History of the OTHG – Phoenix Chapter
Back in 1997, a few local Phoenix Street Rodders were in San Diego for a Car event, and inquired about starting up a Phoenix version of the Over the Hill Gang.
The Over the Hill Gang is a very "traditional club" having it's roots deep in the Hot Rod scene for many, many years. The organization is into it's 31st year.
San Diego sponsored the Phoenix group, and with a copy of the San Diego by-laws in hand, our chapter was born. Along with a promise to always respect and continue in the long established traditions, as given us by the San Diego Chapter, the Phoenix originating group had one thing in mind!
"A club that was centered on our Street-Rod Hobby, providing fun activities for the entire family."
Our goal is to continue to build on that original concept!
With chapters all over the states and a few international chapters, Over the Hill Gang is a very large organization. Still, we have very little direct interface with the other chapters. The exception being the Arizona and California Chapters. We do participate with them a few times during the year at events here and in California.
But where ever we go, whenever we see another OTHG member you get the instant bond of knowing you just hello-ed another yellow shirted fun seeker who enjoys the same things you do!
Our club is young as I said; we only have a few years under our belt. One of the rules we added to the ones given us was to limit the club to 50 members. (A member being a car owner, and spouse.) We thought it would be easier to manage something that size, and quality is always better than quantity anyway right?
What Do We Do?
We have monthly membership business meetings, and a regular monthly meeting held for our board of directors.
We hold regular Putts, a putt being a planned cruise to somewhere to do something. Most common is meeting somewhere and cruising 25-50 miles for lunch, a drive inn movie, or just a short Putt for breakfast. Once in a while we will Putt to another clubs activity, or a benefit Bar-B-Q!
We are proud to be the Host Club for the Goodguys events held in Scottsdale each year. We truly enjoy our relationship with the Goodguys organization, and have a great time working hard to help make those events a success. Come on out to Westworld and join us this year!
We sponsor a Poker Run every year; our club manages this only, with prize donation provided by many wonderful organizations and individuals. Many local automotive businesses help out; “Airmobile”, “RB’s Automotive”, “Arizona Street Rods”, “Rodders Alley”, “Hot Rod Soup”, "So-Cal Speed Shop", “Greenway Auto Service”, “the Rod Factory”, “All-Ways Hot-Rods”, “Nancy Perry’s Arizona Sportswear” and “Rock n’ Roll McDonald’s at the Scottsdale Pavilions”. Of course the Goodguys, and other local Clubs pitch in some neat prize items as well. The event is held in early spring of each year. See you there?
Other than that, we cruise the state and bordering states to attend shows and related events. The show however, is not the main reason we attend, it's mostly the cruise and the interaction, it's all about having fun! Some of our Favorites are; Goodguys Pleasanton, and Del Mar, The OTHG Streak in San Diego, anything they have going at Temecula, the Yuma show, The Beeline Cruise-in at Payson, Havasu "Run to the Sun", Laughlin "River Runs", Tucson "Rodders Days", "Standing on the Corner" in Winslow, ASRA "Prescott", "Run to the Pines" Pinetop, ....Saturday night at the Scottsdale Pavilions...and well you know, where ever there are Street Rods and fun!!!!!!!
Stop by and say hello, we are easy to spot;
You can't hide 30-50 bright yellow shirts!
Over the hill gang is a "street-rod" based organization, limited to pre 1949 hobby cars!