68th Annual Texas Tour
“El Valle: Border, Beach and Beyond”
March 31-3 April 2022
Harlingen, Texas 78552
Fellow AACA members, and past Tour participants,
Bienvenidos, from the Rio Grande Valley Region.
This is our introduction to the 68th Texas Tour (March 31-3April 2022) at our home base in Harlingen, Texas. As we progress closer to the Tour, we will continue to send updates. This is the first time for the AACA-RGV to host a Texas Tour, but we plan to have an exciting time.
Do not hesitate to contact the Club at aaca.rgv.chapter@gmail.com
Hotel Information
Hilton Garden Inn
751 Harlingen Heights Drive I
Harlingen, Texas 78552
Reservations (956) 428-1400)
If you’re like me, call the Hotel at (956) 428-1400 to make your reservations. Just let them know that you are part of the 68th Texas Tour to receive the tours’ discount rate. Or you can contact the Hotel at this link:
http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/groups/personalized/H/HRLNOGIAAC20220328/index.jhtml
**If you use the link, make sure you edit the dates you are staying at the Hotel!
Cost of Rooms – Single Occupancy is $139.00 with one Breakfast voucher per day
Cost of Rooms – Double Occupancy is $149.00 with two (2) Breakfast vouchers per day. Discounted Group.
**if you arrive on Wednesday, the 68th Texas Tour Rates will apply and to include Sunday if you wish to stay an additional day.
Deadline for Texas Tour Group rates is 28 February 2022!
Please sign up for rooms as soon as possible.
Vehicle Parking and Trailers – You can unload your car at the Hotel. There is plenty of space to park the
trailers around the Hotel. Also, we have reserved a block of spaces in the parking lot for the tour cars. These spaces will be marked by year/name/model of tour car.
Raffle – Claudia has completed the 68th Texas Tour Quilt. Yes, hand-made by the boss lady. Claudia will post pictures of the Quilt on Facebook. The Quilt will be raffled off. Also, please consider donating raffle items to help defray the costs of the Tour. Your support is appreciated!
Registration and Hospitality – The registration desk and hospitality room will be in the lobby of the Hilton
Garden Inn. The tour registration desk opens at 10 a.m. on Thursday near the hospitality room. Look for the 68th Texas Tour registration signs near the hotel check-in counter.
Thursday Activities – For those of you who arrive early on Thursday, we have planned an Early Bird Tour.
The trip to Progresso, Mexico has been deleted. We will stay in Texas! An alternative site has been selected.
More details on the follow-up messages concerning the Tours in the RGV.
Social Gathering – A social gathering is planned at the local community park a few minutes’ drive from the Hotel. A meal will be served. This is a perfect time to catch up with old friends and get introduced to the RGV Region members. Bring your own lawn chairs. Details to be sent in the future.
Veterans – New this Year. We plan to honor our Texas Tour members who are veterans. Please fill out the
veteran’s information on the Registration Form.
Attire – As always, be casual and dress according to the weather. The Awards Banquet will be held near the
Hotel on Saturday evening. This event lends itself to a little nicer attire. Maybe even matching your vehicle’s decade!
Judging – We will set aside two hours on Friday morning to conduct a semi-formal car judging Class Awards and the Revolving Trophies. I will ask for help from the different clubs to provide additional judges and we will provide the rest of the judges.
Chairs – Bring your collapsible chairs to enjoy stops along the tour.
If you need any additional assistance prior to March 31-3 April of the 68th Texas Tour, please let us know. Our cell numbers have been included below in case you have any last-minute questions or needs.
Chairperson (Tour Questions)
Moses Mendoza, Jr Cell # (956) 266-0370 mmen700224@aol.com
Registration Questions
Jon Lindstrom (352) 642-6286 hevychevyz66@live.com
Lorne Jonsson (956) 622-8115 lornewjonsson@gmail.com
68th Texas Tour Car Judging and Awards
A small team of experienced attendees to the Texas Tour will view all registered vehicles and select the
most deserving for presentation of the Texas Tour Rotating Awards. Rotating awards may be carried
home for display and must be returned for awarding at the next Texas Tour. If you received one of the
rotating awards last year, please remember to return it this year.
Special Awards for cars driven on tour
1. Most Popular Car: Chosen by vote of the tour participants
2. Jim & Jane Davie Memorial Trophy – Best Owner Restored Car (rotating award)
Determined by restoration excellence and the percentage of work performed by the owner
If you wish to have your car considered for this award, then complete the form in registration packet.
3. Winthrop Rockefeller Award – Best Classic Car (rotating award)
4. Pate Museum of Transportation Award – Best Original Car (rotating award)
If you wish to have your car considered for this award, then complete the form in registration packet.
5. Walker Edwards Award – Best Commercial Vehicle (rotating award)
6. Beverly Slimp Award – Best Brass T (rotating award)
7. Beverly Slimp Award – Best Steel T (rotating award)
8. Chairman’s Choice Award
Originated in recent years to recognize the current tour chairman’s “favorite” vehicle in attendance.
10. Breck Wagner Award (rotating award)
Best Orphan Car
11. Kristi’s Choice Award (rotating award)
Favorite Car from the 1960’s
12. Oldest Car Completing Tour (rotating award)
13. Car Driven Farthest (to attend the tour)
14. Car Trailered Farthest (to attend the tour)
15. Oldest Driver (Registered Driver / Driving on Tour)
16. Youngest Driver (Registered Driver / Driving on Tour)
17. Hard Luck Vehicle on the Tour
** A TOTAL OF FIFTEEN (15) ADDITIONAL BEST OF TOUR AWARDS
WILL BE PRESENTED **
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:
- The Deadline for Pre-Registration is March 1, 2022
- Final date for inclusion in the tour book is March 1, 2022
- Full refund granted if requested prior to February 15, 2022
- Refunds requested after March 1, 2022, will be subjected to the discretion of the Texas Tour Committee
- Late registration will be accepted if space permits, although early registration would help tremendously with our reservations and head count.
******** 2 Payment Options********
Mail a check or if you wish to pay online via PayPal. Our PayPal address is: http://paypal.me/AACARGV
Return completed form and a check
(Payable to “AACA-RGV”)
Mail To:
Lorne Jonsson
1813 Aragon Drive Harlingen, Texas 78552
(Please print clearly)
Driver: ________________________________
Passenger (1): _________________
Passenger (2) _________________
Passenger (3) _________________
Address: _________________________________
City: ___________ State: ___ Zip:_______
E-Mail Address: _____________________________
Cell Phone: _______________
Make of Car: ____________
Body Style: ________ Year _________
Judging Class_________
Will you help to be a Judge: ____Yes ____No
What year was your first tour? ______
**New this year, Are you a Veteran? ___Yes ___No
If yes, Branch of Service _________________ What year did you serve (ie 67-71)__________
Rank ____________
Unit and Location served at_______________________________
| REGISTRANTS | COST | TOTALS |
| Car and Driver (Name) | 1 at $150.00 | |
| Passengers (Names) | ____ at $150.00 | |
| Children under 12 years of age (Names) | ____at $100.00 | |
| Number of tour T shirts (insert number from box below) | ____at $15 each | |
| TOTAL ENCLOSED |
I (WE) HEREBY RELEASE THE AACA – RGV CHAPTER, THE TEXAS TOUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS, AND THE TEXAS TOUR FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITIES ARISING FROM PARTICIPATION IN THIS YEAR’S 68th ANNUAL TEXAS TOUR. I CERTIFY THAT I HAVE PUBLIC LIABILITY AND OTHER ADEQUATE INSURANCE ON MY AUTOMOBILE, I UNDERSTAND THAT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER IS REQUIRED IN ALL ANTIQUE VEHICLES.
SIGNATURE: ________________________________ DATE: ______________
INSURANCE CARRIER ________________________ POLICY #___________