bigger and better than ever. This year, our club joined in with thirteen beautifully decorated cars. Second, our Top Hats and Tails event, where the chapter members donate their time to transport sheltered animals for adoption. And to end 2010 was our Annual Christmas Dinner with over 40 chapter members attending. Yum.

Continuing the season for giving, the Chapter members approved charitable donations of $500 each for the Cameron’s Boys Camp, the new Camp Duncan (a girls wilderness camp), our annual Sandhills Community College Automotive Department donation, and a new donation to the Pinehurst First Department for the restoration of their 1937 Seagrave fire truck. Congressman Jamie Boles, a Chapter member, persuaded the private owner to send it back “home to roost” to the land where it was born. But, it doesn’t stop there. The Automotive Department of Sandhills Community College and our Chapter members have volunteered their time and talents in the restoration process. Now that is bringing it home boys! Updates on the restoration to follow.

To steer in 2011, the Chapter started out with their January meeting and planned a fun-filled and eventful year. No rest for members or cars. To start with, we will get the warm fuzzies from a lunch and tour of the Crystal Pines Alpaca Farm, and that is nothing to spit about. We have a St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Stoneybrook Steeple Chase tailgate party, the Bryant House, Siler City tour, several parades and “drive-ins” for good eats at local Sonic and The Snack Shack. We are even planning, weather permitting (since we tried three times last year) a golf tournament to partake of Pinehurst’s claim to fame.

Congratulations are in order for our new director, Carolyn Giltzow and a hearty “Thank You and Farewell” to retiring director, John Deuster. Also, we would like to congratulate Audrey Bronk and the Sayres for receiving the North Carolina Editor’s Awards. Audrey writes and edits our fantastic Sandhills Chapter newsletter. On a last note, we would like to congratulate Chapter members Sam and Raidh Jordan who were married December 23rd.

Go out and make all our chapters in North Carolina filled with fun, friends, and random acts of kindness in your communities.

Donation for Pinehurst First Department for the restoration of their 1937 Seagrave fire truck.