cover story
J
erry Vincentini worked at a service station starting when he was 14. “I could buy a Model A for $35 or $40 and would drive them until they quit. It was cheap transportation when I was at the University of Omaha.” In his late teens, he began quarter-mile drag racing. As recently as three years ago, he was land-speed racing on the Bonneville Salt Flats, sailing along at 175 mph. “So, you can see that high octane gas is in my blood,” he laughs. But his real passion is collecting cars and motorcycles. He has about 20 cars and 16 motorcycles secured on 12 acres outside Omaha where he and his wife, Connie, live and more at a second home in Arizona. Connie supports her husband’s hobby 100 percent. The former English teacher helps with fundraising and event planning such as the Joslyn Castle Car Classic. Five years of the couple’s work culminated in 2009 with the opening of the Early Ford V8 Foundation Museum in Auburn, Indiana. The club is made up of cars built by Ford from 1932 to 1953 called “Flathead.” Connie has been events coordinator for the foundation’s car show in Auburn for six years. Vincentini began collecting at age 25 with — what else — a Model A Ford. His first true collectible car was a 1951 Ford hardtop.
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july/august • 2011
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