The club's first driving function was to be a parade of the antiques from City Hall west on old Highway 16 to a picnic spot, Fraser's Rock Garden, one mile west and one mile south of the Winterburn Corner Store on June 3, 1962. In case of uncooperative weather, this event would then be held a week later on June 10th. This event was indeed delayed and, on the later attempt, no sooner had the picnickers arrived than the skies had opened up in torrential fashion. Seems the actual picnic site was on an unpaved road down a rather steep hill. In a hilarious comedy of rain, mud, and inspirational comments, most of the near-drowned revellers in their antiques had to be towed up the hill to escape. Setting the example for our members' traditional "never give up" attitude, our club's first event was finally held in that same location on what was then called Dominion Day, Sunday, July 1st.
The high point of EACC's summer activities beginning in August 1963 was the Canadian Antique Car Derby or "Hinton Derby" jointly sponsored by the club and the Hinton Chamber of Commerce. Each driver elected the average miles per hour they chose to make the 180 mile trip to Hinton. Using that average, the estimated time of each car's arrival was computed exactly. The drivers with actual arrival times closest to their calculated times were declared the winners in each of four classes: cars without speedometers, Model A Fords with speedometers, all other makes up to and including 1929 with speedometers, and all other makes from 1930 on with speedometers. There were 43 antiques participating in that first derby. The oldest was a 1912 Ford and there was a three-way tie for the newest vehicle—two Chevrolets and a Nash of 1934 vintage. Hinton Derbies continued annually through 1970, peeking at 65 registrants in 1966. The Hinton Derby was held once more in 1982 for the club's 20th anniversary and the Hinton Run was revived as an annual event beginning with our 40th anniversary in 2002.
The club's first Annual Judging Meet was held on October 6, 1963, at Fraser's Rock Garden, Winterburn. The Judging Meet was an annual fall event through 1975. It moved to the secluded Kinnard Park starting in 1965 located three blocks east of 82 St. at the end of Jasper Ave. Judging by knowledgeable members provided a ready made list of where improvements could be made to the overall quality of the car should the owner choose to work in that direction. Over the club’s first decade, support for the annual judging of members' cars gradually diminished. EACC ceased to be a judging club and became a club devoted to driving activities for our antiques and to the fellowship of our members. Help and advice continues to be available from our many members who are knowledgeable in various areas, but is generally offered only when requested.
EACC members have been ardent supporters of the annual International Antique Auto Meet held on the July long weekend. It is hosted on a rotational basis by clubs in one of ten different cities in the north-western U.S. and western Canada. The first International Antique Auto Meet was held in 1962 and hosted in Waterton Lakes by the Alberta Pioneer Auto Club (APAC) of Calgary. The following year, the International was in Kalispell, Montana. Our club has hosted the International five times in the Edmonton area: 1977, 1987, 1997, 2007, and 2016.
The EACC partnered with the Alberta Arms and Cartridge Collectors Association for the first annual Antique Car and Gun Show on Saturday, February 29, 1964, at the Prince of Wales Armouries. The profits from that first show were split one third to each club and one third to charity. This show continued as an annual event through 1972. It featured great displays and live entertainment. It was relocated to the Sportex in 1966 and to the Kinsmen Field House in 1968.
As early as April 1964, the dream was voiced for a club owned property a few miles from the city with a club house where meetings and events could be held. The club purchased a ten acre reserve parcel from Strathcona County in June 1987 located ten miles east of Sherwood Park. Our first activity there was a picnic on the afternoon of June 7, 1987. In 1995, the club constructed a 40 by 50 foot club house with a 10 ft. wide covered porch the full length on the south side. Kitchen and washrooms were added. After a few years, members decided they wanted to tour to other places besides our "Vintage Auto Park" and helpers to do needed mowing, brush cleaning, and building maintenance became increasingly hard to find. The property was sold effective August 1, 2000.
From 1994 through 2004, EACC had a number of car shows inside Edmonton shopping malls. These mall shows were usually in June in promotion of Fathers Day and, along with the K-days Promenade Show, were the club's main fund raisers. The first mall show was at Southgate June 12 to 19, 1994, with a record 23 cars. The last two shows were held simultaneously in June 2004 with 11 cars at Northgate Mall and 10 at Sherwood Park Mall.
Beginning in April 1965, for over 38 years through June 2003, EACC held their General Meetings "free of charge" at the "Gas Company Auditorium," 10540-112 Street. Effective July 1, 2003, the building was closed to public use due to security concerns with the utility following 9/11. We tried a few different venues for our meetings over the next few years. Since January 2011, we have enjoyed meeting at the Bison Lodge, 9430 Scona Road.
Our club's newsletter has proudly worn the moniker of "the Running Board" since January 1969. It is published eleven times a year and has been distributed only in digital form since January 2014. We are blessed with a generous number of contributors within our membership. Not only does it chronicle our great adventures, our members and their cars, but also contains articles on the early automobiles and the people involved with them as well as “how to do it” type reports.
