(Last updated Saturday, 21 June 08)

IN MEMORY OF BEVERLY RAE KIMES

 

The Metro Region lost a dear friend, and the automotive hobby lost a historian of unparalleled proportion on Monday, May 12, with the passing of Bev Kimes.

As the Editor of Automobile Quarterly, the President of the Society of Automotive Historians, the voice of the Burn Prevention Concours, and the author of numerous books, Bev has enriched the hobby for many generations to come.  Her passing leaves a void in the hobby and in the hearts of all who knew and admired her.

Our deepest condolences to her husband, Jim, and the Kimes and Cox families.

 

In memory of Beverly and in lieu of flowers, her husband wishes donations be made to The National Kidney Foundation at www.kidney.org where there is a “make a gift” form, or via FAX to 212-889-2310 (National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd Street NY , NY 10016).

 

A tribute from Angelo Van Bogart (Old Cars Weekly)

New York Time Obituary - NYT website - PDF

 

I've found two places on the web to leave your memories of Bev:

Angelo Van Bogart's tribute (Old Cars Weekly)

Jon Lee's thread on the AACA Message Forum

 

Visit our coverage of....
Amelia Island Automatic Switch
Burn Foundation Greenwich

(and the Skyline article and awards summary, too)

 

At the request of Norm Arbour, our club historian, we would like information about two subjects.  We are trying to gather as many historical documents, stories and photos relating to the club and its cars to put in one place for people to enjoy, research and appreciate.  Thank you very much.

 

1. – The Wallis Bird Auction in 1962 conducted on his estate in Old Westbury, Long Island, NY.  At the time it was billed as the “Auction of the “Century” where a Duesenberg was sold for $10,000, the most expensive car sold at auction at the time.  Jim Hoe was the agent who bought it for the owner, Dieter Holterbach.  Norm Arbour, as a young man, was present at the auction and remembers George Tissen (CCCA President, 1965-1968) climbing the rafters of the building to photograph the proceedings.

Wallis Bird was a wealthy heir to part of the Standard Oil fortune.  He had a great collection of Classic Cars that were rarely driven, stored at his estate in Old Westbury.  He died in a plane crash in 1941 in the Thousand Islands area where he had a summer estate on Hill Island.  His wife died in 1962 after which the auction was held to dispose of the cars.  We would appreciate as much information and as many photographs of the event as possible.  It not only has wonderful memories for Norm, but is a fascinating event and part of the history of our Classic Cars.

 

2. – The Metropolitan Activities Committee (MAC) events at the Stud Farm in northern New Jersey.  In the early days of the Classic car Club, the headquarters were in Madison, NJ and this precluded having a local region.  Because people in the area wanted to have events, the MAC was formed.  After the Metropolitan Region, now called the Metro Region, was formed in 1979 the CCCA National headquarters was moved to Des Plaines, IL to become more centrally located.  During these early days with MAC some events were held at the Stud Farm and it about these events that we are requesting photos and information.  Of course if you have information about other early events that you would like to donate to Metro, that would be greatly appreciated as well.  

 

Donations or loans of material (magazines, stories, recollections, photos, etc..) to the Metro Region Archive can be addressed to our Region Historian, Norman Arbour. (All loaned material will be copied and returned.)

Automotive Restorations, c/o Norman Arbour, Jr.
1050 Rt 22 W Bldg B  ~  Lebanon, NJ 08833
 

Have a question for our Historian?  Contact him through the webmaster by e-mail at Webmaster@metroccca.org

 

 

 

   

We've kept the factory working overtime to provide you with a great selection of Region Merchandise, and then some!

Classic Car Wallpaper
 
Plus we are featuring two books by Beverly Rae Kimes:
The Classic Era
Pioneers, Engineers, and Scoundrels
 

 

 

 

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Questions or comments? E-mail the webmaster, Pat Caruso.

 
2007 CCCA Steiner Grand Classic Award - 3rd Place - For superior performance based on participation by Classic Owning Members
2007 CCCA Turnquist Trophy - 3rd Place - For superior performance of regional publications - Go Metropolitan Skyline!
2007 CCCA Non-Print Publication Award - 3rd Place - For superior performance of regional non-traditional publications (websites)
 
For a complete listing of our recent Awards, visit Our History.

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