Ozarks Antique Auto Club
Vision
At Ozarks Antique Auto Club (OAAC), our vision is to create and enhance greater interest and awareness of the need to preserve, restore, drive, and display a part of America’s heritage as it relates to antique automobiles and the world.
Mission
Our mission is to promote and perpetuate the preservation, restoration, and use of antique automobiles through individual and group participation — for the enjoyment of automobile owners, enthusiasts, and the public.
Special Invitation to Scholarship Recipients
As a recipient of the Ozarks Antique Auto Club Scholarship, you are invited to join OAAC as an honorary member for the remainder of the calendar year. This membership is a way for you to connect with experienced automobile enthusiasts, gain valuable insights, and enjoy fellowship with others who share a love of cars.
Scholarship recipients who are interested in learning more or taking part in club activities are encouraged to reach out directly to OAAC President for details by emailing: oaacspringfieldpresident@gmail.com
Impact
History & Community Impact
The Ozarks Antique Auto Club was founded in the late 1950s in a garage by a small group of enthusiasts who shared a love for cars — mostly Model As and Model Ts at the time. In 1961, the club officially became a nonprofit, allowing members to not only enjoy their classic automobiles but also give back to the community.
Over the decades, collections have grown to include everything from Model Ts to Rolls Royces, Corvettes, and muscle cars — like the 1967 Pontiac GTO proudly owned by long-time member John Piatchek. As Piatchek puts it, the club is made up of “old boys with lots of toys — lots of classic cars to be specific.”
Partnership with Ozarks Tech
That love for cars has translated into a major benefit for Ozarks Technical Community College students. Since 2006, OAAC has funded an endowed scholarship through the Ozarks Tech Foundation for students in the automotive program. Funds are raised through the club’s annual three-day Swap Meet at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds — an event where visitors can buy everything from cars to nearly any auto part imaginable.
According to long-time member Dave Freeman, the club wanted to make a lasting contribution to the community: “We wanted to do something to be remembered when we are gone. We wanted to find a place that we could sink our teeth into,” Freeman said. Ozarks Tech Chancellor Hal Higdon expressed the college’s gratitude for the partnership: “Ozarks Tech appreciates Ozarks Antique Auto Club for its continued support of our students. This ongoing gift speaks to the unique partnership between the club and Ozarks Tech.” For the members of OAAC, the relationship is just as meaningful. “We like the people, the kids, the administration and what the college stands for,” Piatchek said. “We feel like we’re helping and feel good about doing it.”