Dedicated to Preserving the Great Built by Hudson OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE HUDSON CLUB, INC., CHICAGO-MILWAUKEE CHAPTER.

Volume 40, Issue 1 January 2011

Story by: HAVE YOU PAID YOUR DUES ??? John O’Halloran

HEY !!! That’s not a Hudson !!!

Cover Picture: Terry Johannes and his 35 at the 2010 Central Regional Meet. That’s Rick Nell in the passenger Seat.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Smoke on the Hudson, Page: 7 ICAG H O From the Editor, Page: 1 Member Submissions, Page: 7 - 8 C

Rollin’ Down the River, Page: 1 - 3 Hudson Fun Facts, Page: 8 M E I Two Weeks’ Punishment, Page: 4 2011 Central Regional Info, Page: 9 L E W Hudson Terraplane, Page: 5 - 7 For Sale and Chapter Information, Page: 10 A U K Responding for the second time to a call of "man FROM THE EDITOR trapped in in river", emergency workers treated Well, it’s January and things are a little on the slow this as a bit of a headache. Covered by Wichita side for Chicago-Milwaukee chapter. We have a reporter Jerry Abejo and forwarded to us by fairly big break between John Otto’s Tech Session Eagle automotive editor Mike Berry, the story meet and the next meet in April. If you’re anything mentions Wichita resident Moses as admitting to like me, you’re hiding inside where it’s warm and having launched his German-built Amphicar "...at dreaming of things to come this summer – first and least twenty-five time previously" in the silty brown foremost – warmer weather. Arkansas River.

Cheri sent out an email notice recently covering the Listed as one of the two hundred runable survivors; issue of dues. Here is an excerpt from Cheri’s email; of the 3,878 built, Moses' Fjord Green convertible is registered as both boat and automobile. Capable of Cheri: 70 mph on land, the twin screws are capable of propelling the little car through the water at 7 knots. I've just spoken with our Treasurer, Doug Novak and as of today only 51 of you have paid your Novel by today's standards, Moses' Amphicar is by 2011 dues--that is less than half our no means the first car either built as an amphibian or membership!! We plan to include a membership with a propeller, or with a river in mind. In a July roster in the March Hud-Nut News. If you want to 1912 periodical, a single seat, bodiless automobile be included in that roster, from the French firm Charron was shown wading YOU NEED TO GET YOUR $15 TO DOUG NOW!! through a low spot of the Seine River. The magneto, wires and were tightly covered and We don't want to lose any of you! sealed, the intake and exhaust equipped with snorkel Cheri pipes. The builder described it as a car for 'the colonies', but failed to explain that water over the driver's head might pose a problem. In this issue you will find something a little different, something not quite Hudson related. I can just hear it know – NOT HUDSON RELATED !!!!, Well, John O’Halloran submitted this article several months back. I wanted to put it in an issue of the Hud-Nut News were it could be the main article. John really writes some great stories and this one is no exception. John’s article also touches on aviation (my favorite subject) so I took the opportunity to add some pictures to his piece. I hope you enjoy it. That’s all for now, Dave Miller

Rollin' Down the River This 1960 photo of the prototype Amphicar exiting a river in Germany where the car was constructed By: John O’Halloran Searching for an American sales outlet; the Amphicar Company approached the Motors WHILE POLICE, FIRE and rescue crews stood on Product Development division in June that year. the shore, the lights on their emergency Fearing the expensive car would not be a good fit flashing, Scott Moses slowly drove his 1964 with their products, the Willys sales force declined Amphicar up the boat ramp in downtown Wichita, the invitation.

1 THE HUD-NUT NEWS: January 2011 Ten years later, famed front drive race car designer twenty seconds, registering just under a mile minute. Walter Christie covered this problem when he presented a six wheel amphibious tank for U.S. Army Citing the above effort, Chicago automobilist B. testing. Powered by a transversely mounted 665 Harrison Howe proposed to the editors of a March cubic inch four cylinder gasoline engine, the tank 1912 automobile trade journal what he considered could be driven as a six wheel truck for road use, or the 'ideal car for 1913'. "The construction of such car fitted with crawler tracks for off road use. In the should be of extreme lightness and strength. Wire water, Christie's tank utilized twin 26" diameter wheels with an aluminum body are used in the propellers. Tested at the Dyckman Street ferry n the construction as far as possible." Harrison Howe Hudson River, the tank was able to climb a 40 illustrated his remarks with a plan showing a degree slope. torpedo-shaped body, four wheels on half elliptical springs. "...It would be extremely dangerous to take Preceding the Christie tank by six years was another curves at high speed on account of skidding," the interesting project for the U.S. Army, conducted by writer thoughtfully opines, "I have helped to eliminate engineers from the Motor Company in this by placing a vertical fin in the rear to keep it in a . Mounted on the flatbed of a Packard five- ton straight course." Had he added a second vertical fin, truck, a Packard Liberty V12 aircraft engine swinging maybe Howe could have sold the idea to . . a wooden stub propeller was fired up and pushed the truck around an icy, frozen path at the test grounds. A Clair Vance of Logansport, Indiana built another 'Wind Wagon' five years after the Baumhofer-Jeffries In a trick learned from our friends at Rolls-Royce, example, in 1915. Photographed with Vance at the this particular Packard Liberty engine had NO wheel, he exclaimed the car to have an Eighty inch gaskets. All mating surfaces were lapped by hand for wheelbase, 36-inch tread, modeled along the lines of greater "Simplicity of assembly". Had the experiment the then-stylish cycle car. With a motorcycle engine proven a success, wings could have been mounted pushing a diminutive 40" prop at the rear, designer to the truck, an ample supply of provisions secured Vance stated twenty-five miles per hour could be to the flatbed, and the unit flown across the Atlantic attained with " ...very quick getaway." to provide both trucks and spare aircraft engines for our AEF force’s. NOT to be confused with the above efforts, one much earlier 'Wind Wagon' was pioneered by ex- No less successful than the Liberty-powered truck seafaring captain Edward T. Smith (perhaps related and also sharing the flight characteristics of a Dodo to the previously introduced Guy L. Smith?) who was a propellered Essex Four parade car, built by departed his berth on the briny to sail the rolling Omaha resident Guy L. Smith along the lines of an waves of golden grain on the south central plains of Army single engine bomber airplane. NOT intended Arkansas. E.T. Smiths' early wagon, of a kind usually to intentionally leave the ground, Smith's Essex harnessed to four legged power, hoisted sail-on- biplane drew a huge crowd whenever it was 'flown'. mast to draw the frequent Kansas gale. Not in the Smith may have gotten the idea from a propeller-less least bit successful, Captain Smiths' pioneering Apperson model, the 'Roadaplane', available in 1917 attempts are commemorated each year in downtown fob Kokomo at $1750 for the six cylinder model, and Wichita during River Festival. $2,OOO for the eight. As functionally ill-favored as our Captain Smith's Likely a bit faster than the Christie tank, though endeavor was a 1916 offering from the Robbins & slower than a Liberty-engined Packard truck, an Meyers Company of Springfield, Ohio. This Overland powered 'Wind Wagon' driven by Carl establishment presented a spinning radiator Baumhofer and Cleve Jeffries raced in a ornament; the base covered with a glossy black demonstration at the Indianapolis Speedway during enamel finish, the four blades available in nickel or the summer of 1910. A wooden propeller with and polished brass. The $1.50 add-on was touted to spin eight foot 'bite' pushed the light-weight roadster rapidly even at slow speeds, with rotation increasing around a five mile course in just five minutes and quickly upon acceleration. Had our friends at

THE HUD-NUT NEWS: January 2011 2 Robbins & Meyers invested forethought to hitching may recall frequent their windmill to a generator, they might today have articles on the an asterisk in the book of Great American Green subject. Molt Taylor, Inventors. Too bad! of Longview Washington built Occupying the other end of the automobile-propeller probably the most, spectrum was pioneer aviator, stunt pilot, aircraft with a series of post- builder Waldo Dean Waterman. An (early friend of Aerocar - Photo by Dave Miller war 'Aerocars'. Glenn Curtiss while Curtiss was building his Roadable, Roadplane, and Convaircar are three eponymously-named float planes in San Diego, other propellered flying automobiles from the post- Waterman earned his wings while still a teen. war era. Perhaps the most infamous flying Through his friendship with Curtiss, Waterman met automobile was the 'Aircar' from California, based on and befriended Detroit auto maker Roy Chapin and the Ford Pinto (what his lovely bride, Inez, and later approached the WERE they couple with plans for a flying automobile. The thinking??!) This one Chapin’s exhibited great interest, endowing the effort met with an untimely with a couple of Essex Terraplane Six engines. As fate, though in its' they lacked pressure lubrication, the Essex power defense, I don't recall plants were shown to be less than a 'soaring' choice. if the gas tank Paul C. Hoffman, vice-president from exploded. Convaircar - Factory Photo South Bend, Indiana was approached next. Enamored of the idea of a 'Flying Studebaker', My favorite choice for an ambi-phibious ? Hoffman took the scheme to his engineers. Besides That's easy, From our writer friend Ian Fleming, the selling the plan to his own people, Hoffman crime fighting auto-boat-airplane: Chitty Chitty Bang personally subscribed to $5,000 in stock with the Bang. Cood Night! Studebaker Corporation kicking in another 5G’s. Oh those crazy Germans. How did they ever lose the Projecting a potential annual market for one- war?! From a 1949 Acme press release... thousand 'Arrowbiles', Waterman corralled other investors. Three Studebaker-powered Arrowbiles were constructed at the southern California plant, with two-of these flying coast-to-coast during the 1937 model year. After landing at a local airport, the pilot would shed the wings, then drive to a local Studebaker dealership for a presentation. Conditions being what they were nationwide for automobiles, flying or otherwise, the imaginative program was soon dropped. Certain facets of the movie character in 'The Great Waldo Pepper' were almost a stamp of Waterman's fabulous career.

The Bill Stout of Ford Tri-motor and Stout Scarab fame dabbled in the flying automobile genre with his 'Sky Car'. Connecticut inventor Robert E. Fulton, "Oh-oh... Out of gas. But doughty driv-er skipper tired of waiting for taxicabs in the waning gas-ration Moench is prepared for any emergency and pulls out days of WW II designed an 'Airphibian" in 1945 and a boat oar paddle to the nearest nautical gas station. presented it the following year. The prototype had a God forbid, this should happen in the middle of the claimed air speed of 120 miles (not knots) per hour. Atlantic. 10/21/49" Long-time readers of the Popular Science magazine

3 THE HUD-NUT NEWS: January 2011 Two weeks’ punishment: and ruggedness of the car,” wrote the Pittsburgh Hudson-Terraplane’s Ruggedness Run Press. “Performance demonstrations are included in the program along the route. It is estimated that the The 1930s seemed to be the last great age of the car will complete the circuit every two or three days.” publicity stunt for automobiles. Radio had already made inroads, and within a decade or two television Hudson apparently chose the lucky Terraplane would become the next great medium to reach the owners who would lend the use of their cars for the masses, but in the 1930s promoting new cars to a two weeks via a drawing, the same way they chose nationwide audience still took some creativity, the names for the cars participating in the runs, and something that Hudson was full of when it came to offered some sorts of prizes for the winners. A quick the Terraplane. Introduced in 1932, the very first search turns up evidence of five Ruggedness Runs: Terraplane went to Orville Wright, while the second the Colonial Cruiser throughout New ; the went to . captured hill unnamed car that traveled through Pennsylvania, climb and land-speed records, climbed Pike’s Peak, Ohio, New Jersey, and Delaware; the Cascade and in late 1934 went on a nationwide Ruggedness Express, which hit Washington state (and, likely, Run. Oregon as well); the Golden Gate Flyer, Sacramento resident W.W. Luce’s car that covered California; and the Gulf States Flyer, which saw service in Florida and possibly other states in the Deep South.

Or, actually, several Ruggedness Runs. Over on the Hemmings Forums, yellerspirit recently brought to our attention the above photo depicting a Terraplane parked in front of the Vermont state house in October 1934, advertising the fact that it was “making the Hudson-Terraplane Ruggedness Run.” The Ruggedness Runs certainly worked in attracting It had been christened “The Colonial Cruiser” and newspaper coverage as well as in selling newspaper carried a map of a meandering route around New ads right underneath the coverage and in attracting England in its rear window. customers to Hudson-Terraplane showrooms. They very well could have also been instrumental in As we see in a few contemporary newspaper causing Terraplane sales to jump from 56,804 in articles, Hudson planned about 20 such Ruggedness 1934 to 70,323 in 1935. It’s a good bet that at least Runs across the country, each using a 1934 one of the 20 or so Ruggedness Runs cars survive Terraplane already in the hands of a customer, sent today, though we’ve yet to come across any. out for two weeks straight on pre-selected circuits (or “Ruggedness Routes”) of 1,500 to 1,800 miles.

“All sorts of roads are included in the run which has been laid out as a real demonstration of the stamina

THE HUD-NUT NEWS: January 2011 4 returned from an assignment as Hoover's Commerce Hudson Terraplane Secretary) decided to launch a new car that, By: Satch Reed because it was cheaper to manufacture, could be Second Chance Garage sold for less. It was risky to bring out a new model when the market was depressed but he was betting A low-cost, high-performance vehicle, the Hudson on a less expensive car that was smaller and lighter, Terraplane was linked with speed, excitement, and combining style and comfort with power, durability, the fascination of flight. Built between 1932 and and reliability. Chief engineer Stuart Baits designed a 1938, it was offered with this sales slogan: "On the frame requiring less steel, reducing the Essex sea that's aquaplaning, in the air that's aeroplaning, wheelbase from 113 inches to just 106 inches and but on the land, in the traffic, on the hills, hot diggity utilizing a narrower track. The results were an dog, THAT'S TERRAPLANING". incredibly strong chassis welded at about 30 places to keep the structure rigid and a car weighing 400- , founded in 1909 by 500 pounds less than the Essex. Its engine was a 6- Howard Coffin, George W. Dunham, Roy E. Chapin, cylinder that had been enlarged from 160 to 193 and others, was named after its main backer, Detroit cubic inches, raising hp from 58 to 70. Frank Spring department store owner Joseph L. Hudson. One of designed the Terraplane body using a tapered, its primary aims was to produce cars to sell for less streamlined design meant to evoke earthbound flight. than a thousand dollars but it was also an innovator On July 21, 1932, the new Essex-Terraplane was in producing closed models to keep the weather launched with an exceptional public relations sealed out; installing the steering wheel on the left; campaign. Famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart was on and utilizing self-starters that made ignition safer and hand to introduce it and more than 2000 dealers easier. arrived in Detroit to get their bronze-colored demonstrator models, the only way those models became available to them. As those dealers headed home, there was quite a parade of outbound Essex- Terraplanes. As the owner of one of the first cars off the line, flight pioneer Orville Wright joined those early Essex-Terraplane adopters. Newspapers all over the country printed accounts of the start-up of the new-fangled Essex-Terraplane.

An optional 8-cylinder engine was available for the 1936 Terraplane 1933 Essex-Terraplanes, an engine identical to the Hudson except for the Hudson's larger cylinder bore The first Hudson, a 4-cylinder model, claimed instant and greater displacement. The Essex-Terraplane 8- success and led Hudson to 17th sales place by cylinder cars seem to have been favorites with noted 1910. In 1912 it introduced the Hudson Six engine gangsters of the time - Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, and by 1914 claimed to be world leader in 6-cylinder and others. The cars were lightweight, accelerated sales. The first truly affordable fully-enclosed quickly, and handled well - just the thing for a road automobile, the low-priced, steel-bodied 4-cylinder race when the police were in hot pursuit. In Essex was offered in 1919. By 1925, with factories in numerous race events, particularly hillclimbs, in fact, the U.S., Canada, England, and Belgium, Hudson the 8-cylinder Essex-Terraplane set multiple records, utilized the Essex to boost its sales into third place some of which remained unbroken for years. behind Ford and . Hudson's peak came in 1929 as it produced about 30,000 Hudson and In 1934 the car's marque became simply Essex cars in plants worldwide. "Terraplane", dropping the Essex tag; the Terraplane name would remain through the 1937 model year. As sales declined, though, and the These cars were fast (testing 0-60 mph in about 15 sank businesses nationwide, Chapin (having seconds , in high gear 10-30 mph in 18 seconds,

5 THE HUD-NUT NEWS: January 2011 with a top speed of a little over 80 mph), economical bumpers. The main front attraction was a large (25 mpg), lightweight (about 2800 pounds),and chrome waterfall grille that appeared as an inverted cheap (base prices were a little more than $400 teardrop with a slim divider in the center and vee- though later models ran to nearly $900). Because shaped ribs. Bracketing the grille were two they were appreciably lighter than other cars, they perforated panels that made some think of a fencer's had a better power/weight ratio, ran quietly, and mask. The Terraplane also boasted chrome bumpers were popular as family cars. In 1935 and 1936 and a modern, lighted, rocket-shaped hood Terraplanes accounted for roughly 75 percent of ornament of red plastic with chrome accent. Its Hudson's sales. instrument panel with easy-to-read, oval gauges came in a brown walnut finish. The roomy interior The 1936 6- and 8-cylinder models introduced a offered ample space for six passengers, and both number of advanced engineering features. Their front and rear seats had plentiful leg room. engines ranged from 93 to 124 hp. And they had Upholstery came in standard mohairs or worsteds, "true-line steering," which kept the steering returning some utilizing two-tone fabrics not usually seen in to center and let the car hold its direction unaffected cars. Both the driver's seat and the steering wheel by road conditions. Because the was held in were adjustable, features not then standard. The place side-to-side by two arms (rather than springs), luggage and tire compartments were increased in the car could be stopped in a straighter line, as well. size, rivaling space available in much more Terraplanes also featured a smoother "rhythmic expensive models. The automatic draft eliminator ride", due to utilization of oil-cushioned shock was another, early attempt at climate control. absorbers and longer, softer leaf-springs. Despite Weather-tight doors and a wide-cowl ventilator current connotations that might make it seem a little provided passengers with fresh air drawn in by the racier than most other automotive components, the cowl, passed through a filter, and distributed through improved "Electric Hand" was simply an electro- a small, rear floor opening. As one advertisement put mechanical shifter mounted on the right side of the it, "If you want to step up in everything but cost, this steering column used to shift gears at the touch of a 1936 Terraplane is your automobile!" finger, providing silent, easier, safer shifting at any speed. It replaced the floor shift, freeing front seat Discounting the front suicide doors, Terraplanes also space, though drivers still had to use the clutch. appealed to the safety-conscious. With what was called the world's first safety-engineered chassis, they provided radial safety control. Two large, forged steel arms held the front axle in place so steering or braking would not move the axle. They also had duo- automatic . Those were chief engineer's Stuart Baits's idea after he'd been injured in a - testing accident. His "double Safe" system utilized hydraulic brakes but if the hydraulics failed, at the bottom of the brake motion the driver could still apply emergency mechanical brakes to the rear wheels.

The Terraplane caught the popular imagination, with 1936 Terraplane noted blues man Robert Johnson writing and recording his famous "Terraplane Blues" in 1936. In Then there were the elegant styling features. that song the Terraplane becomes a stand-in for sex. Available in sedan, 2-passenger coupe, or When the car won't start and suffers other convertible coupe, Hudson offered the first all-steel mechanical difficulties, the singer suspects his car body. The Terraplane's exterior paint selections girlfriend may have let another man drive it. included Tuscan tan, Pepper tan, Vineyard green, Despite the popularity of the Terraplane, in 1938, Glacier blue, Tepee brown, Hudson blue, Neptune following disappointing sales, Hudson management gray, and Sage green, each hue set off by chromed determined to phase it out, renaming its '38

THE HUD-NUT NEWS: January 2011 6 production unit the Hudson-Terraplane. In that same Trans Shop Powerglide. The dynoed 800 horses (no year Hudson also offered the Hudson 112 whose nitrous) gets to the ground through 33x15x15 equipment was virtually identical to that of the Goodyears on Weld Pro wheels. Terraplane, effectively killing the Terraplane brand. And about that bodywork; Butch and Bill Abate Hudson Terraplane (1936) Specifications: dropped the top by laying the windshield back 48 Top speed: 80 mph (128 km/h) degrees, cutting the B pillar 5 inches, cutting the rear 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h): 23.2 sec pillar 6 inches and laying the unmolested rear Engine type: In-line six window forward for a total drop of 10 inches! The Displacement: 212 ci (3,474 cc) Transmission: 3-speed manual thought of the metalwork involved in this thing gives Max power: 88 bhp (65 kW) @ 3,800 rpm us nightmares! Weight: 2,740 lb (1,245 kg) Economy: 16 mpg (5.66 km/I) The headlights are stock but the single taillight is a custom piece, hidden at the bottom of the rollpan. It’s all covered in Du Smoke On The Hudson Pont Chromabase White base with Red From the February, 2009 issue of Hot Rod Pearl mixed in the clear topcoat. We Alternative body styles still rule when it comes to especially dig the bitchin street presence, and Butch Vanderbecks 38 fender-mounted Hudson is one of the coolest alt-rods that we’ve seen spare. The interior is in a while. Butch bought his boys toy from the no-frills function just the necessary gauges (in original owner, but only after promising that the car addition to the stock Hudson gauges), electronics, would be restored. While you really can’t term this Dedenbear shifter kicker, glass bucket and a window project a resto, it’s infinitely more useful in its current net. guise, that of a 9-second quarter-mile behemoth. The original owner, still alive at 80 years young, may not have envisioned this sort of outcome for his 56- Butch, his brother year-old baby, but there’s no way he can object to Kevin and George the 9.02 at 149 timeslip. Since our photos, Butch has Lucas (no, not lettered the side of the car with Hot Rod Hudson and that George is taking aim at a similarly lettered Willys. Lucas) started the chassis work with an Alston kit but stretched, widened, lowered and narrowed it to fit the MEMBER SUBMISSIONS Hudson. Mustang II parts with a Wilwood rack-and- pinion unit and disc brakes provide the suspension Mr. V has noticed a couple of articles relating to up front, and a 4.86:1-stuffed 9-inch on coil-overs ZINC. First one is from Hemmings Classic Car holds up the rear. (November 2010). The author says his rebuilt 6 cyl. Chevy ran good until ZINC was removed from oil. The powerplant responsible for the 9-second e.t.’s is He found that the camshaft lobes had flattened. He a Ceralli Competition-built poked and stroked big- suggests using a ZINC additive. The other article block Chevy displacing 509 cubes and running such appeared in the October issue of Popular Mechanics hardware as JE pistons, a Lunati valvetrain, ported (See Page 2, Dec. 2010 Hud-Nut News). It states Dart heads, Childs & Albert rods, a Holley Dominator ZINC is needed to prevent iron to iron contact. He carb, an MSD ignition and Dart headers. Butch runs (the author) is against the use of diesel oil even with the car primarily at Goodguys events, the rules for ZDDP, as other additives included in the diesel oil which prohibit Lencos, so the Hudson uses a Steve’s are not appropriate to gas engines. A product sold at

7 THE HUD-NUT NEWS: January 2011 GM dealers called “EOS”, and independent product response to ' Hydra-Matic automatic called “ZDDP” is OK. transmission, Hudson introduced its "Drive-Master" system. Drive-Master was a more sophisticated So again, what have you got to lose? For as much combination of the concepts used in the Electric as we use them the expense is minimal, let’s keep Hand and the automatic clutch. At the touch of a those Hudson’s at top condition. button, Drive-Master offered the driver a choice of three modes of operation: (1) Ordinary, manual On a different note, a follow-up to the popular “Cars” shifting and clutching; (2) Manual shifting with movie is due in theaters June 24th. automatic clutching, and (3) Automatic shifting with automatic clutching. All this was accomplished by a Hudsonly, large and very complicated mechanism located John Vanleir under the hood. They worked quite well, and in fully automatic mode served as a very good semi- CARS Movie Update: The character of Doc. Hudson . When coupled with an has been left out of the upcoming movie due to the automatic overdrive, Drive-Master became known as death of . (From: Disney media Super-Matic. Drive-Master was offered by Hudson release) through the 1950 model year. In 1951, when General Motors made its Hydra-Matic available to all other carmakers, Hudson replaced Drive-Master and HUDSON FUN FACTS Super-Matic with Hydra-Matic.

As ordered by the Federal government, Hudson 1936 - 1942: ceased auto production from 1942 until 1945 in order In 1936, Hudson revamped its cars, introducing a to manufacture materiel during World War II, new "radial safety control" / "rhythmic ride" including aircraft parts naval engines, and anti- suspension which suspended the live front axle from aircraft guns. The Hudson "Invader" engine powered two steel bars, as well as from leaf springs. Doing many of the landing craft used on the D-Day invasion this allowed the use of longer, softer leaf springs of Normandy, June 6, 1944. ("rhythmic ride"), and prevented bumps and braking from moving the car off course. The 1936 Hudsons First Woman American Automotive Designer: were also considerably larger inside than competitive Hudson Motor Company, wanting a female cars — Hudson claimed a 145-cubic-foot (4.1 m3) perspective on automotive design, hired Betty interior, comparing it to 121 cubic feet (3.4 m3) in the Thatcher Oros in 1939. A graduate of the Cleveland "largest of other popular cars." (According to United School of Arts, now Cleveland Institute of Art, and States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) majored in Industrial Design, Oros became measurements, the cavernous LHS only America's first female automotive designer. Oros reached 126 ft3.) With the optional bulging trunk lid, contributions to the 1941 Hudson included exterior the Hudsons could store 21 cubic feet (0.59 m3) of trim with side lighting, interior instrument panel, luggage (the LHS, 19 ft3), though that might have interiors and interior trim fabrics. She designed for been an optimistic measurement. The 1936 engines Hudson Motor Co. from 1939 into 1941. were powerful for the time, from 93 hp (69 kW) to 124 hp (92 kW). The 1939 models joined other During World War II (1941) Hudson had also an American cars in the use of a column-mounted aircraft division which produced ailerons for one gearshift lever. This freed front-seat passenger large eastern airplane builder. The plant was capable space and remained the industry standard through of large scale production of wings and ailerons as the 1960s, when "bucket seats" came into vogue. well as other airplane parts. The company also For 1940 Hudson introduced independent front produced 33,201 Oerlikon 20 mm cannon for the US suspension and true center-point steering on all its Navy plus millions of other weaponry and vehicle models, a major advance in performance among parts. cars in this price range. In 1942, perhaps in

THE HUD-NUT NEWS: January 2011 8 2011 Central Regional Meet

Thursday, June 9th, 10th and 11th Hostetler Hudson Museum, Shipshewana, IN.

Host Hotel: Amish Country Inn, immediately adjacent to the Hostetler Hudson Museum. Room rate: $89.99 plus tax, includes hot breakfast. Phone (260) 768-7688 or (877) 752-7482 reference “Hudson” for the special room rate. Rooms available include: Double Queens, King with 2 sets of bunk beds or King with 1 set of bunk beds. All rooms are nonsmoking— ask for a patio room if you are a smoker.

Water Park: Splash Universe is located in the Host Hotel—bring your young children and grandchildren. Water park passes purchased by Hudson hotel guest at front desk for $14.95 plus $3 user fee plus tax will be good for day of purchase and following day.

Shipshewana Flea Market: On Tuesday & Wednesday, June 7th & 8th. Host Hotel has extended the Hudson rate to include Tuesday and Wednesday evening if you would like to attend the famous Shipshewana Flea Market.

Theme: Take a Sentimental Journey in the 40’s—Celebrating Hudsons built 1940-1947. Bring your 40’s Hudsons.

Motor homes: Across the street ¼ mile from the Museum and hotel is Shipshewana South Campground, 260-768-4669. Close enough to the action that you can walk. Sorry, no overnight motor homes on the hotel or museum grounds.

Amish Country: There is no liquor store in Shipshewana, so BYOB. By town ordinance, no alcoholic drinks on the Museum property owned by the town of Shipshewana. Alcohol is permitted at the Host Hotel.

Banquet: The banquet will be on Saturday evening, June 11th at the Museum with a cash bar.

Vendors: Eldon and Esta Hostetler own a large grassy field adjacent to the museum for vendors and Hudson parking.

Hosts: The Hostetler Hudson Museum and the Southern Indiana Chapter of the Hudson- Essex-Terraplane Club. John Pontius, President. Larry Kennedy, Vice President

Questions: Call Larry or Sue Kennedy (317) 862-2020 or [email protected]

9 THE HUD-NUT NEWS: January 2011 CHAPTER INFORMATION FOR SALE Officers Thirty Seven (37) Years of the HUD-NUT NEWS. President: Cheri Holz 13270 McKanna Road All issues are encapsulated by plastic sleeves and notebook folders. Minooka IL. 60447 815-475-7158 A REALLY NICE SET [email protected] Perhaps they could be purchased and donated to the historical society. VP/Meeting Director: Hank Richter 1016 Edwards Dr. Batavia, IL. 60510 Price for all plus a few earlier Chicago-Milwaukee News 630-336-5358 [email protected] $300.00 OBO Treasurer: Doug Novak 324 Illinois Street Glen Ellyn, IL. 60137 Contact: 630-545-1611 John Vanlier [email protected] 16735 Charleston Secretary: Polly Mitchell Lockport, IL. 60441 10S211 Hampshire Ln. E. 815-838-1156 Burr Ridge IL. 60527 630-655-1493 [email protected]

TechnicalAdvisor: Gus Souza OS 621 Prince Crossing West Chicago, IL. 60185 630-231-7764

Publications

Editor and Web Site: Dave Miller 2715 6th Street Peru, IL. 61354 815-224-1072 [email protected]

Co-Editor: John O’Halloran [email protected] THE END !

Web Site: Aaron Del Monaco [email protected] News Letter Submissions News letter submissions must be made NO LATER than the 10th of each month. Submissions received Membership after the 10th will be included in the next news letter. All submissions should be sent to Dave Miller. Please use the following guidelines for submissions. The Chicago-Milwaukee Chapter is a chapter of the Hudson-Essex-Terraplane News Letter Articles; ALL articles should be submitted via e-mail whenever possible. In order to simplify Club, nc., a non-profit organization the submission process, articles should be submitted in e-mail form. Typed or computer generated articles dedicated to preserving and enjoying the will also be accepted via mail. Hand written submissions will be accepted but MUST be in printed form. great cars built by Hudson. The Chicago- Milwaukee Chapter dues are $15 annually, Pictures and Scans; ALL pictures and scans should be in medium or high resolution and submitted via payable in January to the club Treasurer. e-mail whenever possible. Pictures and scans can also be submitted via mail. National HET membership is also required of the Chicago-Milwaukee chapter Returns Process; All mailed submissions will be returned to the owner unless otherwise indicated. Mailed members. submissions MUST INCLUDE A SELF-ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE. All submissions not returned will be sent to the club library. National membership information is available at: http://www.hudsonclub.org. Do not hesitate to call if you have any questions about the submissions process.

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OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE HUDSON ESSEX TERRAPLANE CLUB, INC. - CHICAGO-MILWAUKEE CHAPTER Volume 40, Issue 1 January 2011