THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AUTOMOBILE CLUBS OF CANADA
is the new name of the the
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ANTIQUE AUTOMOBILE CLUBS OF CANADA CORPORATION
Any reference to the old name on this website is because those reports were created before the name change
A Brief History.
In the early 1960's a group of old car enthusiasts from Ontario and Quebec started to work together to lobby the Federal Government to remove the duty and taxes charged on old cars and related parts at the U.S./Canada border. Car clubs from across Canada were contacted and asked to help support their cause. Canada‘s Centennial was coming up in 1967. A group from the Historical Automobile Society of Canada (HASC) started to promote the idea to have an Antique Car Tour that traveled across Canada . Most known antique clubs in Canada were contacted and invited to take part. The tour started in Victoria, B.C. and traveled to St. John’s, Newfoundland. Nine cars covered the total distance under their own power. This tour was hosted by the various clubs as it passed through their areas. Hobbyists joined the tour where they wanted and stayed on tour as long as their holidays allowed. There were 125 official registrations. This tour unified the car clubs coast to coast and was a big step to the formation of a Canadian Chartered Organization.
Lines of communication were kept open between the clubs and by 1969 the Canadian Historic Automobile Federation (CHAF) was operating. This organization was operational until 1974-75. Financial assistance was offered by the Craven Foundation and the organizations name was changed to The National Association of Antique Automobile Clubs of Canada Corporation.
During the C.H.A.F. era a "Calendar of Events" was published once a year. This was a pocket size booklet listing the clubs activities across Canada. A bi-monthly "National Ad letter" was also printed. Both these publications were mailed to all member clubs for distribution to individual members. With the advent of NAAACCC a new book "Vintage Canada" was published. In 1977, Craven Foundation withdrew their financial support, the Craven Foundations historical car collection was sold to private owners; subsequently the magazine was taken over by Wheelspin News. Eventually the magazine was discontinued due to lack of funds but the operating body of the NAAACCC remained intact. Membership dues were restructured and dedicated directors worked long hours to keep the National Association on the forefront of the hobby.
It was during this period that the NAAACCC was instrumental in bringing about changes to the Federal Tariff regulations so that there was no longer ‘Tariff Duty’ on vehicles and parts 25 years and older.
Along with changes to the Tariff Act came the standardizing of safety regulations in the hobby. The NAAACCC also had great influence on stopping the ‘Gas Guzzler Tax’ and the request for a Safety Standards Equivalent with new model cars. These requirements were going to be placed on all of our older vehicles. (pre 78 vehicles --modified vehicles included) Can you imagine airbags, daytime running lights and padded dashboards being required in your collector vehicle! It should be noted that these regulations were requested by the Alberta Provincial Government.
Through NAAACCC and Collector Car Club Council of BC lobbying efforts the British Columbia Government made an exemption for antique and collector cars from their stringent emission testing program under the B.C. Clean Air Act. (2000—2004)
The NAAACCC sits on the advisory board to BC’S Air Care commission. From 2002--09 it has met with Nigel Mathews, ICBC, Department of Motor Vehicles. The NAAACCC is part of the Collector Car Club Council of BC. It provides input to various ICBC and Air Care related topics.
From 1994 through 1996 the NAAACCC lobbied the Federal Government against the Canadian National Action Plan Program, (CNAP) which proposed to remove all pre-1977 vehicles from public highways through a buy-back program. This program was proposed to reduce emissions but unfortunately it did not include lawnmowers, chainsaws, snowmobiles, airplanes, steel smelters and coal furnaces. Our then president Harly Plougmann presented over 87,000 hand written petitions to The Honorable Ann McClellan then Minister of Natural Resources office in Ottawa. She was also a member of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (C.C.M.E.) which along with the Canadian Council of Energy Ministers (C.C.E.M.) form Canada's representation to the world's Symposiums on Climate Change, including the various world meetings including "The Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change". Through NAAACCC efforts the program was put on hold. This showed our membership once again that our associations’ efforts are effective. These kinds of laws can seriously restrict our hobby. It is a well established fact that our hobby has no impact on environmental concerns.
ln 1992 the NAAACCC organized a Cross Canada 125th anniversary tour. Joe Weir served as wagon master. This tour started in St. John’s, NFLD and ended in Victoria, B.C. It was a huge success. The social fellowship among clubs and members was really something to be part of. Many new friends were made as this tour traveled across Canada.
The NAAACCC received applications for a Coast to Coast Tour in 2000 through tour organizers Frank and Diane Unrau of Alberta. There was great deal of support and interest in this tour. It started in Victoria B.C. on July 9 2000 and finished in St. John’s, NFLD on August 18. This tour had been in the planning stages for two years. It was completely full with approximately 200 participants taking part. As an aside, no NAAACCC funds were used. The tour was completely self- funded by the participants.
Under the guidance of long time Vintage Car of Canada member Fraser Field another NAACC sanctioned Cross Canada Tour is being planned for the summer of 2010. (please refer to the NAACC web site www.naacc.ca for information)
In 2003 the NAACC dealt successfully with Bill C-32. We also were successful in dealing with Bill 241 / 20 in 2003.
In 2008 we lobbied the Federal Government re the Leaded racing fuel ban and were able to obtain an extension until the end of 2010. We have helped amend the emission legislation in British Columbia and are currently working in all Provinces across Canada.
It should be remembered that as well as dealing with a great many Provincial concerns across Canada our primary focus is dealing with flawed proposed Federal legislation.
In 2009 the NAAACCC modified its name and dropped the word Antique. This name change reflects the change in the hobby over the past decade. The National Association of Automobile Clubs of Canada has now been serving the collector car community for over 40 years.
In November 2009 John Carlson president/CEO of the NAACC was asked to assume a HVA Board position to represent the NAACC with the newly formed (HVA) Historical Vehicle Association in the USA.
The HVA and FIVA joined forces officially in November 2009. FIVA, HVA and the NAACC are now the largest single collector vehicle lobby group in the world.
Membership fees in the NAACC are based on a per member, per club, per year structure. This fee is used to conduct the operations of the Corporation. i.e. phone conferences, mail-outs, vehicle judging and safety certificates, maintaining an Internet web site and overall expenses incurred in lobbies such as the Canadian National Action Plan lobby (CNAP) or Bill C-32, and Bill 241/20, etc.
Most Clubs want to support a ‘National’ organization that is concerned with unifying and representing the ‘hobby’ across Canada; an Organization which is recognized and respected by both the Federal and Provincial Governments. Although we cannot guarantee success in preventing frivolous legislative proposals, we do know that by being watchful and acting on behalf of all hobbyists we can attempt to lessen the severity or eliminate negative legislation for the benefit of all collector vehicle enthusiasts.
Again, we are completely non-profit and average hundreds of hours of work each month on your behalf.
At your next club meeting please let your membership know how important it is to be part of the NAACC. We need a strong voice with the Government!
Board of Directors, NAACC
www.naacc.ca
www.naaaccc.ca web site
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