Author: Stephen Burton

Greetings to my Model A ‘family’. That’s how I see it… we’re a family! In the nearly 50 years that I’ve been a MARC member, I’ve met a myriad of folks and become quite close friends with many. And with a total of 8 years on the Board of Directors, most recently as President from 2020 to 2022, I was able to help shape the growth of our fine organization, even through some very difficult times.

As a bit of personal history. . . I met Sandy in 1975, and also found and purchased my first Model A, a true basket case ’30 Tudor. I began its restoration, but you might say that life got in the way . . . in a very good way of course! We got married, I got my Master’s Degree, we started a family and built a house.  And somehow, by 1983 that Tudor was on the road! We became deeply involved with the local MARC Region (Western Lake Erie), and as time moved on, I led the group to hosting MARC Meets in ’86 and ’89, and was a major part of the 2016, 2019, & 2023 Meets. I’ve held every officer position and currently write the club newsletter. As a retired engineer, I now enjoy gardening, vintage auto restoration, and driving my 400A.

My time on the MARC Board of Directors included 4 years from 1996 – 2000, during which time I revived the MARC Youth Program, appointing a Youth Coordinator to oversee activities and articles targeted for the young folks, who are the future of our hobby.  It is still going strong today!

I also completed the MARC History Book, and later made major improvements to the National Meet guidelines. In 2018 I returned to the Board as VP, then President. These were troubled times, as COVID raised its ugly head and forced us to make the very difficult decision to cancel two Membership Meets and a National Meet. We got through that ordeal, but not without losing a portion of our membership.

I am especially proud that Sandy and I were chosen as the 2023 recipients of the Kenneth G. Brady MARC lifetime achievement award.  What an honor! I’m currently: finishing my term as Trustee of the Model A Ford Foundation, Inc. (MAFFI), operator of the Model A Ford Museum, with a portion of my term spent as President. I feel that a strong bond between our organizations is critical to the long-term success of both groups.  MARC is comprised of folks with many different ways of preserving the interest in the Model A Ford and its place in history. We have many who enjoy touring and driving their A’s, while some get a thrill from building a car to the highest degree of authentic perfection.  (Yes, I’m also a ‘fine point’ judge/Team Captain!) Some enjoy fashion, literature and other aspects of the era.

I strongly believe that all these aspects of our hobby and more must be supported to ensure our continued existence. I look forward to working with a strong and dedicated Board to ensure that the best interests of all MARC Members are supported, with the goal of making MARC the best Model A Club that it can be.

Thank you, and Happy Model A’ing!

Hi, my name is Rusty Gould, and I am seeking a position on the MARC board of Directors.  Model A’s have been in my family my entire life. My grandfather had a 1929 Model A fire truck converted into a pickup and I used to ride around with him when I was young. I bought my first Model A, 1931 Tudor when I was 17 years old. After graduating from high school,

I hired General Motors, then took a leave of absence and enlisted into the Army. I served in Vietnam during the 1968 TET offensive.  Upon returning home and returning to work at General Motors, I enrolled in college and received a Criminal Justice degree.

Rita and I have been married 54 years and have 3 children and six grandchildren. Two of our grandsons (ages 19 and 21) enjoy the Model A’s very much and have joined us at National Meets.

I have a 1930 Model A Coupe, that I completed a 5 year frame off restoration on in 1975. I received· an Award of Excellence, 500 points at the Dearborn National Meet in Touring Class. Rita has a 1929 Tudor that we use mostly for touring. We also have a 1929 Woody Wagon and a 1929 Speedster, that we often drive.

I have been attending large local car shows, plus Gilmore Model A Days, and Hershey AAC Swap meet, for several years, recruiting new members for MARC. I give potential new members, an older copy of the Model A news, a parts catalog, an application for MARC, and I also direct them to a region that is closest to their home. This has been quite effective for attracting new members.

I’m a member of the Script A Region, The Heart of Florida Region and an honorary member of the Model A’s of Greater Orlando Region. I belong to the Model A Ford Foundation Inc, and The Henry Ford Heritage Association. I was content manager for the Touring Class part of the MARC website, and was Co-Chairman of the 2016 MARC Membership Meet and have been on a number of committees hosting meets.

I have attended every MARC Membership and National meet for the last 15 years except one. I was Script A Region President for 2 years. I served as Touring class Chairman for 2 years and I’m currently a member of the MARC Touring Class committee. I served on the MARC board of directors, as Director of Regions for one years, two years as President, and one year as Director of Membership. I was awarded the Kenneth G. Brady award in 2022. I’m currently regional correspondent for Script A, and chairman of the MARC Hall of Fame committee.

I feel we (MARC) needs to focus on getting more youth involvement, by visiting Tec Schools, giving seminars to the youth and  giving them a short ride. Marc members who have a Model A Speedsters should get them out of the garage and let the youth see them up close. We also need to better serve our membership.

I feel that I have a lot of experience to accomplish these things. I would appreciate your vote and will work hard for the betterment of MARC.

My name is Tom Hovetter and I am running for a second term on the MARC Board of Directors. While being on the Board and conducting MARC business has not always been easy, it is extremely satisfying to meet and serve the MARC Membership. I am currently Director of Membership and Public Relations.

I have been a member of MARC for twenty years. I was (previously) a member of Hub City Model Club in Maryland, serving as Vice-president and then serving as Hub City’s President for 10 years. In 2017, I had the honor of chairing the MARC National Meet in Gettysburg, PA. I am pleased to announce that I will, again in June of 2025, be chairing the MARC National Meet, again in Gettysburg. I have also had the privilege of being a fine point judge for three years.  In 2023, through the suggestion of a MARC member and friend, I was able to institute and manage the “In Memory” column which now appears in the MAN.

My love of any old car goes back as far as I can remember. I fell in love with any antique car that passed in front of my eyes. In the mid 1980’s, while still in college, my dream of owning a Model “A” became a reality. I purchased a driving, but in desperate need of restoration, 1930 two door sedan. Finding the “true love of my life”, Janora and I were married in May of 1996 and our beautiful daughter, Kalee followed two years later. As a very proud father, Kalee is now in her third year of Medical School, doing her clinical rotations in Hagerstown, MD.

After the birth of Kalee my second car, a totally disassembled 1928 Sports Coupe arrived. That was followed by the purchase of a five window Business Coupe, which, regrettably was sold to buy a 1930 Deluxe Roadster. In this mix I have acquired a 1916 Model “T” Runabout. Rounding out my collection is a reproduction 1936-37 Mullins Red Cap trailer. My collecting is now more geared to finding and purchasing Model “A” era accessories. I have an extensive collection of “period correct” awnings for my two-door Sedan and have recently purchased a running board kitchenette, which will be on display at the 2025 National Meet.

Meeting, talking and listening to the MARC Members is most important when being a MARC Director, and I would be honored and gratified to be able to serve another two-year term as one of YOUR MARC Directors.