Anne Neely-Beck

Anne's Model A involvement began when she and James Beck were married in 1986. James bought his first Model A chassis when he was just 14 and his dream of owning a 1931 Roadster became a reality in 2001. Anne and James have enjoyed owning a total of five Model A's since 1994. Joining the Shade Tree A's Model A Club was, of course, key to their growing knowledge of the Model A hobby. Even though their club meetings are held some 120 miles from home, they've rarely missed one since 1999. After going on a club tour in 2000, and having so much fun, they were "hooked". In fact, that's when Anne volunteered to write a bi-monthly fashion article for their club's newsletter from 2001-2004. Following that responsibility, Anne initiated the "Vintage Visions" column with contributions from other club members, which has really been a delight for everyone involved since 2004. The Shady A Ladies set a goal in 2001 to have everyone dress in era (or at least the era look) for the annual Abbeville Tour in November. Everyone enjoyed the challenge and camaraderie of that event, so…Anne's next inspiration was to have the club publish a cookbook which included pictures showcasing their Model A's and era fashion at many historical sights in and around Augusta. It proved to be a "winner" and a big money maker for the club. In 1992, Anne fell heir to a trunk filled with 1924-1931 memories from her husband's aunt Martha. Anne finally was able delve into the trunk memorabilia in 2000 and created many memory boards displaying Aunt Martha's collection for the 2003 MAFCA Divisional Meet hosted by the Shade Tree A's. Another terrific find in her own family was from Anne's mom. She has the baby and toddler clothes her mom wore during 1928- 1931. In fact, a 1928 baby dress is slated to be modeled by Anne's granddaughter, Neely Kate Leverett, at the Augusta Mall for the club's fashion show in July. One of Anne's favorite experiences was when she drove their 1931 Roadster on its maiden voyage of the "Social Security Run" in 2003. She was dressed in era from "head to toe" for the 450 mile trek. She said her feet hurt for days but she'd do it again in a heartbeat. It was just one of those fun events that you have to do when the opportunity presents itself. For those interested in getting into the era fashion scene, Anne's advice is, "Don't be afraid. Go for the look of the era first and then decide what you want to tackle…. Reproduction or Original." Anne's counsel is that "you're bound to make mistakes but that's okay". It's the fun of making new friends and gaining a new perspective about the ladies of our Model A era. Anne is looking forward to increasing her knowledge about era fashion as a member of the Era Fashion Committee. We warmly welcome Anne to the team. Revised 06/08/24 Close this window to return to the MAFCA web site.