If you didn’t recognize this newsletter, it’s because the Society of Automotive Historians is in the process of transitioning to a new, updated “look”. The logo has been redesigned to reflect the changing SAH, keeping our history intact with the trademark Fardier – widely regarded as the world’s first full-scale self-propelled road vehicle – while looking to the future with a more contemporary appearance. We’ve added a tagline, “Where Auto History Lives,” to reflect the mission of the Society of Automotive Historians and to pronounce the organization as the resource for all things automotive history.
Additional changes are coming soon. Eric Monterastelli will be taking over the website with the goal of making it increasingly interactive and accessible; Clio Reid is growing SAH presence on social media with her innovative ideas and engaging content. The Automotive History Review is being reformatted for digital and will be released in the near future.
SAH changes are not only limited to those of appearance. The organization is working to create more opportunities to engage in automotive history. The first Automotive History Live! conference, held in partnership with the Studebaker National Museum, was a great success, with plans already in the works for 2027. The Tenth Annual Michael R. Argetsinger Symposium on International Motor Racing History received a record number of submissions. Our partners at the IMRRC have come up with some innovative solutions for this year’s presentation schedule. And the SAH hallmark event – the annual banquet to honor those who have made outstanding contributions to automotive history – will be held Saturday, September 19 at the fabulous Factory One in Flint. It promises to be a great night of fellowship, celebration, and fun. The banquet registration form is attached to this newsletter.
The SAH would like to thank Mark Wheeler for guiding the website over the past several years. Mark will remain as the website membership manager. We would also like to thank Helen Hutchings, David Schmidt, Bob Barr, and John & Jeanie Jacobus for their contributions to this issue. Everyone is welcome to submit announcements or reports, reviews of museums or exhibitions, as well as personal achievements such as a new book, published article, or award. Just send your news to Chris Lezotte or Helen Hutchings by August 25 for the September issue. And please remember that your comments and suggestions are always welcome.