The Antique Auto & Engine Club of Mississippi held it's first meeting on December 16, 1957 at the home of George Cretors in Long Beach. It was quite a show with jalopies, cars, and even a large steam engine, which belonged to Herbert Down and Mr. Cretors. Mrs. Cretors served refreshments. A small pirogue that belonged to Dr. Shelly
was also featured.
The club was legally chartered a few months later on February 20th, 1958 with ten charter members and George Cretors taking the rein as president during that first year. Meetings continued to be a combination of business, pleasure, and car shows with the locations moving from members homes, to the Chamber of Commerce building, to the Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo, and even a picnic at DeSoto National Park on the Biloxi River.
During the mid 1960's the meetings were held at the Hancock Bank in
Mississippi City. It was during this time period that the then club
president Rex Mathews chaired a group that organized the first Edgewater Plaza Antique Car Show in July 1967. The Edgewater Show was held annually ever since except for the year it was canceled due to a hurricane.
The 1970's continued with an array of barbecues, picnics, and get
togethers that spread all along the Mississippi Coast. Shows were held
at Searstown in Pascagoula, Paul B. Johnson state park, the Plantation
House in Gautier, and even included a Hattiesburg to New Orleans steam engine tour. During the early 70's club membership dues were established at $10.00 a year, taking the club off voluntary contributions. Meetings locations continued to be changed as memberships increased and sites such as the Plantation House in Gautier, the West Side Community Center in Gulfport, and the Lutheran Church in Ocean Springs allowed us the use of their buildings. Mac Weaver was club president in 1978 when our first "May Show" was conceived and it has continued annually since as the Mississippi Gulf Coast Antique Auto Show at the International Plaza, Point Cadet Biloxi.
1980 brought continued changes in meeting locations starting with Gulf
Hills Country Club in Ocean Springs and ending with the Holiday Inn.
Interest in automobiles as a hobby spread throughout the area and country with specialized shows and meets spreading to match. 1988 brought together a new effort to bring together car enthusiasts and the Gulf Coast Autorama was born, specifically designed to bring together the widest array of vehicles possible in one indoor location. It is hosted by an assortment of local car clubs and held for ten years in the air-conditioned Mississippi Coast Coliseum. 1996 was the birth of Cruisin' the Coast in which the entire Gulf Coast was opened up to the car hobby and with the efforts of civic and car organizations has shown the south where to cruise.
Rallies, meets and events are still the main thrust of the club as
it rolls into the 21st century in its attempt to preserve and
enjoy the rolling history of our past. We hope our efforts will continue
to stimulate interest in collecting, restoring, and preserving old and
antique vehicles for all ages to enjoy in the future.
|
