Potomac Chapter The Commander Drivers Club Volume 48 Issue 4 April 2016

GUS RUHNKE FOUND THIS BIT OF INTERESTING LITERATURE ON ACCUWEATHER.COM Beats me why they used such a "beater"... but it is a Studebaker and it is on the net!

http://www.accuweather.com/en/features/trend/ hot_cars_can_kill_during_spring_stronger_sunlight/56191032 According to San Jose State University, the average of heatstroke deaths of children in vehicles totals 1 during both March and April and 4 during May in the U.S. Heat-related fatalities in cars are possible so early in the year is due to the stronger sunlight in the spring when compared to winter. Because of the stronger sunlight in the spring months, it does not have to be hot outside for the temperature inside of a car to reach life-threatening levels. In some cases, the temperature inside of a car can spike by nearly 20 degrees in just 10 minutes.

While some people think that cracking the windows may help, it does not prevent the temperature inside of a car from soaring to dangerous levels. Children and pets are most likely to fall victim to a hot, un- attended car since neither have the same ability to cool off that an adult does. RELATED: Warmth to surge into Ohio Valley, mid-Atlantic US at midweek Utah's Great Salt Lake is shrinking, experts say Early eastern US warmup may jumpstart spring allergy season

"Children heat up three to four times faster than adults," said Jan Null, CCM at San Jose State Uni- versity. "In the worst case scenario, if a child is small and on the sunny side of the car, death can oc- cur in 15 minutes or under," Null added.

President Vice President Treasurer Secretary Activities Director Karl Veit Steve Geiger Mike Farris Welsh Terry & Shirley McDaniel 3703 7th Street South 2010 Kings Forest Trail 4313 Landgreen Street 24121 Ridge Road 580 Welltown School Road Arlington, VA 22204 Mount Airy, MD 21771 Rockville, MD 20853 Germantown, MD 20876 Martinsburg, WV 25403 703-979-4763 301-829-5155 301-460-4341 301-253-3723 304-263-3915 (hm) [email protected] [email protected] david.farris @verizon.net [email protected] 304-671-6704 (cell) [email protected]

Membership Historian Web Master Editor Nadine & Mike Farris Ed Lemanski Bob Johnstone Lynda Welsh 4313 Landgreen Street 7875 Red Jacket Way 12161 Holly Knoll Circle 24121 Ridge Road Rockville, MD 20853 Jessup, MD 20794 Great Falls, VA 22066 Germantown, MD 20876 Steering Column Karl Veit

York is behind us and it is now officially spring, the season of renewal. Please use this season to think how our club can become renewed. Some of our members have been generating ideas of how to generate more visibility and interest in our club - thanks to those of you who have. I would like to see each of us to get some “skin” in the game by helping this effort in whatever way they can; our club future depends on it. We can get new members if we become more visible at meets, drive-ins, etc. We can participate in many types of car activities, not just SDC events. PSDC still has an open- ing for the Recruiter officer position, to coordinate, advertise, and encourage these efforts; please consider taking this position. To cop the recruiting poster, “PSDC Needs You!”

STUDE SPOTTER In the April, 2016, issue of STREET SCENE , the monthly publication of the National Street Rod Assn., is a 3 page spread on a fabulous 1953 Studebaker custom.

In the Hank Williams biographic film just released in theaters,I SAW THE LIGHT, there is a glimpse of a 1951 Studebaker sedan.

April Susan Eppig 4/1 Linda Winokur 4/1 Margaret Bjarnason 4/19 Chester Bradfield 4/27

The Commander is the monthly publication of the Potomac Chapter, Studebaker Drivers Club. Subscription is by membership to the Potomac Chapter at $15.00 yearly. Canada/Mexico $20.00, all other countries $25.00. Direct all membership correspondence to the Membership Director. Direct all correspondence relating to The Commander to the Editor, who retains the right to edit or modify any contribution. Deadline date is the 15th of the month for the following month’s issue. The Commander is also an internet publication. The Potomac Chapter is an officially chartered chapter of the Studebaker Drivers Club, Inc.; its by-laws were approved, and charter granted by SDC in June 1967. Membership is recruited from the States of Maryland, West Virginia, Northern Virginia and Washington, DC. And those from other areas wishing to join the chapter are welcome.

2 Potomac Chapter, SDC Activities 2016 Event Date Contact

Apple Blossom Meet Winchester, VA May 7 (?) non-SD Spring Fun Day Tour Hershey, PA May 14 Ruth Carr Spring Tour Orphan Car Tour June 4 Howard County, MD (PC is one sponsor) tbd Steve White Spring Picnic Hedgesville, WV June 12 Terry McDaniel Sully Plantation Chantilly, VA June 19 non SDC 52st SCD International Meet Warwick, RI June 26-July2 Terry McDanial Rose Hill Manor (car show) Frederick, MD August 14 (not confirmed) non-SDC *International Drive Your Studebaker Day Sept. 10 Terry McDaniel Fall Picnic Johnson, Martinsburg, WV Aug. 28 Paul & Karen Johnson Fall Tour Luray, VA Sept. 16-18 Murray Welsh Hershey Fall Meet Hershey, PA Oct. 5-8 AACA Bradfield Show Bridgewater, VA Oct. 9 Terry McDaniel Antique and Classic Car Show Rockville, MD (PC is one sponsor) Oct 15 Ron Salen & Bill Morgan Reedsville Swap Meet Reedsville, PA Oct. 28-29 Max Corkins Chapter Planning Meeting tbd Terry McDaniel Chapter Holiday Party Charles Town, WV Dec 18 Terry McDaniel

**Firm date-will always be the second Saturday in September

3 Historian TECH TIP By Ed Lemanski by Ed Lemanski

On This Date In April HEMMINGS - 14 tips for buying vin- tage car parts online 1 1836 Peter Studebaker Born 9 1963 Super Larks and Super Hawks introduced http://blog.hemmings.com/ 19 1976 Nate Altman dies 25 1962 Avanti sets new world production car record (2 index.php/2016/03/18/14-tips-for-buying-vintage 1/4 miles in 60.8 seconds) * -car-parts-online/ 26 1962 name dropped from title of Stu- debaker Corporation 26 1962 Avanti introduced to the public 28 1986 Michael Kelly suumes ownership of Avanti

* Top speed of 171.10 mph

SAVAGE FEST - JUNE 1990

This was an annual community event held the first weekend of June at the old Savage Mill in Savage, Mar- yland. There was an open invite to all of the central Maryland antique car clubs. One, the Antique Car Club of Greater Baltimore, made it an official annual event for their members. I attended for several years and found it enjoyable. The event is held to this day but they lost interest in having the old cars present. A po- ny ride, face painting, and crafts is what one finds to- day. STUDE SPOTTER - The Story Told by Camelot Classic Cars The picture is of Raymond "Ray" Wyczalek and his dark blue 1963 Studebaker GT Hawk. Ray was a dedi- The story begins in 1963 at Studebaker where Brooks Ste- cated individual who made a significant difference vens had been employed as design consultant by the with the Potomac Chapter of SDC. He was the editor president, . also for approximately 20 years. The Commander was worked for Studebaker at the time and he had just com- mailed from Glen Burnie, Maryland, in those pleted his styling work on the Avanti. .... days. Ray, his wife, and his daughter were very vigi- lant in assembling and getting out the Commander on http://www.excaliburclassics.com/story.html time. Ray was also the President who held the club together in the late 70's and early 80's when interest was waning. Utopia, the common ancestor of all of Brooks Stevens’s modern dreams?

http://blog.hemmings.com/ index.php/2016/03/28/utopia-the-common- ancestor-of-all-of-brooks-stevenss-modern- dreams/?refer=news

Ray Wyczalek with his GT Hawk. June 1990.

4 The Sceptre, the Cruiser, and Brooks Stevens’s radical plan to save Studebaker

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2016/03/16/the-sceptre-the-cruiser-and-brooks-stevenss- radical-plan-to-save-studebaker/?refer=news

One of our favorites for #WoodieWednesday ! See the full #Eastwoodco video feature on this custom Studebaker Woodie Fastback here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiN0nAHg0Ow

HEMMINGS MOTOR NEWS - This past week marked 50 years since the last Canadian-built Stu- debakers ? and thus the last Studebaker automobiles ever ? rolled off the production line. http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2016/03/19/four-links-first-porsche-first-sebring-first-street- sweepers-last-/?refer=news

Executive Director Patrick Slebonick and Archivist Andrew Beckman pictured in the Museum's 1963 Lark Daytona Convertible during the 2016 St. Patrick's Day Parade in South Bend.

Stude Spotter These photos are of signs (one in a window and one in front by the entrance) at the “Roads and Rails Museum” in Frederick, MD. Representing the “Roads” part of their name is a ‘53 Studebaker “C” coupe. Pretty neat!!

5 6 Day Trip-Hershey Gardens & AACA Museum May 14, 2016 Meet: Saturday, May 14th, we will assemble at 9:00 am Burger King, Thurmont MD (north of Frederick, MD Exit/Rte 550). Leaving at 9:15 am heading north on route 15 towards Hershey. (70 miles) Route: We will travel on route 15 N to Exit/Rte 94 (York Spring) 16 miles to Carlisle, PA. Taking Rte 81 north towards Hershey, PA (est. 25 miles) exiting onto Rte/39 Manada Hills. We will pass AACA Museum on right, next traffic light turn left onto Hershey Park Dr. stay in the inside land, make left at light onto Hotel Rd, gardens on right. Tour: HERSHEY GARDENS-April-May Bloom Schedule. Welcome spring, more than 30,000 striking tulips, daffodils and other springtime bulbs! Along with flowering trees, shrubs and perennials. Admission 13-61 $10.40 62 + $9.50 Wheelchair Accessible Lunch: Around 1:30 PM Panera Bread-make right out of gardens onto Hershey Park Drive, driving pass several lights. Turn Left on Mace Street at light, restaurant on right behind strip mall. (2.6 miles from gardens) 717-533-5242. Tour: AACA MUSEUM-Exhibits, during May 14th PINSTRIPING & AUTOMOBILE ART, By HotRod Jen MODS vs Rockets along with permanents exhibit-the worlds largest collection of Tucker Automobiles. Admission 61+ $11.00 Adult $12.00 Children 4-12 $9.00 Children under 4 FREE AACA Members FREE

All good things must come to an end-homeward bound. Hope you enjoyed your day, Ruth & Darrell

RSVP (as soon as possible) ruthcarr1948@frontiernet. net Home 304-725-1832 cell 304-839-9955

8 Roadside Find Brings a New Member to the PSDC By Michael Hennessey, Washington, D.C.

By way of introducing myself to the Club, I wanted to share the story of how my wife and I found our 1947 Convertible.

On May 23, 2015, my wife Heather and I were staying with friends at a lake house at Lake Holiday, near Cross Junction, VA. Because it was my 45th birthday, and knowing my penchant for vintage radios and ephemera, my wife suggested we drive up to Berkeley Springs and take in a few Antique shops in the area.

We took Route 522 north, across the state line into West Virginia, and through the tiny towns of Ridge and Omps. As per our usual practice, Heather drove while I navigated. We make a good team that way.

No more than a few miles outside Berkeley Springs, I spotted a small yard sale in front of a small vacation cottage. Parked up against the fence along the road was a late 40s Studebaker. As we drove past, I rubber- necked back and called out to my wife, “Hey! That’s a ‘48 Studebaker Convertible!” where she responded, “How do you know these things?”

I was guessing, but fairly sure. In those few seconds I was able to see that it was a post-war Studebaker, but before the Bullet Nose models. “Those are pretty rare. You don’t see one of those everyday.” I said.

Excited about the car, but trying to keep cool about it, I talked myself into a whole host of counter arguments to stopping and looking at it more closely, “It’s a convertible,” I said, “So, they’re probably asking way too much for it.” And things of that nature.

We spent a fun afternoon looking through a few Antique shops together. We picked up an Art Deco era chro- mium-plated Coffee Set with electric percolator and a nice 1950 Zenith Table Radio. All through the day, I kept bringing up the Studebaker we saw. “Well,” my wife said at lunch, “Let’s stop and look on the way back.” I’m a very lucky guy.

As we drove closer to where we saw the car, I realized I was worried it might be gone. But, the car was still there as we turned into the driveway.

Eagerly, I jumped out of our car and sauntered directly over to the Studebaker. I was walking not too fast and not too slow, but determinedly, ignoring various items on folding tables set out for their yard sale. At last, I reached the Studebaker.

To my surprise, the car was in much better condition than I was expecting. The Velvet Black paint looked re- cent. The red painted wheels and white top looked new. The chrome taillight housings and trunk handle were ok, fairly pitted, but to be expected. I peered inside the driver’s side window and was surprised to see that the whole interior was very recently redone in red vinyl. The car looked very straight and very clean.

As I was trying to make out the mileage on the odometer, a voice behind me called out, “Go ahead and open the door. It’s unlocked.” That was all I needed to hear.

I pulled on the stainless steel handle and the driver’s side door popped open. The interior was new. Every- thing on the dash looked original, all the gauges, the steering wheel, the knobs. It had the original radio. It even had overdrive, with its knob pulled out fully.

The older man who had called to me had reached me and the car by this time. We introduced ourselves, and I thanked him for allowing me to look inside. “Get in,” he encouraged, “It’s okay. Have a seat.”

We spent the next 15 or so minutes talking about his history with the car while I sat behind the wheel. The car had belonged to his brother. A pet project that he had owned for years. A few years prior, the brother had been diagnosed with a terminal cancer, so the man I was talking with decided to help restore the car as far as possible for him. They had just finished most of the cosmetic restoration and were working on addi- tional mechanical issues when his brother passed away. The car had been in storage ever since.

“Here’s the key,” he said to me, “Wanna hear the engine?” Of course I did.

The owner and I swapped places and he switched on the ignition. Pressing the starter, the engine instantly came to life. No struggling, no grinding. Smoothly idling. That was the last straw for me. I dared to ask what he wanted for it.

I won’t bore you with the haggling and the negotiations that followed. Because, there weren’t any. He was asking a price well under my expectations and easily less than half the value of the car as-is.

I took all this in. I thanked the man profusely for his time and his conversation. I told him I was interested, but that I would have to discuss this with my wife. He nodded and smiled. “Of course,” he said, “Take your time.”

I took a number of pictures with my phone, including the phone number written on the For Sale sign in the front window of the car. Giddy, I gushed about the car to my wife as we drove away. I was much too excit- ed to remember exactly what I said to her, but it was more or less things like, “It’s in much better shape than I thought,” and “Did you hear the engine?” and “His asking price is an amazing deal for this car.”

When we got back to our friend’s house at the lake, I gushed even more about the car to our friends. I showed them the pictures I had taken. I looked up similar examples of Studebaker Champions online and realized the car I had just seen was not a 1948 but was actually a 1947. That made it even more rare than I thought. I also realized it made his asking price even more attractive. It was like pouring gasoline on a rag- ing camp fire, my desire to own that car flared up even more.

My wonderful wife took all this in. After an hour or so of listening to me, she asked me, “On a scale of 1 to 10, how much do you want to own this car? 1 meaning not so much, 10 meaning desperately.” I thought about it for a few seconds and replied, “10. Maybe 11.”

She thought for a moment and then asked me, “Is there any other vintage car you’d rather have? Is this car the one?” I thought and replied, “Yes. It’s the one. It’s a 1947 Studebaker Convertible. I can’t imagine owning anything better.” My wife smiled back at me and said, “Well, you’ve got the number. Let’s call him.”

I called up the owner. “No,” he said, “The car hasn’t been sold yet, though a few people have stopped to look at it since you were here.” I recalled seeing another interested party walking up to the car as we drove away about an hour and a half earlier. I got concerned.

We drove back to the Studebaker. I remember feeling it was taking longer to get there than before. I was wor- ried it would be sold before we got there. I remembered the childhood lessons my father and grandfather had taught me about Swap Meets and Yard Sales, “If you walk away from something you really want, there’s no guarantee it will be there when you come back,” they said. It was almost always true. But, they also said, “If you’re meant to have it, it will be there when you come back.”

Much to my relief, the Studebaker was still there. I took it as a sign that I still had a chance to own it.

This time, the owner and I got in the car and we took a short drive. He explained to me that the brakes and the clutch had been completely rebuilt, though the radiator had a leak. Second gear could get a little sticky shifting down to first. I filed all this away in my mind. I asked him when he had last changed the oil. He thought for a moment and replied, “It could use a change.”

I looked at the engine compartment. Decent looking. A few minor things. Could use a good clean up. Some of the wiring looked worn to me. Nothing I couldn’t handle. I looked under the car. Solid. A few spots of surface rust, but very clean and very solid.

I sat with my wife in our car in the Studebaker owner’s driveway. We talked about the car, the price, the lo- gistics of getting it 100 miles back home. All the details we could think of. Together, we came up with our plan to buy the car, make an offer to the owner, and become the new owners of a 1947 Studebaker Champion Convertible.

When the owner heard our offer and agreed to it he said, “I was hoping you folks would buy it. Of all the people that looked at the car, I liked you the most.”

I just smiled, shook his hand and thanked him. It was the best birthday gift I could have ever wished for.

STUDE AVANTI SPOTTER 10 Forgotten Muscle Cars That Deserve to Be Restored- 1. 1964 R3 http://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/10-forgotten-muscle-cars-that-deserve-to-be-restored.html/2/ 2016 Potomac Chapter SDC Membership Application or Renewal

Please complete this form and mail a check for $15.00, payable to POTOMAC CHAPTER SDC. Send the completed form and check to: Nadine & Mike Farris, 4313 Landgreen Street, Rockville, MD 20853 email [email protected] Phone: 301-460-4341

Yearly dues apply from Jan 1st to Dec 31st of each year

I am a member of I am joining SDC International at this time- SDC International National Upon receipt of your national membership #, Membership # Please send information to the address to email above.

This is a NEW Application Renewal/Update

Name: Spouse:

Address: Phone:

City/ST/ZIP: Cell:

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Birthday: Month Day Spouse: Month Day

I own the following Studebakers (including , , EMF, Avanti)

Year Make Model Body Style

YOU MUST BE A MEMBER OF NATIONAL SDC IN ORDER TO JOIN ANY SDC CHAPTER The Commander 24121 Ridge Road Germantown, MD 20876

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Help needed!

I am in the process of getting my 51 Champion back on the road and my mechanic has asked me to source a rebuild kit for a Carter #715s, I have found a kit on Studebakerparts.com. Before ordering the parts from there I wanted to reach out to see if somebody locally had the parts. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Cheers Steve 604-298-8546 CRB212 CARBURETOR REPAIR KIT CRB212 #1543433 - 535801 - 535468 - 57 - 525831 - 519675 CARBURETOR KIT 6 Cylinder 1947-58 CHAMPION,WITH CARTER WE AND SA Carter Carbs Carter WE:532s,627s,SA,661s,715s,989SA ALSO 2108S,2190S AND 2417S AS FITTED TO M5,15 AND M15A TRUCKS ALSO Potomac Chapter SDC web site: http://potomacsdc.org

April 2016