The H Udson R E Flec T Or
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H-E-T Club Southern California Chapter Newsletter - Awarded the Golden Quill July 2016 Exclusively for Fans of Hudson Motor Cars Bob Ross - Editor This year we are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Southern California Chapter of HET. February 1966 – 50 years as an HET Chapter, a significant milestone. When you realize that the Hudson Motor Car Company was in business for only 47 years, it is a strong indication of unusual brand loyalty. This shows that the Hudson automobile was a very unusual automobile. The Southern California Chapter committee is working on recognition of this HET milestone. or So mark your calendar for October 15, 2016 for an important SCC event. +++++++++++++++++++++++++ T The SCC 2016 Annual Meeting There were Hudnuts, food, business discussions, voting and appreciation. The Hudnuts were enthusiastic; the food was plentiful; the business discussions were fruitful; the voting was swift and there was much appreciation for the work that Jon flec has done over the past 14 years. E After a series of lengthy nomination speeches, a call for the vote was made and the following officers were elected: President - Bob Ross Vice President - Stephan Marshall Secretary/Membership - Susan Ross Treasurer - Ruth Hay Tour Chairman - Stephan Marshall Assistant Tour Chairman - Open Editor - Bob Ross. udson r Tech Advisor - Jon Cronk H Historian-Librarian - Open A plaque was presented to Jon with the following inscription: “With deep appreciation for your visionary guidance and undaunting leadership as President of the first HET Chapter, Southern California, 2002-2016.” the the socalhet.org The First HET Chapter - 50 Years and Still Going page 1 And it is also time to renew your Hudson products. Helping us will be Jon membership ($15) for another year. serving as our Technical Advisor. He has a wealth of experience and knowledge about +++++++++++++++++++++++++ Hudson hardware and the mechanical world in general. Mark Your Calendar For us to benefit from our chapter membership, 50 Years of Hudsons in Southern it is important that we all participate to the level California we can. And it starts with suggestions on where July 4 - 4th of July Parade, Sierra Madre, Ross’ Host we want the chapter to go. I have a very large Aug. 6 - La Canada Early Rodders Meet Inbox ([email protected]) so don’t worry about Aug. 14 - SCC BoD Meeting 2pm sending too many ideas. Sept. 29-Oct 2 - All California Meet, San Simeon, CIC Host Our 2016 HET International Meet is on now. Oct. 15 - Chapter Golden Anniversary Celebration Some of our members are making the long Oct. 23 - Annual Planning Meeting 6-8pm journey East to what is expected to be another Nov. 5 - Laughlin Economy Run, SCC Host spectacular event. Those of us that are unable Dec. 11 - Christmas Party, Old Spaghetti Factory, to make the long trip for various reasons are Duarte looking forward to hearing the details of the ------ 2016 celebration when they get back. Bob Aug, 22-27, 2017 - International Meet, Poway, CA +++++++++++++++++++++++++ ------ 2018 - International HET Meet, Chula Vista Resort, Early Rodder’s Cruise-In Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin There is a great exhibition of ------ classics and rods at the Board Meetings are open to all members. Phone parking lot of the United 626/260-1090 for directions. Artists Movie Theater in La Want to be a host for an SCC Meet close to your Cañada (1919 Verdugo Blvd. home? Just find a park or other attraction with at the 2 & 210 Freeways) every Saturday parking and facilities. Then give Steve a call morning. It starts around 6:30am and starts to (661/946-9027). thin out by 8:30am. ++++++++++++++++++++ So at that point we will drive down the street to From the President’s Garage to the Dish Restaurant for a nice breakfast. The Southern California This will all happen on Saturday, August 6th. Chapter of the HET owes a debt https://www.google.com/maps/@34.205799,- of gratitude to Jon for stepping 118.2171408,17z forward 14 years ago and leading our chapter into the 21st century. Now it is my turn to assist our members in enjoying and maintaining their socalhet.org The First HET Chapter - 50 Years and Still Going page 2 A Hudnuts Journey to the HET Club by Pete Booz Pete Booz was active with the HET Club and on & on! Hudson products at the very beginning of the This "madness" led to them to buying their 1st club. His original interest stemmed from his house, a dinky little 1 bedroom place in Reseda, father having several Hudsons as he did BUT on a big lot onto which Herb Malone (a business with the Hudson dealer in the town retired dental technician and by this time, a part where Pete was brought up. As a result of that, time builder/contractor) attached a 9 car garage Pete worked for the Hudson dealer part time which was soon filled! while in high school in '53 & '54. In '63 they took off, armed with their trusty HET Pete’s first Hudson, a '49 Super 6 coupe, he Roster, to see all the '29 Hudsons they could - bought from the dealer and drove it to college for they visited his parents who still lived in Indiana, several years. He lived in Indiana but attended went down to Florida and visited HET President the Univ. of Arizona, so it was a long drive. By and founder Meritt Marks, then up the east coast that time Hudson had gone out of business, so visiting several '29 owners. when he had worn it out, Pete got a '53 Studebaker Commander V8 hardtop with Pete had way over 100 Hudsons during his overdrive and forgot about Hudsons. "career", from '13 thru '54. Probably the most interesting "story" was the acquisition of an Several years later his unrestored '33 T8 interest in Hudsons was sedan in NH and rekindled by a driving it across the teacher who once a country to L. A. as part week, would drive a of the '66 stunning black '52 Transcontinental Run Hudson Hornet which the Club did. This was he would park in the to commemorate the faculty lot. They 1916 Transcontinental became good friends, Run by the then new Pete joined HET, and Super Six which set a got his 2nd Hudson off new record. The entire a used car lot in Santa story and odyssey is a Monica, a '53 Hudson whole separate story, in coupe; it became his a '66 WTN. wife, Nancy’s "daily driver". At the time the chapter was started, there were What really changed his life was getting the HET lots of Hudsons advertised in the L. A. Times Roster and noticing that another member, Tim and many still on the road in the San Fernando Rice, lived in Santa Monica. In the Roster, he Valley as guys like Phil Arana would repair them was listed as having two '29 Hudsons. Pete and and keep them on the road. Also during that Nancy decided to go see Tim one weekend time was when Clifford became famous drag which led to buying one of his '29s, a rumble racing Hudsons and later a major supplier of seat coupe with dual side mounts, followed parts. shortly thereafter by a '30 Hudson brougham, & socalhet.org The First HET Chapter - 50 Years and Still Going page 3 Pete has gotten some cars via the internet - his The Adoption "handle" of [email protected] directly led to A couple who work at the circus, go to an his getting the '39 Hudson 6 convertible. adoption agency. Social workers there raise His favorite model is the '33 Terraplane 8. One of doubts about their suitability. The couple his Hudson cronies has the one that Dillinger produces photos of their 50 foot motor home, owned. They are very attractive cars, were which is equipped with a beautiful nursery. famous for their performance, rare, and a The social workers then are doubtful about the "bellwether" model also because the Essex- education that the child would get. "We've Terraplanes of '32 - '33 which undoubtedly kept arranged for a full-time tutor who will teach the Hudson from "going under" during the Depression child all the usual subjects along with French, as those were the 2 worst years of it. Mandarin and computer skills.” At one time he was "unHudsoned" and became a Then there are doubts about raising a child in a major collector of antique clocks. He still has a circus environment. "Our nanny is an expert in passive interest in that and has several. pediatric welfare and diet. Pete was a social studies teacher in the L. A. City "The social workers are finally satisfied. They School district and taught mostly world history ask, "What age child are you hoping to adopt?" until the last few years when California mandated economics be taught. As his degree was in "It doesn't really matter, so long as he fits in the business, Pete was turned into an economics cannon." teacher. Since he had a major in that and it was only taught to seniors, he really enjoyed teaching that. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ socalhet.org The First HET Chapter - 50 Years and Still Going page 4 from The Hudson-Aire socalhet.org The First HET Chapter - 50 Years and Still Going page 5 Events of 1966 World Events Entertainment France withdraws its forces from NATO. Movies President De Gaulle visits the USSR Born Free India suffers the worst famine in 20 years; A Funny Thing Happened On The Way Lyndon Johnson asks for $1 billion in aid to To The Forum the country.