Collector Car Appreciation Day Honored by Our Industry

By Washington, D.C., Staff

On July 10, 2015, SEMA members joined with car clubs and thousands of enthusiasts to celebrate the sixth annual Collector Car Appreciation Day (CCAD). A wide range of official events were held in the United States, Canada and France to commemorate the day, designated by a SEMA-requested U.S. Senate Resolution 196 (S. Res. 196) sponsored by Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT).

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 Louisiana and West Virginia—as well as the Canadian Provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan—adopted their own resolution commemorating the day.

Intended to celebrate the classics of the past and the future, the official events (numbering more than 150) 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 “holiday sales” in honor of the occasion.

CCAD 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 using this link.

The SEMA Action Network (SAN) is posting a recap of CCAD events worldwide in an online gallery found on the celebration's official homepage: www.semaSAN.com/CCAD. To that end, please send us your event photos, including any that highlight the presentation of the U.S. Senate resolution. E-mail your pictures to SAN Director Colby Martin at san@sema.org with "2015 CCAD Event Photos" as the subject line. Include your event details (name, date, city, state and host) in your message as well.  

Blacktop Depot of Orange, California, invited enthusiasts to swing by the store in their collector cars for a picture to celebrate Collector Car Appreciation Day.		Fullerton, California’s Dr. Detail held a Collector Car Appreciation Day sale on July 10, 2015. The event was visited by SAN Director Colby Martin (right), who presented owner Wayne Loomis with a framed copy of Senate Resolution 196 as a “thank you” for commemorating the occasion.
Energy Suspension of San Clemente, California, hosted an employee cruise-in to celebrate CCAD.		CCAD was honored by Gary's Classic Car Fridays in Buena Park, California, on Friday, July 10, 2015. Organizer Gary Brown (right), “OC Car Guy,” was recognized by SAN Director Colby Martin (center) with a framed copy of Senate Resolution 196 for his years of supporting the celebration.
Members of the SEMA staff drove their prized vehicles to work at SEMA headquarters in Diamond Bar, California, to recognize the sixth-annual CCAD celebration.		Smiley's Custom Headers celebrated Collector Car Appreciation Day in Upland, California, with a cruise to the Sizzlin' Restaurant on Route 66 on July 10, 2015.
Volkswagen Group of America in Auburn Hills, Michigan, hosted a very diverse collection of vehicles during their Collector Car Cruise-in on July 10, 2015.		Steele Rubber Products of Denver, North Carolina, once again hosted a Collector Car Appreciation Day After Hours Cruise-In and BBQ to celebrate the hobby’s special day.
Collector Car Appreciation Week was celebrated by Walker Tire/Quick Nick’s Service Centers in Lincoln, Nebraska, to honor the holiday.		The Filling Station held their 4th annual open house and cruise-in on July 10, 2015, in Lebanon, Oregon, to celebrate Collector Car Appreciation Day.
CCAD festivities at Hershey, Pennsylvania’s Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Museum included a gathering of antique cars, ice cream and classic car rides.		Chattanooga, Tennessee’s Coker Tire hosted a Collector Car Appreciation Day cruise-in and BBQ held for employees and local enthusiasts.
COMP Cams marked CCAD with a Drive Your Cool Car to Work Day for employees in Memphis, Tennessee.		Daniels Performance Group of Smithfield, Virginia, held a CCAD cruise-in to honor the day.
Hemmings Motor News held their annual National Collector Car Day Cruise-in at their headquarters in Bennington, Vermont, on Friday, July 10.		Rinard Kissel (left), representing U.S. Representative Alex Mooney, presented U.S. Senate Resolution 196 to Rick Heavner (center) of West Virginia’s Knobley Mountain Car Club. West Virginia Delegate Gary Howell (right) presented Governor Earl Ray Tomblin's proclamation designating July 10, 2015, as Collector Car Appreciation Day in the state. Congressman Mooney is a member of the SEMA-supported Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus, while Delegate Howell is the national chairman of the SEMA-supported State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus.