THE HUDSON TRIANGLE Special Meet Edition

Exclusively for members of the Hudson Historical Society. A 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization

Introducing the Home of the National The Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum

Ypsilanti, Michigan

Special Edition 2014 Page 1 HET Historical Society - Moving Forward The purpose of HETHS is:  to discover the history of the Hudson Motor Car Company (HMCC);  to locate products, writings, newspapers, journals, technical data, photographs, and objects that relate to HMCC history;  to establish a HMCC museum and library;  to promote the education of the public on the HMCC history. Filling a need for those who have an interest in preserving HET history, heritage, and the automobiles produced and sold by the Hudson Motor Car Company since its inception in 1909, is an active goal of the HETHS. Working closely with the HET Club, the HETHS regularly promotes Hudson related displays at various across the country. All donations are tax-deductible and further the Society goals. HETHS is eligible to receive tax-deductible donations of money, , literature, memorabilia and artwork. You are invited to join us in the pursuit of history.

Dedicated to Preserving the History of Hudson Motor Cars HETHS © 2014

Page 2 Special Edition 2014 HET Historical Society - Moving Forward Departments Behind the Wheel With Mike Behind the Wheel 3 President’s Note 6 Summer is here, the HET Club ______International Meet has arrived and life is good! History We often hear, “it has been a busy year.” So instead I HMCC 1909-1957 4 will tell you the directors, officers and support staff of Did You Know 7 the Hudson Essex Terraplane Historical Society have had a very productive year. Historical Society Projects This edition of The Triangle is distributed at the International Meet to all attendees compliments of the HETHS OnLine 7 Society. HETHS Hudson Museum 8 HETHS Scoreboard 14 continues to be a big hit with crowds HETHS Exhibits 14 from coast to coast. Often times now we find him in Doc Hudson Story 16 such demand that we wish he could be in two places Auction/Fashion Show 23 at once. The southern California boys to include Buzz Stahl, Jason Fisher & Val Smith of Vintage Coach & Richard Esparza, HETHS director, gave Doc Historical Society, Inc. some much needed attention to include an engine Hudson Museum Cover transplant – all at no expense to the Society. Many Purpose 2 thanks to them and to all who have helped Doc along. Officers 24 Dick Teeter continues to do a masterful job of Support Team 24 managing Doc.

THE BIG NEWS – In a few short months the National Membership Hudson Motor Car Company Museum will be open. It took a lot of support from the directors, Part of History 5 officers and staff, and months of negotiations with Membership Application 13 YAHM but it is now a reality. While it will be housed in How to Reach Us 24 the old Miller Motors facility in the Ypsilanti ______Automotive Heritage Museum, the HETHS has leased the space for this separate museum. It will only feature the great cars of the Hudson Motor Car Company. Ed Souers, life member of the HETHS

continues as the museum manager and is developing

a very impressive facility to include displays, a small theatre, Ken Poynter’s large memorabilia collection and some of the great cars built by Hudson.

Periodically displays and cars will change. The grand HETHS Facebook opening will be the weekend of the 21st of September,

Special Edition 2014 Page 3 HET Historical Society - Moving Forward which will coincide with the Ypsilanti came to racing, from the ‘30s’ through 1954, Orphan Car Show. The grand opening will Hudson was a major player. In fact from 1951 feature an evening event for HETHS through 1954 Hudson dominated the race contributors and an open house the next circuit, often finishing first, second, third and day. If there is any way you can attend this fourth! historical occasion, you will want to be Many famous drivers piloted a Hudson there. including Marshall Teague, , There are opportunities to join the HETHS Frank Mundy and the Flock brothers. Did you at the International Meet. Now is the time! ever hear of Jocko Flocko? “Ted Chester You can join or contribute financially, at the (team owner) came to me about this monkey auction, or in other ways. BE PART OF he wanted to put in the race car with me,” said THIS SPECIAL TASK. Just ask any HETHS , years later. “I thought Ted had member how to get involved. We will do the been hittin’ the jug too much but the more I rest. PLEASE JOIN THE FUN! got to thinking about it, the more I liked it.” The monkey had its own small seat and Mike racing suit. Flocko rode with Tim Flock in eight races, including a win in the May 16, H ------o o------1953 race at Hickory. The Hudson Motor Car Co This is a small sample of some of the 1909-1957 interesting information regarding the Hudson Motor Car Company and its people. The Hudson Motor Car The Historical Society aims to preserve and Company is steeped in a uncover as much history of the HMCC and colorful history that the life and times of those involved as includes many firsts. Did possible. In addition plans are underway to you know that the Hudson have a true HMCC museum. Join us and Motor Car Company was become part of this exciting venture! the first to move the steering wheel from the ------oHo------center of the car to the left

side? Or that Hudson was the first motor car company to offer an affordable closed in model car? Or that at one time, Hudson was Hudson third in sales in the USA? Museum And if you like excitement, the Hudson Motor Car Company had plenty of that too. The Hudson automobile set endurance and speed records over and over. In fact some of its endurance records still stand today. When it

Page 4 Special Edition 2014 HET Historical Society - Moving Forward Be a Part of Hudson History The HET Historical Society is rapidly moving forward in the business of Hudson Motor Car Company history.  As described elsewhere in this issue, HETHS has established a museum dedicated to the history of the Hudson Motor Car Co.  HET Historical Society material and documents have been processed and indexed by the AACA Library. The material is now available to all members and researchers.  The video records have been processed and recorded on DVD/CDs. The media consisted of many VHS tapes, audio records and film strips. The original material is now at the AACA Library.  The ‘Doc Hudson’ project continues to be very successful. The recent cross-country trips have created a lot of excitement and Hudson exposure. Exhibits and shows along the way, newspapers and TV reports and the buzz on the internet validates the foresight of the project organizers.  HETHS maintains Hudson exhibits at several major automotive museums around the US. You can be a part of the Hudson History project. Three levels of membership are available:  Life  Contributing  Active All levels have full membership rights and eligibility for leadership roles and all contributions are tax-deducible. ------oHo------

Special Edition 2014 Page 5 HET Historical Society - Moving Forward A Note from the President: and library in Hershey, . Need information or want to read about Hudson history? It is all available. Doc Hudson continues his travels. From San Mateo he travelled to Hen- derson, Nevada to the Western Region Hello – Meet. Then, God willing and the creek Here it is – another fabulous Interna- don’t rise, Matt Royer, HET Club direc- tional Meet! This one will prove to be tor, and I will drive it to the International one we won’t forget as the crew doing Meet in French Lick. all the work knows how to do it right. After that, Doc will spend a little R&R The Historical Society is honored to be time with Doctor Doug Wildrick so he a small part of the week’s activities. will be ready to begin his travels to the The Society’s directors, support staff 2015 International Meet in Colorado. and officers have had a very good year. Of course Doc will appear at the grand The big news is that the National Hud- opening of the National Hudson Motor son Motor Car Company Museum is Car Company Museum. By now it is very close to being open for business. safe to say thousands have viewed, and The lease agreement with the Ypsilanti sat in Doc. It is our most visible tool in Automotive Heritage Museum is signed, keeping the Hudson legacy alive. the lease has been paid and the reno- The web sites for the Historical Society vation to Miller Motors is underway. and the National Hudson Motor Car Already the museum has received cov- Company museum are up and running. erage in Hemmings Motor News and The Triangle continually improves and Old Car Weekly. The grand opening of favorable comments continue to come the museum is scheduled for the week- the editor’s way. Maybe you have infor- end of September 21, which will coin- mation or an article you would like to cide with the Ypsilanti Orphan Car see in the magazine. Or maybe there is Show. If you can get there, this will be an historical subject you would like to an event not to miss. HETHS contribu- see covered. Let our excellent editor, tors will be honored guests. So do what Bob Ross know, he is always looking for you can to join us there. ideas. The HETHS Hudson library is open Membership continues to grow and the and available to all. It is housed with a positive response from HET Club mem- professional staff at the AACA Museum bers is heartwarming. Page 6 Special Edition 2014 HET Historical Society - Moving Forward For years I have been asked, “What Did You Know does the Historical Society do with The its money?” If you have read this and Wasp were column, you can see we are putting named after two contributions to good use. WW2 aircraft carriers. The USS Now it is my turn, what are you do- Hornet (CV-8) ing with your money? We could served in the Pacific sure use some contributions and folks until sunk at the to join us so we can continue to grow Battle of the Santa and support our projects. It is no Cruz Islands on 26 more expensive than belonging the October 1942. HET Club and we would love to add The USS Hornet more folks to our team. (CV-12) was launched in August 1943, was very active in the Pacific campaign and is now Thank you, and keep the wheels turn- a museum in Alameda, CA. ing! The USS Wasp (CV-7) also served in the Pacific until sunk by a Japanese submarine on Mike Cherry 15 September 1942. “I have met members of the Hudson It was replaced by USS Wasp (CV-18), an Essex Terraplane Society and they Essex-class ship, in November 1943. That ship earned eight battle stars for its service and are us.” retired in 1972. ------oHo------More information is available in Wikipedia ------oHo------

HETHS OnLine

 National Hudson Motor Car Company Museum http://www.hudsonmuseum.org/

 HETHS Webpage http://heths.info/

 HETHS Facebook http://www.facebook.com/HudsonEssexTerraplane

 Doc Hudson Project http://www.hudsonhornet.org

 HET Club http://hetclub.org/

Special Edition 2014 Page 7 HET Historical Society - Moving Forward Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum The History Home of the National Hudson Miller's dealership building was constructed in 1892 for the Ypsilanti Electronic Co. It later Motor Car Company Museum housed the Michigan Crown Fender Co., an automobile fender stamping company. In 1916, In the historical town of Ypsilanti, MI, is a Joseph H. Thompson opened one of the first building in the downtown area know as Miller Motors, the Last Hudson Dealership. An Dodge Brothers dealerships outside of Detriot. important occurrence is taking place at this A Willys-Overland dealership took over in site. It is an exciting step for HETHS and all 1928, but after the market crash the following Hudson enthusiasts. After lengthy discussions, year, the building was empty. a lease agreement has been made with Jack Miller's the Ypsilanti father, Carl Miller Automotive started his career Heritage Museum in in auto retailing in Ypsilanti, MI. This Ann Arbor, where will provide exhibit he partnered in an space in the original Oldsmobile Miller Motors dealership. He Dealership. bought into the The portion of the Hudson dealership Museum Building with Alex that is leased is on Longnecker at the the ground level very end of 1932. and known as the Alex had started “Hudson Dealership Building,” containing an the dealership in 1927. area of approximately 4,000 square feet and a Carl chose the present building because it portion of the upstairs of the Hudson could be rented for $25 a month. He bought Dealership Building for locked storage, plus out Alex in 1944. (Longnecker became a one small storage room, the ground level to be dealer.) when it was known as Hudson Sales used for tool storage and repair items. and Service The HETHS Museum Committee headed by Ed Souers, and aided by David Stevens VP, The reason it got changed to Miller Motors was Richard Esparza, director and Mike Cherry, because after the merger, when American president did the planning and negotiations. Motors was created, Hudson dealers automatically got both Rambler and the The museum exhibits will be planned and Metropolitan. He wanted to be a little more manages by the Museum Committee. neutral, because of selling multiple lines, so the name was changed.

Page 8 Special Edition 2014 HET Historical Society - Moving Forward Until 1958, when the Hudson line was ------oHo------discontinued, the dealership sold 1,969 new vehicles, including Hudsons, Essexes, The Founder , Ramblers and Metropolitans. "Jack is a living AMC wanted flashy, new buildings for their legend in his own dealerships to compete with the Big Three. But time," Linda sales would not support the expense, so Carl French, resigned the franchise and sold used cars on Sidetrack Bar the site. Since 1958, Miller Motors continued and Grill owner operations providing service and parts to and a museum Hudson collectors across America board member, Parts salesman, dealer, racer. The last said. "If you go distinction, interrupted when his Model T outside of slammed into a tree, left Carl Miller Ypsilanti for anything related to cars, they hospitalized for a year, his jelly-and-chips left know Jack. They call him "The Jack." He's arm thereafter articulated by a system of sash actually more famous outside of this area than cords attached to pulleys, allowing him to he is in Ypsilanti. He lives and breathes it. move his hand and fingers a little. Without Jack there would be no museum Miller Motors lasted as a Hudson dealership Jack was born in 1939 and he grew up in the car dealership. Jack began working there at

A word from Jack about the Museum http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbcmiS2_GEA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QA3nqi1duY right through the bitter end, holding onto its age 13, doing odd jobs like washing cars and new-car franchise through 1958. Jack drove keeping the place tidy. the final car, a 1957 four-door sedan, onto the Bill Nickels, museum board member, has showroom floor. He'd already been working at known Miller, a lifelong Ypsilanti resident, for the store since age 14. The family would have more than 30 years and said he believes he continued as AMC retailers, but Carl had "single-handedly created the museum." "I'm worsening emphysema and was unwilling to most appreciate of him creating the car image build a new Rambler showroom on U.S. 12, as for Ypsilanti," Nickels said. "It makes us Kenosha was insisting. distinct and makes us something unique." From 1959, Miller Motors continued on selling The Miller family ran a farm in nearby used cars, Hudson parts and restored Washtenaw County until Jack's grandfather Hudsons. Carl Miller passed away in 1973. sold it in 1916, moved to town and bought the livery stable, which he turned into a taxi

Special Edition 2014 Page 9 HET Historical Society - Moving Forward company. The firm's first cabs were Model T In 2013, organizers of the Orphan Car Show Fords, before it began using the Flint-built Star in Ypsilanti honored Miller for his years of automobile promoted by Billy Durant. As a service. Miller, 74, co-founded the Orphan sideline, the Millers stored private cars during show with Randy Mason. The annual Orphan the winters. All this turned Carl Miller into an Car Show was renamed the Jack Miller early car enthusiast. Orphan Car Show. One connection with Hudson is Jack's ------oHo------restoration of the actual Twin-H Hornet with which the great Herb Thomas won the 1951 The National Hudson Motor Car NASCAR Grand National title. It's on loan to Company Museum the new NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, In 1995, owner Jack Miller collaborated with NC. Paul "Skip" Ungrodt, Jr and Peter B. Fletcher Jack had been directing Hudson parts to a to open the Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage collector whose Hornet had oversized hubs Museum. The doors opened on August 1st, and brakes. 1995. The Jack offered to museum buy it, thinking it incorporates might have been Miller Motors and a police-spec has been Hornet. The steadily growing response took through gifts and 10 years, by acquisitions. which time the Linda French, owner had Sidetrack Bar figured out it and Grill owner was a factory and a museum race car--a board member, Dana differential said Miller is was the responsible for giveaway. After making the making the deal, museum so while doing the successful. necessary bodywork, Jack No single event Home of the National Hudson Motor Car Co. Museum found the number moved Miller 92 painted at the 100 E Cross St, Ypsilanti, MI Motors from roof corners, dealer to museum possibly by chief mechanic Smokey Yunick to show organizer, but Jack gives a lot of himself. credit to Peter Fletcher and Skip Ungrodt for

Page 10 Special Edition 2014 HET Historical Society - Moving Forward prompting that transition. Both men recognized that Jack had the full sales and service records for all 969 cars that were sold at the dealership since his father acquired a share in it. That's approximately where the all-Ypsilanti history concept came together, which the collection reflects. Its Tucker is a prop from the 1988 movie, built on a Ford LTD chassis; Preston 1919. Apex supplied autos to the northwest Tucker lived in Ypsilanti (two or so blocks from which suffered from a shortage the museum) and built the Torpedo prototypes of automobiles after World War I. there. Randy Mason, another local collector, Production began within six months. The car persuaded Jack that a show of deceased featured a very unusual motor with overhead brands, beyond Hudson and the rest, slotted in valves driven by a gear instead of a just right with Ypsilanti. Jack then proposed camshaft. Early success during 1920 led Fred that idea to the city fathers. M. Guy, the engineer and O. W. Heinz to leave "They had an architect draw up plans and the Company during April 1921 for other connected the two older buildings with a opportunities. middle addition," said Ron Pinsoneault, a New officers of the company did not have the lifelong friend and board member of the experience and the venture fell apart museum. "Jack was instrumental in following quickly. Records of how many Ace cars were up all the details. Jack oversaw the manufactured are incomplete and no Ace construction. Jack ran the whole show. He automobiles remain in existence. took care of everything " Tucker - Ypsilanti was home to Preston The museum hosts the very popular Annual Tucker, whose family owned the Ypsilanti Orphan Car Show of Ypsilanti. Machine and Tool Company. Preston Tucker’s ------oHo------The City of Ypsilanti As a thriving commercial and manufacturing hub, Ypsilanti had a significant influence on many pioneering automotive companies and the men who built them. Easy access to water power made Ypsilanti a manufacturing town way before the car arrived. home which is located about four blocks from the museum and has been restored serves as Apex Motors which produced the "ACE" car a photo opportunity and a drive-by. from 1920-1922 was located on South River Street. Apex Motors, manufacturer of the Ace On week-ends, sometimes visitors are lucky car was formed in Ypsilanti during October and get to meet John Tucker, grandson of

Special Edition 2014 Page 11 HET Historical Society - Moving Forward Preston Tucker, here at the museum when his Omega, Ventura, 1974 GTO, GM “X” cars, job permits it. front-wheel drive Bonneville, Oldsmobile Delta 88 and the 1991-1993 Early work on the Tucker prototype was done here in Ypsilanti and production on the fifty-one Caprice sedans and station wagons cars manufactured was done in a plant in and Buick and Oldsmobile full size station Chicago. wagons. Willow Run Assembly built over 7,000,000 vehicles through July 1993. Kaiser-Frazer - Henry J. Kaiser and Joseph W. Frazer purchased the Finally the last cars produced there were the gigantic Willow Run B-24 second generation Chevrolet Caprice sedans bomber plant in 1945 from and station wagon along with the Buick and the government and began Oldsmobile station wagons. The plant was producing 1947 model closed in 1993. Kaiser and Frazer cars for Hydra-matic - General Motors “Detroit late 1946 delivery. In July Transmission Division” purchased the giant 1953, production on 1953 models ended at Kaiser- Frazer plant during August 1953 as a Willow Run. Kaiser-Frazer built over 700,000 result of fire destroying their nearly new Livonia cars at Willow Run. “Hydra-Matic” plant and in just twelve weeks Corvair - In 1956 Chevrolet began producing from the date of the fire began on November 4, large special order trucks in the building which formerly housed KF engineering and the spare parts facility for the B-24 Bomber Plant. Later this plant would be enlarged several times, First, for the manufacture of the Corvair from 1959 to 1969 and hen for the Nova, Ventura, Omega, and Skylark series of GM cars. In 1980 the plant was converted to production of the GM X-series front wheel drive cars. 1953 manufacturing “Hydra-Matic” automatic Also manufactured at the plant known as transmissions at Willow Run. Willow Run Assembly were the Chevy II, Nova, Re-named the “Hydra-Matic Division” during 1963, Willow Run also served as the world wide engineering center for automatic transmissions. The “Hydra-Matic Division manufactured automatic transmissions for 11 automobile companies outside GM’s own divisions with its most famous customer being Rolls Royce for 43 years 1955 through 1998.

Page 12 Special Edition 2014 HET Historical Society - Moving Forward The city's name is not American Indian in origin, despite the way it sounds, but instead, Greek. Demetrius Ypsilantis was a military hero of the Hellenic revolution in 1821. The new Michigan city, a onetime French trapping camp on the Huron River, took his name when it incorporated four years later. $______LIFE Member $1,000 or more So not everything in Ypsilanti is as it first seems, other than that people here really, $______CONTRIBUTING Member $100 truly respect cars, with Jack Miller as their $______ACTIVE Membership $40 elder statesman. His collection, the Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum, is colloquially $______GIFT in Honor or in Memory of called The Last Hudson Dealer, but actually ______embraces the entire local automotive scene, $______General Donation effectively and affectionately. ______

------oHo------$ ______TOTAL funds enclosed. The Future Name: The 13,000 sq. ft. Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum features several auto marques including Hudsons. The Hudson Address: exhibit, which will use a major portion of the building including the showroom, will include Phone: a rotating variety of vehicles, memorabilia and literature documenting the history and Email: amazing achievements of the Hudson Motor Car Co. Please make payment by cash, check, or money order payable to HET Historical Society, Inc., in ------oHo------US Dollars, and mail to: Carmen LaFlamme, 111 Besaw Road Richmond, VT 05477

Thanks for your Support!

Special Edition 2014 Page 13 HET Historical Society - Moving Forward Hudson Essex Terraplane Exhibits Memory Lane Motorsports & Historical Automotive Museum Mooresville, While you have been working on your car and NC going to the local car shows, the Historical Society has been busy spreading the word NASCAR Hall of Fame Charlotte, NC about our great cars. HETHS has been reminding old-timers and educating the young Next time you have an opportunity to visit a ones about the Hudson marque. And HETHS museum with an descent Hudson exhibit, has placed exhibits in several important compliment them on it. And if you see a facilities. problem or an error, let them know. After all, they work with a lot of marques and errors can Wisconsin Automotive Museum Hartford, WI creep in. - 3 Hudsons on display National Automotive and Truck ------oHo------Museum Auburn, IN - 4 Hudsons on display Gilmore Car Museum Hickory Corners, MI - Display The HETHS Scoreboard ------ National Hudson Motor Car Company Museum, Ypsilanti, MI In addition, many auto museums make it a  HET Historical Society Library, AACA, point to include one or more Hudsons in their Hershey, PA collection.  Doc Hudson project. Old Spokes Auto Museum New Smithville, Pa  Exhibits’ maintained in four major Forney Transportation Museum Denver, CO automotive museums Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile  HETHS Media processed and digitally Museum Hood River, OR stored  Multiple HETHS websites established Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum,  The Hudson Triangle magazine published Fairbanks, AK quarterly as well as a Special Meet issue Simeone Automotive Museum, Philadelphia, PA ------oHo------California Automobile Museum, Sacramento, CA The Nethercutt Collection, Sylmar, CA Pioneer Village Minden, NE Automotive Hall of Fame Dearborn, MI Gateway Auto Museum Gateway, CO Alaska Highway Patrol Museum Anchorage, AK Deer Park Winery & Automobile Museum Escondido, Ca National Automobile Museum Reno, NV

Page 14 Special Edition 2014 HET Historical Society - Moving Forward The Mechanic A mechanic was removing a cylinder head from the motor of a car when he spotted a well- known cardiologist in his shop. The cardiologist was there waiting for the service manager to come and take a look at his car when the me- chanic shouted across the garage, "Hey Doc, want to take a look at this?" The car- diologist, a bit surprised, walked over to where the mechanic was working. The mechanic straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag and asked, "So Doc, look at this engine. I opened its heart, took the valves out, repaired or re- placed anything damaged, and then put every- thing back in, and when I finished, it worked just like new. So how is it that I make $24,000 a year and you make1.7 Million when you and I are doing basically the same work?" The cardiologist paused, leaned over, and then whispered to the mechanic....."Try doing it with the engine running." ------oHo------

Special Edition 2014 Page 15 HET Historical Society - Moving Forward "If anyone thinks the idea of the Hud- son folks being a family is just talk., please read this story, start to fin- ish. Nobody but family would do all that has been done to and for the Doc Hudson project." I am so proud to get to be a part of the family." Mike Cherry The Diary of Doc Hudson It begins with a do- nation from the Har- ry Bong estate of a Bong Convertible on display at NATUMUS 1951 Hudson Pace- maker sedan. After the Board of Direc- gone and the front end had been wrecked at tors of the Historical Society decided to make a some point. The hood and front fenders were Doc Hudson replica, the Pacemaker was trans- green, but the rest of the Hudson was the origi- formed by the Martinsville High School shop nal Texas tan paint dulled by the sun to a rusty class and others into a strikingly beautiful Doc colored brown. Hudson that draws crowds of children and Most all of the components of the dash were adults everywhere it goes. missing, wires hanging everywhere, which The very beginning of the story is probably in made it really look sad. Most all of the side trim July, 2001 at the Seattle National HET Meet. was missing and the chrome it had was pitted. Larry Kennedy met Harry Bong and admired There was very little interior to speak of, but it his all original 1951 con- did have a front and back seat. vertible. Harry was already a member of the Two years later, a bright idea developed that HET Club and he and Larry talked about the the HET Historical Society should do a truly purpose of the HET Historical Society. charitable project. Since the Hudson brakes Harry Bong died in 2007 and left to the HET and engine are so simple, high school students Historical Society his 1951 Pacemaker convert- could work on the Hudson and bring it back to ible and his 1951 Pacemaker sedan “parts car.” life in the form of a mock Doc Hudson. Using Both were transported to Indiana. students, we could do most of the restoration and put the Doc Hudson replica on display at a The convertible was buffed and cleaned museum. It could be an interactive museum enough to be museum presentable and is on exhibit, a Hudson that children could touch, be display in the Historical Society’s exhibit at the photographed with and sit in. NATMUS Museum in Auburn, IN. In 2009 the idea of building a Doc Hudson The 1951 Pacemaker sedan was a rust free was presented to the HET Historical Society Hudson, but looked rather pathetic. Its grill was Board of Directors and they were cautiously

Page 16 Special Edition 2014 HET Historical Society - Moving Forward optimistic, to be polite about it. After much de- Thereafter, the upholstery shop had an open- bate, the project was approved. In November, ing, so the Pacemaker went to get a completely 2009 the Pacemaker was towed to Martins- new interior. It was purposely given a “taxi cab” ville High School in Martinsville, IN. interior to withstand its future use. The pleats There Brian Van Buskirk is the shop teacher and buttons from the seats were eliminated so and he and the students rebuilt the brakes, re- people could easily slide across the seats. moved and worked on the engine and other Larry had junked a Hornet the year before, so mechanical components. The front fenders and he saved the dash components from the Hor- hood were taken off and many items were net for Doc Hudson. stripped and painted. After two years, Brian de- Bill Koressel of Bloomington, IN had regrained clared that they had done all they could do. the dash finish. The day Larry installed the dash in the Pacemaker was a great turning point—the Pacemaker was no longer so sad. The body was roughed out and in etching pri- mer before the Pacemaker went to Cookie’s Body Shop in Acton, IN. They used more filler and did sanding and priming. The Pacemaker was painted Doc Hudson Blue and it was straight, slick and beautiful!!

Mike - Larry - Brian

So in August, 2011, just before school started, Brian, Larry and Sue Kennedy worked for four days in the auto shop at Martinsville High School and finished the engine, installed a clutch, painted the firewall and jams, and put the engine back in the Pacemaker.

Brian Van Buskirk, Cookie Kight, Larry Kennedy and Benjamin, the shop painter

Then Larry and Sue began hanging the chrome and stainless on the Pacemaker. The con- struction tires and wheels were replaced with

Special Edition 2014 Page 17 HET Historical Society - Moving Forward freshly powder coated red wheels and white and Sue Kennedy. sidewall tires donated by Dennis Flint. The Spring of 2013 graphics were applied by Rush Graphics of found Doc snooz- Whiteland, IN to read “Fabulous Hudson Hor- ing in the wilds of net”. Iowa. HET Presi- Brian Van Buskirk drove Doc Hudson from In- dent Aaron woke dianapolis to the HET Club National Meet in Doc and drove Gettysburg. At the National Meet, without a him to his Army doubt the most photographed Hudson was training location the HET Historical Society’s Doc Hudson. A at Ft. Ashland few Doc Hudson toy cars were given to chil- NE. This is dren who saw Doc Hudson and you would where Ron Falk think that they had been given a piece of gold. and crew took We don’t really know much about Harry Bong, over. Luckily, but we do know that his bequest to the HET Ron and Doc beat the snow to North Platt, Historical Society will bring great joy to many NE. children.

Aaron Cooper & Ron Falk at Ft. Ashland

Tom Henry and the Dikeman’s then guided Doc to Ft. Collins, CO where a couple of weeks of appearances exposed Doc and HET to many new fans. The Colorado activities were arranged by Bill Lentz. Bill Lentz and Gettysburg crew showed it there at many events. From Doc Hudson then moved to Auburn, IN by way there, Bill met of Indianapolis, for the big Auburn Cord Mike Cherry and Duesenburg Festival. Brownie Petersen From there, it went to Iowa. The moves were in Wyoming for Tom Henry & Bill Lentz made mostly by Brian Van Buskirk and Larry the transit to

Page 18 Special Edition 2014 HET Historical Society - Moving Forward Park City, UT. Doc had a wonderful visit in Utah. Brownie Pe-

truck took Doc to Elko, NV. The next morning Carl Weber and Mike rented a tow trailer and Ft. Collins and out of the snow Carl towed Doc to San Mateo. Chapter 3 - Doc looked fine but still needed advanced first aid. Larry and Sue Kennedy, tersen and Mike Cherry did a super job expos- Paul Myers and many others helped. Doc's ra- ing Doc at many different venues. By mid July, it was time for Doc to leave for San Mateo. What an adventure that proved to be. Chapter 1 - Carl & Pricilla Weber and Ted & Sue Steinmetz meet Mike in Utah and off they went. The caravan reached the Nevada desert where a weak spot in the radiator blew. A 20 mile tow to Wells, NV was necessary. The radi- ator patch took two hours to cure. Chapter 2 - About 25 miles west of Wells, the radiator hole appeared again. From there a San Mateo CA tow

The Route West to San Mateo

Special Edition 2014 Page 19 HET Historical Society - Moving Forward diator was removed, surgery was performed Doc enjoyed wintering in San Diego with all of and he was stitched up and ready to greet hun- the other snow birds! Members of the South- dreds of Doc admirers at the International western Borders Chapter of HET picked him Meet. All was well again. up at the end of October from the California Automobile Museum, They made great use of him in Sacramento and would have kept him if we had let them. Buzz Stahl, with help from director Richard Esparza, hauled Doc from Sacramento to San Diego with his truck and trailer. After a thor-

Carly Starr of the California Auto Museum

Following the Meet, Dick Teeter drove Doc to the Cal Auto Museum in Sacramento. Dennis Flint did a marvelous job arranging for Doc's visit. There Doc was reunited with his old friend Luigi, the tire guy from their movie days.

Buzz and Doc

ough checking over and some minor repairs Doc went to the San Diego Automobile Mu- seum in Balboa Park and has been delighting children and visitors there all winter. In February, Doc was featured at the Big 3 Au- to Swap Meet at the San Diego Qualcomm Stadium. Again, it was a big hit. Over the 3 days of the swap meet, many kids, parents, San Diego Automobile Museum and adults stopped to climb in the car, take pic- tures of kids in the car and Doc put a lot of Doc was a very popular attraction at Cal Auto smiles on kid’s faces. We didn’t keep count but Museum; they wanted to keep him until we were all kept busy making sure nobody spring. The problem was that Richard Espra- slammed a kid in the door. It was a great deal za had already arranged for Doc to visit the of fun. San Diego Auto Museum for a couple of win- Also two docents from the San Diego Auto Mu- ter months. seum stopped at the booth to say what a big hit

Page 20 Special Edition 2014 HET Historical Society - Moving Forward Doc had been at their museum. The Then the fun began. Doc was originally car and planned as a museum piece for children to ex- perience first hand. But with its popularity, it re- built has become a traveling exhibit of the en- “” covering the vast gine USA and all points in between. Driving a 60+ was

Jason , Val and Buzz

moved to Vintage Coach in Fontana for the engine installation. Jason Fisher and Val Smith were ready for the task.

The Old year old car back and forth cross-country was not the original idea. The mechanical inspection turned up a num-

On the trip West, there was a mysterious loss of cooling water. Several fixes were tried with no success. Jason and Val found the problem. There was a pinhole leak in the water tube go- ing back to heater. It was all soaking into the canvas splash guard which is why no water was seen dripping anywhere! So that problem The New was also fixed. ber of areas that needed attention. So Buzz After the major rebuilt, Doc went to La Jolla, Stahl, with help, built a new engine for Doc. CA to be a major exhibit at the La Jolla Con- The 262 block went to the machine shop with curs de Elegance and lead the tour. new pistons to have it bored, valves ground From there Doc moved to the Western Re- and cleaned up.

Special Edition 2014 Page 21 HET Historical Society - Moving Forward gion Meet in Henderson, NV (just outside of Las Vegas). Then Matt Roy- er and Mike Cherry enjoyed a leisurely drive Western Region Meet with Doc on to French Lick. ++++++++++ Donations are still being accepted by the Histori- cal Society to help with the transportation tasks and exhibit costs of Doc Hudson. Thanks to all the donors who helped made the HET Historical Society’s Doc Hudson replica a reality. The number of people that have contrib- uted to the success of the Doc Hudson project has grown to the point that the list cannot be contained in a document of this size. Thanks to all! ------oHo------

Page 22 Special Edition 2014 HET Historical Society - Moving Forward What is a HETHS Auction? On Friday, July 25, at 7 PM at the French Lick Springs Resort, the Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Historical Society will conduct another auction that is a highlight of international meets. HETHS conducts a fund raising auction every year in conjunction with the HET Club annual meet. This primary fund raising project has been in existence for many years. The auction has become an very entertaining evening for HET Club members. Recently a vintage fashion show has been added to the auction, thanks to Margrit Shoemaker. Items are donated for the auction by vendors and others at the national meet. All things, automotive and non automotive, will be found at the event. Donations may be made to either Lew Bird or Mike Cherry. The auctioneer, (east = Paul Schuster/west=Charlie Nau) adds humor and fun to the presentation of the items. Viewing and Auction Numbers will be given at no charge beginning at 6 PM. HETHS membership is not necessary to participate in the auction but you can sign up there. The auction is an important event because it is lots of fun and it has become a source of entertainment for Hudson enthusiasts. It is a good place to find unusual items and it is also the biggest fund raiser of the year for the Historical Society.

2014 Fashion at the Auction at French Lick! This year, our Hudson Fashion event will be held on Friday, July 25 at 6 p.m. This event kicks off the Historical Society’s annual auction. Everyone is encouraged to wear vintage clothing. Anything goes, from a 50’s sport coat, a 40’s hat or a complete flapper ensemble! So, don those fashionable, old duds and join in on the fun! All participants will receive a complimentary gift and chances to win raffle items.

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