Lilac Festival
                                           May 25th, 2024
              McLaughlin Gardens & Homestesd
                     97 Main St. S.Paris, ME
This "old" homestead was certainly worth the time and effort to see, no less the expansive and beautiful flower displays!!   A Big Thank You to the 10 members who made this event fun!


Past Gas & Petroleum Museum
​380 Black Mountain Rd. Sumner
Sunday  Aug 11 , 2024 

   This is a life long collection of fuel & oil dispensing equipment and Automobilia throughout the first half century of the internal combustion engine. There are three buildings loaded with more items than most of us have ever seen, At present we are thinking of meeting in the Auburn Mall at 9 - mark your calendars!!                      Watch your emails for more information soon!!

                         5th Annual Volvos by the Sea                                                  Scarborough     June 5, 2022

Our 5th get together in Scarborough was as good if not better than the previous four!! The first pic is Mike our never ending and most humble host and his grandaughter. The gentleman sitting beside the 244 with the "Gray Wave" is yet another forever member our Chapter Secretary Tom . The 20 members who attended all brought a home made specialty. A salad, or a sweet and along with the Cookout menu yeilded yet another fantastic event was throughly enjoyed by all!!

                 Annual Hodgeman's Custard Run                      Rt 202 New Glouster     June 19, 2022 

Sunday wasn't a really great  day, cloudy and cool for June. Keep in mind this event was an option for our group. One of our long time "senior" members is also a founding member of another local car club and invited any of the Maine chapter to drop by. Out of respect for this gentleman 5 vehicles appeared on the event grounds. This is a non award event but one of our members and his 1800E was given one by a this groups show committe!!

          Import Cars & Coffee    Seal Cove Museum             Mt. Desert Island    July 23, 2022

Saturday started out sunny and warm as we gathered in the rear of the Augusta Rustic Lantern (Irving) parking lot. 12 folks and 6 vehicles departed for MDI around 10 arriving in time to get the last few parking spots and enjoy the days events.  We met a new Maine Chapter person and a NH member who brought a nice Duett and 1800E so the VCOA numbers grew a bit more that day.  As the events wound down around 1pm we made our way north up the west side of the Island stopping at Charlotte's Lobster Pound, enjoying a great feed.  After indulging we made our way off the island and south, as its a couple hours south for almost all of us.

Maine Red Hot Dog Festival 
August 13, 2022 Dexter, Me.

The group gathered on this bright and sunny day in a members driveway in Mt Vernon.  After the usual kabitzing departed around 10am, after our intended departure time. The town of Dexter was hopping when we arrived with basiccally no advertised parking left but with luck and an agreeable attendent we found a "Good" spot for all of us. There was plenty of things to do and see and of couse the main reason we were there - Red Hot Dogs. We were all impressed with the way in which they we able to 'feed the masses".  We some how came away without any pictures of the actual event or that wonderful delicacy!! Dah!

Swedish Car Day -Larz Anderson Museum
Brookline, Mass.        August 13, 2022

This was an optional event for our chapter, 5 of our members attended. The format and organizers are new this year and we hope it works a well as the previous show and its organizers, who had grown this show into a truly great event.

OHTM Foreign Auto Festival 
September 17, 2022

Saturday morning was a nice sunny and a bit cool early morning developing into a NICE​ early fall day, again!  Our Chapter parking area grew and grew until midday we were again the largest Club in attendence! We want to thank all the VCOA members from Mass and NH and our own folks for helping make this happen!!

OTHM Foreign Auto Festival - Me Chptr Meeting 
Sept 17, 2022

With the Covid issues all but dissapated, our monthly meeting was back in its usual location in the Board Room at OHTM. Thank you again to Toby Stintson, Director of Development and the New England Auto Auction.

7th Annual Lobsters at Spruce Head
September 17, 2022

Understand this talking about luck and great weather might get boring but....  We had yet another great day at the OHTM and the following Cookout is one of the highlights of this chapters season!. Note the pictures of the parking area next door to their beautiful home. A quick reveiw, location, weather and food with salads, chicken, Lobster and desserts !!                                                                                                                                               What else needs ot be said other than a HUGE THANK YOU to our Hosts Naomi & Duncan LaBay !!

7th Annual Fall Foliage Tour
October 1, 2022

Our luck with the weather for all our Foliage Tours have been in a word Great. We started out at in a members driveway in Mt. Vernon. We left around 9:30 and drove to just above Rangeley to one of our favorite scenic views - Quill Hill. We all brought a lunch and ate "on the Top". This 360 degree view never fails to impress us. After lucnh we headed back south and stopped in Phillips/Strong area at tne Sandy River & Rangeley RR to take in its sights and sounds, roundhouse and "hands on exhibits", that a few of us got to experience first hand!  It was a fun, informative and all around Great Day!!

3rd Annual Holiday Brunch
December 4, 2022

A large group of our chapter gathered in one of our favorite spots for a year end treat our Holiday Bruch. Xheck back for some unexplained reason the pictues of this event have disappeared for this  server. Check back as we attempt to retreive them,

Volvos by the Sea IV
July 10, 2021

Our fourth Annual Volvos by the Sea event was in an overused word Fabulous! We had a great group of people, fantastic hosts, food, cars.... I think you get the idea. Everyone certainly seemed to be enjoying them selves in sharing stories and camaraderie. Did I mention the OMG Lobster Rolls, Burgers and Hot Dogs along with Salads and Desserts to make you forget the calore count!!

Maine Mineral & Gem Museum
99 Main St., Bethel

8/28/21
A group of Maine Chapter members gathered in the Auburn Mall parking lot around 9am. The 17 folks and 8 vehicles departed taking backroads cross-country (Rt 119+ 118+) to arrive practically in the Museum's backyard without using any major higways. The museum was amazing as none of us had any idea the absolutely massive collection and history involved in this spectacular facilty. This was no collection of rocks in someone's barn it had phenominal displays, interactive exhibits, these pictures are only are small portion of the three floors of exhibits and artifacts available. Of ourse no event would be complete without sampling some of the local cuisine and Bethel had many !                                      We will plan to do this again in a couple years !! 

              Owls Head Transportation Museum            Foreign Car Festival
Sept 18 & 19, 2021

Saturday started out foggy and misty but the sun slowly burned everything off and with that the OHTM parking lot begain to populate with foreign vehicles. Lucky for us, there were as its been in the past, more Volvos than any of the other makes. We need to thank the Maine Chapter members and members from NH, and Mass, for making us the largest Club there (again). Our chapter meeting was held outside in the gazebo next to us due to covid concerns,,,,,

7th Lobsters at Spruce Head
Saturday September 18th

We are truly blessed to attend this event for the past 6 years, put on by Naomi & Duncan LaBay our gracious hosts. Held directly after the OHTM event ends and 7ish miles down Rt. 73. They hold this spectacular Lobster Cookout at their beautiful home just off Island Ave. Our chapter folks attending this great "feed" bring a dessert or salad to help compliment the wonderous meal - we are most grateful!! This is the only Chapter to hold a Lobster Cookut in this country.......

                     5th Annual Fall Foliage Tour                       Maine Botanical Gardens Boothbay

Sunday October 10th, 2021 was Residents Day at the Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, with a follow up lunch in Southport on Robinsons Wharf. As these pics show this may have been October but this tour was well worth the time and patience to secure tickets . The group meet in the Taste of Maine parking lot in Woolwich formed a caravan to the MBG and had a geninley great and even more educational time!!! Lunch at Robinson's Wharf (thanks Bob D.) in Southport was another great experience - even if were are "locals" and the 18 folks who joined us will certainly agree. The last pic is of Margaret Hamilton's (the "Wicked Witch" in the Wizard of Oz) summer home on Cape Island just of the Cape Newagen on Southport Island.

Bob Damrell's Moment

On Nov 8, 2021 crossing the Sagadahoc Bridge (Bath)  experienced a picture worthy moment - 300K. I've had the pleasure of knowing the Damrell's and their vehicles for many years and will confirm this is no hoax. Their white 1992 240 Wagon 5 spd has been a daily driver for many years (stored winters) and is a credit to Volvo lineage!

2nd Annual Holiday Brunch

12/05/21
December 5th was a sunny "winter day" no snow yet but winter, The 17 folks who attended all brought a home made "brunchy" item. We hald a quick meeting after dining and enjoyed the day and company that came to 31 Windsor Pines Drive in Scarborough!! 

 Volvos by the Sea III  (2020)

"On Saturday August 15, the Mack family once again hosted the 3rd edition of Volvos by the Sea. Due to the current Covid regulations, the gathering was limited to a restriced number of members. It still was a fun gathering although a bit more subdued than in years past as the number of members attending was also diminished, by choice.  Along with the fact the pictures only seem to have captured half of the male chapter members and none of the ladies.  I apologize to all of the "better halves" and the gentlemen who were missed including in the limited number of pictures taken !!  Appreciation gifts of an "enlightning nature" were given out by our hosts to a couple of our members who were most appreciative of their gesture.   Needless to say we are all looking forward to the time we can have these events..... ​back to normal !! 

     The Three State Chapter ME, NH, & Mass   "Notches Tour"2020
(some what impromptu)

Sunday July 12th a few members of three New England Chapters got together to tour the "Notches of New Hampshire" in the White Mountains. The NH and Mass members met in Lincoln NH around 9AM came across the Kancamagus Highway which ends in Conway NH then drove west to Fryeburg ME for a rendezvous with the Maine Chapter. Around 10:15 the Maine Chapter assembled along side the Westons Beach parking area on Rt 113, after the other two chapters arrived, everyone proceeded up Rt 113 through Evans Notch, the first of the four notches  on the tour that day. We stopped at Basin Pond in the White Moutains National Forest to have lunch. Then proceeding onto Rt 2 and west to Gorham NH (half of the Maine contingent went east)  and down through Pinkham Notch. The NH Chapter went west in Glen "up" Rt 302 through Crawfords Notch, then at Twin Mtn turned south down Franconia Notch onto Rt 93 and to their respective homes. Along the way a few of the members went their respective ways as it had been quite a day of touring and getting to know (at a safe social distance when possible) new members. Most of the vehicles were certainly " vintage" and Mother Nature was supplying lots of Sun (& humidity)..... It was still a FUN Day!!

 Holiday Brunch 2019  

A first for our chapter, Holiday Brunch, was held on December 8th at the home of our more than gracious hosts Mike & Diane Mack and their family. It was a wonderfull gathering of  18 folks and the food - lets just say everything there was really tasty.  With the numbers of members in attendence our informal meeting turned formal and we went over in more detail a couple of the new items for this years calendar.

 3rd Annual Fall Foliage Tour 2019

Our group of 14 folks and 8 vehicles met in the parking lot of the old "Two Trails Diner" in Standish Me., around 9 AM on Sunday Oct 13. Unlike last years tour it was a sunny and pleasent fall Sunday .  We then departed following Rt 113 to Fryeburg through West and North Fryeburg to Stow and into the White Mountain National Forest.  We took a long pause to enjoy Basin Pond, then drove through Evans Notch and onto Rt 2 in Gilead and down to Bethel.  We enjoyed lunch in Bethel at Rooster's Roadhouse, which was a great experience!!  Following some brief farewells as most folks had at least an hour or more of traveling, we departed for home.  Great weather, great group of folks and a genuinely good time.  Already looking forward to next year and another scenic destination!!

                     2019 Foreign Car Festival                            Owls Head Transportation Museum

Morning broke on this years Foreign Car Festival gray and overcast, a chance of showers and coolish temps.  No matter, when the gates opened at 9AM our chapter had 10 vehicles sitting in our reserved parking area, by lunch the count was 20 when our chapter meeting happened at 1PM it had climbed to 22!  OK - it's time for a quick chest pounding as the marquee for the event was VW and their number never exceeded 21 during the day... A big thank you to all our Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusettes and Central New York Chapter members in attendance, and not to forget the everyday Volvo owners for their attendance. The participation in this great event for the past 5 years has truly been gratifying!!

The Chapter Meeting

Lobsters at Spruce Head 5

My sincerest apologies to Naomi our Hostess. This vingetted picture of her along with one of her pups and our own "Uncle Mike" (who was this years chicken chef extraordinaire) is the only one that I have....   This absolutely (fill in the superlative) Lobster Cookout is one of our Chapter's Highlights of the Summer!!! 

SCD XX Larz Anderson Museum Brookline, MA.  8/25/19

 Sunday 8/25 started out a bit coolish and cloudy with the sun appearing infrequently but appreciated when it did. Temps were in the high 60's and it wasn't awful just kind of fallish, kind of refreshing with an occasional sprinkle toward the end of the day.... The car count looked to be up, more so for Saab. At this meet it seemed that some of the Volvo classes were beginning to show the "perils of generations going by". The 240 class and the P1, P2  classes were the largest, and close in numbers entered. The more classic "earlier" models were showing the "perils" deal...  I apologize for not getting more Maine Chapter vehicles/member pictures but there seemed to be only two,  Colin & Mike Mack and one of their vehicles came home with its Peoples Choice class award !! Included are a couple of other New England VCOA member vehicles. It's very likely we will see them at the FCF at OHTM and our Spruce Head Cookout!! The other pics are Volvos that were either interesting, different, rare and or ?  It was a fun day but the Volvo count certainly could've stood bigger numbers !!!
                                                                                                                                                                                                             8/30

Seal Cove Auto Museum 
Swedish Car Event        7/6/19

Our second visit to Seal Cove Auto Museum was as good as our first time (2018 Fall Foliage Run). Our members certainly seemed to enjoy the day and our 2nd cookout of the summer was a hit as we fed everyone who came to our tables. To include some of the museum staff who stopped by to sample our wares! A big Thank You to our members who made a salad, desert or special dish and of course to our own Chef Mike !!  We should do this again next year and as recommended by one of their curators, "plan our own Volvos at Seal Cove Day"....
Volvo's by the Sea in Scarborough II
Our first cookout of the 2019 season.... and after looking at these pics,  judge for yourself if it was a great time or not.....!!

​2018 (Where's the ) Fall Foliage - Tour

  Our 2nd Annual Fall Foliage Tour was held on Saturday 11/2 despite several logistical impediments​....a reschedule, no local restaurants open on the quiet side of the island and weather that seemed to eternally "dampen" our spirits... Our group of 10 members departed Augusta at 8:30 arriving in Belfast at 9:30 for a quick respite and or a late (quick) breakfast (Mickey D's)..departing again at 9:45 for a rendezvous with another chapter member on Water St. in Ellsworth, whose (local) directions and help were invaluable (Thank You Paula !!). When we arrived at the Museum around 11 AM, it was still raining and a bit breezy but once inside the two gentlemen who greeted us and did the intro, made us feel like we were the only ones there (we were!). We all were genuinely impressed with their "Brass Era" collection of automobiles as many of them had a very distinguished lineage, Our last leg of the tour was a late lunch at "Govenor's" in the Maine Coast Mall just outside of Ellsworth as they accommodated our group nicely.  The seemingly forever rain had stopped as we said our goodbye's. The sun was trying to peak through albeit the strong gusty winds that were starting to blow, but hey it wasn't raining!!  The consensus after the tour..... and weather be dammed - of course we are going to do the tour again next year.  Thanks to the 10 "diehard" members who made the tour and without question to the Seal Cove Auto Museum!! 

                    2018 Foreign Car Festival             Owls Head Transportation Museum 

       This years Foreign Car Festival started out with the weather service issuing a mid coast  'Heavy" Fog warning till 9 AM. Well they were pretty much on the money and the early hours were a bit sparse in attendance, but increased in proportion to the fog's lifting.... By 10 AM the sun was out the weather was almost text book perfect and the attendance had shot up dramatically for those other "foreign makes" and more so for all sorts of Volvos. At mid-day we had 30 + or -  Volvos parked in and around our chapters parking area. I might add we could've had another "History of Volvo" parade as there was at least one of almost every model from a PV445 to a C30 on display!!!  We need to send out a special thanks to our chapter folks as well as New Hampshire and Massachusetts members for attending this spectacular event!! I can't thank our members without a big thank you at this event (and several others) to our photo lady Courtney Mack!! There were a few Swedish Chariots of New England folks there which made for some interesting conversations. This years turn out was tremendous and along with the everyday Volvo owners who made the trek to OHTM, made us the largest gathering of any marque in attendance on Saturday!! 

Chapter Meeting AT OHTM FCF 2018

As its been in the past our monthly chapter meeting was held in the museums board room. Keep in mind the gathering included the 4 chapter members from NH and Mass and the 4 Swedish Chariot folks who asked to tag along to see how we did things. We awarded  the Early RWD  class plaque from our Volvos at Par Sem Summer Event to Mike Silvius for his original Black 62 PV544. Saturdays Highest Mileage plaque went to a Swedish Chariots member in a Silver 89 244 that had a 5" lift and 286K on his odo. Sundays award went to Peter McCorison with a Gold 91 240 Wagon 204K (sorry we only have a pic of his car).. As for our meeting there were only a couple major items left on our docket, the National meet in Vermont at the end of September and a "Foliage Run" (to the Seal Cove Museum) in mid to late October. It was mentioned by a couple out of state members that the meeting was short, sweet and to the point...of course the 4th Annual Lobsters at Spruce Head was.... a mere 7 miles "up the road" and  scheduled for an hour from then !! 
                 4th Annual Lobsters at                          Spruce Head                 
Our fourth annual Lobster (or Chicken) Cookout was held in Spruce Head at the home of Naomi Howe and Duncan LaBay. Both those names should be at least familiar as Naomi is a longtime contribuitng member and Duncan is the (last) Founding Member. Its always a genuine pleasure to visit Naomi & Duncan in Spruce Head every year and as for the cookout it always boarders on phenomenal and I've never spoken with anyone who doesn't agree!!

Swedish Car Day 19

The 19th Annual Swedish Car Day was held in Brookline Mass at the Larz Anderson Museum on a beautiful bright sunny day, no humidity and about perfect for a large gathering of Swedish vehicles!! Four Maine Chapter members volunteered to park  (Volvo) vehicles at this years event and it was a good experience for all of us. I'm guessing our chapter participation at 6 and they all were smiling whenever I caught up with them during the event. Two of them in particular were smiling even more broadly when there vehicles won in their respective classes. Congratulations go out to Colin Mack and his Yellow 855 T-5R, along with David Moore (twice) with his modified 940 Wagon w/5.0 Ford V-8 and his 1962 444 . I can't speak for everyone but I think our Chapter was pretty well represented  and we all are looking forward to next years event. Included are just a few pics that I took, there are numerous others on Facebook, search for Swedish Car Day.

"Volvos by the Sea" in Scarborough  - June 10th 


We had great weather, food and wonderful hosts
(three folks missing from this shot - Diane Mack, Donna Kendall and Charlene Lockwood) 
​                                         
   

Our 1st Annual Fall Foliage Run

                              Sunday October 1st 
The sun was shining brightly by 10 AM at our chosen meeting place on Rt. 27 in Augusta. The weather forecast was for a sunny, mild and a great fall day in Maine. Eighteen folks had gathered in 8 gleaming Volvo vehicles ranging from a late 60s 1800S through a 2013 S60 AWD T6 Polestar Sedan.  A bit after 10 AM our group headed north on Rt. 27 through Belgrade Lakes north to Farmington then onto Maine’s only major east- west Route (2) and north again on Rt. 4 to our first “overlook” on the southeast corner of Rangeley Lake.  Next stop was a great lunch buffet in Oquossoc.  We then followed Routes 16 & 17  between the lakes, leading us to a second overlook on the west side of Rangeley Lake.  There was yet another great spot a bit further south know as the “Height of Land” overlooking this states 4th largest lake, Mooselookmeguntic.  With our last stop at Coos Canyon about 10 minutes south, the sun was beginning to noticeably decline in the west.  Everyone had at the least an hour (plus) - travel home and with that in mind, said our final farewells.  We headed south with the thoughts of our first (annual) foliage tour, meeting new folks and savoring the sights of the great state that we live in.





            The Annual Camden Classic Car Show          

On Sunday September 10th, Chestnut Street in down town Camden was the location for yet another Maine Chapter Blue Ribbon and Best of Show trophy.  Which was awarded to Maine Chapter member and Director Emeritus Duncan Labay.  He was accompanied by Naomi Howe also a long time member and contributor to the VCOA and our chapter.  Congratulations to Duncan as his B210 won both the "Cruiser " class and Best of Show!    

              Swedish Car Day XVIII                    Larz Anderson Museum Brookline, Mass.

  Sunday August 27th started out the way all outdoor automotive events should, sunny and mild with a forecast of more of the same . In Wells Maine a group of Volvo enthusiasts have gathered early (6:15) at the Wells Park & Ride for a journey south to an even more "devout" gathering of Swedish Car admirers. Our Chapters unofficial count was 8 members, which for a group - that many of us traveled more than 2+ hours,  was more than respectable. The day couldn't have been any nicer for weather and the assortment of Swedish vehicles was truly amazing. The Mass Bay Chapter did a Grea Job helping organize, the VCOA was well represented and Volvo Cars of North America did a presentation on the new V60 in the museum. Our Chapter had a great day and with the gorgeous weather, great turnout and a couple of our Chapter (David Moore, Colin Mack) bringing home the "Blue". Our folks ventured back to Maine with smiles, memories and  thoughts of doing this again next year!  

Volvos at Par Sem III (2017)

 ​
​Our Third Annual Summer Event didn't have the greatest beginning, it started out gloomy and overcast and the initial numbers were down at mid-morning. The same result was happening for the Par Sem Car Show but the overcast lightened, more show cars arrived and both the Vovlo and the Par Sem show came alive!  I had a couple emails/texts and or phone calls from our club members saying it was raining where they were and they were staying put (I would've also). It all turned out fine as we had eleven members for our summer event and 150+ for the PS Auto Show held in conjunction with our event. Want to thank all our die-hard members who made the trek to Parsonsfield Me.!!

Foreign Car Festival Owls Head Transportation Museum 
2017

This years FCF (Italian vehicles where this years Marque) started off foggy, overcast and with a not so promising forecast. When the gates opened at 8 AM, two Maine Chapter Volvo's were the first inside followed within the hour by more Volvos!  By 11 AM we had 15 club vehicles in line and as for Italian vehicles, a Maine Chapter members 780 Bertone and a lone Fiat 124. Just a little before noon a Ferrari 308 arrived,  just after noon the sun came out and two more Ferrari(s) appeared, followed by a Alfa Romeo 164 (yes they had a 164 too). At 1 PM we had 16 vehicles in line, the featured marque had 6 counting "our" Bertone. We genuinely had a really GREAT gathering and even the OHTM folks expressed that our turnout was impressive!!   Many Thanks to our Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut Members!!

Club Meeting AT OHTM FCF 2017

Our monthly meeting was held in the OHTM Board Room.  We are both grateful and inspired every time we get to meet there. As a standard matter we discussed upcoming events and our club events for the rest of the summer. We also had the occasion to do a Maine Chapter award, our (belated) annual G.A.S Award for 2016 was presented to Seth Hetherington for his participation and enthusiastic spirit at all our club events for 2016. Our intent is make this an annual award. I sincerely apologize for not having any photo coverage of this award presentation and of this years meeting at OHTM!!   

 Steve's Cookout III  (2017)

"FREE LUNCH"  with Alan Auto Volvo Service

An impromptu gathering for lunch, courtesy of Alan Auto Volvo Service took place on Thursday 1/19!
With only a couple days notice, we had four members come and enjoy the company and the Free Lunch !!!

               Owl's Head Transportation Museum              Foreign Car Festival 2016

Volvo was the featured Marque for the 2016 FCF. Of course we hoped for a good turnout but... we had a GREAT turnout! At first count late on Saturday morning we had 52 Volvos in the yard. Just before lunch (11:30) the Maine Chapter held a "History of Volvo Review" using mostly club member vehicles and filing in the few gaps with "willing volunteers". Chapter Secretary Tom Roane was our  "Mr. Announcer" for the event. We were told by a number of attendees, they enjoyed our "History" procession. The museum has stated this was the largest Foreign Car Festival that they've had to date!!!  A BIG THANK YOU to our MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE and MASSACHUSETTS Chapter members, along with the dedicated Volvo owners that attended.

Sat 9/24

Sunday 9/25

Although diminished in vehicle numbers, there were some very nice vehicles in the "Marque" parking area!! Not to mention some of the more unique versions albeit modified V-8 240's and "Hot Rod" 164's ..............

OHTM FCF Maine VCOA Chapter Meeting 2016

           Held again this year in the board room of the             Owls Head Transportation Museum!!

             "Steve's Cookout"              Spruce Head, Me.

Our 2nd annual cookout was held right after the FCF on Saturday,  with the help and tons of preparation from our Hostess Naomi Howe. We are forever indebted to her for all the WONDERFUL Hospitality, DELICIOUS Food  and the GREAT Time everyone had! This whole event was held in remembrance of our former president, member and director emeritus Steve Seekins. As it was his wish that this happen for our club at his and Naomi's home for as long as the Foreign Car Festival and our chapter exists !!! We all certainly hope this is a long, long time........
                 17th Annual Swedish Car Day                                     Larz Anderson Museum   Brookline Ma.  
August 28th was  a very nice day for a gathering of any type of automobile in the Boston area, it started out sunny and pleasent. Now in Brookline considerably more than a couple hundred  Saabs and Volvos have appeared at the Larz Anderson Museum for what turned out to be a super event.   The VCOA was there in great numbers, including the VCOA Club tent complete with it's Treasurer and a Director. The  Maine Chapter had 9 members there. Actual vehicle numbers 145 Saabs, 129 Volvo's on the show fields! This does not include the 50+ vehicles behind the museum and the row of vehicles parked on Newton St., almost as far you could see! 
08/06/16              
 Par Sem Auto Show/ VCOA Maine Summer Event                           " on the campus"                                       of Parsonsfield Seminary Parsonsfield Me.

​August 6th started out with a forecast of cloudy with possible rain. Not what an auto show hopes for, but the weather turned sunny, bright and beautiful.  Over 180 vehicles and lots of people attended, all of whom seemed to be having a great time at this "27th Annual Event".  Our show doubled in numbers with 14 vehicles in attendance and again were very well received by everyone in attendance.  

 Class Award Winners
 1800:  
 1st  Ron Lockwood 1970 1800 E    
 RWD Early 1941-1974: 
1st  Joe Kendall 1971 142S
2nd AC Wheeler mid 60's 122 2Dr Sedan
3rd  Seth Hetherington 1974 164E
RWD Late 1975-1998:  
1st  John Petteruti 1992 245 DL
FWD-AWD (all) :           
1st  Colin Mack 1995 850 T-5R
2nd  Donna Kendall 2007 XC70
​3rd Steven Krebs 2001 C 70 Coupe                  
Longest Distance Traveled
 Seth Hetherington Harpswell, Maine
Volvo Best of Show:     
 Colin Mack 1995 Volvo 850 T-5R  (Yellow)
A HUGE THANK YOU to our Volvo Awards Sponsors:
PORTLAND VOLVO, SCARBOROUGH, ME.                  
 RWD EARLY (41-74), RWD LATE (75-98) and BEST OF SHOW
 ALAN AUTO VOLVO SERVICE, PORTLAND, ME.      
1800 (all), FWD/AWD (all)
 A Big Big Thank You to Mike Mack, Colin Mack and Ron Lockwood for their help in making the Volvo "Summer Event" happen.

​                                      Owls Head Foreign Car Festival 2015
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The 2015 Foreign Car Festival was well attended by our club. We had a great showing in sheer numbers of vehicles for the public to admire. Seems that most of  us  got a chance to check out other member vehicles they'd never had the opportunity to admire.
Saturday started out bright, sunny and beautiful albeit a bit breezy in the morning, but by late morning the club had 25 vehicles in our designated area!!!  By early afternoon it was noted there were more Volvo's than the featured marque! We had members from three states, two founding members (Directors Emeritus) and a VCOA Director in attendance.  Everyone agreed this event was a great success​ in helping promote both the VCOA and our Maine Chapter!!
​The Maine Chapter meeting was held a little after 1:oo PM  in the Museum Board of Directors room!  
Awards were given for:  Longest Distance Traveled : David Burnham, Bradford NH
Highest Mileage: Mr. P. George 1991 245 341,000+ miles
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             The Chapter Meeting and Award Presentations

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                                The "Cookout at Steve's"                                                              16 Folks enjoyed some great food either Barbecued Chicken or Steamed       Lobster (literally off the boat), homemade salads and desserts all offered up by our gracious hosts Steve Seekins and Naomi Howe. The cookout was a great success and plans are being formed to do this again next year but on an even larger scale!!   

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                                            8/23/15                                              16th Annual Swedish Car Day                               Larz Anderson Museum   Brookline Ma.  
August 23 wasn't the nicest of days for a gathering of any type of automobiles in the Boston area. It started out overcast and cool with a drizzly mist off and on.. Now on the other hand in Brookline Massachusetts a couple hundred Saabs and Volvos have appeared at the Larz Anderson Museum for what turned out to be a great event.   The VCOA was there in great numbers, including Club President John Holtzapple , and a few Maine Chapter members. Will update when more information becomes available.....A quick update there were 102 Volvo's registered along with 121 Saabs and 12 folks on the dockets from Maine!

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                           08/01/15                                                Par Sem Auto Show VCOA Maine Summer Event                             " on the campus"                                     of Parsonsfield Seminary Parsonsfield Me.
August 1st had all the ingredients that any auto show could hope for, the weather was sunny, bright and beautiful.  Over 190 vehicles and approximately 750 people attended, all of whom seemed to be having a great time at this "26th Annual Event".  While a little diminished in numbers our club vehicles drew considerable interest and were very well received by everyone in attendance. The Maine Chapter had printed 100 separate "Volvo" ballots and offered them to any of the auto show participants. All the ballots were used, which just goes to show the interest in these vehicles is alive and well!!  
  A few of the pictures and "eventful" moments taken during the  26th Annual Par Sem Auto Show!
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 Class Award Winners
 1800:  
 1st  Ron Lockwood 1970 1800 E    
 2nd  Don Roy  1970 1800 E
RWD Early 1941-1974: 
1st  Alan Prosser 1959 445 Duett
2nd  Joe Kendall 1971 142S
3rd  Seth Hetherington 1974 164E
RWD Late 1975-1998:  
1st  Seth Hetherington 1991 244 DL
FWD-AWD (all) :           
1st  Colin Mack 2005 S60R
2nd  Donna Kendall 2007 XC70                 
Longest Distance Traveled
 Seth Hetherington Harpswell, Maine
Volvo Best of Show:     
 Alan Prosser 1959 445 Duett
A HUGE THANK YOU to our Volvo Awards Sponsors:
PORTLAND VOLVO, SCARBOROUGH, ME.   RWD EARLY (41-74) & BEST OF SHOW ALAN AUTO VOLVO SERVICE, PORTLAND, ME. 1800  & FWD/AWD (all)                        LOCKWOOD AUTOMOTIVE, Mt.VERNON,ME            RWD LATE (75-98)
and another Big Thank You to Tom & Jean Roane and Ron Lockwood for their help in making the Volvo "Summer Event" happen.
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Volvo’s at “Par Sem”

This summer, save Saturday Aug 1st to spend a memorable day at the Annual Maine VCOA Event being held in conjunction with one of New England's Best Car Shows, the Par Sem Day Auto Show in Parsonsfield, Maine. Besides being a great show with 200ish Classic Cars, Tractors, Hot Rods, Trucks, Foreign Cars, and of course, Volvos. This is a great family day activity featuring all-you-can-eat New England breakfast (yes there will be beans), Maine flavor music, Crafts, Ice Cream and of course the fabulous 1830’s Seminary in the process of being lovingly restored with the proceeds from this and other events. Please preregister by calling 207-232-3369 to save 25% (being underwritten by Alan Auto) or you can pay the nominal $5 at the gate day of the show. 




    11/7/14      Tech Session @ Alan's Auto / Brakes

Well...our first tech session has come and gone... IMO It was a  great success! The DOZEN plus members who attended were in for a great time. 
The evening started out at a local Mexican restaurant in Portland..only a short walk from Alan's shop....the food was great and it was apparent that everyone was having a great time telling car stories...I told my share :)
I would be amiss if I personally didn't thank Alan for allowing us to use his facility and cars for Demo vehicles...THANKS Alan!
After dinner... we all headed over to the shop...Alan first spoke about Drums and then moved over to a 1800 resto project to talk disk brakes... the 1800 underside looked like a brand new car!! bravo JIM!
Alan even told us one of his favorite jokes which I will leave out of this mini summary..any guesses why???
Before the night was over I heard more than one talking about when should we have our next Session....  which brings me to the question...
When would the membership like to meet again ???????  Doing what and where?? I need your input as usual!


Have a great Holiday season   Karl


PS. the photos / slideshow below are compliments of Joe K.

Steve Seekins (L) passing the "Baton" of  leadership to Karl Rau (R), the previous Maine Chapter President at the OHTM Foreign Car Festival 2014. Karl is on an extended hiatus and Joe Kendall stepped in for 2015 and picked up the "Baton" as we move forward into 2016 and beyond.

            2014 Owls Head Foreign Car Festival