The first official meeting of the North Carolina Beach Buggy Association was held in March of 1964 in Buxton; however, the idea of creating such an organization was born almost two years earlier in 1962. For those who don't know, in early March 1962, a fierce nor´easter slammed the entire East Coast, causing devastating losses to the coastal communities from Florida to Maine. In fact, Buxton Inlet was formed between Avon and Buxton during the storm; however, it was artificially closed soon after the opening. The Outer Banks beaches took a tremendous pounding, and in the aftermath, the Government was considering closing the beaches to off road vehicles. Needless to say this did not happen, but the potential for such a closure raised concern among a few local citizens. There weren´t very many sportfishermen back then, nor many 4WD vehicles for that matter. Richard "Smokey" Schollar, a member of the already established New Jersey Beach Buggy Association (NJBBA), and a visitor to the Outer Banks, encouraged a local citizen and noted fisherman, Bob Preston to form such an organization on the Outer Banks. Bob talked about the idea with some local sports fishermen and women, and they met several times to discuss and plan how the NCBBA could come into being. It was decided that the organization would model the NJBBA, and the first meeting was conducted in order to elect officials. Bob Preston was elected President and was assigned license plate #1. The other officials elected were: Carl "Ace" Horneff, #2, of Toms River, NJ, Vice President; Aline Drew, #3, of Nags Head, Secretary; Texine Britt, #4, from Nags Head, Treasurer; W.A. "Shorty" Woodard, #6, from Chesapeake, VA, Director; Russell Ferry, #7, of Reedsville, VA, Director; and Jim Henry, #8, from Waves, NC, Director. Since its inception, the NCBBA assumed the role of being stewards for the beaches of the Outer Banks. First and foremost, the NCBBA strives to ensure continued access to the beaches for 4x4 enthusiasts. In order to accomplish this, the NCBBA established a partnership with the National Park Service at Cape Hatteras. The NCBBA recognized that 4x4 beach access for park users is a privilege, not a right. The NCBBA established a code of ethics that are to be followed by all members in responsibly using the beach. As the reputation of the NCBBA blossomed, so did the membership. The NCBBA has initiated several programs over the years to help enhance the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The NCBBA has worked hand in hand with the National Park Service in order to establish programs, such as Operation Beach Respect, ramp repair and maintenance, reporting of red drum infractions, seashore ranger program, and supporting the study of piping plovers. There have been many leaders of the NCBBA over the years. Past Presidents include: Claire Bullington, Donn Mitchell, James Lee, Robert Sheets, Joe Malat, George Deems, David Wilcox, John Newbold, Jim Keene, Dave Joyner, Harry Hash, Bill Smith and the current president, Al Adam. Along with these individuals, there have been numerous members who served in capacities such as, secretary, treasurer, and director. Likewise, the NCBBA has had some noted individuals within the organization over the years. One of the most noted was the late David Deuel. David was an avid drum fisherman, and all of his efforts paid off, when on November 7, 1984, David landed the current all tackle record red drum from the beach in Avon. The fish that landed David in the record books weighed over ninety-four pounds. From the initial discussions between Smokey Schollar and Bob Preston to the birth of the NCBBA, the patrons of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area realized the importance of the organization. Over the years the membership has grown significantly, with members in all 50 states. You will be hard pressed to spend any time on the beach without seeing the NCBBA´s trademark blue license plate. The current active membership tops 3000, and license plates numbering over 16,000 have been issued.
