Potomac Chapter The Commander Drivers Club Volume 50 Issue 7 July 2018 Celebrating Clete’s 90th Birthday

Celebrating Cletes’s 90th Birthday

Murray and I received a call from Steve White about someone wanting to give their father a ride in a 1950 Studebaker (his first car) on July 8 his 90th birthday. We had no other plans and it seemed like a fun thing to do.

We arrived around 1:00 p.m. at the party location and all were ready and waiting including Clete Roth, the birthday boy, wearing his Studebaker cap. Everybody enjoyed our visit and Clete sat in the drivers’ seat (at the same time he was born 90 years ago) and you could tell memories were flooding back. The pictures tell the story. Clete has joined our chapter.

Clete Roh

(story on pg.10)

Treasurer Secretary President: Vice President Activities Director Mike Farris Murray Welsh Steve White Ron Hoff Terry & Shirley McDaniel 4313 Landgreen Street 24121 Ridge Road 17801 Farley Farm Road 1005 Bedford Street 580 Welltown School Road Rockville, MD 20853 Germantown, MD 20876 Rockville, MD 20855-1661 Cumberland, MD 21502-1206 Martinsburg, WV 25403 301-460-4341 301-253-3723 301-977-2627 301-724-1617 304-263-3915 (hm) david.farris @verizon.net [email protected] [email protected] 301-784-9548 cell 304-671-6704 (cell) [email protected] [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 301-460-4341 301-776-9893 703-450-0754 301-253-3723 ndfarris [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Steering Column By Steve White

Our celebration of Independence Day is only a few days away as I write this introduction for the column. We have so much to be thankful for in our great nation and one of them is how we welcome immigrants. Many of you know much more about the Studebaker family than I do but it bears repeating that the Staudenbecker family came to the United States from Germany like many of our forbearers. They brought with them a serious work ethic and determi- nation to do better here than they could in their home country.

My heritage includes ancestors who came from many European countries but none more than Germany. One of my forefathers, Jurry McLonis (the “Mc identified his middle name as Michael) fought at the Battle of Oriskany in August 1777 under General Nicholas Herkimer (originally Herchheimer). I especially think of my family’s ancestors on July 4 and give thanks to their coming to America and ensuring that our country is the land of the free.

This July 4th we had some members in the Shepherdstown, West Virginia, Fourth of July Parade. Unfortunately, the temperature was forecast to be hot and it turned out to be very hot so some didn’t make the parade. I understand that choice completely. Those of us who don’t have air conditioning were suffering. We had to wait for most of the others in the parade to go before we could move. I thought to myself that our cars are old and we, the owners, are much older. Why are we senior citizens waiting while cub scouts are marching? I think of my car as sau- na-mobiles. Paul Johnson and I made it through the parade and you can see our Avantis right after we turned onto German Street. I think I’m a little shorter then because I melted somewhat.

Since the July 4th parade my II has been filmed in DC for a super hero movie. I’m not supposed to say or write much about the movie but it has been mentioned in The Washington Post. I can say we usually filmed during the weekend and my car will be stationary (i.e., parked) if it makes the movie at all. The filming was another exercise in withstanding heat and humidity. The car did fine and the hours were such that I didn’t have to tolerate too much traffic. We had to be on location by 6:00 am and we usually left about 8:00 pm.

I’m including one more photo for you. As you know if you’ve been reading my column, I like cruise-ins. One of my favorite cruise-in friends is Cliff Johnson and he hosted a picnic at his home this past Sunday. Among the other attendees was Bill Gibson who is well known because of his Batmobile. Bill built his super hero car himself starting with a 1978 Lincoln Town Car. If you Google Bill’s name with Batmobile you’ll find a number of sites that will tell you about how people enjoy seeing his car. He had it at the Olney Days Annual Car & Truck Show and, of course, it won the most popular award. Also at Cliff’s picnic was Ross Stansfield who spoke at the last Potomac Chapter lunch- eon at Barbara Fritchie’s restaurant. Ross took the group photograph with the Batmobile and my Avanti II that you see in this issue. Cliff is the happy gentleman you see toward the center giving us all a good cheer.

I hope to see you at our August 25th event at Steve Newby’s classic car collection in North Potomac. We’ll have a luncheon meeting later (at noon) that day at the Derwood Red, Hot and Blue (just off Shady Grove Road near the Gi- ant grocery store - 16811 Crabbs Branch Way, Derwood, MD 20855) with guest speaker car guy extraordinaire Chuck McDonald (Chuck is in the picnic photo too). Please email me at [email protected] if you’re attending.

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. POTOMAC CHAPTER, SDC 2018 Planned Activities

Event Date Contact

Rose Hill Manor Car Show 08/19 non-SDC Frederick, Md.

Tour of Steve Newby’s Classic Car Collection 08/25 @9:00 Lunch at Red Hot & Blue 12:00 noon Steve White

International Meet 08/29/,09/01 Tacoma, Washington

International Drive Your Studebaker Day 09/08 TBA

Fall Picnic 9/15 Mike Farris

Hershey Fall Meet 10/10, 10/13 George Hamlin Hershey, Pa. (AACA)

Fall Tour Beckley/New River Gorge, WV 10/5, 10/6 Paul Johnson & Terry McDaniel

Reedsville Swap Meet 10/19, 10/20 Long Island Chapter SDC Reedsville, Pa.

Rockville Antique & Classic Car Show 10/20 Bill Morgan & Rockville, Md. Murray Welsh

Chapter Planning Meeting for 2018 11/03 Terry McDaniel (McDaniel residence, Martinsburg, WV)

Holiday Party (TBA) 12/09/18 Mike Farris

You lot may be interested to know that there is a one-page feature in the latest issue of AARP's mag- azine about Alice Cooper and his....1963 Avanti. Didn't see THAT coming. Geo Fall Tour to Beckley, WV on October 5 and 6, 2018.

Fifteen rooms have been blocked at the Comfort Inn, 300 Harper Road, Beckley, WV. Reservations can be made by calling 304-255-5291. Rooms will be held until September 25 at the price of $79.00 per night, plus tax. The blocked rooms consist of 2 full beds, hot breakfast , fridge/microwave/coffeemaker /flat screen TV / elevator/ wheelchair accessible. The same information as above is for special need rooms also, except they have a king size bed. Thank you. TMcD and SMcD

STUDE SPOTTER -Hemmings Classic Car Sept 2018 - A sepia hardtop publicity photo occupies the top 1/3 of the "table of contents" on page 2. A man and a woman are standing on the seats through the Skytop roof for an obvious awkward posed image. Note: The Skytop was an option on certain 1961, 1962, and 1963 Studebaker automobiles

Studebaker Spotter

" Muscle Car Madness". Alice Cooper is shown with a beautiful white 63 . in the latest AARP magazine (Jun-Jul 2018). He apparently collects muscle cars, but Studebak- ers are often ignored. Bob DeVore

Patriotic Quotes “America…it is the only place where miracles not only happen, but where they happen all the time.” –Thomas Wolfe, Of Time and the River, 1935

“Let every man do his duty, and be true to his country.” –Anonymous, rallying cry, Boston Tea Party, December 16, 1773

“Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your coun- try.” –John F. Kennedy, inaugural address, January 20, 1961

“In every human breast, God has implanted a principle, which we call love of freedom; it is impa- tient of oppression and pants for deliverance.” –Phillis Wheatley, in The Boston Post-Boy, 1774

4 First and (not really the) last Avantis to greet Studebaker club for meet at LeMay Daniel Strohl at 8:59 am https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2018/07/16/first-and-not-really-the-last-avantis-to- greet-studebaker-club-for-meet-at-lemay/?refer=news

The Studebaker Drivers Club annual meet will take place August 29 through September 1. For more information, visit SDCMeet.com.

Steve's Avanti II with Bill Gibson's Bat- mobile at Cliff's Picnic. Photo by Ross Stansfield Cliff is in the cranberry Hawaiian shirt and Ross is in the turquoise Hawaiian shirt. Chuck McDonald (wearing a black shirt and khaki cap) is just to the right of Ross.

Odd’s n Ends Transmission Mounts

On automatic equipped cars 1956 to 1966, there is a½” thick spacer on the rear motor mount on the left, or the driver’s side. We don’t know why it is there, only that it is supposed to be there. Many times, the old mount will have sagged, become soft and pressed down around this spacer. When the mount is changed, the spacer sticks to the old mount and is hidden under grease, grime and dirt. It often is thrown away and the new mount is used without it. When this happens, the shifter on the steering post does not line up properly and the throttle pressure control rod is way out of adjustment and your shift points are not where they should be. Do not forget to re -install that spacer when it has been removed. Thanks to Wheels and Deals, Orange County Chapter

5 6 HISTORIAN CORNER By Ed Lamanski

STUDEBAKER AVANTI HOOD SALUTE

No date on this photo (probably 1990). The Potomac Chapter and the local AOAI chapter left the field on this day with 9 trophies. Three for Studebakers, three for Studebaker Avanti, and three for Avanti (Non-Studebaker). If my memory serves me, we had 21 vehicles present on the field in Lau- rel, MD. This was the Laurel Race Course on Routes #1 and #198..

Ralph Stroud, one of the Laurel Lions committee members, OKed the additional vehicle classes based upon a written request from Del Sasse, the AOAI president. This worked out very well for our membership. The night before any Avanti show, Del would spend hours on the phone, getting all Avanti owners to bring their vehicles.

HISTORICAL STUDEBAKER ITEM (from Paul Johnson and Peter Crisitello)

Subject: An STP treatment for the wheels of justice, perhaps? http://www.autonews.com/article/20180716/RETAIL/180719862/ Here is one you can share with the rest of the Studebaker Community..... Peter Crisitello [email protected]

War does not determine who is right, it determines who is left. 7 TECH TIP by Ed Lemanski STUDEBAKER HEATER/BLOWER ASSEMBLIES

The heater blower and motor assembly is located in the dash board. They are usually controlled by a dasdboard flip switch with a high and a low speed setting. The assembly removes in one piece. They are quite easy to take apart, clean, reassemble and reinstall. If yours isn't working check out the following. 1. Are all the wires connected? You must have a good ground and enough voltage. 2. Are the bearings lubricated? Dry bearings can cause it to slow/stop or make noises as it rotates. 3. Test the motor to make sure it functions OK. Turning Wheels vendors can supply you with a replacement motor, if you determine that that is the problem. I've read in Turning Wheels that, many times, these assem- blies may return to normal operation if cleaned up and the bearings lubricated. The photo is of an assembly from a 1953 Studebaker. There are many different types depending on year and model of the Studebaker.

Odd’s n Ends

And they ask why I like retirement.... Question: What is the common term for someone who enjoys Question: How many days in a week? work and refuses to retire? Answer: 6 Saturdays, 1 Sunday Answer: NUTS!

Question: Why are retirees so slow to clean out the basement, Question: When is a retiree’s bedtime? attic or garage? Answer: Three hours after he falls asleep on the couch. Answer: They know that as soon as they do, one of their adult

kids will want to store stuff there. Question: How many retirees to change a light bulb?

Answer: Only one, but it might take all day. Question: What do retirees call a long lunch? An-

swer: Normal. Question: What’s the biggest gripe of retirees? Answer: There is not enough time to get everything done. Question: What is the best way to describe retirement? An- Question: Why don’t retirees mind being called Seniors? swers: The never- ending Coffee Break. Answer: The term comes with a 10% percent discount. Question: What’s the biggest advantage of going back to Question: Among retirees what is considered formal attire? school as a retiree? Answer: Tied shoes. Answer: If you cut classes, no one calls your parents.

Question: Why do retirees count pennies? Question: Why does a retiree often say he doesn’t miss Answer: They are the only ones who have the time. work, but misses the people he used to work with? Answer: He is too polite to tell the whole truth.

8 Steve White's Avanti II in the 2018 Paul Johnson's Avanti in the Shepherdstown 2018 Shepherdstown July 4th Parade. July 4th Parade.

New Member

Membership Corner

Clete Roh July Birthday’s 13544 Vandalia Dr Rockville, MD 20853 Phone: 301-942-1506 Edward Lemanski 7/1 Cell: 301-412-2568 Freda Poole 7/5 Birthday: 07/08 Kathryn Koenig 7/8 SDC# A020812R Clete Roh 7/8 [email protected] Wayne Birkel 7/15 Mary Walter 7/18 Bob Wagner 7/19 Jack Grimm 7/21 Bob Devore 7/26

9 (continued from pg. 1)

Birthday boy and some of his family

Murray, Clete and his son-in-law Always have to check under the hood

Clete showing Murray and his son-in-law his scrap book of his Studebaker

Clete waving

10 New Summer Event 2018

This August 25th we have a special day arranged for our Potomac Chapter SDC. We will visit an amazing private classic car collection in the morning and then meet for lunch afterwards. Steve Newby has two buildings with restored or preserved clas- sics. Here's the agenda with times: 9:00 AM: Meet at Steve Newby's collection at 12716 Split Creek Court, North Poto- mac, MD 11:30 AM: Leave Steve Newby's collection 12:00 PM Meet at Red, Hot & Blue, in Derwood, MD, located between Gaithersburg and Rockville just off Shady Grove Road: (approximately 20 minutes drive from Ste- ve Newby's collection covering 7 1/2 miles) - Red Hot & Blue, 16811 Crabbs Branch Way, Derwood, MD 20855. We have their private dining room reserved as we did last year. Chuck McDonald will be joining us to discuss his role as a cruise-in coordinator among other things. 2:00 pm conclude lunch and business meeting We will be able to order our lunch from the Red, Hot & Blue menu and have separate checks (20% gratuity added). Please let Steve White ([email protected]) know by August 20 if you are planning on attending.

FOR SALE

GT Hawk For Sale

1963 Studebaker Hawk. restyled the Hawk into the Grand Turismo with European flair, this American Classic stands out. The Hawk was Americas first family size sports car and could seat 5 people. The driver cockpit has an instrument panel with gauges telling the engines performance which no other cars had. The car has the 289 CI engine with an automatic transmission. This car went through a com- plete five-year restoration which was completed in 2012 that cost over $49,000.00. The car has been driven less than 3000 since the restoration. Detailed receipts are availa- ble. This Hawk is without question “stunning” with white exterior and classic black interior. You will not be disappointed. $22,500.00. Please email ([email protected]), text or call for any questions and to arrange a date and time to inspect the Hawk. Call

Chuck 301-213-7129. 11

Andrew Burns who has a for sale contacted me. He wrote:

“It’s a 1948 Studebaker Land Cruiser in 100% original condition. It’s a family owned car bought new from grandparent to grandkid. Has 58,211 miles if that even matters. It was last run in late 7s early 80's. It was in a garage in Pennsylvania for approximately 30 years and for the last 8 years has been outside but covered in Virginia. The body is real solid and in good condition. The internals will like- ly all need to be replaced or restored. The doors, trunk and hood all still work. The tires need to be replaced.

I simply do not have the money/knowledge/time for it so I’d like to sell it. I do not know what its worth is if any of your members have any clue. I’d start asking for $5000 and go from there. I can get more pictures if needed. I can host an imgur album (basically a online album that anyone can go to and view). Thanks so much for all your help.”

There are four photos of the Studebaker for your viewing. Please email Andrew at jaska- [email protected] if you can provide any advice or would like more information about the Land Cruiser.

12 2018 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:

E-Mail: Spouse cell:

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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Potomac Chapter SDC web site: http://potomacsdc.org

July 2018