By SEMA Washington, D.C. Staff
On July 12, 2013, SEMA members joined with SEMA staff and thousands of enthusiasts to celebrate the fourth annual Collector Car Appreciation Day (CCAD). A wide range of official events were held in the United States, Canada and Australia to commemorate the day, designated by a SEMA-requested U.S. Senate Resolution 176 sponsored by Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) and Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC).
The U.S. Senate Resolution recognizes “that the collection and restoration of historic and classic cars is an important part of preserving the technological achievements and cultural heritage of the United States.” Lawmakers in states, counties and local areas all over the country and Canada followed the Senate’s lead. The states of New York and New Mexico, along with the Canadian Provinces of Manitoba and Nova Scotia, adopted their own resolution commemorating the day.
The official events included car club cruise-ins, open houses at SEMA-member companies, specialty shows at automobile museums and “drive your collector car to work” displays. Scores of other unofficial events included car shows, picnics and cruise-ins.
Collector Car Appreciation Day is supported by SEMA and its Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) and Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) councils. Read a detailed summary of the events held across the nation.
Photos from Collector Car Appreciation Day celebrations are being collected and will soon be posted to an online album available through the SEMA Action Network’s (SAN) website. Send your photos to SAN Director Colby Martin at san@sema.org with “2013 Collector Car Event Photos” as the subject line. Include the event's details (name, date, city, state and host) in your message as well.
 SEMA Director of Congressional Affairs Dan Sadowski (center) presents S. Res. 176 to Carlisle Events Co-Owner and President Bill Miller (right) and Co-Owner Lance Miller (left) at the 2013 All-Chrysler Nationals Collector Car Appreciation Day Celebration in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. |  Russ Deane, SEMA's General Counsel, drove his ’33 Ford Roadster (left) to the Crazy Cruiser's Car Club fourth-annual Collector Car Appreciation Day in Panama City Beach, Florida. | |
 Extreme Automotive in Corona, California, again hosted a Collector Car Appreciation Open House at their shop. |  ididit Inc. honored Collector Car Appreciation Day during the company’s Cruisin’ To Columbus Tour that began in Tecumseh, Michigan, and finished at the Goodguys PPG Nationals in Columbus, Ohio. | |
 MSD Performance in El Paso, Texas, celebrated Collector Car Appreciation Day with a movie and cruise night. |  SEMA-member company representatives, automotive media and local car enthusiasts joined SEMA staff for the association's fourth-annual Collector Car Appreciation Day celebration at SEMA Headquarters in Diamond Bar, California. | |
 An array of vehicles from the “Drive Your Collector Car to Work” staff event at Source Interlink Media’s Tampa, Florida, office. |  Christian Robinson, SEMA Political Action Committee (PAC) manager (right), presents S. Res. 176 to Steele Rubber Products President Matt Agosta (left) during their event in Denver, North Carolina. | |
 Volkswagen Group of America in Auburn Hills, Michigan, attracted a diverse group of vehicles for their VWGOA/AOA Collector Car Work Cruise In. |  Nate Shelton (second from right), chief marketing officer of Flowmaster and incoming SEMA chairman of the board, helped celebrate Collector Car Appreciation Day at the NMRA/NMCA Muscle Car Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, July 11–14, 2013. Shelton is pictured with fellow SEMA board member and ProMedia Events owner Steve Wolcott (right) and winners of NMCA's People's Choice Best of Show award, Steve and Bev West, with their ’72 Chevelle SS. |