Payson Roundup | Payson, AZ

Rim Country Classic Auto Club

The Rim Country Classic Auto Club, as we know it today, had its beginnings back in 1993 when a few people had a common interest in restoring and driving classic cars. They cruised around Payson where they met and talked about their cars. The meeting places were Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pioneer Title and Phil White Ford parking lots. As the group flourished and the number of members grew, Phil White Ford became the main meeting place with the management providing a meeting room upstairs. In 1994, Rim Country Classic Auto Club members decided to have their first annual car show to help charities in the town of Payson. Since then the car shows have been held at the following locations throughout the years:

1994 Pioneer Title

1995 Payson Courthouse

1996-97 Chapman Chevrolet

1998-00 Payson High School parking lot

2001-03 Mazatzal Casino parking lot

2004 Main Street

As of today the membership has dramatically increased to more than 85 families. Within the membership there are more than 100 classic automobiles both restored or in progress.

Today the Rim Country Classic Auto Club has its regularly scheduled meetings on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the entertainment hall at the Mazatzal Casino. Our general meetings are open to the public and we invite everyone to attend, whether you own a classic vehicle or not.

The Rim Country Classic Auto Club has a yearly calendar, as do most other car clubs, so we can plan our cruises and make hotel and car show reservations. The RCCAC has on its agenda at least two cruises a month and they range from a single day at the Pine Craft Fair to three-day cruises to Pinetop for the "Run to the Pines" and the "Route 66 Fun Run" in Kingman. When we go on our cruises we are usually one of the best, if not the best, represented car clubs in attendance. Our club always displays our banner showing our Beeline Cruise-In and Charity Auto Show sponsors.

Charities we have Supported

The Rim Country Classic Auto Club is a nonprofit, family-oriented organization and donates all profits from the Annual Charity Auto Show to Payson charities and college scholarships for high school seniors. To date, RCCAC has donated approximately $40,000 through its efforts. Recipients for donations are chosen and voted on by the membership at the next general meeting following the car show.

Past Recipients of Donations

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Habitat for Humanity

Humane Society

Payson Kids

Payson Library

Payson Literacy Program

Payson Senior Center

Polio Research Fund

RTA Hospice

Special Olympics

Time Out Shelter

Scholarship Fund

Payson High School

Volunteering and Activities

The car club members are actively involved in several community events and over the years have donated thousands of man-hours in support of the community. The car club was honored for its service to the victims of the Rodeo-Chediski Fire when its members spent hundreds of hours preparing and serving food to the victims at the middle school. Additionally, the club worked more than 400 man-hours on the food drive at Christmas and collected and donated hundreds of items for elderly shut-ins.

Whenever the car club is requested to volunteer its services, the club members have always responded enthusiastically. The following is a listing of some of the events where we have donated our time and classic cars: all rodeo events, Memorial Day Parade, Payson air show, Electric Light Parade, Veterans Day Parade, Flag Day, Pine Pioneer Days, Strawberry Antique Fair, Run in Support of Our Troops in Iraq, pow wow, Poker Run for Polio, Great Race, Christmas Food Drive, grand openings of businesses, etc.

If you would like to learn more about the Rim Country Classic Auto Club visit our website at http://clubs.hemmings.com/rccac or e-mail us at rccac2001@yahoo.com