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Chapters World-wide
History of the Antique Outboard Motor Club
How it all started
The “Antique Outboard Motor Club of America” was conceived in the spring of 1959 by George Ralph, who was assistant service manager for a Ford dealership in Clearwater, Florida. George enjoyed pre-World War II kickers and often compared his hobby to vintage car collecting. It was George’s feeling that Old Car clubs were flourishing with their members paying dues, buying publications and promotional materials; old outboard collectors would do likewise. That original club was incorporated in August of 1962 and was headquartered in Clearwater, Florida. The first and only printing of an issue of The Antique Outboarder by the “Antique Outboard Motor Club of America” was August 1, 1962; however, after a total of one The Antique Outboarder and four newsletters in 1963 the publications stopped. By 1964 “The Antique Outboard Motor Club of America” had for all intents and purposes faded away, much to the disappointment of a fellow named Dave Reinhartsen. Dave decided to form a new organization, “The Antique Outboard Motor Club.” In 1965, with the help of Chris Owen who (at age 16) volunteered to be Vice President, John Harrison who volunteered to be Treasurer and donated $100, and W.J. (Jim) Webb, who had just retired as General Manager of the Evinrude Division of OMC, they set out on the task. The Antique Outboard Motor Club, Inc. (AOMCI) was eventually incorporated in 1968.
The Gator Chapter Beginning
In December 2021 we celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the South Florida Gator at the Lake Placid Meet. In 2001 several Florida AOMCI members expressed an interest in forming a new Chapter in South Florida due to an increasing lack of interest in attending Meets in Central and Northern Florida. At the time, a request for a new charter from the Executive Council had to be made by a minimum of three members-in-good-standing. Jeff Bogard, Ted Miller and Frank Vidal, Jr. submitted that request on October 4, 2001. “Rather than lose members in our area, we would prefer to form a chapter closer to home and avoid overnight stays due to long driving distances”, they wrote in the request. On November 20, 2001 a Certificate of Charter signed by AOMCI President Dennis Evinrude and First Vice President Don Dwiggins was received by Jeff Bogard and on December 6, 2001 the Internal Revenue Service assigned an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to the Chapter. By January 2002 twenty-one members had sent in their $10 dues for a one-year membership. And, on March 2, 2002, at the home of Gary MacNorius, the South Florida Gator Chapter held its first Meet. By the end of 2002 membership had increased to 52. In 2006 dues were increased to $20 per year (where they remain as of this date) and Gator Chapter membership reached 92. Also in 2006 the South Florida Gator Chapter, AOMCI became a Florida Not-for-profit Corporation, sales tax exempt and achieved Federal 501-(c)-3 Charitable Non-Profit status. In 2005 the Outboarder of the Year and Golden Prop Awards were instituted to recognize members for their participation in chapter activities. Each year ballots are mailed out in the December issue of the NaviGator newsletter and all members have to opportunity to nominate individuals for the two awards. The recipient of the Outboarder of the Year award receives an engraved plaque and the Golden Prop Award is a rotating trophy that the winner gets to “keep” for one year. Our first newsletter, The South Florida Outboarder, was published in July 2002 by Jeff Bogard. In February 2003 the name of the newsletter was changed to The Gator Outboarder and Frank Vidal, Jr was the editor of the two issues published that year. Chapter member Art Korbel took over as editor of the Gator Gazette in 2004. In 2005 member Brian Slager suggested changing the name of the newsletter to NaviGator which has stuck for the past 18 years. Brian Slager is also credited for designing our Gator logo. Art Korbel remained as editor of the NaviGator until December of 2012 when Buzz Lamb became editor. Buzz Lamb currently remains in that position publishing quarterly newsletters. The South Florida Gator Chapter currently holds Meets each month from November to May. No Meets are scheduled from June to October although occasionally a member will hold an Informal Meet.
To learn more about our club contact Buzz Lamb at NOROWAL1@AOL.COM or call 954-651-3606 for information or for an application to join.