The Antique, Classic and
Historic Automobile world Fellowship of
Rotarians (ACHAFR) is an international
association of Rotarians dedicated to
promoting the preservation and utilisation
of antique, classic and historic automobiles
as an opportunity for fellowship and
service.
The Fellowship
was founded about 17 years (1988) ago by Brian
Henry of the Rotary Club of Wagga Wagga in
Australia under the name of "Rotary Retro
Automobile Fellowship" (RRAF).
After successfully prospecting for members
throughout the world and getting good response
in New Zealand and the United States, Brian
Henry met Roger Guinet of the Rotary Club of Cap
d'Agde, France at the International Rotary
Convention a few years later.
Roger was instrumental in gaining footing for
the fellowship in Europe. About 10 years ago he
set up the RRAF in Europe as the local
coordinating body of the international
fellowship.
The RRAF Europe was active for nearly a decade
in France, the UK, the Netherlands, Switzerland,
Belgium and Germany.
Outside of Europe membership was to be found in
Australia, USA and New Zealand.
Because of health problems of the two initial
leaders (Henry and Guinet) and the rising
popularity and number of classic car clubs
outside of the Rotary sphere of influence, the
original enthusiasm for the RRAF gradually
diminished in a number of countries.
By the year 2000 many of local RRAF
organizations had ceased most of their
activities except in the UK, Ireland,
Switzerland and the Netherlands
In 2001 Brian Henry, notwithstanding his health
handicap, started an initiative for revival of
the fellowship.
At that point in time the name of the fellowship
was changed, in consultation with Rotary
International, in order to reflect its area of
interest in a better way.
The name became: Antique, Classic & Historic
Automobile Fellowship of Rotarians.
Unfortunately, in 2003, Brian's health problems
reappeared.
In order to continue his task of reviving the
fellowship he asked Maurice Elzas, chairman of
RRAF Netherlands, to take over the international
chairmanship after consulting with Rotary
International.
The new chairman and his team embarked in this
venture with great enthusiasm and got rewarded
by serious expression of interest from almost
everywhere on the globe.
To celebrate this revival and commemorate
the first rally ever held (in 1894) an
appropriate event was organized In France in
2004 in which 25 teams of 4 countries
participated.
A General Assembly was held at this occasion
(See minutes on the Organization page) and the
structure and name changed into the present one:
Antique, Classic & Historic Automobile world
Fellowship of Rotarians.
North America branch announcement for the
2010 convention:
philosophy/fellowship/fellowships/images/ACHAFR-NA.pdf
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