AACA Night at the Museum to feature opening of Route 66 exhibit, “A Collector Car Conversation”

Photo by Mark Usciak, courtesy Antique Automobile Club of America Museum.

Held annually during Meet Week in Hershey, Pennsylvania, the AACA Museum’s “Night at the Museum” gives visitors a chance to see a different side of the facility, catch a glimpse of new exhibits, interact with automotive artists and hear from authorities in the collector car world. This year’s soiree, scheduled for October 5 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., includes the opening of a new Route 66 gallery (complete with catered and themed food and drinks) and “A Collector Car Conversation” with Wayne Carini, Ralph Marano and Bill Warner.

Though still under construction, the Route 66 exhibit will replace the museum’s former Rocky Mountain display, and will be used to highlight everything from vintage neon signs to Southwestern artifacts, such as an extensive Native American arrowhead collection donated to the museum by Tucker collector David Cammack. It’s a safe assumption that cars appropriate to the golden age of America’s Mother Road will be displayed as well.

Route 66 exhibit mock up. Image courtesy AACA Museum.

A Collector Car Conversation will star Wayne Carini, host of Velocity’s Chasing Classic Cars and owner of a trio of automotive businesses in Portland, Connecticut, including F40 Motorsports, which buys and sells classic cars; Continental Auto Limited, which specializes in exotic car repair; and Carini Carozzeria, which focuses on restorative work. Wayne will be joined by Ralph Marano, described in a July 2014 Hemmings Classic Car article as “one of the premier living Packard collectors, not just in this county, but in the world,” and owner of 85 meticulously restored classic cars. Moderating the discussion will be Bill Warner, founder and chairman of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and a respected collector in his own right.

Bill, along with co-author Tom Cotter, will also be signing copies of their book, Cuba’s Car Culture: Celebrating The Island’s Automotive Love Affair, available for purchase from the AACA Museum’s retail store.

The Night at the Museum also features a silent auction to raise money for the museum and the AACA Library & Research Center, and bidders can vie for lots like a 90-day turntable display of their classic car in the museum’s lobby; a “host your own” Night at the Museum for up to 100 guests; a Bill Bravo automotive portrait; and a pair of season passes to Carlisle Events in 2017. Music will be provided by harpist Mary-Kate Spring Lee, the Hershey High School Quartet, and the Jazz Me Trio, and artist displays will include works from Mark Watts, Bill Bravo & Bill Bravo Studios, Hot Rod Jen; Bob Paulding; Craig Booth and Dan Reed.

Tickets for the 2016 Night at the Museum are priced at $125, and can be purchased at AACAMuseum.org.

See original article at" https://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2016/09/23/aaca-night-at-the-museum-to-feature-opening-of-route-66-exhibit-a-collector-car-conversation/