Recent Posts

Well, I think it should remain at 25 years old so as not to stop the future growth of our club. Who knows what people in the next 25 years will be wanting to collect? There are some great 80's cars that should not be crushed, like Corvettes and Rolls Royces, even a lowly Mustang Convertible or two. I own a 1980 Dodge, & realize that even though some aren't interested in it, others may well be (even in the coming future). It's a rare 2 door coupe body style and means alot to me, being my parents car before they died.
Someday, most American cars may be a thing of the past and therefore collectible or Special Interest. Are they antique cars? No. But they are "Veteran" cars. If I wanted an antique, I'd have joined the Antique
Car Club of America. One of the great things about our organization is the great diversity of makes, models & years. All different kinds of cars, eras, and people & what they are interested in preserving & collecting. Let's not sabotage that. Let's not have everyone vote that cars made the other side of WW2 is the only thing that should be in the club. Not everyone has the big bucks to buy & restore ancient junk cars for megabucks. I love old cars from the early days, but out of financial practicality I must own & preserve later cars from the 70's & 80's. If you throw out these from the clubs ranks, they'll just go & join some other club & we'll lose some valuable membership & great people that may have things to contribute in the future, when times are better & they have the $ to buy something older & more expensive. Nobody's going to show up in a Minivan. 25 years (& older) is old for a car. It was good enough for our club since 1938. That's just my 2cents. Thanks for listening to me.    

  I saw less People and Cars at Hershey this past Fall, Vendors tell me sales were off 25%.
I go to Car Shows from Mid May till Hershey:  Muscle Cars Galore, and NOW Super Mussle Cars.

 I here $40.000 Restorations, $1200 Paint jobs, I'm 64, in 1964 a Mustang was $2,400.
I painted Car at my Uncles Gulf Station for $39.99, We went to Junk Yard for Good Parts,
Dipped them in Drano and Hot water, Uses Rustolium, and Epoxy Paint
  In 2009/10 the Paint will Kill you.

  Car Shows in the 1960's were Fun, today   SUPER COMPETIVE:

  Last 5 years have devoted to Pioneer 1891-1904 Runabout Car made in N.Y.S.
I 150% enjoy it, I display them, won 50 trophies, "wife put them in Garage"
I enjoy Displaying and talking to the Kids and Grandpa's.  Hemmings has had a Big
thing on Bring the Kids to the Car Shows. I really like that.

Richard E. Henza    NYS Pioneer Auto's;  1900 cn Cady , Made in Canasota, NY:  1902, 1903 Fort
 Cortland, NY                                                       Plain Spring and Axel Dr. Runabouts.

richardhenza@yahoo.com

 I'm 64 had Antique cars since 21, It's taken me 43 years to really understand Pioneer Auto Cars 1891-1904.

  Then in 2009 10% Ethanol, Know in New York State 15% 2010; witch means alot more Heat on my
1902, 1903 1 Cylinder Engines,
   I have a 28 year Daughter that has gone to Car Shows since 3.5 weeeks old, She knows more about Steam Cars, Pioneer Cars than President of New York Pioneeer Cars, and he admitts it.
   She has been a Legacy Member of  Pioneer Auto since 12 years old when she was a Junior.
She dose all my Display work, Pictures of 1894 Steve Blazers 1st car in New York State.
 1903 Charles Dayer 3 wheel trike car in Mass. 1895 Bentz and tells of Bertha Bentz driving
the car.

 My 1900 cn Cady 1 Cylinder Daughters auto, Made in Canasota; Given to her by our Past president,
She dough it out of Chicken Coop, Painted it herself,  Got Engine running herself,  and did Display
of cn Cady Machine shop, ans Foundry in Canasota, Pictures of it, and 1901 Electric he made for his wife, and 4 Trucks he Built,  at 16 years of age,  She got to run Engine next to Henry Fords Quadricycle at Henry Ford Musume .


 We must Encourage Kids at a early age toget the interest in this Hobbie;

Richard Henza
Cortland, NY    NYS  Pioneer Auto

I went to this site:  http://changingears.com/rv-sec-state-rv-license.shtml and it says that a vehicle used strictly for "recreational purposes", i.e. an RV, is not considered a "Commercial Motor Vehicle" regardless of its size and weight.  This is a loophole that the RV industry has kept open so most folks that drive RV's from don't need a CDL or need to comply with the many regulations governing commercial vehicles.

If you are using a commercial trailer from a business to pull your car, the regs might be different, but I think most owner driven car trailers and pickups would qualify as an RV,

Naturally, no telling what might happen in New York!

Richard, that's why I moved to Texas 30 years ago, and have never missed New HYork since.

I've only once been pulled over when towing something, and I had a chain dragging. They pointed it out, and perhaps a fire was prevented. no ticket was issued.

It isn't a good idea; not at all. There has been discussions that 25 yerars isn't old enough since the late 1950's when my parents worried that their new 1927 Chevy tudor wouldn't be elegable for Ohio historical liscense plates. I just got back from central Mexico, and it is hard to find a 25 year old car even there. cars are so disposable. Here in El Paso, it is hard to find a 20 year old car in a junk yard - they are crushed before they get that old.

This isn't going to help the future of car clubs, or fix anything that is really a problem. Sure I like to see older cars, and the 3 Mercedes convertibles on the Colorado tour didn't thrill me, but then I have one at home, myself, and I bet they were fun to drive through the hills there.

Nobody makes everybody look at every car, or make a positive comment about them. If you don't like a car, keep it to yourself. Your opinion might change.

There are more important things to be concerned about.

Our VMCCA president has proposed that it might be time to reconsider the 25 year rule for VMCCA.  What do you think?  I think he proposed stopping the eligibility at some fixed year, like, 1985, for example.

I don't favor stopping the limit at a fixed year, but I don't have a real problem with extending the limit.  The 25 year old limit maybe should be higher, like 35 years.  This is because modern cars are so durable that a 25 year old car is not "old" in the sense that is was in the 50's or 60's.

It may seem like there are no collector cars being built today, but I think there still are.  Cars like the Buick Reatta, Corvette, Mercedes, some Lexus models, etc, will probably be collectible.  But who can say for sure, many collector cars today were not too highly thought of when they were new.

I have appreciated VMCCA's policy of a moving definition of eligible cars, it does mean that the population of VMCCA cars is changing and even growing, making the club more accessible for new and younger members.  Clubs like the CCCA and HCCA have fixed years of eligibility and this can create problems for a club long term.

Bill   

  I'm looking for replies from others;

    Here in NYS, we have to use 10% Ethanol in 2009, witch has had me zooming this past Summer,
I contacted John Myers III Cal. [Horseless Carriage Car club] and he told me 10% Ethanol would runnen all Rubber parts in carb and gas line, run 30 degrees hotter in 1 Cylinder air cooled; So Heads needed Sterilite Inserts, and Valuves; Carbs needed Jets drilled out 30%.

 Well my 1902 Has a AVL Engine made in Utica ny, by Dave Buick and Mott, [verry few]  Luckly I know of parts around,  and luckly I new some of the old timers son's and Daughters.  Well one of the Daughters
luckly remembered me and had some Anvil Parts, and she let me have them. My 1903 has an A.O.L Smitty,
witch she had parts for as well as early Briggs parts; Then she Volintered to machine heads and put inserts in, and drill out Carbs,  Engines run Perfect, and I ran in Conn. on whatever Conn. Has.

 Yes, I was checked in NYS on gas, and they tested,  and Conn. saw me comming, luckly my wife had me fill up with conn. gas when we got theree and a reciept.


  She also had my Antique Car Insurance Rep. make sure I would be covered in Conn.
She was 100% right as conn. laws are differant than NYS.


 They Pre Tourrred Inspected on Conn. Laws, and Insurance Laws, Luckly I had a Spare Tire Mounted;
Some how I Passes.


 Then we went to Mainem, for Tours  Thank God I had done Engines, Maine is 150% Green;
TYou do not spill Gas, Oil, Water in Maine; You Have your Tools, Fire Extinguisher; With you at all times


 I like Maine you can put along at 15 mph, and with Red Triangle everthing is cool.

  In NYS on NY Roads 45 MPH is the min.  Only county roads can go 15mph with red Triangle;

  In 2010 there trying hard to get cars under 30 MPH off the Highways.

 Just wounder what your State is doing

Richard Henza richardhenza@yahoo.com
Cortland, NY.

 In 1927 cars 21 years or more were allowed to run in the !st 1896 Emaancipation Run from London to Brighton ,England Bringing the Youngest car to 1904, By the end of 1904 car design had largely setttled down to a pattern: a front mounted Vertical Engine, drive through a slidding Pinion Gear. The wooden frame was a thing of the past. "Cars 1886-1930 GN Georgano

 In 1930 in Great Britan Veterian Car Club was open to owerners of pree 1904 Pioneer Autoes. But in 1943 Extended the period tp 1916.

 The Date I have is 1938 for Founding in Boston Mass . so to me Happy 70 Anniversity;

 In 1891-1893 Charles Daryea Developed his !st Automoble, 'That traved as fast as you could walk"

  I'n 1894 in NYS Steven Blazer Made the 1st Car, It's in the Smithstonian.

In 1901 NYS Started Initial Licence Plates, and Requires a Lattern on Front, Red Lattern on Back and sold a Golden Token for a Dollar that went on Back of Auyomobile.

 New Yorkl State hade 125 Car makers by 1905;   I have 3 NYS Pioneer Cars, whitch is the
Largest  Collection of NYS Pioneer Cars.   No I'm not Jay Lenno.
   
   This is my Hobby, It's what I do for Sanity in 2009,  I do all the work on the Cars and Trailer;
Paint: in 1900 -1905 was Japaneesr Enamel, Enamel and Velspar Varnished Mixed, but had dark and lights applied with Camel Hair Brush.
Engines are all 1 Cylinder all Originally ran on 40 Octaine in 1900's; in 2009 we had to update to 87 Octaine and 10% Ethanol in NYS, 15% in Mass, 20% in Conn.  and no Smoke White, Gray ,Black. Opened jets 20%.
The 1900, and 1902, Hove NO Trans, you start Engine and go forward, the 1903 has a Slip clitch.
 
 
  The 1900 C.N Cady Made in Canasota NY ny C.N. Cady for his Daughter; is 1 and only
Cady had a Machins Shop and Foundry; He made 1 Electric car for his wife and 5 Trucks.
Witch Henry Ford bought from him in 1901 for NYC, when Henry Ford ran the Detroit Motor Company.  Got that car done in  2004:  Really fits in My Caverliers Trunk;
 
  The 1902, 1903  Fort Plain NY. Spring and Axels.
 
 In 1874 a man named Shipman fron Springfield Center , moved his Spring and Axel Business to Fort Plain.  Ref;  Neliston Fort Plain History ny Nathan Green :  In 1894 he started a company in Chigo Hights Ill,   His son not liking Chicago Hights joined with Smith, and Yager in fort Plain ny and in 1897 they made a Tillered ,1 Cylinder Runabout,I have a Picture of one in my Catalog Book, I use at Car meets.  In 1902,  They made the Dr. Runnabout; 36" wide, 72" Long all Wood, 2 Hand Huned  reaL 2"
X 4" ,Tiller,   Buckboard.    The Engine is an AVL Equipment 1.1 Hp made in Utica NY, by Dave Buick, and Mott. Dave Buick went on to run Buick in 1903.
   
 Took me 2.5 years to finish;  By putting Back seat Down, and a Piece of Plywood in trunk, Removing front wheels and Axel, truthfully goes in Caverlier trunk.  It's like a Circus, settting up at Duffies Circus lot in.Fort Plain.   The Car and full Display: Pictures of 1894 Steven Blazer, 1900 Engines, 1901 NYS Licence plates,  Horseless Carriage Mazane Leagle laws for NYS 1901 Cars.
 
 Car has won 1st at Woodie Car show Waterloo NY, Oldesr at Otigo, NY  5 Regional AACA show.
Utica Conqutes Oldest, and second in class, 1900-1930 Has some nice Stuts, Mecers Etc.
But very Happy as I do all my own work.
 
 The 1903 Fort Plain Spring and Axel; Dr. Runabout
 
 Truthfully; My 28 year old Daughter , PHD in Gelogy,  Inspired me do do this Car; I did this car this past Summer.  It has a 3"x 3" wood frame, with a Steel framr inside it,  Steel Springs;
Steering wheel, Brakes are Stage Coach, and work Barely, would not go up Hills or down Hills.
Seames Fort Plain sold out in 1903 to Maxwell, Chambers Bristrol in Tarry Town NJ.
and ER Thomas in Buffalo NY. My V.M.C.C Historia is Ron Barrone Conn. Valley Car club.
 
   Had car done for Wampsville, 1st in Class and Oldest,   Cortland Oldest;
 
    I have that one Permanately mounted on a Small Snow mobile Trailer;

  I live im Cortland NY We have a Verry nice Car Show every Sept. I have told Ron Barrone VMCC Springfield Mass about it and he has brought hiwss 19111 Hatfield made in Cortland NY to Our show.

 NYS Pioneer 1901-1904 is Small. I Man with a 1901 Tillerwillerger Steamer made in Amsterdam NY.
                                             and me. Edwarian made in NYS 1907 Marion made in Newark ,     
                                             1906 Maxwell made in Tarreytown, 2 Chase trunck made in Syracuse
                                             2 Early Brockwats Trucks "Like Case" made in Cortland.
                                              and A couple Early Franklins.


 Thanks for Having this Form

Richard Henza  1891-1904 Pioneer Auto NYS Cars and NYS Rep. to Nationals 2008