Prestigious Lee Iacocca Award Presented to Darwin E. Clark
President of the AACA Museum Board of Directors
Hershey, Pa (March 11, 2011). Darwin E. Clark, President of the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Museum Board of Directors is one of the newest recipients of the prestigious Lee Iacocca Award. The Lee Iacocca award recognizes classic car enthusiasts who exhibit excellence in perpetuating an American automotive tradition. Recipients are awarded based on multiple areas including character, community involvement, integrity as well as excellence in presentation of their classic vehicle. With an extensive background in the automotive industry, an enthusiasm for classic cars and the work he has done at the AACA Museum and AACA Club, it is apparent why Clark was chosen to receive the award. Clark received the award at the 2011 annual meeting of the Antique Automobile Club of America in Philadelphia, PA.
After a career with General Motors spanning 44 years Clark retired in 2004. While at GM he began his career as a draftsman with the Buick Motor Division and closed his career as GM Vice President and General Manager Industry - Dealer Affairs. Clark also had assignments in engineering, service, parts, sales and marketing in the U.S. and Europe. He also served as GM Vice President and General Manager of Oldsmobile Division. Clark now serves as the President of the AACA Museum Board of Directors. His experience and knowledge of the automotive industry have helped shape the museum into a sought after attraction among automobile enthusiasts. An auto collector himself, Clark owns several Corvettes including a beautifully restored '54 Corvette, a '63 split-window Corvette, a Corvette Z06, and a specially built '68 Camaro. Clark enjoys restoring cars and does a lot of the restoration work himself. For Clark automobiles have been an occupation, hobby, and life-long passion.
The Lee Iacocca award has become one of the most coveted awards in the car show circuit. Previous recipients of the Lee Iacocca award include writer and Arthritis Foundation supporter David Landlow, business entrepreneur and car collector Malcolm Pray, American auto tuner Steve Saleen, automotive journalist Ken Gross, journalist and car collector Bill Warner, AACA Museum board member and BMW Museum curator Paul Ianuario, owner of Nethercutt Museums Jack Nethercutt, and star of televisions "Two Guy's Garage" Sam Memmolo, to name a few. The award given to Darwin Clark was sponsored by National Parts Depot and proceeds of the award go to the Iacocca Family Foundation for Type 1 diabetes research.
About the Museum:
The Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Museum, a member of the Smithsonian Institute Affiliations Program, displays beautifully restored automobiles, buses and motorcycles in unique life-like scenes representing the 1900's - 1970's in a cross-country journey from New York to San Francisco. The AACA Museum, a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, is one of the nation's newest and largest automotive museums. Special exhibits change several times a year and focus on a variety of eras and types of vehicles. The Museum is located just off Route 39, one mile west of Hersheypark Drive in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Regular admission $10, seniors age 61 and older $9, juniors age 4-12 $7, children age 3 and under are FREE. The Museum is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For further information, please call 717-566-7100 or visit www.aacamuseum.org.
Photo courtesy of AACA Club.
Left to Right: Terry Bond - President AACA Board, Darwin Clark - President AACA Museum Board, Jim Schmidt - National Parts Depot sponsor of the Award