Studebaker International Meet

Transcription

1 August 2013 Volume 47 No. 08 Studebaker International Meet Colorado Springs, Colorado Inside This Issue Editor s Corner 2 Chapter News 5, 6, 7 International Meet 3, 4 Looking Ahead 10

2 August 2013 Page 2 Editor s Corner The Pikes Peak Chapter did a fantastic job hosting the International Meet. Chuck, Dave and all the volunteers made sure it all went well. The weather cooperated also with plenty of sunshine and just a small shower to help cool things off. There were over 1300 SDC members and quests that attended. The final number of Studebakers and Avanti s was 267 with 117 of these cars entered into the concours judging. Members also brought their Studebaker pocket watches along with model cars, toys and other Studebaker related literature for judging. The final number on these were 36 watches and 18 model cars judged. We found out how tough the judging is, as this was the first time we had our 1950 Starlight Coupe judged at a International Meet. We managed to receive 363 points which was good enough for a 2nd place award. It was a good experience, as the judges pointed out the small flaws to bring our car up to the next level. Members that did receive a 1st place award were Ray Petros with his 1957 Golden Hawk and Lawrence Miller with his 1987 Avanti. I would like to thank Bruce & Judy Berst, of the Wyoming Chapter, for all their help and good times! Rick Bruce Berst giving the Starlight a little touch up on Judging Day.

3 August 2013 Page 3 Western Outlook Award Winning Studebakers Photo s by Carey Dietz and Don Wait Christof Kheim 1951 Commander Land Cruiser Steve Doerschlag 1963 GT Hawk Carey Dietz 1958 Packard Hawk Ray Petros 1957 Golden Hawk Glen & Ken Manes with Don Wait and their Division 1 Pre War Studebakers

4 Western Outlook August 2013 Page 4 Wayne McCarey 1964 GT Hawk Sue Bordwell 1950 Champion Starlight Coupe These members also received awards Tom Wheeler 1917 Series 18 Glenn Shull 1927 Erskine Norm & Mary Gieseker 1957 Hawk Rodger & Sue List 1942 M16 Truck K C Cruz 1958 Power Hawk Leroy Andrew 1951 Pickup Earl Chase 1958 One Ton Truck Conestoga member Glenn Shull conducting the Studebaker Band

5 Western Outlook August 2013 Page 5 Pikes Peak Chapter SDC August 2013 Chapter News The Pikes Peak Chapter 2013 International Meet Board Members wish to thank all SDC members that helped put on the 2013 SDC International Meet. We would like to list all the members that helped put on this exciting event but we may miss one of our valued helpers. We wish to thank the following chapters for their support both financially and physically; Rocky Mountain Avanti Chapter, Western Wheels Chapter, Conestoga Chapter, Zia Chapter from New Mexico, High Plains Chapter from Texas and Oklahoma, Midway Chapter from Kansas, Dakota Chapter from South Dakota and the Wasatch Mountain Chapter from Utah. The Pikes Peak August 10th activity is a Potluck Picnic in the Park at Pinon Valley Park, 5585 Mule Deer Drive, Colorado Springs, Colorado at 12:30 p.m. The host for this picnic is Diego & Arlene Burgos 719/ Each Pikes Peak member is asked to bring a covered dish to share. The Chapter will provide the drink. The direction to Pinon Valley Park is to take Garden of the Gods Road West from I 25 to Centennial Blvd. turn right (North) to Mule Deer Dr turn right (East). Then travel East on Mule Deer Dr. for 1/2 mile and the park will be on your left side. August 17th is the Front Range Airport 9th Annual Classic Aircraft Show and Car Show and the 45th Annual Rocky Mountain Swap Meet sponsored by the Colorado Car Collecting Council from 9 a.m. to 3 pm. The Front Range Airport is located East of Denver at Watkins, CO. The Chapter has been asked to provide workers for the swap meet. If you can work please collect Roger Zaner at 303/ or jrzaner@aol.com The September activity scheduled for Las Animas has been canceled. At the August meeting the September Chapter activity will be planned. September 14th is International Drive Your Studebaker Day. October 19th will be the Studebaker Swap Meet, Pikes Peak Chapter meeting and potluck lunch at 10 a.m. Merv Mundorf, Trail Boss Ct, Peyton, CO, HOST: Merv Mundorf 719/ Watch for more information in future Western Outlooks. Secretary Chuck Donkle

6 Western Outlook August 2013 Page 6 Western Wheels Chapter News Our chapter did not have a regular meeting in either June or July. Most of our members attended the Father s Day Car show in Gering in June. The only Studebaker winning an award at the show was Perry & Jackie Meyers 61 Hawk winning Class Winner. Due to the International Meet in Colorado Springs we didn t have a July meeting. Western Wheels members attending were: Mary Miller; Don & Betty Steinwart; Margie Grauberger; Perry, Jackie & Corina Meyers; Stuart Tritt, Ron & Jean Sobieck. I hope I didn t miss anyone. Perry Meyers displayed his 61 Hawk and I displayed my 62 Champ Pickup. The International Meet was real enjoyable. Our next event and meeting is the Scotts Bluff County Fair Parade on Saturday, August 3rd then the Dakotas Chapter Labor Day Event in Custer, SD, with a few parades thrown in for good measure. Next event after that is the Kimball Farmer s Day Parade and Car Show on Saturday, September 28th. On July 20th I attended the first ever orphan car show with my Crosley put on by the Wyoming Chapter SDC in Casper. It was an enjoyable day. I hope they continue this event. Stuart Perry & Jackie Meyer s 1961 Hawk

7 Western Outlook August 2013 Page 7 Conestoga Chapter July 28, 2013 The chapter met at the Buffalo Bill Days in Golden. It was an off and on rainy sort of day, but a good variety of Studebakers and Packards were well represented. As always, the cars were on the Washington Bridge, and received lots of ohhs and ahhs from the passing crowds. I overheard one couple reply that "they just don't make 'em like they used to". The members retired behind the visitors center for a picnic and short meeting. It was a nice showing of food items from our members, with fried chicken provided by the chapter. We were even in time to watch the yellow rubber ducks float down the creek. Roger presented a short meeting. A big thank-you to all the Conestoga members who helped the Pikes Peak Chapter have a successful International in the Springs. It was greatly appreciated by them. New member Glenn Hagen and his family were introduced. Glenn joined SDC at the International and is joining our chapter. Glenn won 3rd place at the International (Division 5) with his GT Hawk. Welcome to the club, Glenn, Vicki and family, and not exactly new members, Carl and Julie Mattson. They have been in the chapter for about two years, just haven't made many meetings. Hope to see more of you two. Respectfully submitted Trish Price Secretary

8 Western Outlook August 2013 Page 8 Dad takes Son to the SDC International Meet Last weekend, we were in Denver visiting family. As I mentioned, one of the highlights of the trip was tagging along with my Dad at the Studebaker Drivers Club International Meet, hosted this year in Colorado Springs from July 1-6. Until this past weekend, I had no clue that a subculture of rabid Studebaker enthusiasts existed out there. I quickly found out that Studebakering is a lifestyle choice, complete with layers of strata within. Like, those who completely restore their cars but rarely drive them, known as trailer queens, to those who modify them into a trick car, complete with a 5.0 Ford Mustang engine shoe-horned beneath the hood. But whether a purist or a tinkerer, or a simpleton like me, the trip alone was worth gawking at them for an afternoon. If you're like me, you probably don't know much about Studebaker automobiles. My first recollection of a Studebaker was Fozzie Bear's 1951 Bullet Nose Commander in the Muppet Movie (1979). The quirky Studebaker brand was spot on for the Muppets. So much so that a bear driving a Studebaker across the country with a frog bent on reuniting with his pig girlfriend almost seemed plausible. Moving right along, that scene from the Muppet Movie came to mind a couple years back when my Dad announced quite suddenly in an that he had purchased a vintage 1963 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk off of ebay. A Studebaker? Dad had always talked of one day owning a Studebaker. But my Dad is a conservative. Dreams seldom come true for conservatives. But there it was, his dream had come true: a Misty Rose GT Hawk, complete with lots of chrome trim and whitewall tires. When he picked it up, it had 53,000 original miles on it from its two previous owners. The body and paint were in nearly perfect condition, having been garaged all these years. It still has most of its original stock parts and doesn't leak oil, nor any other fluids. The best part is firing it up and hearing that throaty growl emanating from its two chrome-capped tail pipes fluting out from the rear.

9 Western Outlook August 2013 Page 9 With 50K miles on it, his GT Hawk was no trailer queen. To prove it, Dad let me take it out on the open road. Though Studebaker made automatics, this one had a three speed stick mounted on the steering column, three-on-the tree, as they say. Driving it took a little getting used to, the shifting pattern, no power steering nor power brakes, etc. But once I got settled in, I opened up the throttle and got up to highway speeds quickly. It was a hoot to drive. While the car has a lot of distinct features, it's the Misty Rose paint job that makes Dad's Hawk stand out among the others. The color was an original option, but apparently not many chose it. Dad has since found out that the color appeals to women. Mom liked it right from the beginning. And at conventions, the Misty Rose paint scheme draws plenty of comments from females. While Dad's Hawk was drawing its share of oglers, I took a tour of the parking lot to see what else was on hand at this year's International Studebaker Drivers Club Convention. Now I'm certainly no expert or anything on these cars. Dad tried to bring me up to speed on the subtle differences among the various Studebaker models, but it was way too much to take in. That's okay; the visual appeal of these cars were more than enough. For instance, take a look at the fine details of these Studebaker hood ornaments: Does your vehicle have a hood ornament like that? Let me reset that: Does it even have a hood ornament? Indeed, the Studebaker represents much of the essence of the Golden Age of the automobile. Editor s Note: This story was sent to me by Conestoga Chapter member John Murphy and was written by his son Brady.

10 Western Outlook August 2013 Page 10 CONESTOGA August meeting will be held in conjunction with the Annual Denver Modernism Show at the National Western Complex. Conestoga members and their friends are invited to display post-war Studebakers (or other 1946 & newer vehicles) at the Motorama Car Show on Sunday, August 25th from 11am to 4pm. Featuring post-atomic American & European cars, the show is held indoors, in an air-conditioned exhibit hall so no need to worry about the heat or inclement weather! Car Show move-in begins at 9am and all cars must be in place by 10:45. (There is no in & out traffic permitted and all vehicles must remain in place until 4pm.) Vehicle driver admission is free; passengers are $8.00 each and includes full entry to the Modernism Show itself. The Show features vendors from across the U.S. selling retro furniture, art, home decor and more. Trophies will be presented for the following classes: People's Choice Best of Show ($200 Cash Prize!) Best Unrestored Original Condition, Best Custom or Hot Rod, Best Foreign, Best Foreign Best '40s Vehicle, Best '50s Vehicle, Best '60s Vehicle, Best '70s Vehicle, Best '80s & Beyond, Best Motorcycle or Scooter Please bring folding chairs & tools to disconnect your battery during the show. You may either purchase lunch on-site or discretely brown-bag it. Let's have a great showing of the best looking post-war American cars ever built; Studebakers!! For more information, visit or contact Conestoga Vice- President Rex Osborn at either trirexo@yahoo.com or PIKES PEAK Saturday August 10, Potluck Picnic in the Park at Pinon Valley Park, 5585 Mule Deer Drive, Colorado Springs, Colorado at 12:30 p.m. Host : Diego & Arlene Burgos 719/ WESTERN WHEELS Saturday August 3, Scotts Bluff County Fair and Parade. This is a reminder that all membership dues are now due. If you have not paid your yearly dues please do so now. Dues can be paid to Conestoga: Shelia Rink Pikes Peak: Norm Gieseker Western Wheels: Perry Meyers

11 Western Outlook AUGUST BIRTHDAYS Norma Donahoo 1 Bob Hoover 16 Estella McLean 2 Stephan Reckie 16 Tom Thornburg 3 Eddie Maurer 18 Robert Kerbs 5 Carl Farmer 18 Vickie Jones 8 Lawrence Miller 18 Gerald Berry 10 Jim Rapp 21 Marie Danti 13 Harry Case 27 Fred Cappo 13 Kitty Marini 27 Marylou Giltner 13 Catherine Petros 28 Lori Sander 15 JoDee Studebaker 29 Richard Manyik 31 AUGUST ANNIVERSARIES Norm & Mary Gieseker 14 Larry & Beth Janecek 23 Jerry & Valerie Hackman 23 John & Barbara Lidberg 23 Bob & Julie Bax 24 Linden & Marcene Welle 25 Steve & Debra Rosen 26 Arden Exner & Gloria Ewing 31 The Western Outlook is the newsletter of the Conestoga, Pikes Peak and Western Wheels chapters of the Studebaker Drivers Club. August 2013 Page 11 CHAPTER OFFICERS Conestoga Chapter: President: Roger Zaner Vice Pres: Rex Osborn Secretary: Trish Price Treasurer: Shelia Rink Sunshine Fund: Kay Murray CCCC: Shirley Zaner Events: Rex Osborn 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 Vice Pres: Bonita Case Secretary: Stuart Tritt Treasurer: Perry Meyers Tour Master: Betty Steinwart Please submit any corrections, suggestions or ideas to the editor at: westernoutlook@aol.com

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13 THE WESTERN OUTLOOK Rick Hawkins, Editor 7381 View Pointe Circle Wellington, CO Studebakers Are First Class