Abigayle Morgan- Captivated

Where do you currently live? I live in McPherson, Kansas, about an hour north of Wichita. I grew up in the Chicagoland area - Lansing, Illinois, before moving to Kansas for college in 2015. Immediately after graduating, I got hired by the college and have stayed for the past ten years. McPherson has about 14,000 residents.

How did you get interested in Crosleys? I understand it was connected to the famous Newport Hill Climb. My grandpa, my dad’s dad, had a long-time friend from WWII named Arnold Knicker. Arnold and his wife, Janice, from North Hills, California, went with my grandpa to the Hill Climb in Newport Indiana for the first time in ’95 (before I was born). Arnold and my grandpa were car guys. Arnold had a collection of Model A’s and T’s, which he would loan out to movie studios for their films. At the Hill Climb, Arnold saw a Crosley and became fascinated with the car. After returning to California, he began searching for a Crosley and eventually bought a '50 Hot Shot, which had been nicely restored in the early ’60s. He returned the next year and raced up the hill. After hearing about the event, my parents decided to attend the following year. So, in ’97, when I was 10 months old, my mom, dad, brother, and I went to our first Hill Climb—and we were hooked. My grandpa and dad became part of Arnold’s “pit crew,” and in ’99, when I was almost three, Arnold said, “Hop in.” I did—and that was the beginning. I have attended the Hill Climb, consecutively, for 28 years. I rode up the hill in the race with Arnold, who was a very big guy…and what a show…watching him get in and out of his bright yellow 1950 Hot Shot! Even before it was officially mine, I acted as if it was. As a toddler, I would sit for hours in the car, refusing to get out, eating my meals, napping – my mom would have to convince me to get out of the car and use the restroom once in a while:) When I was around 10-11, Arnold was getting older and the trip across the country was becoming too much, he knew it was time to find a new owner for his Crosley. He approached my parents and wanted us to buy his lot - the Hot Shot, another Crosley, parts, and a trailer. It was very important to Arnold that I would end up being the keeper of his beloved Crosley. He told my mom that he knew I would continue the hill climb tradition. My dad drove up the hill when I was 11-13. But as I grew and recognized my dad’s “competitive nature,” he would joke that I “no longer ride” in the Crosley, subtly suggesting my “growth” would handicap “his” chance to win. Still, I insisted on riding up the hill with him. Like most gearhead kids, I was excited to get my permit and driver's license - in this case, so that I could race up the hill… legally and alone.

What are some early Crosley memories? Once we bought the cars, my mom, dad, and I would regularly attend our local cruise nights. We heard there was a couple, Don and Arlene Berg, in a neighboring town, that had a blue ‘51 Super Sports. Our families became good friends. I would frequently go over to their house to visit, and we would inevitably end up in the garage. I recall they had a CoBra (Crosley engine) sign. I told Don I loved the sign, it was just gorgeous. Suddenly, right after my comment, he just plucked it off the wall and gave it to me! He said, “I want you to have it.” To this day, I have this special sign over my mantle. Don passed in away in 2017. His wife, Arlene, knew that Don wanted our family to be caretakers of his beloved Super Sports and offered us the first chance to purchase the car. Our family is now the proud owner of Don’s Super Sports.

Several years ago, I heard a story about a young girl, you, racing a Crosley at something called the Newport Hill Climb. Well, when I was 14 (about to turn 15 - my birthday is in December), I lied about my age a bit so I could race up the hill alone in a practice run. I was always quite competitive, like my dad. In 2012, while I was in HS, I raced up the hill for the first time in the official competition, with a poor performance due to bad distributor timing. The following year, 2013, I finished 2nd to last in our Crosley class, and I cried all the way home, determined this was not going to happen again! I wanted to win. I wanted to rebuild my engine. I wanted to know more about everything involved mechanically. So, I pulled the engine the following weekend, and Butch and Fonda Williams mentored me during the rebuild. I wanted to learn from the best! They were wonderful mentors. I stayed with them at their home in 12 Mile, Indiana, several times during the process. I helped with the machining and internals, and just wanted to learn how it all worked. At the time, Butch and Fonda still owned Service Motors. It took a few trips and we finished the rebuild around spring break. Our hard work paid off! In the fall of the rebuild year, 2014, I won 1st place in the Newport Crosley Class.

Tell me a bit about McPherson College and their special car restoration program. In grade school and high school, it was pretty clear that I wanted to be more than a Crosley hobbyist. I could hold reasonable conversations with car guys about engines, etc. My parents and I noticed very early that this was something that I destined for. I attended a private college-prep-oriented high school. I recall that, at the time, my high school “counselor” suggested that nursing may be a better option for me than car mechanics. I was livid about his suggestion - he insinuated that “as a woman,” I should pursue a “softer, more caring” job … because cars are for boys, right?!?! However, reading between the lines of his recommendation, I realized I should pursue the highest scholastic option in the field I chose. I decided to set my goals high. I graduated from high school, decided I wanted to do vintage automotive, and enrolled in McPherson College in Kansas. McPherson College is the only US college with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Historic Automobile Restoration. The program has been around since 1976. It was started by a local entrepreneur named Smokey, who had an extensive classic car collection. Particularly, he had a wide-ranging collection of Model A’s, Model T’s, Studebakers, etc., and with foresight, approached the college to give them his collection of over 125 classic and antique cars. Plus, he provided initial funds for the Car Restoration Program. Today, McPherson College specializes in pre-1970s restorations, with a deep reverence for cars from the 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s. Currently, there are 170 students in the car restoration program. Seventeen are women with a total college enrollment, combined in other programs, of 850. When I started, only four women were in my freshman class for the restoration program. McPherson was the only college that I applied to. It is highly selective and is considered in the field as the “Cradle of the Craft.” McPherson College graduates are employed by shops, auction houses, museums, and private collectors in our car world - Wayne Carini, Ralph Lauren, for example. When I showed up on campus with sixty students in my first class, none of them even knew what a Crosley was. I was immediately the “Crosley Expert.” When a student goes through the McPherson program, he/she learns every hands-on auto-related skill. Because it is a Bachelor of Science program, students also get the historical contexts for auto development in addition to the restoration hands-on skills. (e.g., How and why did metalworking techniques evolve as they did?) The instruction combines theoretical principles of the auto industry with a comprehensive hands-on approach. Many of our professors also went through the program and returned to teach. Like them, I took full advantage of every opportunity…phenomenal internships included. As a senior, I now knew that I wanted to work with other students.

You also had interesting Internships, correct? When I was going into my junior year in college, for the summer, I worked at Lemay America’s Car Museum, in Tacoma, WA. The museum, opening in about 2012, was built on the collection of Harold Lemay. He owned dump trunks and trash trucks and was famous for having over 3000 cars in all kinds of condition. He was sort of a “car-hoarder.” At the time of his death in the early 2000’s, he was considered the largest car collector in the world. His family decided to place his best 300 cars on display. When I was at the museum, I was the collections intern. I helped work on the car collection, maintained displays, cleaned exhibits, and generally helped in the museum during my three month assignment. I recall they had a Crosley fire truck and even a Hot Shot. They also had a Scorpion-bodied Crosley which was housed in a local hotel for the car museum promotion. The following summer, I was an intern for the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, working as the participant relations intern.

What is your current position at McPherson College? I am the Assistant Director for Auto Restoration. I help run the program. Responsibilities include teaching and mentoring students for career development opportunities, plus working with teachers and employers to set up critical student internships. I manage and host program events. e.g. guest speakers, career fairs, aiding in taking students to Concours events around the country.

I heard you were interviewed by Dennis Gage from My Classic Car fame. At the Newport Hill Climb, we regularly join the Kyana region and line up our cars on “Crosley Row,” a side street in Newport where all the Crosleys park. Dennis Gage had previously interviewed Brian Nees. Dennis Gage was driving around in his golf cart at the Hill Climb and spotted Brian’s Wagon. I was standing nearby and he said hello to me. He decided to feature me in his interview right there on the spot. Well, we filmed the interview in the center of a 4-way stop crosswalk in Newport. Hill Climb attendees witnessed the interview. It was weird having this large crowd watching us. The next day after “my day in the sun” interview with Dennis Gage, I raced up the Hill. It did not go well… My Hot Shot was ready! The engine was rebuilt from the year before, and I was coming off a 1st place win. I was ready…. and a bit “cocky,” as a college freshman and all. I took off from the line really well, it was going great, but as I wound out first gear, recalling that I may have revved it up too much… I shifted to 2nd and the clutch EXPLODED! The pressure plate catapulted from the flywheel and blew up my bellhousing… all while Dennis Gage watched….ugh!

Tell what it was like growing up as a female with this crazy passion for cars. It never really phased me. I really didn’t have a perspective on this until I got to college…because I was always in my “happy car bubble.” Well, at McPherson College, I was now vastly outnumbered… by males. And yes, as one of the four women in my freshman class, it was a pressure cooker at times. However, I settled in. I enjoyed ruffling a few feathers. Thanks to my parents' support and reassurance, my whole outlook was to “be able to back up what I say with my knowledge and actions.” Sometimes, in my current position, they don’t know what to do with me. I know now that I have the opportunity to teach my male counterparts about women’s perspectives and roles in our field. I have had the privilege to be a guest on Bogi’s podcast (from All Girls Garage on TV) - We chatted about the struggles in the industry, and how we can be advocates for other young girls. That is what I care most about - making sure the next little girl who likes cars feels empowered and welcomed to join this hobby/industry. As my car interests grew, my parents just treated it normally. Even at the Hill Climb, it was just normal for me to be there and race my car up the hill. When I was little, starting around 7-8 years old, I would stand at the fender of my Crosley and comment to onlookers with, “Hi, I am Abigayle; it’s a 44 cu inch engine. It has 26.5 horsepower…” Men would often turn to my dad to inquire about the car, and my dad would go “It’s her car. Ask her!” The men would then have to have a conversation with me.

Tell me about your recollection of Wauseon growing up? My parents heard about Wauseon and that it took place annually in July. Our first time to Wauseon, was in 2010, we drove there for the day, without a Crosley, just to check it out. The next year, we took my Hot Shot and won a class award. We started regularly going to Wauseon to get parts, and check out the flea market. Since taking over the Quarterly, we’ve come every year and have camped for a few days and been more involved at the meet.

What do your family members and friends say about your interest in cars and or, specifically, Crosleys? My brother, who lives in California, has two daughters and a 4-month-old son. He is a colorist/photographer/ videographer and has designed and illustrated some of the Quarterly covers. My nieces have also picked their favorite Crosleys. When they visit, they regularly ask to go for rides. For all three grandkids, my mom created their “gender reveals” with Crosleys. We have also taken my elderly grandmother several times to Wauseon and the Newport Hill Climb. My friends know that I am the “Crosley Girl.” Interestingly, all of my car friends from college have gone out into their own professional lives. However, we still relate to each other through our cars, and catch up at events.

As a young person, considerably younger than most in our car world, what insights do you have to help us elders keep this classic car world alive? There is enough room for all of us. E-cars, concours classics, resto-mods, 80s and 90s stuff. Don’t gatekeep! Don’t gatekeep information! Don’t gatekeep parts! We need people to mentor us with knowledge. Let kids sit in our cars. Give cars away to young people! It makes me chuckle when I hear, “Kids these days don’t like cars.” But, maybe you’re not helping me like cars? Help me foster a relationship with your car. With my college, I get to go to many world-class car events. I often get to talk with owners of the most beautiful, unattainable cars in the world. And I have learned that you have to make your cars attainable! You have to share information to help others take on that passion. The way I see the hobby and the industry going is through the eyes of young college students at my school. They/we like cars differently. (e.g. I have a student who is into 80’s and 90’s cars.) Meet them where they are. Take him/her to a Model T convention. Without the exposure, they won’t know them – so, probably “won’t like them.” We all have a responsibility to foster and broaden their interests. “If you want the car world to stick around, you need to do something about it instead of saying, Kids just don’t like cars.”

What would you want to tell anyone about why a Crosley is the best collector car? They are humbly packaged from a company with an incredibly rich history (radios, involvement in WWII, appliances, etc). The car was sort of like a toaster for the common man.

What did you learn about life / people / family by owning a Crosley? I learned that cars in general are a mirror of what is going on in life, society, and I look at the Crosley and ask why did they make this car? What was behind its development? The car itself tells a story and the history of Crosley. It’s like a curio cabinet, a stand-alone.