“Club publications were very impressive in 2008. At least, in general,” says Gerald Perschbacher, chief judge for the Golden Quill Award from Old Cars Weekly. “Top-line national publications have maintained a quality look and feel. Journalism is on a high plain, although occasional stories could use more polish. It is always challenging for an editor to not over-edit a story.” Too much editing, and writers will be discouraged from submitting stories.

Perschbacher, who has nearly three decades of experience as the professional editor of a national non-hobby publication, says there are several factors that make a publication prize worthy.
First, it should have a quality layout with quality writing. Stories should not be over-packed on a page. Leave a little “white space” or add interesting pictures. Creative cropping should be used sparingly and purposefully. Stories should hold the interest of readers.

Second, there should be a balance in topics. Most club publications follow this formula: include a little news, a column or two, a dash of stories from members, a major article or two on car history, at least one featured car and its background, plus technical information. Many publications also offer classifieds.

Regional publications have a wide variance in format, size and quality. Usually, the size, financial health and seriousness of a club are reflected by its publication. “Pictures tell the story, too,” Perschbacher adds. “What I mean is, when a publication is being considered for an award, its use of good, clear pictures is critically important. Clubs on a low budget have to carefully monitor the quality of printing for photographs. A bad picture is worth a thousand words, too, and that may not be good.”

He says pictures of “too many people can slow down the reader. Unless there is a special rule, your club publication doesn’t have to lean to the boring side just so all trophy winners at a regional or national meet can say their picture made it into the club magazine. Take group shots of all trophy winners, then show their cars separately. It the reader doesn’t know (or care) who the people are, at least the cars can be enjoyed.”

Don’t compress pictures, either, creating distortion that makes a 1929 Packard look like a Model A Ford or that squeezes a 1940 coupe to look as long as a limousine. “Readers want realism in their pictures, so learn how to crop rather than squeeze,” Perschbacher said.

“If you want to know how to produce or maintain high standards for an award, just check out the winners. They are the ones to emulate.”

NATIONAL
Luxury
Air Cooled News, Pierre F. & Susan R. Lavedan, co-editors, The H.H. Franklin Club, Inc.

American Motoring, Cheryl Samuel & Mike Spangler, Editors, American Motors Owners Association

Antique Automobile, West Peterson, Editor, Antique Automobile Club of America

The Auburn Cord Duesenburg Club Newsletter, Josh B. Malks, Editor, The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club

Avanti Magazine, Lewis Schucart, Editor, Avanti Owners Association

The Bric Line, John T. Blair, Editor, Bricklin International Owners Club Inc.

The Buick Bugle, Pete Phillips, Editor, Buick Club of America

The Bulb Horn, Anne Morris, Editor, The Veteran Motor Car Club of America

Citroënthusiast, George Dyke & John Mcculloch, Editors, Citroën Club of North America & Citroën Autoclub Canada

The Classic Car, Ron Verschoor, Editor, Classic Car Club Of America

Double Clutch, Greg Matecko, Editor, Antique Truck Club of America

Enjine! Enjine!, Steve Hagy, Editor, Society for the Preservation and Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America

Generator & Distributor, G & D Editors, Vintage Chevrolet Club of America

Healey Marque, Reid Trummel, Editor, Austin-healey Club of America

Horseless Carriage Gazette, John C. Meyer III, Editor, Horseless Carriage Club of America

The Ignitor, Mike Healey, Editor, The Spark Plug Collectors Of America

Jaguar Journal, Michael L Cook, Editor, Jaguar Clubs Of North America

The Legend, Tom Szymczyk, Editor , GTO Association of America

Lincoln and Continental Comments, Tim Howley, Editor, Lincoln & Continental Owners Club

Model A News, Helen Ehrenhofer, Editor, Model A Restorers Club

Model T Times, Steve Hubert, Editor, The Model T Ford Club International, Inc.

On Solid Ground, Ken Amrick, Editor, Solid Axle Corvette Club

The Packard Cormorant, Stuart Blond, Editor, Packard Automobile Classics

Packards International Magazine, Don Hull, Editor, Packards International Motor Car Club

The Plymouth Bulletin, Lanny  Knutson, Editor, Plymouth Owners Club

Quicksilver, Todd Haefer, Editor, International Mercury Owners Association

The Riview, Ray Knott, Editor, Riviera Owners Association

Secrets, The Vintage Speed & Sport Magazine, Charlie Yapp, Editor, Secrets Of Speed Society

The Skyliner, Edward Albracht, Jr., Editor, International Ford Retractable Club

Smoke Signals, Donald J. Keefe, Editor–in-Chief, Pontiac-Oakland Club International

The Star, Jim Luikens, Editor, Mercedes-Benz Club of America

The Starter, Denney Freeston & Marcia McGill, Editors, Willys-Overland-Knight Registry

Stutz News, William J. Greer, Editor, The Stutz Club, Inc.

356 Registry, Gordon Maltby, Editor, Porsche 356 Registry

Turning Wheels, Art Unger & Ann Turner, Editors, The Studebaker Drivers Club

V-8 Times, Jerry Windle, Editor, Early Ford V-8 Enthusiasts

The Vintage Ford, Jay Klehfoth, Editor, Model T Ford Club of America

The Vintage Triumph, Mike Cook, Editor, The Vintage Triumph Register

Viva Carrera!, Bill Culver, Editor, The Road Race Lincoln Register

The Way of the Zephyr, David L. Cole, Editor, Lincoln-Zephyr Owners Club

Wheels of Time, Stormy Wylie, Editor, American Truck Historical Society

The White Triangle News, Sam Jackson, Editor, Hudson - Essex - Terraplane Club, Inc.

Woodie Times, John Lee, Editor, National Woodie Club  Inc.

WPC News, Richard Bowman, Editor, The WPC Club, Inc.

National Intermediate Size
Action Era Vehicle, Charles R. Smith, Editor, The Contempory Historical Vehicle Association

The Arrow, Roger J. Sherman, Editor, Pierce-Arrow Society

ASWOA, Tim Cleary, Editor, American Station Wagon Owners Association

Bulletin, Ron Verschoor, Editor, Classic Car Club of America

The Cormorant News Bulletin, Craig Handley, Packard Automobile Classics

Corsa Communique, Mike Mcgowan, Editor, Corvair Society of America (CORSA)

Crosley Quarterly, Fred Syrdal, Editor, Crosley Automobile Club

DeSoto Adventures, Nichole Furia, Editor, National DeSoto Club, Inc.

Driveshaft, Doug Buhrer, Editor, Lambda Car Club International

The Durant Partner, Carol Fogarazzo, Editor, Durant Motors Automobile Club

The Early Bird, Lin Somsak, Editor, Classic Thunderbird Club International

E-ford Lines, Judy Berrian, Editor, European Ford Owners North America

Falcon News, Wendelyn Crosby, Editor, The National Falcon Club

FoMoCo Times, Paul Placek, Editor, Crown Victoria Association

Front Wheel Driver, Mike Vogt, Editor, Toronado Owners Association

Hupp Herald, Jerry Robinson, Editor, Hupmobile Club, Inc.

Journey With Olds, Brad Bishop, Editor, The Oldsmobile Club of America

Mitchell Motormouth, Tony Zimmerman, Editor, Mitchell Club

The News Counselor, Fred Mauck, Editor, Packards International Motor Car Club

The Nomad Post, John Lee, Editor, Chevrolet Nomad Association

Porsche Panorama, Betty Jo Turner, Editor, Porsche Club of America, Inc.

Pur Sang, Tom Clifford, Editor, American Bugatti Club

Runabouts To Rockets, Wendy Crosby, Editor, National Antique Oldsmobile Club

The Self-Starter, Steve Stewart, Editor, The Cadillac & LaSalle Club, Inc.

The Sidecarist, Dave Boneham, Editor, United Sidecar Association

SPAAMFAA Silver Trumpet, Ken Buohl & Rodger Birchfield, Editors, SPAAMFAA

Supercharger, Gary Bossnuot, Editor, Graham Owners Club

300 Starletter, Jim Luikens, Editor, Gull Wing Group International

VSA, Jim Bates, Editor, Volvo Sports America/1800 Register, Inc.

National Compact
Airflow Newsletter, Jerry Allstott, Editor, The Airflow Club of America, Inc.

The American Austin Bantam Club News, Bob & Cathy Cunningham, Editors, The American Austin Bantam Club

Chrysler 300 Club News, Andy Mikonis, Editor, Crysler 300 Club International Inc.

Jeepster News, James J. Sommer, Editor, Willys Overland Jeepster Club

Kaiser Frazer Owners Club International Monthly News Bulletin, Barbara Mueller, Editor

The Lincoln Owners Club Newsletter, David W. Schultz, Editor, Lincoln Owners Club

The Marmon News, Ron Barnett, Editor, The Marmon Club

Minutia, Richard Campbell, Editor, The Microcar & Minicar Club, Inc.

Morris Gazette, Joe Mercer, Editor, Comgo

The National Falcon News, Wendy Crosby, Editor, Falcon Club of America

News-Flite, Andy Mikonis, Chrysler 300 Club International, Inc.

North American Singer Owners Club News, Phillip Avis, Editor, North American Singer Owners Club

Prix Views, Dee Schaudek, Editor, (National Specialty) Grand Prix Chapter – Pontiac Oakland Club International

The Professional Car, Walter McCall, Publications Chairman, The Professional Car Society

Rotunda, Steve Rohde, Editor, Ford & Mercury Restorer’s Club of America

‘53-’54 Buick Skylark Club, Joanne Depeppo, Editor, Buick Skylark Club

Shorthorns, Dennis Martin, Editor, Maverick Comet Club International, Inc.

The Talegate, Chuck Snyder, Editor, International Station Wagon Club

Thunderbird Script, Kathy Holton, Editor, International Thunderbird Club

Thunderbird Scoop, Terri McNeill, Editor, Vintage Thunderbird Club International

Tucker Topics, Pat Fortin & Bill Pommering, Editors, Tucker Automobile Club Of America, Inc.

Wheels-n-Waves, Keith Mathiowetz, Editor, International Amphicar Owners Club

REGIONAL
Luxury
The Arrow Driver, Greg  Loftness, Editor, Midwest Region Pierce-Arrow Society

The Bird’s Nest, Don Seymour, President/Magizine Editor, New England’s Vintage Thunderbirds

Blue Smoke, Karl Henry, Editor, Lincoln Zephyr V-12 Central 1992 Chapter Owners Club

Boom Times, Bill Anderson, Editor, Buick Club of America, Buick Owners of Maryland

Cormorant Flier, Karl Henry, Editor, Wisconsin Packard Club

The Hood Release, Frankie Douglas, Editor, Oregon Region – Classic Car Club of America

The Hub Cap, Thomas Edfors, Editor, Wisconsin Region Of The Classic Car Club of America

Keystone Keynotes, Sidney Kertzel, Editor, Keystone Region Chapter – Studebaker Drivers Club

LaCad Magazine, Terry & Robyn Griffin, Editors, Cadillac & LaSalle Club of Australia

Linechaser, Sandy Felde, Editor, Minnesota Street Rod Association

Members’ Parade, Brooke Davis, Editor, Hornets Nest Region – Antique Automobile Club of America

Northern Lights, Donna & Bill Dirnberger, Editors, Minnesota Region, Antique Automobile Club of America

Northern Lights, Bob Porter, Editor Ohio Region Classic Car Club of America

SNIC BRAAAPP, Bob Streepy, Editor, Illinois Sports Owners Association – Triumph

The Superior Times, Brady D. Smith, Editor, Mid-Michigan Chapter of the Professional Car Society

Torque, Tom Goad, Editor, Michigan Region Classic Car Club of America

Regional Compacts
The Ah-Ooo-Gah Bulletin, Peter & Claire Winnewisser, Editors, Mohican Model A Ford Club

Am Spirit, Steve Johnston, Editor, Northern Ramblers Car Club, Inc.

A Quail Call, Carol Pennington, Editor, Penn-ohio “A” Ford Club, Inc.

Arc & Spark, David Lyon, Editor, Kalamazoo Antique Auto Restores Club

Arizona Bird Chatter, Barbara Blair, Editor, Arizona Classic Thunderbird Club CTCI Chapter 35

Autograf, Jim & Kay Scott, Editors, Mississippi Valley Region AACA, 14548 East 500 Street.

The Beam, Lars & Joan Anderson, Editors, Wisconsin Region AACA, Ltd.

Caddie Chronicle, Vince Taliano, Editor, Cadillac & LaSalle Club Potomac Region.

Cadillac Past, Chris Milici, Editor, New England Region Cadillac & LaSalle Club

Cascade Pacific Plymouth Club, Inc., Cari Catlow, Editor, Plymouth Owners Club, Inc.

Clutch Chatter, Larry Huffman, Editor, Tri-County AACA.

The Dagmar, Dave Leger, Editor, Rocky Mountain Region Cadillac & LaSalle Club.

Dispatcher, West Coast Willys Quarterly Newsletter

Driven Living The Legend, Anna Lewellen, Editor, Shelby American Automobile Club of Northern California

The Echo, Chris Collins, Editor, Grand Canyon State Chapter Studebaker Drivers Club

Excitement, Chuck Catalano, Editor, South Jersey Pontiac Chapter, POCI

The Falcon Key, Kevin, Editor, The Keystone Chapter of the Falcon Club of America

Fiero Focus, Michelle & Scott Savage, Editors, Northern Illinois Fiero Enthusiasts

The Gaslite Gaze-atte, Bob Trueax, Editor, Mid Valley Historical Auto Club Region Of The Antique Automobile Club of America

The Gearbox Chatter, Rosebud Badour-Jacob, Editor, Grand Rapids Regional Group, HCCA.

Great Lakes Archer, Bill Morris, Editor, Pierce-Arrow Society Great Lakes Region

Hawkeye Hexagon, Dick Boswell, Editor, Iowa Hawkeye Packards Region of Packard Automobile Classics

Hoosier Ramblings, Joe & Debi Fougerousse & Bill & Amy Mccleery, Editors, Hoosier AMC Club

Mid-Atlantic Mayflower, David Young, Editor, Mid – Atlantic Region Plymouth Owners Club

Midstates Jeepster Association Newsletter, Gary Conrad, Editor, Midstate Jeepster Association

The Mitten, Rhonda Gelstein, Editor, MOCNA Michigan Chapter

The Motor Mouth, Judy Thorne, Editor, Puget Sound Early Birds Chapter 81 of Classic Thunderbird Club International

Motorways, Chris Hamann, President, Buckeye Region of the Lambda Car Club International

The Mud Flap, Marty  & Neal Sugermeyer, Co-editors, Antique Automobile Club of America – Tidewater Region

The Northland Crown Journal, Tony Karsnia, Editor, Northland Chapter, The Professional Car Society

The Nuts And Bolts, Joe Pinson, Editor, Antique Automobile Club of Cape Canaveral

On Call, Bee Hamlin, Editor, Professional Car

Society, Mid-Atlantic Chapter

Packard Digest, Craig Handley, Motor City Packards of Metropolitan Detroit

Packard Profiles, Rick Kamen, Editor, Peachstate Packards Region of Packard Automobile Classics

PCN, Pacific Citroën News, Citroën Car Club – Northwest Citroën Owner’s Club-Citroën Autoclub Canada

Pegasus Pages, Rob Bartlett, Editor, Minnesota Fieros Forever

The Pious Pelican, Bud Juneau, Editor, Northern California Packards

Puget Sounds, Ray & Sherry Bunn, Editors, The Early Ford V-8 Club Puget Sound Regional Group

Road Chatter, Ken & Carolyn Bounds, Editors, Early Ford V-8 Club – Northern Illinois Regional Group #8

Sidelights, Sylvia D. Lauridsen, Editor, Illinois Region, The Antique Automobile Club of America

Sidemounts, Eugene Shild, Editor, Packards of Chicagoland

The Solenoid, Rus Calisch, Editor, Great Autos of Yesteryear Car Club, Inc.

The Spokesman, Mike Spangler & Cheryl Samuel, Editors, The Jefferson

Collectibles
Spark Plug, Shannon Olson, Editor, Spirit Of St. Louis Region of the CCCA

The Steering Column, Marcia McGill, Missouri Valley Chapter of WOKR

Tiger News, Ken Smith, Editor, The Cruisin’ Tigers GTO Club

Tiger Times, Dick & Sandy Kos, Managing Editors, Land of Lakes GTO Club

Tin Block Times, Quarterly, Rick Alexander, Editor, Crosley Automobile Club

Trumpet Horns, John & Jeanie James, Editors, Ohio Valley Region of the LCOC

Twin Ports Mustang & Ford Times, Judy Aunet & Kim Culp, Editors, Twin Ports Mustang & Ford Club

The Windshield Post, Robert Fitzsimmons, Editor, Upper Midwest Region CCCA

Museums & Associations
Braking News, Susan Lane, Curator, Lane Motor Museum

British Motor Trade Association Newsletter

Check The Oil!, Jerry Keyser III, Managing Editor & Circulation, Petroliana...and More

Die Cast Car, Jay Olins, Editor, Die Cast Car Collectors Club

Driving, Collectors Foundation

Driving Force, Matthew Pearson, Editorial Director, SEMA – Specialty Equipment Market Association

Foundation News, Frank Scheidt, Editor, Early Ford V-8 Foundation.

Futurliner News, Dean G. Tryon Editor, GM Futurliner Restoration Project

Glenmoor Gathering, Glenmoor Gathering of Significant Automobiles

Gray Goose News, Terry Ernest, Editor, The Wills Museum.

The Herald, Tim Morris, Editor, Gilmore Car Museum & The Classic Car Club of American Museum

The Driver’s Seat, Antique Car Run Inc.

The Lincoln Link, Lincoln Motor Car Foundation

NAAM News, Gary Pelger, Editor, National Association of Automobile Museums

Open Road, Walt Tomsic, Managing Editor, America’s Car Museum

The Packard Proving Grounds News Report, Bud Juneau, Editor

The Time Machine, National Packard Museum

Precious Metal, Jackie L Frady, Editor, National Automobile Museum – The Harrah Collection

SAH Journal, Thomas S. Jakups, Editor, The Society of Automotive Historians, Inc.

The Spirit, Dave Pfaff, Editor, R.E. Olds Transportation Museum

Spoke & Word, Lisa DuVuomo, Editor, America on Wheels

Stanley Museum Quarterly

Wheels, Journal of the National Automotive History Collection

Tucker Topics, Pat Fortin & Bill Pommering, Editors, Tucker Historical Collection and Library

The Universal Car, The International Ford History Project

National Meets
American Motoring Kingston 2008, Roberta Sommerville, Newsletter Editor, Cheryl Samuel & Mike Spangler Editors, American Motors Owners Association

Mass Cruisers Auto Club, Car Show Program 2008 Auto Show Program, John Buchanan, Editor

Northstar News Special Mid America Issue, Dave Gustafson, Editor, Northstar Region Of The Lincoln & Contintal Owners Club

Packards Automobile Classics Des Moines 2008, The Packard Club, Packard Automobile Classics, Inc., Craig Handley, George Hamlin

PMD Excitement 2008 GTOAA Nationals, Chuck Catalaon, Editor, South Jersey Pontiac Chapter P.O.C.I.

The Professional Car #129 2008 PCS Int’l Meet

2008 Velie Centennial Exhibitors Book, The Velie Register, Chuck Hoaglund

Honorable Mention
Editor’s Note: No award sent.

Color
Bird-news, Bert Eisenhour, Editor, The Classic Thunderbird Club of Chicagoland – CITI Chapter 9

Bow Tie Bulletin, Ron Panicucci, Editor, Jersey Lakeland Region Vintage Chevrolet Club of America

Cloisonne Calendar, Jane Caldwell, Editor, Minnesota Packards

The Distributor, Jonathan Brinkerhoff, Editor, Poco Quantros Model A Ford Club Albuquerque

East Coast Chapter International Ford Retractable Club, Dan & Pat Kasten

Exhaust Notes, The Shadow, Editor, Volkswagen Club of Sheboygan Inc.

The Falcon Key, Kevin Gabel, Editor, The Keystone Chapter of the Falcon Club of America

52nd Street News, Mike Spangler & Cheryl Samuel, Editors, South East Wisconsin Chapter of AMO

From The Corral, Bill Krieger, Editor, Northern Mustang Corral

The Goat Herd Redline Times, Duwayne Geist, Editor, Goat Herd GTO Club of Oregon

Greater New Region, Inc. Antique Automobile Club of America Newsletter

Hexagon, Jon Hatfield, Editor, Mid Atlantic Packards, The Packard Club

Hexagon News, Bob Zimmerman, Editor, Packard International Midwest Region

MSAAC Newsletter, Tom Yoder & Mo Tremblay, Mid State Antique Auto Club

Oily Rag, John Bishop Secretary & Editor, Rods-n-Relics Car Club Ltd.

The Old Crank, Dennis Holland, Editor, Loveland Chapter of the Veterans Motor Car Club of America.

190 SL Group, Bruce Adams, Editor, The International 190 SL Group

Packardgram, Duane Gunn, Editor, Arizona Region Packards International

Porthole, Marge Dahl, Editor, Gopher State Buick Club, Buick Club of America

The River Cities Running Board, Dr. Albert Lugo, Editor, River Cities Model A Ford Club

Royal Goat Tales, Tom Somerville, Editor, Royal GTO’s – The GTO Association Of America

Peregrine Press, Phil Barber, Editor, The Mason Dixon Chapter, Falcon Club of America

The Pin-Mar News, Gail Handel, Editors, The Pinellas Model A Restorers, Inc. Antique Car Club

Schoharie Valley Rambler, Debbie Soucia, Editor, Schoharie Valley Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America

The Sun Visor, Orange Blossom Florida HET Chapter

Twin Ports Mustang & Ford Times, Judy Pinkoski & Kim Culp, Editors, Twin Ports Mustang & Ford Club, PO Box 16436, Duluth, MN 55816

Valve-in-Head Review, Jim Crane, Editor, West Michigan Chapter, Buick Club of America

Wheeling The “A”, Sue Quam, Editor, Wisconsin Chapter Model “A” Ford Club of America

Wide Tracking, Gregory Sereico, Editor, GTO Association of PA

Black and White
Arizona Bird Chatter, Barbara Blair, Editor, Arizona Classic Thunderbird Club

The Avanti Arrow, Thomas Gipe, Editor, St. Louis Gateway Chapter Newsletter, Avanti Owners Association International

1915 – 1918 Buick & Mclaughlin-Buick Owners Newsletter Group, Dean Tryon, Editor

Cadillac & LaSalle Club St. Louis Region, David Armbruster, Editor

Classic Olds Journal, Mary Degler, Editor, Olds Club of Florida – A Chapter of the Oldsmobile Club of America

The Iowa Corvair Connection, Jon Crisman, Editor, Iowa Corvair Enthusiasts Chapter # 526 of the Corvair Society of America (CORSA)

Crank “N” Throttle, E. Louise Pruitt, Willys-Overland Knight Registry

The Detroit Headliner, Bryan Harris, Editor, The Detroit Region – Lambda Car Club International

The Dipstick, Ronald Struewing, Editor, Tidewater MG Classics Car Club

The Rumble Sheet, Barb Bergdorf, Editor, Badger State Early Ford V-8 Club

The Fireball Flash, Robert Beningue, Editor, Chicagoland Chapter Buick Club of America

Ford Script News, George Ball, Editor, The Early Ford V-8 Club

The Hudson-Aire, Lynn P. Horn, Editor, Chesapeake Bay Chapter Hudson Essex Terraplane Club

The Portland Gasleak, Karyn Colon, Editor, Horseless Carriage Club of America Portland Group

The Newsletter, Mike Healy, Editor, Spark Plug Collectors of America

Pelican Papers, David Robinson, Editor, North Atlantic Packards - Packard Automobile Classics, Inc.

The Prowler, Don Skinner, Editor, Cascade Cougar Club

The Toot Side Draught, Skip Paetz, Editor, Tidewater Triumph Register – Chapter of Vintage Triumph Register & 6-pack

Triangle, Neil Owen, Editor, Mid-South Chapter of the Hudson Essex Terraplane Club, Inc.

The Spokes, Glenn Larson, Editor, The Richmond, Virginia Chapter of the Vintage Triumph Register & A Triumph Register of America Local Center