In 1950, a small but energetic group of car enthusiasts became interested in forming an automobile club representing south-central Pennsylvania. At the time, this area was overseen by the Alleghany Region AACA which was opposed to dividing the region. Undeterred, Ernest Simpson, Donald Feeser, Austin Ruth, John Basehoar, and Edward Emerson decided to found a new organization unaffiliated with the AACA called The Brass Age Car Club.
After growing to 73 members, the BACC requested that they too should become affiliated with the AACA. On February 19, 1954, their request was granted, and the BACC became the Gettysburg Region Antique Automobile Club of America. Thanks to careful research conducted by Pat Buckley and Kristin Maurer from National Headquarters, the minutes of the Board of Directors meeting showing approval of the Gettysburg Region were unearthed! You can view them here: Meeting Minutes of Board of Directors
Subsequently, the GRAACA made its first official appearance in Antique Automobile magazine in the spring issue of 1954: Antique Automobile vol. 18 no. 01
To this day, we still recognize our five founding members and the other 73 charter members:
Mr. & Mrs. John C. Baker; Mr. & Mrs. John D. Basehoar; Mr. & Mrs. Edward C. Beard; Mr. & Mrs. Norman E. Becker; Dr. & Mrs. Arthur N. Breuer; Mr. & Mrs. Harold W. Bucher; Mr. & Mrs. Ernest G. Cooper, Jr.; Mr. & Mrs. George W. Dohn; Mr. & Mrs. Edward A. Emerson; Mr. & Mrs. Edward P. Emerson; Mr. & Mrs. Randall Emerson; Mr. & Mrs. Royce Emerson; Mr. & Mrs. Donald Feeser; Mr. Roy Feeser; Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth R. Hostetter; Dr. & Mrs. John J. Knox; Mr. Guy Lehr; Mr. F. J. Lingg; Mr. Clarence G. Lintz; Mr. & Mrs. G. Fred. Luckenbaugh; Miss Rae Metz; Mr. & Mrs. Wm. R. McCoy; Mr. Kenneth E. McLeod; Mr. & Mrs. Paul Paff; Mr. & Mrs. M. L. Paxton; Mr. & Mrs. Wm. Peiper; Mr. & Mrs. Chester Petry; Mr. & Mrs. Burnell Redding; Dr. & Mrs. Mark L. Redding; Mr. & Mrs. Chas. B. Rider; Mr. & Mrs. Eugene W. Rouzer; Mr. & Mrs. M. G. Rouzer; Mr. & Mrs. Austin Ruth; Mr. & Mrs. K. Eugene Shank; Mr. Emmett Shelley; Miss Brenda Shelley; Mr. & Mrs. Ernest H. Simpson; Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Smith; Mr. & Mrs. Wm. S. Strayer; Miss Marlene Strayer; Mr. Robert W. Sullivan; Mr. & Mrs. Sterling Walsh; Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Weikert; Mr. James Weikert; Mr. & Mrs. Morgan C. Wright; Mr. & Mrs. Maurice R. Worley.