Old Cars Golden Quill 2023 Winners
Old Cars honors the collector car hobby’s top club publications and editors for their excellence.
Shifts in the old-car hobby power the advance of collector interests as recovery mode continues in the wake of COVID.
“Several significant shifts in club publications are logical as costs for paper and publishing have significantly risen,” says Dr. Gerald Perschbacher, chief judge for the annual Golden Quill Awards issued by Old Cars. “Additional efforts in publishing have opened doors for regional clubs to simultaneously present their publications via email. Either way, clubs are active in the hobby even despite financial and operational ills that slowed the advance during the pandemic and beyond.”
He adds that a club’s publication is a timeless record of the hobby in a set region or on a specific slice of the hobby, such as fire engines, mid-1950s Chevrolets, Ford Thunderbirds, Chrysler 300s, CCCA Full Classics, and professional cars (for use by police, ambulance service, etc.)—and that large clubs often dedicate salutes to special segments of interest nationally and internationally. So the scope of coverage is healthy and booming.
“It seems every car club, regardless of size, is interested in building its future by expanding membership to younger generations, which is good for the future of the hobby,” says Angelo Van Bogart, editor for Old Cars. “That’s the way it should be. Each issue builds for the future.”
Both experts note that there have been changes in club editors and officials, including those who coordinate mailing lists. This can result in club publications not being submitted to Old Cars so they miss the opportunity to be considered for the Golden Quill Award, which is open to all national, regional and special-interest car and truck clubs. Even some international publications have been submitted.
“Every year it seems some clubs trim or adjust their list and, unfortunately, fail to submit on a regular basis,” says Perschbacher.
“Get us on your gratis mailing list for every issue, if possible,” Perschbacher adds, “since there are added benefits. In every issue of Old Cars, an article from one or more club publications is featured in ‘Club Clips.’ These excerpts from club publications are also posted online to help grow the club’s reach. Additionally, Old Cars can alert readers to key shows, tours and other events your club may be conducting in the future. When your club’s issues are received, it can open new vistas for potential club expansion.”
Key factors in judging include balanced content, visuals, accuracy, creativity, technical tips, data and design—plus service to readers.
There is no charge to enter the Golden Quill competition. Categories are based on the distributional scope of a club (such as national or regional) and page count. The National categories are: Luxury Size (60 or more pages); Full Size (37-59 pages); Intermediate Size (25-36 pages); and Compact Size (24 or fewer pages). Regional and chapter club publications are: Full Size (21 or more pages); Intermediate Size (13-20 pages); and Compact (12 or fewer pages).
“When judging publications, we look for stories on members and their vehicles and sharply reproduced images of member vehicles,” Van Bogart says. “A club publication should serve its members by connecting them with each other and ways to enjoy the hobby, including through social events—including before and after coverage of these events—plus tips to restoring and maintaining their vehicles. Tips can come in the form of stories or advertisements that help members repair their vehicles and/or lead them to part sources. Tips might also include how-to stories. Ideally, it’s a mix of both.
“As judges, we also look for interesting historical stories that enrich members’ hobby knowledge,” Van Bogart adds. “Some content that we don’t think serves members well are poorly reproduced images, too many images of members eating during a club event and not enough images of members’ vehicles, plus off-topic editorial content (non-hobby-related stories).”
Perschbacher adds that if a club publication is only available online, an edition should be printed and mailed to him and the Old Cars editorial address for consideration since online images can vary in quality and impact. To be fair, printed copies are the standard for judging.
Golden Quill Award winners listed here receive a certificate for the achievement. Those in the category of Honorable Mention receive special notice in this issue of Old Cars and on the publication’s website, but no certificate.
To have your club publication considered for the Golden Quill Award, submit gratis copies of the printed club publication to the following:
Dr. Gerald Perschbacher, Chief Judge
Golden Quill Awards
8868 Rock Forest Drive
St. Louis, MO 63123-1116
AND
Old Cars Editor*
PO Box 658
Neenah, WI 54957
*Note new mailing address
National Luxury Size
- Antique Automobile, West Peterson, editor, The Antique Automobile Club of America
- Avanti, Lewis Schucart, editor, Avanti Owners Association International
- Horseless Carriage Gazette, Tracy Lesher, editor, Horseless Carriage Club of America
- Lincoln & Continental Comments, Jeff Shively, editor, Lincoln & Continental Owners Club
- LineChaser, Martin Moody, editor, Minnesota Street Rod Association
- Model T Times, Natalie Weaver, editor, The Model T Ford Club International
- Model "A" News, Helen Ehrenhofer, editor, The Model "A" Restorers Club
- The NCRS Driveline, Vinnie Peters, editor, The National Corvette Restores Society
- Porsche Panorama, Ron Sass, editor, The Porsche Club of America
- Pur Sang, Cornelia J. Cesari, editor, American Bugatti Club
- The Restorer, Andy Scheer, editor, Model A Ford Club of America
- Smoke Signals, Tim Dye, editor, Pontiac-Oakland Club International
- Turning Wheels, Ann Turner, editor, The Studebaker Drivers Club
- V8 Times, Shannon Olson, editor, Early Ford V-8 Club of America
- The Vintage Ford, Aleesa Drennen, editor, Model T Ford Club of America
National Full Size
- Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club Newsletter, Shannon Olson, editor, Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club
- Brute Force, Danny Goss, editor, The Chrysler 300 Club
- Buick Bugle, Pete Phillips, editor, Buick Club of America
- The Bulb Horn, Dennis Holland, editor, The Vintage Motor Car Club of America
- The Cormorant, Stuart R. Blond, editor, The Packard Club
- The Corvette Restorer, Vinnie Peters, editor, National Corvette Restorers Society
- Early Bird, Garrett Shropshire, editor, Classic Thunderbird Club International
- Fork & Blade, Greg Bilpuch, editor, Lincoln Owners’ Club
- Generator & Distributor, Vince Taliano, editor, Vintage Chevrolet Club of America
- The Professional Car, Walt McCall, editor, The Professional Car Society
- Thunderbird Script, Tiffany Hillman, editor, International Thunderbird Club
- Thunderbird Scoop, Terri McNeill, editor, Vintage Thunderbird Club International
- Plymouth Bulletin, Lanny D. Knutson, editor, Plymouth Owners Club
- Quicksilver, Todd Haefer, editor, International Mercury Owners Association
- The Self-Starter, Jeff Shively, editor, Cadillac & LaSalle Club
- Woodie Times, Roddy Sergiades, editor, National Woodie Club
- White Triangle News, Sam Jackson, editor, Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club
National Intermediate Size
-Air Cooled News, Alex Huppe & Jeryl Schriever, co-editors, The H.H. Franklin Club
- The Arrow, Steven Rossi, editor, Pierce-Arrow Society, with addendum support issues of Emporium and Service Bulletin (edited by David White)
- The Brickline, Stuart Zukrow, editor, Brinklin International Car Club
- The Cormorant News Bulletin, Craig Handley, editor, The Packard Club
- Corsa Communique, Don Keefe, editor, Corvair Society of America
- Crosley Quarterly, Abigayle & Joyce Morgan, editors, Crosley Automobile Club
- DeSoto Adventures, David Frank, editor, National DeSoto Club
- Dodge Brothers Club News, Tracy Lesher, editor, Dodge Brothers Club
- Durant Partner, Shawn D. Humphrey, editor, Durant Motors Automobile Club
- Fomoco Times, Travis B. Sheaffer, editor, Crown Victoria Association
- Hupp Herald, Robin Woolsey, editor, Hupmobile Club
- Kaiser Frazier Owners Club Quarterly, Jack Mueller, editor, KFOCI
- LaCad, Andrew & Rachel Rees, editors, Cadillac & LaSalle Club of Australia
- The Legend, Tom Szymczyk, editor, GTO Association of America
- The Nomad Post, Leslie Manning, editor, Chevrolet Nomad Association
- The Packard Cormorant, Stuart R. Blond, editor, Packard Automobile Classics
- The Riview, Ray Knott, editor/director, Riviera Owners Association
- Sallee Speaks, John Byrden, editor, LaSalle Appreciation Society
- The Skyliner, Jim Conrad, editor, International Ford Retractable Club
- The Starter, Evan & Linda Meyerriecks, editors, Willys-Overland-Knight Registry
- Stutz News, Carl Jensen, editor, Stutz Club
- Talegate, George Holt, editor, The International Station Wagon Club
- Torque Tube II, Matthew Hinson, editor, ’36-’38 Buick Club
- The Vintage Triumph, Shawn Frank, editor, The Vintage Triumph Register
- The Way of the Zephyr, Richard L. Cole, editor, Lincoln-Zephyr Owners Club
- WPC News, Frank Pascoe, editor, WPC Club
National Compact Size
- AEV (Action Era Vehicle), Charles R. “Charlie” Smith, editor, Contemporary Historical Vehicle Association
- Airflow Newsletter, John Boyd, editor, The Airflow Club of America
- American Austin Bantam Club News, Bob & Cathy Cunningham, editors, American Austin Bantam Club
- Corvanantics, Molly Bacon, editor, Corvair Society of America
- Cross Flags, Jeff Butz, editor, The 1965-66 Full Size Chevrolet Club
- Front Wheel Driver, Brad Bishop, editor, The Toronado Owners Association
- Jeepster News, Pete Mozzone, editor, Willys Overland Jeepster Club
- Kaiser Frazier Owners Club International Monthly News Bulletin, Barbara Mueller, editor, KFOCI
- The Marmon News, George Bradley, editor, The Marmon Club
- North American Singer Owners Club News, Phillip Avis, editor, North American Singer Owners Club News
- Professional Car Collector, Louis C. Farah, editor, Professional Cars International
- Reo Echo, Stan Pream and Marty & Joyce Moody, editors, The Reo Club of America
- Runabouts to Rockets, Richard Winn, editor, National Antique Oldsmobile Club
- The Silver Shell, Jeff Buckley, editor, Moon Car Club
- Skylark, Gary Di Lillo, editor, ‘53-’54 Buick Skylark Club
- The Supercharger, Dale Robbins, editor, Graham Owners Club International
- Thunder & Lightning, John Leed, editor, Hurst/Olds Club
of America
- Viva Carrera!, Charles & Elvie Clark, editors, The Road Race Lincoln Club
- VSA, Jim Bates, editor, Volvo Sports America/1800 Register
- Wheels & Waves, John Kramer, editor, International Amphicar Club
National Museums/Associations
- The Ford Legend, newsletter members committee, Henry Ford Heritage Association
- Foundation News, Henry Dominguez, editor, The Early Ford V-8 Foundation
- Reflections, Don “Rick” Risser, president, AACA Museum
Regions/Chapters Full Size
- The Cowtown “A,” Chuck Nixon, editor, Fort Worth Model “A” Ford Club
- The Bonding Strip, Ed Vignone, editor, NCRS-Southern California Chapter
- The Dashboard, Maureen Blevins, editor, CCCA-Greater Illinois Region
- Fiero Focus, Sadie Kaminski & Christopher Sass, editors, Northern Illinois Fiero Enthusiasts
- Gateway Gazette, Ted Necker, editor, Buick Club of America-St. Louis Gateway Chapter
- Overhead Cammer, Jim Black, editor, Pontiac-Oakland Club International-Overhead Cammers Chapter
- Packard Digest, Kevin Luedtke, director, Motor City Packards
- RPM, Jimmy Patitucci, editor, NCRS-Pittsburgh State Chapter
-Torque, Rich Ray, editor, Classic Car Club of America-Michigan Region
-The Vette Signal, Tom Komendera, editor, NCRS-Michigan Chapter
National Intermediate Size
- The Blue Gray Rocket Review, Darlene Myers, editor, Oldsmobile Club of America-Blue Gray Chapter
- Boomtimes, William C. Anderson, editor, Buick Owners of Maryland
- Caddy Chatter, Tony Albarella, editor, Cadillac Club of New Jersey
- CSRA Street Talk, Tina Schumacher, editor, Georgia Street Rod Association
- Henney Program of Progress, George Hamlin, editor, Professional Car Society-Henney Chapter
- High Plains Shifter, Dennis Dalton, editor, NCRS-Rocky Mountain Chapter
- Hoosier Tailfin, Michael Fellenzer, editor, Cadillac & LaSalle Club-Indiana Chapter
- The Hub Cap, Jim Nicholson, editor, CCCA-Wisconsin Region
- Northern Lights, Kim Gardner, editor, AACA-Minnesota Region
- The Occasional, Steven G. Williams, editor, Model T Ford Club of Greater St. Louis
- On Call, Bee Hamlin, editor, Professional Car Society-Mid-Atlantic Chapter
- SNIC Braaapp, Robert Zoboski, editor, Triumph-Illinois Sports Owners Association
- Willys Overland Words (WOW), Martin Jaeger, editor, Willys Overland Knight Registry-Northwest Chapter
National Compact Size
- Airhorn, Charley Biddle, editor, Chicagoland Corvair Enthusiasts
- Arc & Spark, David O. Lyon, editor, Kalamazoo Antique Auto Restorers Club
- Carhart Chronicle, Ralph Kalal, editor, Society of Automotive Historians-Wisconsin Chapter
- Carolina Plymouth Power, Dean Yates, editor, Carolina Owners Club
- The Chatter, Kim Gardner, editor, AACA-Capitol City Chapter
- Classic Olds Journal, Mary Degler, Olds Club of Florida
- The Echo, Chris Collins, editor, Studebaker Drivers Club-Grand Canyon State Chapter
- The Enchantment Flyer, Paul Duncan, editor, The Tin Lizzies of Albuquerque
- ETCetera, Maryellen Myers, editor, Pontiac-Oakland Club International-Early Times Chapter
- Finz, Ron Melville, editor, The Cadillac & La Salle Club of New Zealand
- Fleetwood Flyer, Craig Masterson, editor, St. Louis Region-Cadillac & LaSalle Club
- The Gas Buggy Gazette, editor, AACA-Gettysburg Region
- GLR News, Steve Blakey, editor, VMCCA-Great Lakes Region
- The Golden Rocket, Carol Murray, editor, Oldsmobile Club of America-57 Chapter
- Hoppers Auto Club, Bob Kranich, editor, Hoppers Auto Club
- The Horseless Page, Cinda Dorholt, editor, Horseless Carriage Club of America-Twin Cities Regional Group
- Hudson News, Bob Morgan, president, Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club-Northern IN-OH Chapter
- Hudsonnews, Richard Low, editor, Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club-Dixie Chapter
- Northstar News, Dave Gustafson, publications, Lincoln & Continental Owners Club-Northstar Region
- Packardgram, Duane Gunn, editor, Packards International-Arizona Region
- The Packard Panorama, Ray Wotkowski, editor, Keystone Packards
- PCPV News, Paul Bergstrom, editor, Pontiac-Oakland Club International-Pontiac Commercial & Professional Vehicle Chapter
- Plantary News, Mike Zahorik, editor, Model T Ford Club of Greater Milwaukee
- The Potomac Rambler, Chad Quella, editor, AMC & Rambler Enthusiasts
- The Redline Times, Reba Whittington, editor, National Corvette Restorers Society-Carolinas Chapter
- The Rocket Recorder, Ima Benedek, editor, Delaware Valley Oldsmobile Club
- Rocket Review, Judy Badgley, editor, Oldsmobile Club of America-R.E. Olds Chapter
- Royal GTO & Pontiac Tales, Brian Baker, editor, GTO Association of America-Royal GTOs & Pontiacs Chapter
- Sidelights, Jean Hawa, editor, AACA-South Florida Region
- Standard of the World, Bill Levy, editor, Cadillac & LaSalle Club-North Texas Region
- Studebaker Spokesman, Claude Chmielewski, editor, Studebaker Driver’s Club-Wisconsin Region
- Wheeltracks, Anne Pierce, Gary Fiske and Nancy & Ken Gypson, editors, Vermont Automobile Enthusiasts
HONORABLE MENTION
- The Belltown Bulletin, Dan David, editor, Belltown Antique Car Club
- Bow Tie Bulletin, Ron Panicucci, editor, Vintage Chevrolet Club of America-Jersey Lakeland Region
- Bird Talk, Art Fleming, editor, Long Island Thunderbird Club
- Chrysler Tonic, Carol Morice, editor, WPC Club-Northern Region
- Empire Tractor Newsletter, Carl Hering, editor, Empire Tractor
- The Enlightener, Dan Cress, editor, Cadillac & LaSalle Club-Badger Region
- The Fordist Newsletter, Martha Lazdins, editor, Early Ford V-8 Club of America-Southern California Regional Group 11
- The Fuel Line, Lynn Skipper, editor, NCRS-Florida Chapter
- The GMC Times, Paul Bergstrom, editor, Pontiac-Oakland Club International-GMC Truck Chapter
- GR-RRR! Gram, Jean Nance, editor, Wichita GTO Club
- The Hudson-Aire, Lynn P. Horn, editor, Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club-Chesapeake Bay Chapter
- Nebraskaland POCI, Lori Steere, editor, Pontiac-Oakland Club International-Nebraskaland Chapter
- Packard Profiles, Ken Dunning, editor, Packard Automobile Classics-Peachstate Packards Region
- Phantom News, Arlene Roth, editor, Phantoms Motor Club
- Poncho Perfection, Don Keefe, editor, Cruisin’ Tigers GTO & All Pontiac Club
- The Rope Shaft Reader, Gary Stoiber, editor, Pontiac- Oakland Club International-Little Indians Chapter
- Rumble Sheet, Bill Gillies, editor, Early Ford V-8 Club of America-Twin Cities Region
- The Starterator, Rich Gibbs, editor, Contemporary Historical Vehicle Association-Sunflower Region
- Thunderbird Flyer, Tom Prezdwojewski, president, Northwest Vintage Thunderbird Club
- The Town Crier, Rick Schickling, editor, AACA-Valley Forge Region
- Up to Speed, Maureen Blevins, editor, CCCA-Greater Illinois Region
- Wheels “A” Rolling, David Young, editor, Wheels “A” Rolling Mid-Atlantic Region
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