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President's Page

March 2024

 picture I don’t know about you but time sure seems to slip by faster as I get older. I remember how time seemed to drag by when I was younger. Day to day activities seemed to move along at a snail’s pace. I’ve finally reached the age where I have trouble keeping up with the world around me. Either I have too many things going on or I’m just not as efficient as I once was. Since I’ve spent 50 years of marriage trying to convince my wife that I’m perfect it must be that I have too many “things” happening in my life. I guess having to many activities is better than having none but sometimes it sure gets hectic.

I do have a couple of items to mention that are time sensitive. If any of the following item’s appeal to you now is the time to be acting on them. If you are like me, they will be in our rear-view mirror before we know it.

1. Now is the time for you to decide if you are interested in participating in MAFCA’s leadership as a National Director. Information is available on the MAFCA website at: https://www.mafca.com/elections.html. Additionally, each Director is available to answer your questions and help steer you in the right direction to run for office. Having a sufficient number of volunteers to run our club is essential to MAFCA’s future. There is no better time to get involved than now.

2. Our 2024 MAFCA national convention, Southwest "A"ventures, is scheduled for June 23 – 29 and is being hosted by the Southwest Model A’s. They have planned a great list of activities and are working diligently to put together a great outing. Check their webpage: https://www.southwestaventures.com/ for information on registration, including the registration forms, convention clothing items, raffle items and access to purchasing raffle tickets. The registrations are steadily coming in and we’re sure to have a great convention. Sounds too good to miss so start your planning now!

3. In prior years MAFCA has clearly supported the concept that youth are essential to the Model A hobby's future and chapters are the means to introduce youth to the hobby. Two great organizations: The Model A Youth Restoration Award, MAYRA, provides financial support to youth whose interest in the hobby is demonstrated by their efforts in restoring a Model A and the Model A Youth Scholarship Fund provides financial support to assist children and/or grandchildren of any MAFCA/MARC member in pursuing their undergraduate education, whether it be a state university, college or technical school. Both organizations have website links on the MAFCA website under Youth, Grants and Scholarships. Establishing club activities that invite youth participation is a fundamental key to turning our youth into lifelong hobbyists. May of each year has been designated as Model A Youth Month. Now is the time for chapters to complete their planning and begin to publicize their event. I look forward to reading about the many different ways our chapters are involving our youth in the hobby.

It's shaping up to be a great year in the Model A hobby. On a national level we have a MAFCA presence at the annual MAFFI Model A Days, MAFCA’s national convention in Ruidoso, NM, MAFCA’s annual award banquet in Salt Lake City, UT and a MAFCA tent and seminars at Hershey. Throw in a few local state tours along with some local club tours and everyone call fill out their calendar with Model A touring events. Looks like I’m going to have a big mileage year, I hope you do as well.

“See you down the road."
Robert Bullard, 2024 MAFCA President

February 2024

A couple of months into the new year and I hope you haven’t broken all your new year resolutions. I hope you are still getting that “little bit of exercise” each day, eating wiser and healthier and haven’t slipped back into that bad habit you swore to yourself to stop. Staying true to the course on our new years’ resolutions, as my father once said after trying to hit a golf ball for the first time in his fifties: “It’s harder than it looks”. After a slow year in 2023 at least for Elaine and me, and driving our Model A only a little more than 5,000 miles, my resolution is to drive my Model A weekly during 2024, weather permitting. Not to necessarily make it my daily driver but to get it out and about on a regular basis. So far, so good. Good ‘ol south Texas weather makes that possible. Maybe not in your area, but good luck getting your Model A out and about on a more regular basis in 2024.

I recently met Bruce Witwer, current President of the Tyler, Texas Model A Ford Club. We met at the Winnsboro Autumn Trails annual tour held in beautiful Winnsboro, Texas. Last year was the 65th annual tour so you can see it has deep Model A roots. Brothers, David “Tex” Willis and Kevin “Scarecrow” Willis along with the rest of the Autumn Trails A’s members put on a great tour.

Anyway, back to Bruce. Bruce had recently completed some historical research on a 1931 A400 Convertible Sedan he acquired and determined a previous owner had a rich history with MAFCA beginning with the founding days of MAFCA. The car was purchased in 1949 for $125 for Mr. William Robert “Bob” White by his father so Bob could use it to commute from his home in Carlsbad, CA to San Diego State University. Bob wrote an article on his car titled “my bAby” and it was published in Vol 1 Issue 3, Sept – Oct 1956 issue of The Restorer. Besides having a long rich history with the A400, which included driving the car ~2,700 miles one way to Detroit, MI to attend the first MARC national meet in 1957, Bob was also very instrumental in leading MAFCA in the early years. In 1955 Bob White was on the list of 15 Model A owners that Claude ‘Red’ Grow sent notes to asking them to attend a casual meeting to form the MODEL A FORD RESTORERS CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, which we all know later became the MODEL A FORD CLUB OF AMERICA; our beloved MAFCA. Bob became a founding member and served as Corporate Secretary for the club. Bob wrote many of the articles in MAFCA’s “Restorer” magazine in the first years of operations. He and other members of the original group can be seen on the cover of the 10th anniversary “Restorer” magazine (Vol 10 Issue 4). Bob White served on the MAFCA board in many capacities through 1971. His last position with MAFCA was Director of Membership.

I always enjoy stories of car owners that can determine this level of history on their cars and the pride they must feel making the connection with their cars past. In this case, not only has Bruce Witwer, President of the Tyler Model A Ford Club, acquired a very collectible Model A but he has also been able to connect it to one of the founding fathers of MAFCA. A double treat if there ever was one.

“See you down the road."
Robert Bullard, 2024 MAFCA President

January 2024 - Happy New Year

I am excited to be serving as MAFCA National President for 2024. As a Board of Directors, we are dedicated to serving MAFCA and each of its members ethically and to the best of our ability. Your 2024 Board is dedicated to maintaining MAFCA’s long track record of excellence and fiscal responsibility.

Newly elected to the Board this year are Paul Shinn as Technical Director and Bill Truesdell as Advertising Director. Reelected to their second consecutive term on the Board are Chet Wojcik, Jr. as Marketing and Membership Director and Ed Tolman, Vice-President. Each brings a wealth of business and personal knowledge plus life experiences with them. Along with the new and reelected members, returning for their second year on the Board are Gary Price as Secretary, Melanie Whittington as Treasurer, Will Langford as Chapter Coordinator and Dave Gill as Publications/Public Relations Director. I look forward to serving with all of these fine representatives this year and learning from their vast experience.

A special thanks to outgoing Board members Kay Lee and Jay McCord for their outstanding service in 2023. 2023 was Kay and Jay’s sixth year serving as a Director. We all owe them a round of applause for the dedicated service to MAFCA.

Looking ahead at our calendar of events, we have a wonderful National Convention planned for June in New Mexico. The Southwest Model A SIG is working diligently on making our visit to Ruidoso one to remember. Check them out at SouthwestAVentures.com. Our National Awards Banquet will be held in Salt Lake City, UT in mid-December. Be sure and check out the 2024 NAB Video available via link on the MAFCA website. It is never too early to get these great events on your calendar so don’t forget to check out the MAFCA calendar on the MAFCA website. In addition, there will be numerous regional meets that provide wonderful touring and events. Keep an eye on the MAFCA calendars and plan accordingly.

In closing I would like to thank the Santa Maria A’s of Santa Maria, CA, Curt Warner, Bill and Laura Hansen, Hank and Karen Haugse, Roberta Weber, Kathy Pedrick, Dave Richards, Jay and Kay McCord and other chapter members for hosting a great 2023 National Awards Banquet. An awesome time was had by all. Thank you all for a wonderful time in Santa Maria, California.

See you down the road.
Robert Bullard, 2024 MAFCA President

December 2023

As it turns out I was one-month premature last month stating that article was my last as 2023 President. As it turns out I also write one for December. It has been a fun year serving as MAFCA National President. MAFCA is a large club with many moving pieces but thanks to a dedicated staff at Headquarters and nine directors in total, all the bases get covered month in and month out. The venerable Ford Model A is such timeless piece of automotive engineering and being part of a large group that is keeping it alive and relevant is exciting. Something engineered and designed in the late 1920’s that can still be a part of the automotive culture is extraordinary.

I want to thank you all for your hard work and dedication to making our Model A hobby so great. Your passion for Ford Model A’s is a pleasure to experience. Thanks to you all for making my year as MAFCA National President so pleasant. As the 2023 Board of Directors turns over direction of the Club to the 2024 Board, I am confident in their dedication to maintaining the MAFCA legacy. I expect you will be pleased with their sincere dedication to you, the membership. I am confident they will work diligently in your best interests.

2024 promises to be a promising year for MAFCA national activities with our National Convention scheduled in June for Ruidoso, NM. The Southwest Model A SIG has worked extremely hard to put together a great program of tours, social events, meals, seminars, car judging, fashion judging, swap meet, vendor displays plus opening and closing banquets. I look forward to a short reprieve from the summer heat in Texas in the cool temps in Ruidoso and look forward to seeing you there. At this time, we are also planning a presence at the MAFFI Model A Days in September, the Hershey Swap Meet in October and our National Awards Banquet in December. Hope to see you at one or all of these events. May all of you have a safe and happy holiday season.

See you down the road.
Robert Bullard, 2023 MAFCA President

November 2023

MAFCA once again had a presence at the Hershey Swap Meet in Hershey, PA from October 3 – 6. Office Manager Sandra Aguirre along with Chet Wojick Sr, Doug & Nan Linden, Kay Lee, Jay McCord and Wayne Champagne led the charge manning the tent and providing daily seminars on relevant Model A topics. By all accounts they did a great job. Thanks to all for their service to MAFCA and especially to Jay McCord for filling a vacancy on short notice.

MAFCA History: As I’m writing this article, I notice on my calendar that MAFCA’s annual anniversary is just a few days away. Saturday, October 21 marks our 66th Annual Anniversary. I went back to the first Restorer newsletter published May/June 1956 for some “current” information about the beginnings. Originally MAFCA was formed as the Model A Restorers Club of Southern California, with Art Miller as president, and was part of the Model A Restorers Club of West Hartford, Connecticut which was formed in 1952. Mr. Art Grow gathered 15 members and met on October 21 1955 to start the process of forming a MARC regional club in Southern California. By late 1956, there were 34 members centered in Southern California. The 1st Annual Award Dinner was held at Sailee’s Restaurant. Located across the street from NBC Burbank, the restaurant was noted for hosting television luminaries and stars.

On October 21, 1957, the MARC SC spun off from MARC and became Model A Ford Club of America. First mention of the current MAFCA logo is in Nov/Dec 1958. The 3rd Annual Business Meeting lists 1086 members. With a yeoman’s amount of work done between 1956 and 1958, MAFCA was establishing itself as a stand alone club with a growing membership. From 15 members and one chapter, as of August 2023, membership has grown to 10,550 in the U.S. and 283 Internationally. With 245 Chapters, MAFCA is now the largest car club in the U.S. dedicated to a single model automobile.

To continue with this great success, all you need to do is remain committed to the Model A hobby and to MAFCA as the Model A club of choice. Stay involved with your local club activities and assume a leadership role if possible. We need new and committed leadership at all levels in order to maintain our relevancy in today’s fast-moving, jet age society. Commit in the coming year to introduce our hobby to someone outside the hobby and by all means interface with our youth. They are a joy to be around and you never know when you are connecting and creating the desire for a future Model A hobbyist and potential MAFCA club member.

By the time this article is published we will have completed the 2023 Board of Directors voting and the new Board members elected by your votes will have been notified. They will meet at the National Awards Banquet in early December and will be sworn in as MAFCA’s 2024 Board of Directors. Take a moment and welcome this new Board of Directors to their new positions. I am confident they will work diligently to make 2024 another successful year.

This is my final article as the 2023 National President. I want to thank you all for your hard work and dedication to making our Model A hobby so great. Your passion for Ford Model A’s is a pleasure to experience. Thanks to you all for making my year as MAFCA National President so pleasant.

See you down the road!
Robert Bullard

October 2023

If you missed attending the 2023 MAFFI Model A Days event in Hickory Corners, MI during mid-September, you missed a great Model A gathering. Attendance was strong, lots of Model A’s were on display and there were plenty of activities and events to keep a person very busy during the two days.

MAFCA had a tent/canopy on site with some MAFCA items for sale and a lot Model A advice and information available for free. We were in a prime location and mostly had a continuous stream of visitors throughout the meet. It was great to see old friends and make new ones. A special thanks to Dave and Diane Libbey, Doug and Nan Linden, Kay Lee, Jay McCord and Rick Black for helping to man the tent. Their help was invaluable for maintaining a MAFCA presence at the tent.

Voting is underway for the 2023 Board of Directors election. By now you should have received your ballots and membership renewal notice in the mail. Please vote. This your opportunity to make a difference and help choose the new directors to serve in 2024. Nothing is as powerful as your individual right to vote for members of the MAFCA leadership team. Also, an early renewal of your membership is always appreciated..

MAFCA will once again have a tent as the Hershey Swap Meet in Hershey, PA from October 3 – 6. Office Manager, Sandra Aguirre along with Chet Wojcik SR and Chet Wojcik JR will lead a group of volunteers manning the tent and providing daily seminars on relevant Model A topics. Also, Sandra will have a host of MAFCA merchandise items for sale. Good time to pick up a MAFCA piece of clothing, a relevant Model A book or even Christmas cards and save on the shipping costs.

Also, it is time to make sure you are registered for the MAFCA National Awards Banquet being hosted by the Santa Maria A’s and being held in Santa Maria, Ca. Registration information is available on the MAFCA website and by contacting the Santa Maria A’s. I’m looking forward the meeting and the visit to Hearst Castle. Visiting Hearst Castle has been on my bucket list for years and it will be nice actually check that one off the list. I recently spoke with event organizers and they would appreciate early registrations. This will help them with planning and would assure you a spot on the tours. There is a chance the tours to Hearst Castle and Solvang (Danish Capital of the US) could sell out.

See you down the road!
Robert Bullard, 2023 MAFCA President

September 2023

I’m feel sorry for those that missed attending the MAFCA 2023 National Tour in Indiana and Michigan during July. The Southeast Touring Group hosted a great tour. With lots of great cars displayed in multiple auto museums to the fantastic rural roads through the Amish countryside, it was a very relaxing and enjoyable tour. The pace of progress during the week as we moved along the tour route was relaxing and easy to maintain. Combined with moderate temperatures and wonderful weather overall, it was a very comfortable tour even though we changed hotels and cities multiple times. It is hard for me to pick the best museum we visited but I would argue that you don’t won’t to miss the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum if you are ever in the Auburn, Indiana area. Without a question, the cars on display in this museum are the crème’ de la crème’. Many are true works of art and although it might not be practicable to drive such valuable cars on the open highways any longer, they are truly eye catching.

Another exciting moment during the tour through Amish country was when I finally got to pass someone. Granted they only had one horsepower and I have forty (so to speak) but I still passed them like they were standing still. A thrilling moment for sure since I’ve been passed more times than I can count. I thought I caught the horse give us a sideways glance admiring our car as we went by. I’m sure he was thinking what the heck just went by him.

All MAFCA members should have received their election ballots for the 2024 open Board of Director positions. I encourage everyone to vote during this very important election. Your vote determines which of the five candidates will fill the four vacant positions. A biographies sheet of all candidates was included in your ballot package but if misplaced you can also find it in the ELECTIONS page of the MAFCA website. Ballots must be returned postmarked by October 12, 2023 to be counted so please take the time to study the candidates, seek references if that will help you make your decision and vote! Your decisions are important for the future of MAFCA.

Also, it is time to make sure you are registered for the MAFCA National Awards Banquet being hosted by the Santa Maria A’s and being held in Santa Maria, Ca. Registration information is available on the MAFCA website and by contacting the Santa Maria A’s. I’m looking forward the meeting and the visit to Hearst Castle. Visiting Hearst Castle has been on my bucket list for years and it will be nice to actually check that one off the list. I recently spoke with event organizers and they would appreciate early registrations. This will help them with planning and would assure you a spot on the tours. There is a chance the tours to Hearst Castle and Solvang (Danish Capital of the US) could sell out.

See you down the road!
Robert Bullard, 2023 MAFCA President

August 2023

As I write this article and after months of planning, communication and hard work, the MAFCA 2023 National Tour, Back Roads to the Classics is days away from the execution stage. Elaine and I are packed and ready to make the trip to Indiana and Michigan and all the wonderful sites that are planned. We look forward to seeing all our Model A friends there and catching up on all the Model A news. I’m sure I’ll have more to report in the next issue of The Restorer.

I recently spent some quality time over a long weekend with numerous Texas Chapters at the 60th Texas Tour. In spite of the 103º temperatures, almost 200 registrants from 60 different Texas cities and 13 different Texas MAFCA chapters from all over the state were in attendance. Hands off the Pine Wood A’s (PWA’s) and their entire organizing committee for hosting such a successful tour. From the Sam Houston historical and H.E.A.R.T.S. military museums in the host city of Huntsville, TX to fantastic tour routes, era music from a live Brass Band, visit to a State Park, a winery tour, car games and last but not least, a fashion show made for a fun filled weekend. And I should add that all the meals were excellent and plentiful. I’m already looking for the 61st Texas Tour to be held next June in Nacogdoches, TX and hosted by the Dallas MAFC. Hope to see you there.

I hope you noticed in the current Restorer the photo attached in the MAFCA History section by Garth and Janet Shreading. I once saw a moose that was spread eagle and tied down to on the top of a Jeep Wagoneer. It stretched from the radiator to the rear bumper and in spite of some fishing tales I’ve told, I’ve never caught a fish that I had to tie down to the outside of my car to get it home. And, I might add the fish in the photo is actually wider than the Model A and hangs off both sides. I think I‘d be like Martin Broody in Jaws and wanting a bigger boat when this one swam up besides the boat. Now that’s a Texas sized fish.

MAFCA’s Facebook Page was started by Happy Begg in 2013 with no participants. By 2023, MAFCA’s Facebook Page has over 41,000 active members and robust interaction from its posts. I would like to give a special thank you to: Michael Eisenbise, Melanie Whittington (2023 Board Member) and Jay McCord (2023 Board Member) for all their diligent work in the role of active MAFCA Facebook Administrators and to Happy for her continued support. Even though Happy is no longer active on a day-to-day basis, she still serves as administrator emeritus. Thanks to all four of the captains of our Facebook page who work diligently to keep it operating smoothly and professionally.

In closing I would like to encourage every MAFCA member to vote in the current election for 2024 Directors. The candidates’ biographies will be published in The Restorer, posted on Facebook and listed on MAFCA’s website. Please make sure you vote on the candidates of your choice.

See you down the road!
Robert Bullard, 2023 MAFCA President

July 2023

Elaine and I just returned from the 60 th Texas Tour sponsored by the Piney Wood A’s. Held in Huntsville, TX and attended by almost 190 people, it was a great opportunity to see old friends and a chance to make some new ones. With plenty of interesting sites to see and some great Model A roads to cruise everyone had a great time in spite of the hottest temperatures of the year. It always seems the hottest part of the summer starts with the Texas Tour. I understand all those folks attending the Midwest Regional Meet in Breckenridge, CO enjoy cooler weather including snow! Snow along the Texas Gulf Coast is a rarity in winter and not even a dream in summer. But, I’ve got to admit it, would be a pleasant surprise.

As I clean up the car following the Texas Tour and do some routine maintenance, I’m looking forward to the MAFCA National Tour, Back Rroads to the Classics, starting on July 16 in northern Indiana and southern Michigan. The Southeastern Touring Group has put together a great tour with many interesting sites, car museums and points of interest to visit. After the tour Elaine and I will head over to Stockport, OH for four days of touring southeastern Ohio with a group of friends. One of our daily tours will follow the Covered Bridge Scenic Byway through the Wayne Forest. We don’t have covered bridges in our area and I’m looking forward to the change of scenery. Following this the group will head over to Champion, PA and catch many of the historic sites in that area. Besides visiting a couple of Frank Lloyd Wright houses we will visit the Jumonville Cross, Braddock Gravesite, Searights Toll House and Friendship Hill. If you see us on the road please honk and wave. We’ll be the slow guys in the right-hand lane.

I commented last month about MAFCA’s new membership recognition program MAFCA Star in Jay McCord’s Membership Moment column. Just want to remind everyone that any existing MAFCA members that bring in a new member to MAFCA will receive a MAFCA Star static clean sticker than can be displayed on any Model A window. Just make sure you get your name included on the application.

MAFCA is currently recruiting for a new Webmaster. Chapter Coordinator and Web Liaison Will Langford is leading the search. If you or anyone you know would be interested in serving as MAFCA’s Webmaster please contact Will at: chaptercoordinator@mafca.com. Will has all the details and job requirements available to share.

I recently received a link to a wonderful news story from MAFCA Director Gary Price about a friendship centered around a Model A. To view it, Click Here. The story features George Sage and Samuel Mpare who are both members of the Evergreen Chapter.  Produced by KOMO News 4, I think you will find the story heartwarming and a very tastefully done. Please share with your respective clubs during an upcoming meeting. I can’t imagine anyone in our hobby not being moved by this story and that many have had a similar experience either as a youngster on the receiving end or as the adult on the giving end. Thanks to Gary for sharing their story.

See you down the road!
Robert Bullard


For earlier President Page messages, check the President Page Archives page.


Last Updated: 03/01/24
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