Assemblymember Bill Reilich, sponsor of the New York resolution recognizing Collector Car Appreciation Day, serves as chairman of the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus.

The New York State Assembly has approved a resolution to memorialize July 8, 2011, as Collector Car Appreciation Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with National Collector Car Appreciation Day. The effort was sponsored by New York Assemblymember Bill Reilich, who has served the automotive hobbyist community for the past four years as national chairman of the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus. Earlier this year, at SEMA’s request, U.S. Senators John Tester (D-MT) and Richard Burr (R-NC) introduced and the Senate approved Resolution 154 (S. Res. 154), officially designating July 8, 2011, as “National Collector Car Appreciation Day.”

The New York Resolution reads in part, “Since its invention, the automobile has become a most treasured piece of Americana; by recognizing the importance of its history, car collectors provide a nostalgic way to preserve the presence of the past and inspire the innovations of the future.”

The 2011 National Collector Car Appreciation Day events in the state of New York include: Collector Car Appreciation Day at the Northeast Classic Car Museum in Norwich, New York, from July 8–10, 2011; the 8th Annual All Firebird Cruise with the Firebird Nation of North America in Saratoga Springs, New York, on July 8, 2011; the Hemmings Motor News and Hathaway's Drive-In Theatre Cruise-In for cars 25 years or older, in North Hoosick, New York, on July 8, 2011; the 9th Annual All Firebird Lawn Show at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway in Malta, New York, on July 9, 2011; and the All Corvette Show in Saratoga Springs, New York, on July 9, 2011.

For a full listing of events happening nationwide to celebrate Collector Car Appreciation Day, click here. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.