1949 Champion Starlight Coupe

Transcription

1 July 2012 Volume 46 No Champion Starlight Coupe Owned By Paul and Tiffany Koch Inside This Issue Editor s Corner 2 Chapter News 3, 4, 5 Looking Ahead 6 Studebaker of the Month 7

2 July 2012 Page 2 Editor s Corner These HOT summer days are great for all the car shows going on. There will be a few Conestoga members, including myself, attending the Eaton Days car show in Eaton. The annual Buffalo Bill Days Orphan Show in Golden is July 29. If you are not going to the International meet in South Bend, the Golden show is always a good time. More information on these and other chapter events in this issue. A friend of mine sent me the picture below of his grandfather s Starlight Coupe. I wanted to share this great photo. See you on the road, Rick Grandpa s Studebaker The year was 1949 and my Grandpa, George W. Smith, was running for L.A. County Sheriff. I can t believe how cleaver he was to create a mobile billboard with his prized Studebaker. The billboard washed off; the election was close, but he lost. The memory will last forever. My Grandpa bought this car brand new. He rode a train from L.A. to South Bend, Indiana to pick this car up from the factory, and then drove it back to L.A. He loved this car. The 3-speed manual transmission with overdrive made this a very sweet ride. When Grandpa died in 1985, this car was still in the driveway, but hadn t been driven for many years. I have fond memories of riding in this Studebaker. Brent Smith, Boise, Idaho

3 Western Outlook July 2012 Page 3 I want to send a special Thank You to Arden and Gloria Exner and John Murphy for working the Havana Cruise on June 16. Mom went, but stayed in the car. She was able to see all the cars go by and talked to several people. The overall count of cars was down due to the weather during the early afternoon. However, after the clouds cleared, the late afternoon was really busy. The regular meeting for June was held at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden. There were 15 beautiful Studebakers on display. Everyone seemed to have a good time. There were several members who rode the Galloping Goose. We had a short meeting after the picnic lunch. It was really neat to get up close to the trains and imagine a bygone day. Thanks to Cary Ditez for putting this event together even though things did not quite go as planned. The Buffalo Bill Days Orphan Car Show will be July 29 in Golden. The show starts at 10 a.m., but arrive by 9 a.m. to park your car. For those that are going to South Bend, have a good trip and enjoy the festivities. Roger Message from Shirley Zaner I want to Thank the Conestoga and Pikes Peak Chapters for the beautiful flower bouquets they sent me while I was in the hospital. The Conestoga flowers were a very beautiful bouquet of mixed flowers with pink roses. The Pikes Peak was a big happy face cup full of daisies and yellow roses with a large happy face balloon. Thanks also for the many cards and prayers. I have read the card several times and the many prayers that got me through my extended stay in the hospital. I am so happy to finally be home and I am doing great. Shirley

4 Western Outlook July 2012 Page 4 Pikes Peak Chapter SDC July 2012 Chapter News The June 16 potluck picnic and meeting was held at Nancy Lewis Park in Colorado Springs. Members enjoyed a very nice lunch and beautiful park. We want to thank Bonnie Rice for making reservations for the picnic shelter. Bonnie is recovering from her hip joint replacement. Keep up the good work Bonnie. In last month s report, we forgot to mention that Don Jones, President of AOAI, and members of the Antique Studebaker Club, Kent Haberle and Malcolm Stinson, had visited Colorado Springs to view the facilities for the 2013 SDC International Meet. The Pre-meet Booklet for 2013 is at the printer, and will be available soon. The 2013 Meet shirts, caps, and license plates are now available. The next meeting for the Pikes Peak Chapter will be July 21 at the Dragon Man s Military Museum. We plan to meet at the Dagon Man s at 10 a.m. To get to the Dragon Man s Military Museum from I 25, take US 24 East to Colorado Highway 94. You will travel 17 miles on Colorado Highway 94 to N. Curtis Road where you will turn left or North. Traveling North on N. Curtis Road about one mile to Dragon Drive where you will turn left or West. Dragon Man s Military Museum is at the end of the road. The cost of the tour is $10 per individual. After the tour, we will travel to the Airplane Restaurant which is located at 1665 N. Newport Road (one block east of Powers on Fountain Blvd). You cannot miss the restaurant with the airplane attached. Members voted on some changes for August and September meetings. The August 18 meeting is being planned to tour Westpac Restoration and World War II Aircraft Museum at the Colorado Springs airport. More information in next month's newsletter. The September meeting has been move from September 22 to September 8 which is "Drive Your Studebaker Day. Also, read the August newsletter for more information. The Chapter would like to offer Get Well wishes to Shirley Zaner and Bonnie Rice. We missed you at the chapter meeting. Reminder to Pikes Peak chapter members to PLEASE pay your dues to Norm Gieseker

5 Western Outlook July 2012 Page 5 Western Wheels chapter met at Five Rocks in Gering on Friday and Saturday, June 15 and 16. The High Plains Car Club was holding a Father s Day weekend car show. There were 8 Western Wheels members showing their Studebakers. They included Stuart Tritt with his 50 Champion business coupe; Perry, Jackie and Corina Meyers showing their '42 Stude wrecker; Harry, Bonita, and Charlene Case with their '50 Commander; and Don and Betty Steinwart had both their '47 truck and their '54 Commander at the show. Gene Sell with his '54 Commander Starlight; Mary Miller with her '60 convertible; and Dallas and Lucille Whiting showing their '58 Transtar. There were more than 200 total cars at this show. We heard numbers like 250 to 278 total cars. Very impressive numbers and many beautiful cars, trucks and motorcycles. Studebaker did very well in the show. Stuart, Gene, Perry, and Don all won Best of Class plaques. Don's truck won over his car. A couple members won cash prizes at the banquet Saturday night. During the Show and Shine on Saturday, we held our monthly meeting. Most of the meeting consisted of reviewing and progressing with plans for the Zone meet. Stuart and Perry are very encouraged by the numbers of pre-registrations that have come in. We hope everyone will realize how much fun it will be to come to Gering and participate. It is going to be a great weekend. That is August 17, 18, and 19. If you need extra registration forms, you may make copies or contact Stu or Perry. Our next meeting will be at Bag's Bar and Restaurant in Potter, NE on July 14. There will be Duck Pin bowling after dinner and the meeting. The meeting and dinner will start at 6:00 p.m. Gene Sell and Loren Hoekema are co-host of the event. There will be many meetings prior to the Zone meet during the month of August. The September meeting will be held in Custer, S.D during the big show there. Hope to see you at the zone meet. Dallas

6 Western Outlook July 2012 Page 6 CONESTOGA Sunday July 14 Eaton, CO Eaton Days Car Show 11 am til 2 pm More Information at Steve Sunday July 29 Golden, CO Buffalo Bill Days Annual Orphan Car Show. 10:00 am til 3:00 pm Washington Ave between 10th and 11th Street Carl Nordin PIKES PEAK JULY 21 Colorado Springs, CO Dragon Man s Military Museum tour followed by lunch at the Airplane Restaurant. More information with directions in the Pikes Peak Chapter News. WESTERN WHEELS July 14 Potter, NE Meeting at Bag s Bar & Restaurant in Potter, NE. Dinner and Meeting at 6 pm followed by Duck Pin Bowling. Gene Sell and Loren Hokema are co-host

7 Western Outlook July 2012 Page 7 STUDEBAKER OF THE MONTH Our Champion Starlight Coupe by Tiffany Koch The story of our 1949 Champion has a sad beginning, but a happy ending. Our Studebaker was originally owned by Paul's Uncle Fred. Fred might be better known to longtime members of the Conestoga Chapter as Charlie Rose. In the Fall of 1999, Fred was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease. Tragically, the disease took a hold quickly, and Fred passed away in January of Fred collected art, books, model cars, and Studebakers. One of Fred's favorite Studebakers was his 1960 Golden Hawk. His last acquisition was his '49 Champion Starlight Coupe. Fred's Champion was a work in progress when he bought it. He started the renovation by rebuilding the engine. The paint job was also lacking, but was partially primed with steel gray. The upholstery was in sad shape. The tires were dry, worn, and unusable. Paul and his brother, Mark Koch, inherited the Champion after Fred's passing. They trailered the car to Pueblo from Denver, and shortly after began their renovation. Thanks to the rebuilt engine, most of the repairs were cosmetic. The body was painted in a color very close to its original Willow Green. They found fabric that matched the original upholstery. One of the toughest jobs was keeping the wrap-around windows in tact when removing it for the headliner and paint. and getting the windows back in with new, tighter seals. In less than a year, their Studebaker was drivable and close to its original condition. Fred would have been happy to see the car in such good shape. Paul drove the Studebaker to its new home in Colorado Springs. Paul and I worked together for many years before we started dating. In those years we were part of a "lunch bunch" that would go to Pizza Hut every Wednesday. We all took turns driving. If the weather was nice and Paul was wearing his Studebaker shirt, I knew he'd be driving the Champion. We all fought for a spot in Paul's car on those days. Riding in the Champion was a fun change of pace and felt like taking a ride back to a simpler, more stylish time. Seven years later, Paul and I started dating. A year after that, we got married, and you can guess which car we used to leave the church! This car is very special to us, and is already a piece of our history together. A sad beginning to this story, but a very happy ending. Paul s family thought it would be fun to wrap the 49 Starlight in Saran Wrap, while we were in the church, to make it harder for us to get in to.

8 Western Outlook July Birthdays Bob Bax 02 Mary White 15 James Hamess 03 Keith Moomeier 18 Merv Mundorf 04 Alan Lind 21 David Foerch 06 Wallace Clary 23 Betty Barnes 08 James Spitzer 23 Dave Batchelor 08 Gertie Davis 24 Norma Orloff 12 Pat Lincoln 26 Dan Shake 13 Marsha White 30 July Anniversaries Tom & Linda Donahue 01 John & Barbara Padilla 09 Carey & Peggy Dietz 09 Steven & Darlene Wylie 16 Chuck & Karen Donkle 18 Butch & Julie Feil 22 Rodger & Sue List 24 Duard & Barb Cannon 25 July 2012 Page 8 CHAPTER OFFICERS Conestoga Chapter: President: Roger Zaner Vice Pres: Larry Ramsdell Secretary: Trish Price Treasurer: Shelia Rink Sunshine Fund: Kay Murray CCCC: Shirley Zaner Events: Larry Ramsdell Editor: Rick Hawkins WesternOutlook@aol.com Website: Pikes Peak Chapter: President: Dave Batchelor Vice Pres: James Harness Secretary: Chuck Donkle Treasurer: Norm Gieseker Tour Master: Pete Tetley CCCC: Roger Zaner Western Wheels Chapter: President: Dallas Whiting Welcome New Pikes Peak Members Larry & Diane Caffey Vice Pres: Bonita Case Secretary: Stuart Tritt Treasurer: Perry Meyers Tour Masters: Mary Miller Gene Sell

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10 THE WESTERN OUTLOOK Conestoga Chapter S.D.C. Rick Hawkins, Editor 7381 View Pointe Circle Wellington, CO Studebakers Are First Class