On May 8, 1964 a small group of car enthusiasts met to organize the A.A.R.C.. The by-laws of the club were established for the first year of the organization.
The club started publishing "The Spokesman" with Burt Horman as the editor. Burt designed the club emblem which is still being used on our jackets, pins and license plate plaques.
During the first several years, meetings were held at members homes. The club grew too large to continue in this manner so in November of 1970 the meetings were moved to Diehl Ford and are currently held at the Squalicum Yacht Club.
Many functions that were held in the first few years of existence are still annual events. The Aloys Ebe Picnic was started in 1966, the Birch Bay Field Meet (now the Ferndale Meet) in 1964, club jackets 1971, swap meets 1966 Mount Baker Tour (AARC McPhail Barbecue) 1966, plus other normal club activities.
The Spokesman has been published since 1964, with the exception of about 20 issues between 1968 and 1970. After the restart of the publication in June of 1970 the roster of the club increased dramatically from about 20 members to more than 60 in 1971. Steady growth was shown for the next several years. Now membership is around 180 with over 500 different cars represented.
To be a successful club you need committed members who are willing to put in time. Our club has that large nucleus as demonstrated by the success of all our functions, especially our induction of new officers dinner in January, the AARC McPhail Barbecue in July, numerous car tours, Boulevard Park Car Show and most importantly, the Monroe Swap Meet in October.
This is just a short synopsis of one of the best, if not the best, car club on the entire West Coast.