[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 79 (Thursday, June 6, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S3982]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                           ALASKA'S CLASSICS

 Mr. BEGICH. Madam President, I would like to honor all the 
Alaskans, clubs, and other organizations that collect, restore, show 
off, and otherwise love their classic and antique automobiles.
  All over the State, there are clubs dedicated to antique autos, 
classic cars, muscle cars, street rods, and all kinds of specialty 
vehicles. I really get a kick out of some of the expressive club names: 
the Juneau Dipsticks, the Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska, and the 
Valley Cruzers, to name a few.
  But it is what they do that is great. Restoring cars and trucks and 
keeping them in good running order contributes to preserving the 
history of automotive technology and our culture. And their efforts 
mean we get to view a wide variety of vintage vehicles at all sorts of 
venues.
  Maybe it is the iconic 1957 Chevy you saw at a local meet that caught 
your fancy. Perhaps you feasted your eyes on a Ford Model T at a 
Father's Day car show. Or you glimpsed an old Jeep amongst a caravan of 
restored military vehicles. Who hasn't marveled at antique cars in 
parades? As an elected official, I have ridden in many an old car or 
truck on the Fourth of July. The beauty of classic car collections is 
that there is something for everyone.
  In Fairbanks, the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum has a world-class 
collection including Alaska's first automobile, one-of-a-kind and sole-
surviving autos, the first American V16-powered car--and much more.
  Also in Fairbanks, students in an automotive technology class at 
Hutchison High School are restoring a 1963 Chevy truck, and they are 
doing it for more than just the learning experience. They are honoring 
a former student who passed away in 2011. He bought two dilapidated 
pickups to work on but was unable to continue the project.
  In Delta Junction, the Buffalo Center Gas Station sponsors an Annual 
Classic Car Night in support of the Juvenile Diabetes Research 
Foundation.
  Car collecting is so popular in America that the Senate has annually 
proclaimed a day in July as ``Collector Car Appreciation Day'' to raise 
awareness of the role automotive restoration and collection plays in 
American society.
  Whether it is the Vernon Nash Antique Automobile Club, the Midnight 
Sun Street Rod Association, or the Anchorage Corvette Club, it is 
typical of members to trade parts, knowledge, and stories. That makes 
for lifetime friendships.
  I encourage Alaskans to join car clubs and take the time to thank 
collectors and restorers.

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