Old Cars Golden Quill Award winners of 2020

The impact of COVID-19 brought significant changes to car and truck club publications during 2020. Some publications suspended or curtailed regular issues. Many clubs adjusted their publication’s number of pages (usually downward). Content shifted from reports on events (which were scheduled but canceled) to features on members and historical subjects in step with club interests.

As chief judge for the Golden Quill Award selections, I can say 2020 was far from a normal year, yet publications adjusted. Much credit can be given to club editors, their support teams and club officials who backed the adjustments.

As a result of the impact of COVID-19 upon publications, there were some adjustments to the 2020 Golden Quill Award categories. The categories that publications are judged within always relates to size, page counts and print quality. From that information, the 2020 Golden Quill Awards are categorized as such: National publications are placed in Luxury, Intermediate and Compact categories plus Museum and Special Purpose publications. Regional Publications are categorized into Full-size and Compact. Winners are judged in these categories for balanced content, layout, design, photographs and overall quality. The Honorable Mention list includes publications with good promise and content, but were not as exemplary as category winners. Certificates for the award are being given to category winners only.

Creativity amid the challenges of 2020 was notable in several publications, whether those were award-winning or not. Some club editors used their time on quarantine to research interesting tidbits of automotive and club history, then included their findings in their club publications. Some club officials and editors found innovative ways to unite their members from afar. To press this point, here are a handful of examples of the many creative topics and ideas that appeared in club publications during 2020:

Among museums, David Coco, editor of Great Arrow News (publication of the Pierce-Arrow Museum), published five pages on the prototype 1920 Waldon. This stillborn effort of Colonel Sidney D. Waldon to work with Pierce-Arrow in production of a quality lower-cost passenger vehicle was featured in the publication’s July issue. The related group of articles further preserve a seldom-known piece of history.

As editor of the Steering Wheel Newsletter, publication of the Studebaker Drivers Club’s Missouri-Illinois Gateway Chapter, Ed Meyer detailed dealerships in a series of issues by drawing from postwar regional newspaper ads and articles. Thus, the compilation provides insightful “period” reading.

The Cruisin’ Tigers Pontiac Club kept collector car interests moving forward in conjunction with Don Keefe’s Poncho Perfection print efforts. The club provided input for the classified advertising section, thus allowing the hobby and car ownership to perpetuate.

With Ken Dunning serving as editor, Peachstate Packards Region ran a series of vintage excerpts in Packard Profiles. The excerpts were derived from the rare publication “The Saga of Packard,” which was published by the car company upon its 50th anniversary in 1949. One wonders how many copies remain.

To make the most of canceled events, the Newsletter of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club saw a cooperative effort between club officials (headed by president Craig Birkhold and including editor Shannon Olson) and the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum. Included in a fall issue of the Newsletter was a handful of club “goodies” marking what would have been the 65th Annual Reunion of the club on Labor Day weekend. A “retrospective” on past reunions was the major feature in that issue. Together, the package bound club members together even though they didn’t formally meet.

Looking to make the list of winners in 2021? Examples of what it takes to win are often included in the “Club Clips” column of each issue of Old Cars.

To include your club’s publication in judging for the 2021 Golden Quill Award, please send a subscription or sample issues by Dec. 31, 2021, to Old Cars Editor, 5225 Joerns Dr. Suite 2, Stevens Point, WI 54981 and Gerald Perschbacher, 8868 Rock Forest Dr., St. Louis, MO 63123-1116. Club publications sent throughout the year are eligible for inclusion in Old Cars’ “Club Clips” column.

Editor’s note: Due to the Old Cars staff’s work-at-home orders during 2020, the 2019 Golden Quill Awards were not mailed. However, they will be mailed with the 2020 Golden Quill Awards.

Air Cooled News, Alex Huppe & Jeryl Schriever, co-editors, H.H. Franklin Club, Inc.

Antique Automobile, West Peterson, editor, The Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA)

At The Sign Of The Cat, David Hyatt, editor/graphics, Cougar Club of America

The Auburn Cord Duesenburg Club Newsletter, Shannon Olson, Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club

Avanti, Lewis Schucart, editor, Avanti Owners Association International

Buick Bugle, Pete Phillips, editor, Buick Club of America (BCA)

The Bulb Horn, Dennis Holland, editor, The Vintage Motor Car Club of America (VMCCA)

The Classic Car, Ron Verschoor (Jan.-July) and Jonathan Sierakowski (Aug.-Dec.) editors, Classic Car Club of America (CCCA)

The Corvette Restorer, Vinnie Peters, editor, National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS)

Early Bird, Jim Spawn, editor, Classic Thunderbird Club International

Enjine! Enjine! Scott Rollins, editor, Society for the Preservation and Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America (SPAAMFAA)

Generator & Distributor, Vince Taliano, editor, Vintage Chevrolet Club of America, Inc. (VCCA)

Horseless Carriage Gazette, Tracy Lesher, editor, Horseless Carriage Club of America (HCCA)

Journey with Olds, Shannon Olson, editor, Oldsmobile Club of America (OCA)

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

Lincoln & Continental Comments, Jeff Shively, editor, Lincoln & Continental Owners Club

Model “A” News, Helen Ehrenhofer, editor, Model “A” Restorers Club

Model T Times, Natalie Weaver, editor, The Model T Ford Club International 

The NCRS Driveline, Vinnie Peters, The National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS)

The Packard Cormorant, Stuart R. Blond, editor, Packard Automobile Classics

Plymouth Bulletin, Lanny D. Knutson, editor, Plymouth Owners Club

Porsche Panorama, Ron Sass, editor, The Porsche Club of America

The Professional Car, Walt McCall, editor, The Professional Car Society (PCS)

Quicksilver, Todd Haefer, editor, International Mercury Owners Association

The Restorer, Andy Scheer, editor, Model A Ford Club of America

The Self-Starter, Jeff Shively, editor, Cadillac & LaSalle Club, Inc. (CLC)

Smoke Signals, Tim Dye, editor, Pontiac-Oakland Club International (POCI)

Turning Wheels, Ann Turner, editor, The Studebaker Drivers Club

V8 Times, Jerry Windle, editor, Early Ford V-8 Club of America (EFV8CA)

The Vintage Ford, Aleesa Drennen, editor, Model T Ford Club of America

WTN, Sam Jackson, editor, Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club, Inc. (HET Club)

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

The Brickline, Randy Wyrick, editor, Bricklin International Owners Club Inc.

Bulletin, Ron Verschoor (Jan.-July) and Jonathan Sierakowski (Aug.-Dec.) editors, CCCA

The Cormorant News Bulletin, Craig Handley, editor, The Packard Club

Corsa Communique, Don Keefe, executive editor, Corvair Society of America

The Crosley Quarterly, Abigayle & Joyce Morgan, co-editors, Crosley Automobile Club

DeSoto Adventures, Geoff Overley, National DeSoto Club, Inc.

Dodge Brothers Club News, Phil Kennedy, editor, Dodge Brothers Club

Fomoco Times, Travis B. Sheaffer, editor, Crown Victoria Association

Impala News, Don Keefe, editor, National Impala Association

International Thunderbird Club Script, Nichole Colwell, editor, International Thunderbird Club

The Nomad Post, Jim Kelso, editor, The Chevrolet Nomad Association

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

Pur Sang, Matthew Baran, editor, American Bugatti Club

Quarterly, Jack Mueller, editor, Kaiser Frazer Owners Club International

The Riview, Ray Knott, director/editor, Riviera Owners Association

The Skyliner, Jim Conrad, editor, International Ford Retractable Club

The Starter, John Nikodym, editor, Willys-Overland-Knight Registry, Inc.

Stutz News, Carrol & Carl Jensen, editors, The Stutz Club, Inc.

Torque Tube II, Matthew Hinson, editor, 1936-1938 Buick Club

Thunderbird Scoop, Terri McNeill, editor, Vintage Thunderbird Club International (VTCI)

The Way of the Zephyr, Richard L. Cole, editor, Lincoln-Zephyr Owners Club

Woodie Times, John Lee, editor, The National Woodie Club

WPC News, Frank Pascoe, editor, Chrysler Product Restorers Club

Airflow Newsletter, John Boyd, editor, Airflow Club of America

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

Chrysler 300 Club News, Andy Mikonis, editor, Chrysler 300 Club International, Inc.

Cross Flags, Jeff Butz, editor, ’65-’66 Full Size Chevrolet Club

Durant Partner, Shawn D. Humphrey, editor, Durant Motors Automobile Club

Front Wheel Driver, Steve & Lucy Blakey, editors, Toronado Owners Association

Jeepster News, Peter G. Mozzone, editor, Willys Overland Jeepster Club, Inc.

The Marmon News, George Bradley, editor, The Marmon Club

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

Professional Car Collector, Louis C. Farah, editor, Professional Cars International

Reo Echo, Stan (Butch) & Lois Pream/ Martin & Joyce Moody, editors, Reo Club of America, Inc.

Runabouts to Rockets, Brad Bishop, editor, National Antique Oldsmobile Club

The Silver Shell, Jeff Buckley, editor, Moon Car Club

Silver Trumpet, Katrina Falk, editor, SPAAMFAA

Skylark, Gary DiLillo, editor, ’53-’54 Buick Skylark Club

Supercharger, Dale Robbins, editor, Graham Owners Club International, Inc.

Talegate, Chuck Snyder, editor, International Station Wagon Club

Thunder & Lightning, Judy Badgley, interim editor, Hurst/Olds Club of America

The Vintage Triumph, Shawn Frank, editor, The Vintage Triumph Register

Viva Carrera!, Mike Denney, editor, The Road Race Lincoln Register Club

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

Wheels & Waves, Larry DePasquale, editor, International Amphicar Owners Club

Braking News, Jeff Lane, director, Lane Motor Museum

Driving Force, Colby Martin, editor, SEMA Government Affairs Office

The EMMR Times, Eastern Museum of Motor Racing

Emporium Service Bulletin, Pierce-Arrow Society

Finz, Ron Melville, editor, The Cadillac & LaSalle Club of New Zealand, Inc.

The Ford Legend, Frank Scheidt, editor, Henry Ford Heritage Association

Foundation News, Frank Scheidt, editor, Early Ford V-8 Foundation

Gray Goose News, The Wills Museum, Terry Ernest, editor, Wills Sainte Claire Automobile Museum

Great Arrow News, David Coco, editor, Pierce-Arrow Museum

Henney Program of Progress, George Hamlin, editor, Henney Chapter — Professional Car Society

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

LaCad, Andrew & Rachel Rees, editors, Cadillac & LaSalle Club of Australia

Reflections, Jeffrey E. Bliemeister, executive director, AACA Museum, Inc.

The Voice, Dave Bajumpaa, editor, Connecticut Council of Car Clubs

The Bonding Strip, Ed Vigone, editor, Southern California Chapter NCRS

Cormorant Flier, Stan Ruesch, editor, Wisconsin Packard Automobile Classics, Inc.

The Dashboard, Maureen Blevins, editor, Greater lllinois Region-CCCA

Fiero Focus, Sadie Kaminski, editor, Northern Illinois Fiero Enthusiasts, Inc.

Hoosier Horn, Rachel Daeger, editor, Indiana Region-CCCA

The Hub Cap, Jim Nicholson, editor, Wisconsin Region-CCCA

LineChaser, Cheryl Loegering, editor, Minnesota Street Rod Association

The Livery, Eileen Schoenecker, editor, Professional Car Society-Tri-State Chapter

The Occasional, Steven G. Williams, editor, Model T Ford Club of Greater St. Louis, Inc.

Overhead Cammer, Jim Black, editor, Overhead Cammers Chapter-POCI

The Pittsburgh Tri-State Chapter NCRS Newsletter, Jim Patitucci, editor, Top Flight Chapter-NCRS

Porthole, Fred Syrdal, editor, Gopher State Chapter-Buick Club of America

The Redline Times, Reba Whittington, editor, Carolinas Chapter-NCRS

Road Chatter, John & Robin Emmering, editors, Northern Illinois Regional Group # 8-EFV8CA

Sallee Speaks, John Byrden, editor, LaSalle Appreciation Society-CLC

Snic Braaaapp, Tom Morgan, editor, Triumph Illinois Sports Owners Association

Thunderbird News, Ed Raabe, editor, Classic Thunderbird Club of South Florida

Torque, Rich Ray, editor, Michigan Region-CCCA

The Vette Signal, Tom Komenera, editor, Michigan Chapter-NCRS

The Windshield Post, Bjorn Anderson, editor, Upper Midwest Region-CCCA

The Bird’s Nest, Don Seymour, editor, New England’s Thunderbirds

Boomtimes, William C. Anderson, editor, Buick Owners of Maryland

Corvan Antics, Molly Bacon, editor, Corvanatics-Corvair Society of America

DeSoto Diary, Bob Baer, editor, DeSoto Owners Club of Maryland

The Gas Buggy Gazette, Angelica Yost, editor, Gettysburg Region-AACA

Gateway Gazette, Ted Baker, editor, St. Louis Gateway Chapter-Buick Club of America

Hoosier Tailfin, Michael Fellenzer, editor, Indiana Region-CLC

Northern Lights, Donna & Bill Dirnberger, editors, MN-AACA

Northstar News, Dave Gustafson, editor, Northstar Region-Lincoln & Continental Owners Club

The Packard Panorama, Jim Yocum, editor, Keystone Packards-The Packard Club

Planetary News, Mike Zahorik, editor, Model T Ford Club of Milwaukee

Rocket Review, Judy Badgley, editor, R.E. Olds Chapter-Oldsmobile Club of America

Sidelights, Jean Hawa, editor, South Florida Region-AACA

The Standard of The World, Bill Levy, editor, CLC-North Texas Region

Steering Wheel Newsletter, Ed Meyer, editor, Missouri-Illinois “Gateway” Chapter-Studebaker Drivers Club

Studebaker Spokesman, Claude Chmielewski, editor, Wisconsin Region-Studebaker Driver’s Club

Wheel Tracks, Gary Fiske, editor, Vermont Automobile Enthusiasts

Wheels “A” Rolling, David Young, editor, Mid-Atlantic Region-VMCCA

The Ah-OOO-Gah Bulletin, Elyn & Faith Smith, editors, Mohican Model A Ford Club, Inc.

Airhorn, Chris Biddle, editor, Chicagoland Corvair Enthusiasts-Corsa Chapter

Alabama Packard Newsletter, Dale Baker, Editor, Alabama Packards Club-PAC

The AM-xcentric, Joshua Greenplate, editor, Great Lakes Classic AMC Club

Arc and Spark, David O. Lyon, editor, Kalamazoo Antique Auto Restores Club

The Belltown Bulletin, Dan David, editor, Belltown Antique Car Club

Bird Talk, Art Fleming, editor, Long Island Thunderbird Club-VTCI

Borgward Owners’ Club, L. Silano, editor, Borgward Owners’ Club

Bow Tie Bulletin, Ron Panicucci, editor, Jersey Lakeland Region-VCCA

Caddy Chatter, Tony Albarella, editor, Cadillac Club of North Jersey

Carolina Plymouth Power, Dean Yates, editor, Carolina Region-Plymouth Owners Club

The Chatter, Kim Gardner, editor, Capitol City Chapter-AACA

Chrysler Tonic, Carol Morice, editor, Northern Illinois Region-WPC

Classic Olds Journal, Mary Degler, editor, Olds Club of Florida-Oldsmobile Club of America

Cloisonne Calendar, Bill Heptig, editor, Minnesota Packards, Inc.-PAC

Cruisin’, John Buchanan, editor, Mass Cruisers Auto Club

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

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

The Egbert Express, Roberta Helpap, editor, Northeastern Michigan Chapter-Studebaker Drivers Club

The Enlightener, Dan Cress, editor, Badger Region-CLC

Exhaust Valve, Jim Jaeger, editor, Fireball Chapter-Buick Club of America

Ford Lines, Don Diehl, editor, Tulsa Region-EFV8CA

Fordist Newsletter, Charlie Dildine, editor, Southern California Regional Group-EFV8CA

GMC Times, David & Julie Bailey, editors, GMC Truck Chapter-POCI

Good Olds Days, Dan Bodine, editor, Illinois Valley Olds Chapter

Hawkeye Hexagon, Dick Boswell, Hawkeye Packards

The Horseless Page, Cinda Dorholt, editor, The Twin Cities Regional Group-HCCA

The Hudson-Aire, Lynn P. Horn, editor, Chesapeake Bay Chapter-HET Club

Hudsonnews, Richard Low, editor, Dixie Chapter-HET Club

News-Flite, Andy Milonis, editor, Chryler 300 Club International, Inc.

The Newsletter of the PCPV Chapter of POCI, editor, Paul Bergstrom, PCPC Chapter-POCI

Oldsletter, Larry Ewing, editor, Northern California Chapter-Oldsmobile Club of America

Packardgram, Duane Gunn, editor, Arizona Region-Packards International

Pelican Papers, Drusilla Carter, editor, North Atlantic Packards

Phantom News, Arlene Roth, editor, Phantoms Motor/Model Club

PMD Excitement, Chuck Catalano, editor, South Jersey Pontiac Chapter-POCI

The Potomac Rambler, Chad Quella, editor, Association of AMC & Rambler Enthusiasts

The Redline Times, Reba Whittington, editor, Carolinas Chapter-NCRS

Rocket Recorder, Irma Benedek, editor, Delaware Valley Oldsmobile Club

Rocket Review Quarterly, Scott Phillips, editor, Capitol City Rockets-Olds Club of America

The Rope Shaft Reader, Gary Stoiber, editor, Little Indians Chapter-POCI

Rumble Sheet, Bill Gillies, editor, Twin Cities Regional Group # 46-EFV8CA

The Standard of The World, T.R. Toon, editor, West of the Lake Region-CLC

The Starterator, Rich Gibbs, editor, Sunflower Region-CHVA

The Steering Column, Dave McLeish, editor, The Greater Baltimore Model A Ford Club

Studebaker Spokesman, Claude Chmielewski, Wisconsin Region-Studebaker Drivers Club

Thunderbird Flyer, Tom Przedwojewski, editor, Northwest Vintage Thunderbird Club

Vairforce, Kathy Bombardier, editor, Bay State Corvairs Club

WOW, Willys Overland Words, Joy Heidal, editor, Northwest Chapter WOKR

AACA = Antique Automobile Club of America

BCA = Buick Club of America

CCCA = Classic Car Club of America

CLC = Cadillac & LaSalle Club

EFV8CA = Early Ford V8 Club of America

HET Club = Hudson Essex Terraplane Club

NCRS = National Corvette Restorers Society

HCCA = Horseless Carriage Club of America

PAC = Packard Automobile Classics

POCI = Pontiac-Oakland Club International

SPAAMFAA = Society for the Preservation and Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America

VCCA = Vintage Chevrolrt Club of America

VTCI = Vintage Thunderbird Club International

WOKR = Willys Overland Knight Registry

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