19 Aug 2014 A family's flair for the classics

by Janna Virden

Tommy and Alan Hoelzeman grew up surrounded by classic cars. Their father, Buddy Hoelzeman, has been the Executive Director of the Museum of Automobiles atop Petit Jean Mountain near Morrilton for 29 years. He not only runs the museum but is also an antique car enthusiast and collector, and he has passed this appreciation of classic cars down to his children and grandchildren.

You might say the deep rumble of a 300 horse engine with dual pipes sounds like a symphony to their ears, and they can tell if it is running smooth or a little off key.

Growing up working with their father on restoring old cars as well as summer jobs at the museum, it was only natural that the brothers would choose the Museum of Automobiles as a career choice. Tommy is the Assistant Director of the Museum, and Alan is the Comptroller.

However, it is more of a passion than a job.

“It was where I always wanted to work,” Alan Hoelzeman said.

Tommy said he recently looked back at his high school yearbook and was surprised that the museum was listed as his career choice. Buddy said he didn’t plan on his sons working with him, but it worked out that way, and he is very pleased it did. Both sons said they love working with their father on a day-to-day basis, but said in the family “Mama’s the boss.”

Buddy Hoelzeman said cars have always fascinated him in general. He recalled sitting on his home’s front porch as a kid and just watching the cars go by trying to guess the make and the model. He said the old classics had “unique features” unlike many of today’s models. “Back then you could tell the difference,” he said.

He also said that working on the old autos is much easier because of how they were built. “You had to have a lot of knowledge and a few tools.” He said with computerization, today’s vehicles are much harder to work on at home.

Between father, sons and grandchildren, the family owns around 21 antique cars. Some are completely restored and have placed in antique car shows while others are in the very early stages of restoration.

Tommy Hoelzeman owns around 13 antique cars in various stages of restoration and works on them with his children. He said it has been a good bonding experience. “They like cars, too. We clean them up and get them running.”

He has taken his older children to antique car shows around the country as their family vacation.

Because they work at the museum, the Hoelzemans are also trying to make sure that the public gets to see the best antique and classic cars possible. The museum has a permanent collection but also brings in new cars each year for display.

The museum also hosts car shows throughout the year that bring thousands of people to Petit Jean Mountain. Buddy Hoelzeman said that this fall the museum will have a new show called “Motor Maids On the Mountain,” which will feature old time motorcycle field games on Sept. 12-14. He said even though most shows are annual events, there are some that may be at the museum only once, depending on what is being featured.

If you happened to get to go to one of the shows, more than likely you will see Buddy, Tommy or Alan working to make sure the day goes as planned, but even while working they will also be listening for those engines and admiring the work that goes into keeping a classic car an ageless piece of art.