Car Council honors Joyce Clements

BY ALAN CARLSON

The New Mexico Council of Car Clubs honored one of their founders, Joyce Clements, at a meeting in October of 2024. The spry 85-year-old was given a thank you card and gifts, and those attending were served pizza, salad, and some sweets. Several people told stories about Joyce and conveyed their heart-felt gratitude for all she has done for the car-collecting community. From its beginning in her kitchen, with six car clubs, the Council now has over sixty clubs statewide.

Joyce was born in Georgia, one of eight children. Her father joined the U S Army Air Force in 1942;  the family lived in other states and Japan. She remembers being fascinated by Route 66, rolling tumbleweeds ,and long distances between towns, when they moved to Gallup, NM. After moving to Albuquerque, she attended Highland High School and UNM, then got a job at the Bank of New Mexico at Central and Richmond. Joyce met Jim Clements in 1957; he operated a hobby shop at 1704 Central Ave. S.E. in the early 1960s. They married in 1966, and enjoyed traveling the back roads of New Mexico in their Land Rover. Both eventually returned to school; Joyce became a teacher, while Jim was in the car and real estate business.

It was during their car hobby activities in 1977 when Joyce got the idea for the Council. In an article she wrote several years ago, Joyce said: “The original intent of the Council was to form a group who could cooperatively sponsor a Swap Meet and a Car Show, set up a calendar of automotive events for all clubs involved, become self-supporting, serve as a (source) of information and legislation for the automotive hobby, and promote that hobby to the general public.” Through their efforts, the NMCCC held many successful automotive Swap Meets and continues to sponsor the yearly Albuquerque Museum Car Show. While her retirement from the organization will have an impact, Joyce has inspired and encouraged others to volunteer.

Their son, Will, born in 1980, is a chip off the old engine block. He shares his parents’ love for the car hobby. Will grew up at meetings of the Old Car Club of Albuquerque and the Tumbleweed Early Ford V8 Club; he helps Jim and Joyce keep track of their large collection of cars, parts and literature. The three of them drove their original 1940 Ford coupe to New York, in September of 2024, to attend a V8 Ford event. Joyce has written fashion articles and can dress in clothing which corresponds to the year of vehicle she is in.

Our best wishes to the Car Council; we hope one day they can re-Joyce!

Left: Joyce with 1940 Ford at New Mexico State Fair Car Show, circa 1970. Clements’ Collection. Right: Jim and Joyce with their 1940 Ford Coupe in 1995. Clements’ Collection.

Left: Joyce and Jim at the October 2024 Swap Meet. Author’s photo. Right: Joyce honored at the NMCCC meeting. John Doran photo.