*Club offers outlet for car enthusiasts
By Dana Gross-Rhode/Fremont Tribune Correspondent
Julie (Hansen) Chappelear has been exposed to antique and classic cars for as long as she can remember.
One of her earliest memories is of being in a parade in an antique car with her mom and sister.
Midway through the parade, it started to rain - hard. The car they were in didn't have electric
windshield wipers, but a handle that a person could use to manually run the wipers. While Julie's mom kept driving, Julie's sister kept the windshield wipers going while Julie held a towel up to the window to try and stop some of the rain from going into the car.
"By the end of the storm, we were soaked," she said. Julie's father, Jim Hansen, along with Eddie Hancock and Harold Soukup began the Fremont Antique Car Club, Inc. in 1967. The club is a member of the Antique Car Counsel of Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa.
The idea of a club originated when the three men, all owners of at least one antique car, noticed there were other antique vehicles around the area. They decided to start a club and see how much interest it generated.
Meetings first took place in the basements of different members' homes. Gradually, as the club grew, the meetings had to be moved. Now, meetings are held at 8 p.m. on the first Friday of every month in the back of the Don Peterson & Associates building on 23rd street.
Julie said to join the club, all it takes is an interest in cars. Annual dues are only $3 (the same as they were in 1967 when the club was formed) and spouses and children are always welcome.
Julie is the car club
treasurer. Her husband, Gene, built and maintains the Web page. http://fremont_acc.home.att.net
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Gene said he has always had an interest in cars, but didn't even know about the club until he began to date Julie.
"There are a lot of people who don't even know that we exist," Hansen said. "We are always trying to find ways to attract new members."
"As a member, there are no big demands. You don't even have to own an antique car unless you want to become an officer. Otherwise, if you have an interest, you are more than welcome to join," Julie said.
The club has between 40 and 45 members within a 75-mile radius of Fremont. Members tend to come and go.
"Most of them go up," he said as he points his finger to the sky.
Hansen said that among members, there are about 200 antique cars. The oldest car in the club is from the early 1900s. One member has 45 of his own cars.
Some members also have antique tractors, trucks, airplanes and motorcycles.
"We thought about changing the name of the club since our members have more than just cars, but the paperwork and legal work that has to be done to change the name isn't worth it," Julie said.
Gene has been working on a project to record all of the different models of vehicles that members do own, but said it will take some time. He and Jim know that there is one car that no one in the club has: The car used in the club logo.
"We chose to put an Electric Roadster on our logo," Jim said. "We knew that no one had one and there would be no disputes trying to choose a car."
Gene and Jim agree a group like the Fremont Antique Car Club, Inc. can be very interesting as well as helpful.
"If you're trying to restore a car, with a club like this, you have the resources to find, not only parts for a car, but also knowledge if you have any questions. Also, it's a way to get to know people with similar interests," Gene said.
Gene added that through the Web site, they have been contacted by other clubs with questions.
"We've gotten e-mails from people locally as well as from Beirut, France and England looking for parts," Gene said.
Fremont Antique Car Club members, however, don't just have meetings and talk about restoring cars, they are active in the community.
Last weekend, they were in the parade at Hooper for the town's 125th anniversary celebration and every year, members also drive their cars through the John C. Fremont Day parade.
Jim said a couple of people don't realize there is no air conditioning in the cars.
Gene agreed.
"Sometimes when we're driving through parades, it gets so hot that even though we're riding in a car with no roof, Julie and I will still drive with the doors open to try and get a breeze to move through the car. There will actually be some people who ask us why we don't turn on the air conditioning," Gene said.
The Fremont Antique Car Club also sponsors a swap meet annually on the fourth Sunday of every September.
This year, it will take place Sept. 23 at Christensen Field. What began as a swap meet for antique car parts has grown to "antique items of any type."
Throughout the year, the club also sponsors two scholarships a year for area graduates interested in an automotive degree such as diesel mechanics or an automotive electrical degree.
Money from the club also has been donated to Christensen Field for fencing, gravel, a public address system or lighting.
Antique cars have played a large part producing many memories for Jim, Gene and Julie.
"Every one of my kids has had an antique car as a part of their wedding," Jim said.
* Now www.fremontantiquecarclub.com