David Diers - President
David has always been a car guy and enjoyed everything mechanical. He grew up on a farm just south of Brighton, Iowa, and started following his love of the automobile early in high school. David ran his own automotive repair, sales, and towing business for many years. He now works for the American Automobile Association (AAA) as an Automotive Consultant for repair facilities in Iowa and Nebraska.
While his cars of choice have always been muscle cars, he has quickly grown to love the old Brass Era cars, and his two sons will surely follow in his footsteps. He enjoys working in the shop every weekend, getting his hands dirty, and teaching his sons to do the same. Their current project is a 1972 GMC Jimmy restoration project.
David joined the board in 2016, became President in 2022, and is our safety and logistics coordinator. Watch for the AAA Car; that is Dave keeping us on track. He helps us ensure that each event goes off without glitches and everyone comes back Safe and Sound!
While his cars of choice have always been muscle cars, he has quickly grown to love the old Brass Era cars, and his two sons will surely follow in his footsteps. He enjoys working in the shop every weekend, getting his hands dirty, and teaching his sons to do the same. Their current project is a 1972 GMC Jimmy restoration project.
David joined the board in 2016, became President in 2022, and is our safety and logistics coordinator. Watch for the AAA Car; that is Dave keeping us on track. He helps us ensure that each event goes off without glitches and everyone comes back Safe and Sound!
Mark Hempen - Vice President
Mark Hempen is a founding member of the Red Flag Motor Tour Board. He is the Foundation Director at Henry County Health Center in Mount Pleasant and a former New London City Councilman.
Mark served for several years as a representative on the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission and Regional Workforce Investment Board and spent 30 years as a regional broadcaster and supporter of events and activities in Southeast Iowa.
Mark served for several years as a representative on the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission and Regional Workforce Investment Board and spent 30 years as a regional broadcaster and supporter of events and activities in Southeast Iowa.
Mark is our Master of Ceremonies for our activities. He has never owned an antique automobile, although he would like to.
George Chapman - Treasurer
George is the Treasurer of the Red Flag Horseless Carriage Motor Tour. He is retired and living in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
George has served as an official, frequently as treasurer, of a dozen volunteer organizations from the East Coast to the Rocky Mountains. He has been classified advertising manager for the Vintage Motor Car Club of America’s Bulb Horn magazine for over twenty years.
George has served as an official, frequently as treasurer, of a dozen volunteer organizations from the East Coast to the Rocky Mountains. He has been classified advertising manager for the Vintage Motor Car Club of America’s Bulb Horn magazine for over twenty years.
Don Pauley - Secretary
Don is an original member of the Red Flag Motor Tour board. He is a retired electronics engineer living with his wife Martha near Clear Lake, Iowa. They have been involved with antique automobiles since 2007. Don and his brother Dick own five cars spanning the years 1910 to 1931. He holds several patents and was active in civic affairs for many years while living in Estes Park, Colorado.
In recent years he and Martha have been helping young people in Honduras obtain better educational opportunities.
Chuck Emry
Chuck’s geographical knowledge of the area around New London, Brighton, and Mount Pleasant, his many contacts, and his knowledge of all things mechanical help us create scenic new routes each year and support for cars needing assistance while on tour.
Jeff Krug
Jeff is a founding member of the board. As a Caterpillar construction sales rep for nearly 35 years, it allows him a little “free time” to pursue his love for the automobile. Jeff fell in love with antique automobiles and the people involved with them on a fact-finding tour before the Red Flag Tour’s first event. He enjoys working with the board to produce a “must-attend” event in southeast Iowa.
When Jeff is not working on tour preparation, you can find him in his shop preparing his Blown Alcohol Altered for a drag race at a track nearby
When Jeff is not working on tour preparation, you can find him in his shop preparing his Blown Alcohol Altered for a drag race at a track nearby
Phil Graber
Phil’s first car was a 1951 Studebaker convertible he built while in Jr. High. He drove this car all through school, including his graduation from college with a major in Aeronautical Engineering. He still has that first Studebaker, which resides in the barn with Phil’s other Studebakers.
After graduation, Phil returned to the family dairy farm, where he raised a family and farmed until his recent retirement. He and his wife, Millie, a retired homemaker, have three children and nine grandchildren; three on the farm and the rest in Texas and Boston.
After graduation, Phil returned to the family dairy farm, where he raised a family and farmed until his recent retirement. He and his wife, Millie, a retired homemaker, have three children and nine grandchildren; three on the farm and the rest in Texas and Boston.
Phil still goes to the shop daily, working on his car collection and other cars from the used car business he runs with his son. Phil’s knowledge, shop space, and tools have been instrumental in restoring the Red Flag Tour’s mascot, our 1924 REO Firetruck, and the Model T truck.
James McDonald
Jim’s involvement with the antique car hobby spans over 60 years. He belongs to numerous antique auto clubs, sat on the board for the Des Moines Concours for 15 years, and held office in other clubs. He has participated in multiple Motor Ioway and other tours, was involved in the restoration of 1922 Detroit Electric, and drove the car on the first two Red Flag Tours.
Jim is a Private Investigator and has been self-employed for over 45 years. He is an appraiser and consultant on collector cars and collections. He has restored numerous automobiles and owns an extensive collection of specialty and vintage vehicles.
Jim is a Private Investigator and has been self-employed for over 45 years. He is an appraiser and consultant on collector cars and collections. He has restored numerous automobiles and owns an extensive collection of specialty and vintage vehicles.
Gerald Schnepf
Retired Executive Director of Keep Iowa Beautiful, founding Director of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, and founding Director of MotorMemories, Inc. Gerry was the originator of the Des Moines Concours d’Elegance over 16 years ago. He was the Motor Ioway tour coordinator for 14 years with over 20 regional tours containing dozens of vintage vehicles and traveling millions of miles without incident, including an interstate tour following the Great River Road along the Mississippi over 3,000 miles from Kenora, Ontario, Canada to Venice, Louisiana.
Gerry has guided the restoration of a 1922 Detroit Electric that participated in an original Red Flag tour and assisted the Iowa State Patrol in redeveloping a 1935 Ford Tudor Sedan State Patrol Vehicle.
Gerry has guided the restoration of a 1922 Detroit Electric that participated in an original Red Flag tour and assisted the Iowa State Patrol in redeveloping a 1935 Ford Tudor Sedan State Patrol Vehicle.
Each year, at the start of Saturday’s run in New London, Gerry delivers Lord Winchilsea’s proclamation of the repeal of the Red Flag Law of 1865.
Bart Cummins
Bart Cummins joined the board in 2023. Bart is a buyer for West Liberty Foods. An Iowan at heart, Bart returned to the plains of Iowa in 2014 to care for his family. Before that, he lived in beautiful Colorado for 20 years. He enjoys golf, chocolate, and old cars.