Weekly Magazine

Vol. 17, No. 12
The Official Newsletter of the Staten Island Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America
Ragtops &
Rumbleseats
Dec 2010
• Steve Trotto
Remembered
Vintage Advertising
1949 saw the American auto industry introduce truly “new”
models following three years of
retooled pre-war styles in the aftermath of WWII. Dodge broke
out a host of new model names
as well that year, moving from
the DeLuxe and Custom models
of 1946-48 to the Meadowbrook,
Wayfarer and Coronet for 1949.
All ‘49 Dodges were powered by
a flat-head six cylinder engine
producing 103 horsepower and a
Stromberg two-barrel carburetor
(a setup retained through 1953).
Fluid Drive was standard, with
an optional Gyro-Matic transmission available as well. Other
options included electric clock,
radio, heater, and turn signals.
260,000 Dodges were sold in
1949, making Dodge the sixth
largest automaker that year
In This Issue
A sudden and saddening loss, as
Steve Trotto leaves us too soon.
Holiday Party is Sunday, Dec. 5.
The SIRAACA Garage pays tribute to Steve.
H app y H o l i d a y s !
Trivi a Qu e s t i o n : W h a t we re t h e t hree names used by Edsel in 1959?
Answer: The Corsair, the R anger and the Villager.
Minutes of the 427th Meeting
RAGTOPS & RUMBLESEATS
November 2, 2010
December, 2010
Volume 17, Number 12
SIRAACA Who’s Who
EDITOR Paul Arena, Jr. - parena2@si.rr.com
PRESIDENT Paul Arena, Jr. - parena2@si.rr.com
VICE PRESIDENT Mike Signorile - onehot51@aol.com
SECRETARY Tony DiAngelo
TREASURER Phil Boffa
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Fred DiGiovanni
SERGEANT-AT-ARMS Jeff Tucker
WEBMASTER - siraaca@yahoo.com
Frank Nathanson
www.aaca.org/siraaca
1. The 427th meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM by President Paul
Jr. Following the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence, the
minutes of the 426th meeting were accepted as read by Secretary Tony
DiAngelo.
2. Members took turns recapping their experiences at the AACA Fall
Meet in Hershey. Story topics included shopping the car corral, attending the RM Auction, showing a car, being a judge, and scouring the flea
market. The one thing in common - a good time had by all.
3. The Holiday Party will be on Sunday, December 5 at 5:00 PM at Cafe
Bella Vita, 1919 Hylan Boulevard. This takes the place of our December
meeting. For this year, instead of a new, unwrapped toy, please bring
donations for Staten Island Project Homefront. A list of suitable items
will appear in the December newsletter and be sent out to those members with e-mail addresses.
4. All outstanding trophies have been delivered and thank you letters
along with dash plaques have been mailed to all donors. A special cup
was made for Gateway Arms for their sponsorship this year.
5. The newspaper article that recapped our show in the West Shore edition of the Advance was passed around the room.
6. The planned trip to Nicola Bulgari’s collection in Allentown will be
in early 2011. We still intend to visit America on Wheels as well.
7. A sketch of a proposed new logo for the club was passed around for
feedback. It’s a new take on the old elements of our original logo, including a depression-era auto and the Verrazano Bridge. An alternate
version that includes the ferry is in the works as well.
8. Phil Boffa gave a Treasury Report. All’s in order.
9. The search for next year ’s raffle car has begun.
10. The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 PM. The 50/50 collected $52.00
and Joe Brande won $26.00. Jon Schulman won a $25 gift certificate
fro RockAuto.com, and Frank Provenzano won the “turkey”, a $25 gift
card for Pathmark for Thanksgiving.
Respectfully submitted,
Tony DiAngelo, Secretary, SIRAACA
c lub happe n i n g s
FE A T U R E
I n M e m o r y o f S t e v e Tr o t t o
Will any of us ever forget Steve, especially after seeing him in his Pacer, complete with a collection of 8tracks on the front seat? The club bid a final farewell to its former president on Saturday, November 13
during his funeral mass at St. Roch’s Church in Port Richmond. Good friend and former club member
Ed Boljonis headed the display of antique cars outside the church by driving Steve’s 1975 AMC Pacer.
Joining it was Robert LaRocca’s 1965 Cadillac, Tony DiAngelo’s 1968 Dodge Polara, Paul Arena’s 1948
Dodge, Bob Stephens’ 1978 Malibu Classic, Kevin Keenan’s 1979 Volkswagen Beetle, Angelo Joseph’s
1967 Impala and former member Larry Farrell’s 1966 Oldsmobile limousine.
ELIQUAT
SIR
AC A
AEUGUER
Cover : 195 9 Ed s e l Ra n g e r, s i m i l a r to t h e o n e ow n e d by Steve Trotto. (image from 1959 Edsel bro chure)
From the P r e s i d e n t
- NEXT MEETING - Party - Dec. 5
My usual well wishes for the holiday season and a happy new year
Our next scheduled meeting is the Holiday Party,
may ring hollow as we all cope
scheduled for Sunday, December 5 at 5:00 PM at
with the sudden and saddening
Cafe Bella Vita at 1919 Hylan Boulevard.
loss of fellow member Steve TrotRegular meetings resume on the first Tuesday of the month
to. Steve was a invaluable membeginning on January 4, 2011.
ber of our club, a great friend,
and most importantly, a devoted
father and husband. We will all
sorely miss him, but his legacy
P r o p o s e d B y - L a w A m e n dments
will carry on for as long as this
club does.
The following changes to our by-laws have been proposed and will
appear in print for three consecutive months before being voted on
Steve almost single-handedly esfor ratification.
tablished our region as a recognized 501(c)(3) organization, one A. Article I, Sec. 2. Current: “The purpose of this Region shall be to
of only a few AACA regions to do supplement the activities of the AACA for members residing in the
so. His energy and determination region.” Proposed: “The purpose of this Region shall be to suppleto see it through while serving ment the activities of the AACA for members of the Region.”
as club president was testament
to his commitment to all that he B. Article V, Sec. 4. Current: “Twenty members in good standing
believed in, further evidenced by shall constitute a quorum, and unless otherwise provided, a majority
his involvement in the Boy Scouts vote shall rule.” Proposed: “Twenty percent of the then current membership shall constitute a quorum, and unless otherwise provided, a
and his church, St. Roch’s.
majority vote shall rule.”
The ability for our club to do
great things in the future, and C. Artcile VIII, Sec. 1. Current: “The members shall not, as a group
help those in need, will forever under the Region name, participate in any activity with any commerbe linked to Steve’s tireless ef- cial or charitable organization.” Proposed: “The members shall not,
as a group under the Region name, participate in any activity with
forts on our behalf.
any political organization.”
The holidays still have a way of
healing all in times of trouble. I D. Article XIII. Current: “As approved by the Founding Members, a
hope all of us take the time to be budget of three hundred fifty dollars ($350) will be set aside for each
with our friends and family, and Region President to handle the expenses for the year.” Proposed: As
take notice of all that is good in amended by the current members, a budget of one thousand dollars
our lives. Cherish the moments ($1,000) will be set aside for each Region President to handle the exwe have, and live life to the full- penses for the year.”
est. I get a sense that Steve did,
and my memories of him shall alG o o d s N e e d e d f o r P r o j e c t Homefront
ways be good ones. - Paul Jr.
To wrap up our efforts to help Project Homefront this year, we will
be collecting goods to donate to their cause at our Holiday Party on
Sunday December 5. Instead of new, unwrapped toys, please consider the following items: fruit snacks, raisins, trail mix, granola bars,
pudding, jello, cookies, crackers, nuts, pop tarts, snack cakes, microwave mac & cheese, tuna packets, gum, mints, microwave popcorn,
powdered drinks, instant hot chocolate, etc.
SIR AAC A
LOREM IPSUM
Inside the SIRAACA Garage
The SIRAACA Garage pays tribute
to Steve Trotto with this month’s featured car, his 1983 AMC Concord DL
Limited Wagon.
By 1983, all AMC products (in this
case the Spirit and the Concord) were
equipped with a 258 cubic inch (4.2
liter) in-line six. Gone was the Pontiac-sourced 151 cubic inch (2.0 liter)
in-line four. The Limited models were
the premium trim level, evidenced by
the woodgrain bodyside treatment,
along with leather seating and plush
carpeting.
The Concord debuted in 1978 as a replacement for the AMC Hornet, and
1983 was it’s final year of production.
AMC introduced the Renault Alliance that year, and the Encore hatchback in 1984. The Alliance would win
Motor Trend’s Car of the Year, but it’s
public reputation quickly dwindled.
By 1987, Chrysler bought out AMC,
essentially ending the legacy that began with Hudson and Nash merging
in 1954.
S te ve’s love for automotive orphans was evident by the cars he drove. Alongside his 1959
Ed s e l, Steve got plent y of comments ab out his AMC Concord and Pacer. Ever yone had a
s to r y to share with him ab out their past exp eriences in those cars. (photos by Paul Jr.)
Steve will be missed dearly, yet will
never be forgotten, as he owned some
of the most unique cars ever to grace
the SIRAACA Garage.
Do you have a car (or had a car) that
should be featured in the SIRAACA
Garage? Let me know at the meetings, or via parena2@si.rr.com.
SIR AAC A
LOREM IPSUM