HIGH-OCTANE NEWSFROM THE CALIFORNIA AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM

The holidays are a time when I tend to lock my practical self in the basement and splurge. I spend way too much on way too many presents; I go to expensive Disneyland; dye a blue streak in my hair; splurge

on a trip to Hawaii to see my grandson for Christmas; bake for the first time all year; and squeeze in every Christmas play, concert or party as I possibly can. As the ball drops in Times Square, I will no doubt be fast asleep, recuperating from another crazy December. Maybe your holiday season has been a bit more peaceful than mine, but I hope that in the last year, each of you has had a chance to spend some quality time with family, traveled somewhere fun, forgiven trespasses, read a good book, helped someone less fortunate than yourself, binged on all five seasons of Breaking Bad, and visited the California Automobile Museum a few times. Thanks to you, the Museum has had a great year. Our finances are in excellent shape, we’ve received multiple vehicle donations, had very successful fundraisers including our CAM Car Cruise and Benefit Dinner featuring David Garibaldi, education classes for adults & students, a new “Kids & Kars Camp” (a one-

week day camp for 5th – 9th grades), and developed a renovation plan for the Museum’s aging building. Our goal as we move forward is to have “one foot in today and one foot in tomorrow.” We will be challenged with a dual focus of maintaining and improving our regular operations along with accomplishing some long-term goals for the Museum’s future. In 2015, our “firsts” will include: an online giftshop, kicking off a capital campaign, owning our building, replacing the roof, hiring a Development Director to help with fundraising and grants, a trip to Cuba, and so much more! We’ve got some exciting new plans in the works for next year, and I can’t wait to see where they bring us. I look forward to keeping you posted and hope you will continue to follow our progress on our website, Facebook, Twitter, mailing list, and at our annual Mem-bership Meeting on March 6, 2015.

Over and out for 2014.

January/February 2015

New Year, New Goals By Karen McClaflin, Executive Director

CAM Car SalesBUY. SELL. CONSIGN. DONATE. Car sales, and especially vehicle donations, were fantastic in 2014. The Museum is thankful to everyone who has helped this program not only by bringing in cars to consign and donate, but getting the word out to friends, family, and associates about the great cars we have for sale and what the Museum Car Sales program has to offer. The prospects for 2015 are looking great and I’m looking forward to the continued financial support this program provides to the museum. Keep an eye on our website as I’m sure we’ll be getting more excellent and interesting vehicles next year! - Mark Woodward, Vehicle Sales Coordinator

Dream Cars Daily Drivers Project Cars Variety that counts

Contact Mark Woodward to buy, donate, or consign your next vehicle.

www.calautomuseum.org

Direct: (916) 806-8068 / Desk: (916) 442-6802 x 16 e: Vehiclesales@calautomuseum.org Inventory: www.camcarsales.com

Call Mark to make your tax deductible donation today!

Donate Your Ride! (916) 806-8068

In the latter part of the 1940s until the early part of the 1960s, the fin became a fixture in automotive styling, but flying high and skimming through the waters was not on the automobile designers’ minds. There

is an old adage that states, “an automobile that appears to be in motion while standing still will be a beautifully styled automobile.” For the most part, this adage holds true. In the case of fins there is a certain feeling of thrust and stability, and of course flight, that gives the feeling of motion to these cars. Beyond that, the fin adds elegance and worth, which helps sell the product. Cadillac under General Motors seems to get the credit for the earliest fin in its 1948 model. Originally, they were referred to as “fishtails,” and remained in the same basic configuration for some models through 1956. Cadillac also had what was considered to be the tallest fin in 1959 at 40 inches tall! It is always debatable, but Chrysler Corporation probably wins the overall prize for the tallest, stylish, and most exaggerated fins. Exemplified by the 1957 Chrysler, DeSoto and Plymouth models, these were from the brilliance of one Virgil M. Exner. Exner was hired by Chrysler in 1949 to bring the company out of the shadows by producing some unforgettable designs, and that he did. Upright fins at the Ford Motor Company were a bit more subdued with the likes of the ‘57 and ‘58 Fords and the ‘57 Thunderbird; although, the Lincolns displayed upright fins. Any great designer will find a way to modify a popular trend to use to his or her advantage. In the case of a fin, what would be the ways to modify to make it still appear to be a fin, but no longer upright? Well, it appears that there were a million or so ways. How about the flowing French curve of the 1958 Chevrolet, or the

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batwing curve of the 1959 Chevrolet and the sharper curve of the 1960 Chevrolet horizontal fin? Then there is the 1960 Ford horizontal fin with the swish at the bottom, or the 1959 Pontiac “V” shape, and of course, the 1959 Buick massive 45 degree canted fin. I could go on and on concerning the fin styles that were designed, but I won’t. What is really important is that era, and what it meant then and even now. It was a time of prosperity, when our world was fresh and new after the war. The Jet Age was upon us, and we were looking well beyond what our eyes could see into space and the future.

Flash & Flare: The Atomic 50s & 60s By Ron Vogel, California Automobile Museum Docent Chair

Flash & FlareThe Atomic 50s & 60s

February 14 - June 7, 2015 www.calautomuseum.org

The California Automobile Museum is thrilled to host one of the Sacramento area’s tastiest brew events of the year in conjunction with Sacramento Beer Week. Over 30 local area breweries will be introducing their best for the Sacramento Brewers Showcase surrounded by the museum’s collection of over 150 cars. Over the past two years, Museum staff and Board of Directors have taken on hosting beer tasting events such as the Sacramento Brewers Showcase and last September’s Sacramento Fresh Hops Brew Fest. It’s been fun and interesting to learn that craft beer lovers and classic car hobbyists are two of the best communi-ties that combine really well with each other. It’s amaz-ing to see how much the enthusiasm grows for both of those interests. Ticket holders for the Sacramento Brewers Showcase can expect to taste some of the most deli-ciously brewed local beer. Something that’s very unex-pected is the uniqueness of the venue; the California Automobile Museum. The exhibits at the Museum include a replica of the first car ever made by Benz (before Mercedes came into the picture), to a gorgeous black Porsche once owned by Rock and Roll Hall of Fam-er, Linda Ronstadt.

You also might want to know that by purchasing your tasting ticket or a Geek Week pass, you are agreeing to drink beer while contributing to the mission of a non-profit organization. There’s nothing wrong with a philan-thropist that enjoys a great craft beer! Tickets for the Sacramento Brewers Showcase are available now at Calautomuseum.org. Contact the Museum at (916) 442-6802 or info@calautomuseum.org.

SACRAMENTO BREWERS SHOWCASE DETAILSDate: Thursday, February 26 Time: 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm Tickets: $60 (BEST DEAL) - Beer Geek Membership - All-you-can-drink at the Sacramento Brewers Showcase and the Capitol Beer Fest on March 8, 2015. $50 - All-you-can-drink & IPA flights (more info) $40 - All-you-can-drink

By Natalie Minas, Marketing Director

Sacramento Beer WeekFebruary 26 - March 8

www.sacramentobeerweek.com

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ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING RSVP: membership@calautomuseum.org or (916) 442-6802

FRIDAY, MARCH 6 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm 2200 Front Street, 95818

Happy New Year!As I type this, I am unwinding from sending out nearly 2,000 membership brochures to our supporters all over the country. I’m looking forward to seeing those applications returned to me and welcoming (or re-wel-coming) hundreds of car lovers to the exclusive club of Califor-

nia Automobile Museum Gearhead Membership.As you probably know, Gearheads get free admission to our museum all year long, and there have never been more opportunities to see something new here! We will have seven weeks of SUPERCARS, fol-lowed by a true blast from the past, an exhibit high-lighting unique and wonderful styling of the 50s and 60s, with a special emphasis on FINS. And that’s just the first half of the year! In addition, we feature a spe-cialized tour on the second Saturday of every month, a great opportunity for you to look at automotive history in a different and unique way. You’ll also want to come back every month to check out our Car Club Cavalcade,

a rotating exhibition spotlighting our local car clubs, who always love to show off their rides. Remember, you’ll also save on all of our great classes, trips, and car shows. We’re incredibly fortu-nate to be a part of both the Reciprocal Organization of Associated Museums (ROAM) and North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM). Enrollment in these two organizations (included in an executive or corporate/sponsor level membership) earns you membership level benefits at hundreds of museums throughout the country! A variety of enriching, educa-tional experiences have never been so easy or afford-able. Also, be sure to mark your calendars for our annual membership meeting on Friday, March 6th at 7:00pm! This is a great way for you to get updated on all our happenings and meet and greet your fellow Gearheads (including board president Joe Hensler and our fearless leader Karen McClaflin). Coffee, tea, dessert, and a hefty supply of car talk will all be pro-vided. Just another way for your friends here on the California Automobile Museum staff to say THANKS for everything you do to keep us cruisin’!

Choose the Gearhead Life!By Adam Vargyas, Membership Coordinator

The New Year is off to a great start as we finalize our upcoming 2015 class schedule. We are excited to offer a large variety of classes like Clay Modeling, Youth Basic Engine, ARTomotive Photography and so much more. Educational classes cater to a variety of different ages, from preschool to

adults, and offer a wide range of instruction on mechanics, driving, and design of the automobile. Our instructors have been working diligently to prepare upcoming classes for the new 2015 year and we can’t wait to join in on these fun classes! On Saturday, February 28th, 2015 we are looking forward to hosting two Clay Modeling Classes for kids. Our

Class Act! By Caitlin Fusselman, Education Coordinator

Pre-K Clay Modeling Class (ages 3 – 7) from 9am to 12pm and Future Engineers Clay Modeling Class (ages 8-13) from 1pm to 3pm will instruct students on how automobiles were first designed using clay modeling techniques. Students will then be able to design their own vehicles using the clay modeling tools of the automobile trade. Once their clay automobile designs have been finalized, each student will be able to take home their cars and show off their creations to family and friends. Every year we are working on offering more educational programs, so please stay tuned to Calautomuseum.org for upcoming educational classes and events. We look forward to seeing you in the New Year!

FebruarySaturday 28Clay Modeling (Adults) 9 am–12 pmClay Modeling (Kids) 1 pm–3 pm MarchSaturday 14 Youth Basic Engine 9 am – 12 pmSaturday 28 ARTomotive Photography 9 am – 2 pm

AprilSaturday 11Model A Basics 9 am - 11:30 amModel A Driving 12:30 pm – 3pmSaturday 25 & Sunday 26 Muscle Car Tune-Up 9 am – 2 pm

MaySaturday 9Model T Basics 9 am – 11:30 amModel T Driving 12:30 pm – 3 pmSaturday 16 Model T Tune - Up – Up 9 am – 2 pm

JuneSaturday 9Pinewood Derby Class/Races 9 am – 2 pm

JulyMonday 13Kids & Kars Camp 9 am – 1 pmYouth Basic Engine Class/RidesTuesday 14Kids & Kars Camp 9 am – 1 pmClay Modeling (Kids)/RidesWednesday 15Kids & Kars Camp 9 am – 1 pmMuscle Cars/RidesThursday 16Kids & Kars Camp 9 am – 1 pmElectric Vehicles/RidesFriday 17Kids & Kars Camp 9 am – 1 pmPinewood Derby Class/Races

AugustSaturday 8 Youth Basic Engine Class 9 am – 12 pmSaturday 22 ARTomotive Photography Class 9 am – 2 pm

SeptemberSaturday 19Model A Basics & Driving 9 am -11:30 amModel A Driving 12:30 am – 3 pm

Saturday 26Model T Basics 9 am – 11:30 amModel T Driving 12:30 pm – 3 pm

OctoberSaturday 3 Clay Modeling (Adults) 9 am – 12 pmClay Modeling (Kids) 1 pm – 3 pm

Saturday 10Pinewood Derby Class/Races 9 am – 2 pm

Saturday 31BOO–seum 12 pm – 4 pm

School Tours & Classes

Caitlin Fusselman Education Coordinator

education@calautomuseum.org (916) 442-6802 x 13

www.calautomuseum.org

Contact

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SHOP OUR EXCLUSIVE COLLECTION OF GREAT GIFT IDEAS FROM TODAY’S CAR THEMED TREND-SETTERS AND BRANDS! TO SHOP THE GEARHEAD COLLECTION, VISIT THE MUSEUM OR THE ONLINE STORE AT CALAUTOMUSEUM.ORG/GiftShop

G E A R H E A D G I F T S H O PGIVING THAT COUNTS

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Comes with matching shoulder strap

$40 $4999 99

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$899Various models to choose from. Build yourself!

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

2200 FRONT STREETSACRAMENTO, CA 95818

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California Vehicle Foundation

January/February 2015

SAVE THE DATE

7th Annual CAM

2015Car Cruise

Saturday, August 1On Fulton Avenue www.calautomuseum.org