Club publications earn Golden Quill Awards

There are no two ways about it: The quality of car club publications was on the rise during 2015. “It’s as clear as a blue sky that more and more car clubs realize the importance of their publications and are doing something about it,” said Dr. Gerald Perschbacher, chief judge for the 2015 Golden Quill Award issued by Old Cars Weekly. “As a result, the entire old car hobby is beneficiary.”

Perschbacher has followed the ups and downs of trends over the past 30-plus years. Having been a club editor, he can appreciate the ways in which a fine club publication shines good light on a club and is a benefit for membership.

“Clubs do some of their best communicating thorough a publication, whether in print or, as some clubs choose, online. The club’s ‘face’ for many of its members is the publication. It is a friend coming to the mailbox of members, a cordial handout to prospects, and a ‘fun read’ that keeps members going in the same direction. For some clubs, the publication is the cement that binds the members in a common goal,” he says.

For 2015, it seemed clubs were putting more importance on their publications. This appears true for national and regional clubs. “Yes, there is more use of color printing, more pages and better layouts plus design extras that have placed publications on top of the mail heap when items are opened. From what I can tell, car club magazines often are the first things read in daily mail.”

Perschbacher says that the days of a hunt-and-peck, blandly composed and non-visual publication are practically gone. “Readers want bang from their membership bucks, which may have forced clubs to get more serious about content and appearance.”

In selecting the winners announced in this issue, the chief judge explains, “The outer dimensions and page count of a publication place it in a category. Balance of articles, range of topics and serviceability for members quickly follow. Quality photos, originality, technical tips and social ability of articles are factors, too. Overall, what is wanted is a truly admirable publication that members want to pick up and read as soon as it arrives.”

He says publications receiving an “Honorable Mention” should be confident that they are on the right track “as improvements lift the publications to potentially winning spots. The competition is tough, to say the least, but the advantages for the entire hobby are golden. Good publications can set a high mark for the hobby and its recognition.”

Perschbacher concludes, “If a club wants to know what it takes to produce a winning publication, just look at examples in this issue’s list. By gleaning tips from those, it will give prospective winners a chance to improve and move onto that list in the future.”

Air Cooled News, Alex Huppe & Jeryl Schriever, co-editors, H.H. Franklin Club, Inc.

American Motoring, Cheryl Samuel & Mike Spangler, editors, American Motors Owners Association

Antique Automobile, West Peterson, editor, The Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA)

At The Sign Of The Cat, Thierry Frisch, editor, Cougar Club of America

Avanti Magazine, Lewis Schucart, editor, Avanti Owners Association International

Brute Force, Merle Wolfer, senior associate editor, Chrysler 300 Club, Inc.

Buick Bugle, Pete Phillips, editor, Buick Club of America (BCA)

The Bulb Horn, Dennis Holland, editor, The Veteran Motor Car Club of America (VMCCA)

The Classic Car, Ron Verschoor, editor, The Classic Car Club of America (CCCA)

The Cormorant News Bulletin, Craig Handley, editor, The Packard Club

The Corvette Restorer, Vinnie Peters, editor, National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS)

Early Bird, Lin Somsak, editor, Classic Thunderbird Club International

Enjine! Enjine!, Scott Rollins, editor, SPAAMFAA

Generator & Distributor, Kate Sullivan, editor, Vintage Chevrolet Club of America, Inc.

Horseless Carriage Gazette, John Meyer III, editor, Horseless Carriage Club of America (HCCA)

The Ignitor, John Teel, editor, Spark Plug Collectors of America

Journey With Olds, Shannon Olson, editor, Oldsmobile Club of America

Comments, Tim Howley, editor, Lincoln & Continental Owners Club

LineChaser, Tom Vollbrecht Jr., editor, Minnesota Street Rod Association

Mercedes-Benz Classic, Jochen Fisher, editor, Mercedes-Benz

Model “A” News, Helen Ehrenhofer, editor, Model A Restorers Club (MARC)

Model A Times, John LaVoy , editor, Model A Times

The NCRS Driveline, Eric Mortimer, editor, National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS)

The Packard Cormorant, Stuart R. Blond, editor, Packard Automobile Classics

Packards International Magazine, Don Hull, editor, Packards International Motor Car Club

Plymouth Bulletin, Lanny D. Knutson, editor, Plymouth Owners Club

Porsche Panorama, Pete Stout, editor, The Porsche Club of America

Porsche 356 Registry, Gordon Maltby, editor, Porsche 356 Registry, Inc.

The Professional Car, Walt McCall, editor, The Professional Car Society

Pur Sang, Tim Clifford, editor, American Bugatti Club

Quicksilver, Todd Haefer, editor, International Mercury Owners Association

The Restorer, Jim Spawn, editor, Model A Ford Club of America (MAFCA)

The Riview, Ray Knott, editor, The Riviera Owners Association

Sacred Octagon, David Lawley, editor, The New England MG “T” Register, Ltd.

Secrets, Charlie Yapp, editor, The Secrets of Speed Society

The Self-Starter, Stephen E. “Steve” Stewart, Cadillac & LaSalle Club, Inc.

Smoke Signals, Don Keefe, editor, Pontiac Oakland Club International (POCI)

Thunderbird Scoop, Terri McNeill, editor, Vintage Thunderbird Club International (VTCI)

Turning Wheels, Ann Turner, editor, The Studebaker Drivers Club (SDC)

V8 Times, Jerry Windle, editor, Early Ford V-8 Club of America

The Vintage Ford, Jennifer Hollandbeck, editor, Model T Ford Club of America (MTFCA)

Wheels of Time, Stormy Wylie, editor, American Truck Historical Society

White Triangle News (WTN), Sam Jackson, editor, Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club, Inc.

Action Era Vehicle, Charles E. Smith, editor, Contemporary Historical Vehicle Association

The Arrow, Roger J. Sherman, editor, Pierce-Arrow Society

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club Newsletter, Shannon Olson, editor, Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club

The Brickline, John T. Blair, editor, Bricklin International Owners Club, Inc.

CCCA Bulletin, Ron Verschoor, editor, Classic Car Club of America

Corsa Communique, Mike McGowan, executive editor, Corvair Society of America, Inc.

Crosley Quarterly, Fred Syrdal, editor, Crosley Automobile Club, Inc.

DeSoto Adventures, Geoff Overley, editor, National DeSoto Club, Inc.

Fomoco Times, Travis Sheaffer, editor, Crown Victoria Association

Healey Marque, Reid Trummel, editor, Austin-Healey Club of America

Impala News, Mike Berry, editor, National Impala Assoc.

The Legend, Tom Szymczyk, editor, GTO Association of America

The Nomad Post, John Lee, editor, The Chevrolet Nomad Association

On Solid Ground, Ken Amrick, editor, Solid Axle Corvette Club

Reo Echo, Stan (Butch) & Lois Pream & Martin Moody, editors, The Reo Club of America, Inc.

Runabouts to Rockets, Wendy Crosby, editor, National Antique Oldsmobile Club

Skyliner, John Shapiro, editor, International Ford Retractable Club

The Starter, John Nikodym, editor, Willys-Overland-Knight Registry

Stutz News, Carl Jensen, editor, The Stutz Club, Inc.

Torque Tube II, Joseph Suarez, editor, 1936-1938 Buick Club

Vintage Triumph, Mike Cook, editor, The Vintage Triumph Register

VSA, Jim Bates, editor, Volvo Sports America/1800 Register, Inc.

The Way of the Zephyr, David L. Cole, editor-in-chief, Lincoln-Zephyr Owners Club

Wheels & Waves, Larry & Pat DePasquale, editors, The International Amphicar Owners Club

Woodie Times, John Lee, editor, The National Woodie Club

WPC News, Richard Bowman, editor, Chrysler Product Restorers Club

Airflow Newsletter, Frank Faly, editor, Airflow Club of America

American Austin Bantam Club News, Bob & Cathy Cunningham, editors, The American Austin Bantam Club

Chrysler 300 Club News, Andy Mikonis, editor, Chrysler 300 Club International, Inc.

Cross Flags, Jeff Butz, editor, 65-66 Full Size Chevrolet Club

Driven, Bill Funk, editor, Shelby American Automobile Club of America

Driveshaft, Doug Buhrer, editor, Lambda Car Club International

Durant Partner, Carol Fogarazzo, editor, Durant Motors Automobile Club

’53-’54 Buick Skylark, Gary I. Lillo, editor, ’53-’54 Buick Skylark Club

Front Wheel Driver, Steve & Lucy Blakey, editors, Toronado Owners Association

Jeepster News, James J. Sommer, editor, Willys Overland Jeepster Club,

Kaiser Frazer Owners Club International Monthly News Bulletin, Barbara Mueller, editor, Kaiser Frazer Owners Club International

Long Life, John Nikodym, editor, WOKR — Official Velie Registry

The Marmon News, Jeff Stumb, editor, The Marmon Club

The National Falcon News, Janet Wilkerson, editor, The Falcon Club of America, Inc.

1915-1918 Buick & McLaughlin-Buick Owners Newsletter Group, Dean G. Tryon, editor, 1915-1918 Buick & McLaughlin-Buick Owners Group

North American Singers Owners Club News, Phillip Avis, editor, North American Singer Owners Club

Professional Car Collector, Louis C. Farah, editor, Professional Cars International

The Silver Shell, Jeff Buckley, editor, Moon Car Club

Supercharger, Dale Robbins, editor, Graham Owners Club International, Inc.

Thunderbird Script, Nicole Colwell, editor, International Thunderbird Club

Thunder & Lightning, Renee Kuharchuk, editor, Hurst/Olds Club of America

Tiger News!, Paul & Nichole Lyczak, editor, The Cruisin’ Tigers GTO Club, Inc.

Tough Americans, Jock Jocewicz, editor, National American Motors Drivers & Racers Association

Tucker Topics, Martin Mieras & Cheryl Tucker, editors, Tucker Automobile Club of America, Inc.

Viva Carrera!, Mike Denney, editor, The Road Race Lincoln Register

Braking News, Jeff Lane, director, Lane Motor Museum

Driving Force, Colby Martin, editor, SEMA Action Network

Foundation News, Frank Scheidt, editor, Early Ford V-8 Foundation

Gray Goose News, Terry Ernest, editor, The Wills Museum

The Hudson Triangle, Bob Ross, editor, Hudson Essex Terraplane Historical Society

Precious Metal, Jackie L. Frady, editor, National Automobile Museum (The Harrah Collection)

Red Cap Review II, Charles Wilson, editor, Mullins Owners Club

SAH Journal, Ruben L. Verdes, editor, Society of Automotive Historians

The Time Machine, Mary Ann Porinchak, editor, National Packard Museum

AM Spirit, Ron Morrison, editor, Northern Ramblers Car Club, Inc.

Bird’sNest, Don Seymour, editor, New England’s Vintage Thunderbirds

Driven, Tom Dankel, editor, Shelby American Automobile Club of Northern California

Fiero Focus, Scott Savage, editor, Northern Illinois Fiero Enthusiasts, Inc.

Finz, Ron Melville, editor, Cadillac & LaSalle Club of New Zealand

Hoosier Horn, Jeff Shively, editor, Indiana Region CCCA

LaCad, Terry & Robyn Griffin, editors, Cadillac & LaSalle Club of Australia

The Mudflap, Mark & Marion McAlpine, editors, Tidewater Region – AACA

Northern Lights, Donna & Bill Dirnberger, editors, Minnesota — AACA

Oregon Clipper, John Imlay, editor, Packards of Oregon

Overhead Cammer, Jim Black, editor, Overhead Cammers Chapter — Pontiac-Oakland Club International

The Pious Pelican, Bud Juneau, editor, Northern California Packards

The Skyline, Craig Handley, editor, The Metro Region — CCCA

Torque, Rich Ray, editor, Michigan Region – CCCA

Vairforce, David McMillan, editor, The Bay State Corvair Club CORSA

The Vette Signal, John Davin, editor, Michigan Chapter — NCRS

Vintage Voice, Fred Lewis, editor, Oakland Pontiac Worldwide — AACA

Wheels “A” Rolling, David Young, editor, Mid-Atlantic — VMCCA

Arizona Bird Chatter, Barbara Blair, editor, Arizona Classic Thunderbird Club

The Bonding Strip, Jamie Fiffles, editor, Southern California Chapter NCRS

BoomTimes, William C. Anderson, editor, Buick Owners of Maryland

The Brass Lamp, Ron Nelson, Horseless Carriage Club of Missouri, Inc.

Cadillac & LaSalle Club Northwest Ohio Region News, Elden Smith, editor, Northwest Ohio Region — Cadillac & LaSalle Club, Inc.

Country Roads, Ron Althoff, editor, Blue Ridge Packards — Packard Automobile Classics, Inc.

DeSoto Diary, Bob Baer & Kathy Keller-Baer, editors, DeSoto Owner’s Club of Maryland, Inc.

The Detroit Headliner, John Northup, editor, Detroit Region Lambda Car Club International

The Falcon Times, Gary Nenninger, editor, Northeast Chapter — Falcon Club of America

Ford Lines, Mike Denney, editor, Tulsa — Early Ford V8 Club of America

The Gas Buggy Gazette, John E. Sayler Jr., editor, Gettysburg Region—AACA

Henney Program of Progress, George Hamlin, editor, Henney Chapter — Professional Car Society

The Hood Scoop, Chris Winslow, editor, Gateway GTO Association

Hoosier Views, Bruce & Carol Gable, editors, Indiana Regional Group # 56 — Early Ford V8 Club of America

The Hub Cap, Joyce Edfors, editor, Wisconsin Region — CCCA

Monthly Cruisin’, John Buchanan, editor, Mass Cruisers Auto Club

Northstar News, Dave Gustafson, editor, Northstar Region — Lincoln & Continental Owners Club

Nuts And Bolts, Joe Pinson, editor, Cape Canaveral Region — AACA

The Occasional, Steven G. Williams, editor, Model T Ford Club of Greater St. Louis, Inc.

On Call, Bee Hamlin, editor, Mid-Atlantic Chapter — Professional Car Society

Planetary News, Mike Zahorik, editor, Model T Ford Club of Milwaukee

Rocket Review, Judy Badgley, editor, R.E. Olds Chapter — Oldsmobile Club of America

Snic Braaapp, Bob Streepy, editor, Illinois Sports Owners Association

The Stacked Lamp Standard, Jeff Shively, editor, Vertical Headlamp Chapter — Cadillac & LaSalle Club, Inc.

Thunderbird News, Ed Raabe, editor, Classic Thunderbird Club of South Florida

Wheel Tracks, Gary Fiske, editor, Vermont Automobile Enthusiasts

labama Packards Newsletter, Dale Baker, editor, Alabama Packards Club

The Belltown Bulletin, Dan David, editor, Belltown Antique Car Club

Caddy Chatter, Tony Albarella, editor, Cadillac Club of North Jersey

Cascade Pacific Plymouth Club, Inc., Robin Will, editor, Plymouth Owners Club affiliate

Classic Olds Journal, Mary Degler, editor, Olds Club of Florida — Oldsmobile Club of America

The Herald, Tony Karsnia, editor, Northstar Region — Cadillac & LaSalle Club, Inc.

The Hudson Monthly, Lew Bird, editor, North Texas Chapter — HET

The Pushrod, Pam Scherer, editor, Milwaukee CORSA

Saxon Times, Walter Prichard, editor, Saxon Car Club

The Steering Column, Betty E. Fisher, editor, The Greater Baltimore Model A Ford Club

Tiger News!, Paul & Nichole Lyczak, editors, The Cruisin’ Tigers GTO Club, Inc. —POCI

Twin Ports Mustang & Ford Times, Judy Aunet, editor, Twin Ports Mustang & Ford Club

Voice, Steve Fox, editor, Iowa CrossRoads Region — Cadillac & LaSalle Club, Inc.

Willys Overland Words, Joy Heidal, editor, Northwest Chapter — WOKR

Airhorn, Charley Biddle, editor, Chicagoland Corvair Enthusiasts Chapter — Corsa Chapter

Alabama Packards Newsletter, Dale Baker, editor, Alabama Packards — PAC

American Xpress, Jack Stokely, editor, Ohio AMC

Badger Bullet-N, Ernie Loga, editor, Badger Wheel — Studebaker Drivers Club

Bird Talk, Art Fleming, editor, Long Island Thunderbirds – ITC,VTCI

Bow Tie Bulletin, Ron Panicucci, editor, Jersey Lakeland Region — VCCA

Caddy Corner, Ray Koziol, editor, Raritan River Region Cadillac Club

The Chatter, Kim Gardner, editor, Capitol City Chapter — AACA

Cormorant Flier, Stan Ruesch, editor, Wisconsin Packard Club

The Criterion, Bill Marcy, editor, Northeast Chapter — Professional Car Society

The Dagmar, Wayne Shmitka, editor, Rocky Mountain Region — Cadillac & LaSalle Club, Inc.

Dairyland Digest, Helen Gellert, editor, Dairy Region — Plymouth Owners Club

The Distributor, Brad Hunsinger, editor, Hi-Country Regional Group # 28 — Early Ford V8Club of America

Dynaflash, Jim Jaeger, editor, Hawkeye Chapter — BCA

East Coast Chapter Newsletter, Pat & Dan Kasten, editors, International Ford Retractable Club

The Echo, Chris Collins, editor, Grand Canyon State Chapter — Studebaker Drivers Club

The Enlightener, Dan Cress, editor, Badger Region — Cadillac & LaSalle Club, Inc.

Exhaust Valve, Jim Jaeger, editor, Fireball Chapter — BCA

Ford Words, East Tennessee Regional Group — Early Ford V8 Club of America

Frankfort Car Club Newsletter, Joni Plummer, editor, Frankfort Car Club

From The Corral, Bill Krieger, editor, Northern Mustang Corral

Gateway Gazette, Ted Becker, editor, St. Louis Chapter — BCA

The GMC Times, Paul Bergstrom, editor, GMC Truck Chapter — POCI

The Great Plains Terraplane Hudson-Gazette, Ramona Dittrich, editor, NE Iowa Chapter — HET

Hawkeye Hexagon, Dick Boswell, editor, Hawkeye Packards — PAC

The Helm, Sarah Ulrich-Meller, editor, Mississippi Valley Packards

The Hexagon, Rick Parker, acting editor, Mid-Atlantic Packards, Inc.

The Hub & Spoke, Tony Simmons, editor, Lynchburg, Virginia — AACA

The Hudson-Aire, Lynn P. Horn, editor, Chesapeake Bay Chapter — HET Club

Hud-Nut News, Polly Mitchell & Jesse Smith, editors, Chicago-Milwaukee Chapter — HET Club

Hudsonnews, Richard Low, editor, Dixie Chapter — HET Club

The Hudson rEflecTor, Bob Ross, editor, So. Cal. Chapter — HET Club

The Lord Nuffield Crier, Bob & Lynne Mendelsohn, editors, The Ohio Chapter NEMGTR

Mid-Atlantic Mayflower, David B. Young, editor, Mid-Atlantic Region — Plymouth Owners Club

Missouri-Illinois “Gateway” Chapter Studebaker Steering Wheel newsletter, Ed Meyer, editor, MO/IL Gateway Chapter — Studebaker Drivers Club

Newsletter, Carolyn Weaver, editor, Las Vegas Chapter — Cadillac & LaSalle Club, Inc.

The Old Crank, Brenna Olwine & Chuck Riblett, editors, Northern Colorado Chapter — VMCCA

Packard Panorama, Jim Yocum, editor, Keystone Packards — PAC

Packard Profiles, Ken Dunning, editor, Peachstate Packards Region — PAC

The Packards Proving Grounds New Report, Bud Juneau, editor, Packard Motor Car Foundation

Peregrine Press, Phil Barber, editor, Mason Dixon Chapter — Falcon Club of America

Phantom News, Arlene Roth, editor, Phantoms Motor/Model Club

PMD Excitement, Chuck Catalano, editor, South Jersey Pontiac Chapter — POCI

Porthole, Fred Syrdal, editor, Gopher State Chapter — BCA

Puget Sounds, Scott Jenkins, editor, Puget Sound Regional Group – Early Ford V-8 Club of America

The Redline Times, Reba Whittington, editor, Carolinas Chapter — NCRS

The RopeShaft Reader, Gary Stoiber, editor, Little Indians Chapter — POCI

Rumble Sheet, Bill Gillies, editor, Twin Cities Regional Group # 46 — Early Ford V-8 Club of America

Silver Dome Gazette, Stuart Ryce, editor, California Chrysler Products Club

The Standard, Kevin Luedtke, editor, Motor City Region — Cadillac & LaSalle Club, Inc.

Standard Of The World, Bill Levy, editor, North Texas Region — Cadillac & LaSalle Club, Inc.

Steering Wheel Newsletter, Ed Meyer, editor, MO/IL Gateway Chapter— Studebaker Drivers Club

Studebaker Spokesman, Claude Chmielewski, editor, Wisconsin Region — Studebaker Drivers Club

Tough Americans, Jock Jocewicz, editor, NAMDRA

Thunderbird Flyer, Tom Przedwojewski, editor, Northwest Vintage Thunderbird Club

Tin Lizzie Times, Jerry Campbell, editor, Tacoma Model T Ford Club

Tomahawk, Paul Bergstrom, editor, Minnesota Chapter 13 — POCI

Trail Bird News, David Tulowitzky, editor, Trail Birds of Southwest Florida

The Tripower Times, Jay Robinson, editor, Northern Colorado GTO Association

Triumph Standard, Scott McKee, editor, SCTOA

Up To Speed, Maureen Blevins, editor, Greater Illinois Region — CCCA

The Winged Goddess, Jeff Shively, editor, 1941 Chapter — Cadillac & LaSalle Club, Inc.