F L Y I N G H u b c a p s A Publication of the Central Florida Chapter The Drivers Club, Inc.

MAY 2015

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

WOW! TAX DAY IS BEHIND US. TIME TO ENJOY SPRING!

May is a great time of the year, especially for those of us who live here in Florida. Most of us were smart enough to move here from the cold country, while a few of us were lucky enough to be born here. I frequently receive Studebaker newsletters from Chapters in places like Syracuse, New York and Eau Claire, Wisconsin. I love getting their newsletters and frequently I get something that I think you folks will enjoy.

For instance, the April Badger Bullet-N featured their Joke of the Month that I’m sure they won’t mind my sharing it with you. It goes like this---Fifty-one years ago, Herman James, a North Carolina mountain man, was drafted by the Army. On his first day in basic training, the Army issued him a comb. That afternoon the Army barber sheared off all his hair. On his second day, the Army issued Herman a toothbrush. That after- noon the Army dentist yanked seven of his teeth. On the third day, the Army issued him a jock strap. The Army has been looking for Herman for 51 years.

After you finish laughing at that one, get on out there and work on your Studebaker, or find one of our fellow members who still has a Studebaker, or more, like several of our members who own multiple . They have some great stories to tell about how they initially got interested in Studebakers. Former dealership owner Dave Meachum has some wonderful memories of Studebaker’s glory days that he can be talked into sharing.

When it comes down to it, we have a fantastic bunch of members in the Central Florida Chapter of the SDC. Come on out to the May meeting, which will be a picnic held at the War Veterans Memorial Park in St. Petersburg, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., May 9th. More details can be found inside, or on the Chapter’s web-site, which is maintained by a great young member, Phil Brown.

Let’s make this one of the best attended meetings we will have this year! See you there!

Wilber G. Van Scoik

Check us out on the web at cfcsdc.com

MAY 2015

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UPCOMING EVENTS IN 2015

 SDC CFC Spring Picnic — May 9 — War Veterans Memorial Park, St. Petersburg, FL  51st SDC International Meet — August 16-22 — St. Louis, MO  International Drive Your Studebaker Day — September 12  Cruising The Coast — October 4-11 — Bay St. Louis, Biloxi, D’Iberville, Gulfport, & Ocean Springs, Mississippi  Florida State Meet — October 9-11 — Gainesville, FL

MAY 2015 MINUTES OF SDC CENTRAL FLORIDA STUDEBAKER NATIONAL FOUNDATION CHAPTER MEETING ON SATURDAY, SCHOLARSHIPS

March 14, 2015 Scholarships from the Studebaker National

Foundation are available for students President Larry Good conducted the meeting pursuing a career in the automotive  A general discussion of items was held and industry. The scholarships are offered to continued discussion about online presence on the members or the children/grandchildren of members of the Studebaker Drivers Club, the Antique website and Facebook to attract future members. Studebaker Club and the Avanti Owners Association  The May 9th meeting will be a picnic (depending on International.

assistance) Amounts of the scholarships vary from $250.00 up to $1000.00 and previous applicants and recipients may  The July 11th meeting will be at Quaker Steak & Lube reapply. Criteria for applicants and applications are at the in Pinellas Park foundation website studebakernationalfoundation.com or  Keith Rolleston will not be at the May and July contact Brian Millette at [email protected] or 602-300-5313 meetings

 Wilbur will be retiring from our newsletter editor and a OUR NEXT MEETING replacement is necessary Spring Picnic, Saturday, May 9 from 9:30AM - 3:30PM THE DES MOINES REPORTER War Veterans Memorial Park April 1, 2014 9600 Bay Pines Boulevard IOWA TO RAISE SPEED LIMITS STATEWIDE St. Petersburg, FL 33708

After hearing complaints from many Studebaker owners that the current speed limit of 70 mph on Interstate Highways does not allow them to shift their Avanti’s into fourth gear, the state legislature passed into law TB 87492 allowing the speed limit to be boosted to 140 miles per hour on Interstate Highways only. There was a lot of discussion both pro and con on this until an Avanti owner PSALM 119 took the Lieutenant Governor for a ride in her R-3 Avanti. After her ride, the Lieutenant Governor said she had never seen such a beautiful car and had never ridden so 33 fast in her life. Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, And I shall observe it to the end.

Studebaker started building wagons in the 1800s and 34 Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law produced some of the most amazing automobiles ever And keep it with all my heart. seen until the mid 1960s. The Studebaker Drivers Club is very active in promoting their vehicles and its members 35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, were happy to hear the news. For I delight in it.

36 Incline my heart to Your testimonies And not to dishonest gain.

37 Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, And revive me in Your ways.

38 Establish Your word to Your servant, As that which produces reverence for You.

39 Turn away my reproach which I dread, For Your ordinances are good.

40 Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me through Your righteousness.

*RECIPE FOR THE MONTH* FUNNY

BLT Salad After years of scrimping and saving, a husband told his wife the good news: “Honey, we’ve finally got enough money to buy what we started saving for in 1979.”

“You mean a brand-new Cadillac?” she asked eagerly.

“No,” said the husband, “A 1979 Cadillac.”

WHAT IF……..

allrecipes.com Nobody knew your name

Ingredients GIORDANI PEDAL CAR

1 pound bacon Description: Exceptional all original 1951 Studebaker 3/4 cup mayonnaise pedal car by Giordani Toy Company of Italy. Pulled out of 1/4 cup milk the original box several years ago. Electric lights, horn and 1 teaspoon garlic powder amazing detail. Stunning! Size 44’x19”x19” 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper Salt to taste 1 head romaine lettuce - rinsed, dried and shredded SOLD FOR $7,475.00 2 large tomatoes, chopped 2 cups seasoned croutons

Directions

1. Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat, turning frequently, until evenly browned. Drain, crumble and set aside. 2. In a blender or food processor, combine mayonnaise, milk, garlic powder and black pepper. Blend until smooth. Season the dressing with salt. 3. Combine lettuce, tomatoes, bacon and croutons in a large salad bowl. Toss with dressing, and serve immediately. SDC CFC ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL

The membership year for the Central Florida FAMOUS QUOTES Chapter of SDC is from January 1 to “When I went to school, they asked me December 31. The annual dues are $10.00. what I wanted to be when I grew up. I For renewal please send a check, payable to wrote down “Happy.” They told me I SDC CFC, to: didn’t understand the assignment and I Central Florida Chapter, SDC told them they c\o Shannon D. Bruffett didn’t understand life.”—John Lennon 905 West Adalee Street

“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or Tampa, FL 33603 rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”—Abraham Lincoln. SDC MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

If someone you know is thinking of buying a Studebaker or interested in joining the DO YOU REMEMBER? Studebaker Drivers Club, please go to  Double Bubble Gum www.studebakerdriversclub.com and click  Coke bottle-shaped wax with colored sugar water on “About/Join SDC”. Download member-  Butch wax ship application, print, fill out, and mail to: The Studebaker Drivers Club, Inc., P.O. Box 1715, Maple  S & H Green Stamps Grove, MN 55311-7615. You don't have to own a Studebaker in order to join the Studebaker Drivers Club, you just have to have an interest in them. For our local

Chapter membership, see next page.

STUDEBAKER DRIVERS CLUB CENTRAL FLORIDA CHAPTER

THE CENTRAL FLORIDA CHAPTER WAS FOUNDED IN 1972. THE PURPOSE OF THE CHAPTER IS TO PROMOTE OUR INTEREST IN STUDEBAKERS AND AVANTI AUTO- MOBILES, TO HELP MEMBERS PRESERVE AND PROMOTE INTEREST IN THE STUDEBAKER LEGACY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO BOND FRIENDSHIPS AND HAVE FUN IN THE PROCESS.

If you have any questions, e-mail [email protected] or call Shannon Bruffett at 813-546-2900

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

NAME______SPOUSE______

ADDRESS______

CITY______STATE______ZIP______

HOME PHONE_____-______-______CELL PHONE______-______-______

E-MAIL ADDRESS______

LIST ALL STUDEBAKERS AND RELATED MAKES

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Ownership of a Studebaker is not required.

NEW______RENEWAL______

Annual Membership Fee…………..$10.00

Please enter your National SDC Membership Number ______

Send completed application and check payable to SDC CFC to:

Central Florida Chapter Membership Director Shannon Bruffett 905 West Adalee Street Tampa, FL 33603

INDEPENDENT STATION WAGONS

Don Narus’ latest book entitled “Independent Station Wagons” is an illustrated survey of five station wagon brands. Studebaker enthusiasts will enjoy the chapter on their favorite marquee. It is a treat comparing the South Bend long

-roofs with those from , Hudson, Nash and Willys.

Almost 200 photos and 30 period advertisements provide a visual tour roughly between 1940 and 1954. Detail-rich black and white images generously high- light front and back ends, dashboards, seats, and unique details.

Each chapter begins with a brief history of a marquee's wagon. Don enhances the picture and caption format with his engaging writing style that makes you feel as though you are right along with him. What would not be so obvious at first glance is vividly noted because of his discerning eyes. Chapters end with an overview of models, wheelbases, engines, and prices.

Order a book for yourself at www.newalbanybooks.com for $22.95 plus $3.99 shipping. - Michael Petti

THE TOY STUDEBAKERS COLLECTORS CLUB Membership Application

Annual Dues $10.00 US / $15 Foreign (payable each January) which includes four quarterly newsletters

Mail application and check to:

President/Treasurer: Gary Sanders, 216 N. 36th St., Nixa, MO 65714

Questions can be directed to Gary Sanders at phone (417) 582-0608 or email [email protected]

Editor: Joe Parsons, 8948 Winged Thistle Ct., Raleigh, NC 27617 email [email protected]

Telephone (919) 293-0066 Cell (330) 502-5930

Name ______

Address ______

City ______State ______Zip ______

Telephone # ______E-mail Address ______

STUDEBAKERS AND GRANDKIDS: by Jeff Horvath

Below are several pictures of Studebakers. 1962 Champ Pick Up and a 1955 President Speedster. The Champ PU was given to my grandson, Ben Clyatt, two years ago for his 15th birthday.

Ben lives in the Orlando area and has taken an interest in Studebakers, along with showing his truck at meets with his grandpa, and yes, that is none other than myself.

Ben enjoys car shows with me and being a part of Studebakers for quite some time. This photo was taken with his cousin Hannah Huber at a car

This next picture was last summer at the Gamble Mansion.

What a thrill for Ben to walk away with the top honors for this show.

In this picture, Ben is now 16 and loves showing his truck which has a 289 V 8 and three speed overdrive.

Now I must get busy, as Derek will be 15 in just two years and I have a special M5 I need to finish building.

Well, this brings us to March 6, 2015 and Hannah's 15th birthday today. Hannah now lives in Keller, Texas outside of Dallas and that's a long way for her Pop's, but we make as many trips as possible each year to see her and her 13 year old brother Derek, along with their Mommy and Daddy.

Well again as I said, it is her 15th Birthday today and yes, Brenda and I did a very special gift to Hannah by presenting her with her favorite Studebaker in our collection. The 55 Speedster This has always been Hannah's favorite car. We had to gift this by email and facebook. The sad part is that we could not be there for the hugs and kisses but her response was overwhelming.

Oh, I left out my oldest granddaughter, well not really, you can never leave out a granddaughter.

Lauren Horvath, our oldest grandchild who is now 22 and her Studebaker is a 1932 Dictator St Regis Brougham.

This is Lauren's car which she loves to show off to her friends.

Hannah, Lauren, Derek and Ben Grandkids How special they are.

STUDEBAKER: STILL STANDS OUT AFTER 60 YEARS How educator Greg Lange decided to be a caretaker JAY LENO'S VISIT 4/16/15 TO THE AVANTI for a 1955 GUEST HOUSE AND MUSEUM By A.J. Baime SDCer DONALD LINDNER bought the property next to the Studebaker Museum in South Bend and has remodeled it into the Avanti Guest House and Museum. Here he is showing it to a well known auto enthusiast. It is always great to hear good

Greg Lange, 53, an educator from Edmonds, Wash., on his 1955 Studebaker President, as told to A.J. Baime.

I’ve always rooted for underdogs. I’m a teacher of high- risk high-school students, and the job can be stressful. When I need to decompress, I go for a drive in The Prez.

I bought my Studebaker in August, 2014, for $6,000. Studebakers are known as orphans in the car world. Orphans are cars that were made by companies that no longer exist. When my son and I went and looked at the President, we said, “We’re taking this one home.”

Studebaker wasn’t a big corporation. It was a smaller company out of South Bend, Ind., and had to be highly imaginative to compete with Ford and General Motors. This resulted in unique designs and powerful engines. The one in my President is called a Passmaster (a 259 cubic inch V8); the meaning is obvious. Still, the company made its last vehicle in 1966.

I knew the Studebaker would present a different kind of ownership. Parts are hard to find; you have to join the community of owners. Where I live, there are a lot of retired Boeing workers, people who can make their own parts. Because I’m a new owner, I’ve been to one club event so far; I was the youngest person by maybe 15 years.

88-YEAR-OLD WANTS TO SHARE CLASSIC CARS WITH NEXT GENERATION Vancouver entrepreneur is restoring his classic car collection for future generations to enjoy By Alyn Edwards

Barney Vinegar has an altruistic vision of the cars he is restoring. He has a warehouse crammed full of 60 classic cars and trucks. He is concentrating on restoring rows of classic Studebakers with this in mind: “They don’t make these anymore and I would like to see these Studebaker cars and trucks preserved for the next generation.”

But why would he have two identical Maui Blue 1952 convertibles? “I thought I would have twins,” he grins while looking at the nearly completed frame off restoration of one of the convertibles.

The back story is he bought the first blue convertible and then saw a similar car sell at a Toronto auction for $73,000. He knew of another convertible being offered locally for less than half the auction price. “The owner didn’t know one of these had sold for $73,000 so I said I’d take it.”

Then he tore it all apart and spent a king’s ransom restoring it from the ground up.

In a similar vein, he paid $43,000 for an ultra-rare 1958 Packard Hawk and had it shipped up from Texas. Then he redid everything including the correct supercharged V8 engine and put it back together again.

There were only 588 of this model manufactured in the last year of Packard production and his is one of only seven built with single headlights instead of quads. ” It’s the last year for Packard, there isn’t another one of these cars in Canada and it’s now a thing of beauty,” he says with pride.

The fabled bullet-nosed Studebaker cars were only manufactured for the first two years of the 1950’s. Barney Vinegar has six examples including coupes and convertibles. “Whenever I would see them for sale, I would buy them sight unseen,” he says. “Half of these cars came out of junkyards. They only made these for two years.”

There are even more bullet nosed Studebakers among a group of parts cars behind his warehouse located along- side a major highway running into City of Richmond south of Vancouver

His collection includes a beautifully-restored first-year 1963 along with a yellow Studebaker pickup truck.

His ‘museum’ features three Model A Fords including a roadster, a red 1957 Thunderbird parked alongside a two- tone blue 1926 Studebaker roadster and a Canadian-built 1938 McLaughlin Buick sedan. He also has a 1938 Chrysler Royal sedan.

The hood is up on a lovely dark blue 1951 Mercury sport sedan with first year available automatic transmission. Barney is charging the battery. “I bought it and backed it in here maybe fifteen or twenty years ago,” he says. “A lot of these cars I never started working on.”

He has his own parts department with many rare Studebaker pieces purchased online from all over North America. He references books and online sources to organize his restorations.

He is working on a first-year 1956 . He also has a 1957 model with the supercharged engine. “I usually have five cars apart and I go from car to car doing work so I’m not waiting for parts,” he says.

A dark blue 1947 Studebaker Starlight coupe rests under a car cover. The restoration is nearly finished but it hasn’t been touched in quite a while. “I paid eight or nine thousand for it. My son says: You’re crazy. But I go to a car show and some guy wants $35,000 for the same car,” Barney rationalizes. (continued on page 2)

88-YEAR-OLD WANTS TO SHARE CLASSIC CARS WITH NEXT GENERATION (continued) Vancouver entrepreneur is restoring his classic car collection for future generations to enjoy

By Alyn Edwards

Barney was raised in a Jewish immigrant family in Andover, New Brunswick. He always loved cars. At the age of 13, he bought a Model T Ford from the farmer next door. He took it apart, fixed it and learned to drive it. “You could buy a car for five dollars in those days and my next car was a 1934 Chevrolet two door,” he recalls.

Always an entrepreneur, he got into the oil business spreading waste oil from a refinery in Fort St. John on northern dirt roads to keep the dust down. That included a one thousand mile stretch of the Alaska Highway.

That business became Vinoco Oil supplying car dealerships, repair shops and oil change companies through deal- ers in both B.C. and Alberta. Barney eventually sold out to a larger oil company.

On a trip to Toronto, his brothers showed him a new idea for a parts washer: basically a kitchen sink on a drum with an electric pump and hose to clean parts with recirculating solvent.

He got the sinks from the company pressing them out in Detroit and began assembling two sizes of parts washers in Vancouver. He soon had 500 of them rented out to service garages throughout the Pacific Northwest at $20 and $30 a month. His operation was bought out by Laidlaw International and Barney retired at 65.

He had purchased five old cars to take to car shows to promote his oil business including a 1923 Buick touring car, 1924 Chevrolet and 1929 Pontiac – antique cars he still owns.

Once fully retired, Barney got the car auction bug and started stocking his warehouse with antiques and classics that piqued his interest. Many of them are Studebaker products.

His location is more like a clubhouse where fellow seniors come regularly to work on the cars and others occasion- ally drop by to see them. “There are lots of guys who are retired who like old cars. They come in and work on the cars and I buy them lunch. We like to go for sushi.”

Barney is the only one who drives his cars along with his two sons who live within a few blocks of his south Vancou- ver home. His car of choice is most often his pristine silver 1966 Chevrolet Impala Super Sport convertible.

Always the entrepreneur, Barney became perplexed by the spark plug wires loosely hanging over the valve covers dangerously close to the hot exhaust manifolds on the 396 cubic inch engine powering his 1968 Chevelle Super Sport.

He knew his 1926 Studebaker roadster had spark plug wires safely and neatly distributed through a steel tube loom. So he bought lighting conduit from the local lumber yard, drilled holes where the spark wires should come out, used his milling machine to make little slots and welded tabs to hook the looms on the side of the engine. He has now manufactured hundreds of wiring looms using stainless steel which are boxed in their own custom packaging.

Barney is in his warehouse shop every weekday during business hours. “I come in the morning and talk to all the old people who stop by and I invite them to see my cars,” says Barney who will be 89 in May.

But his focus is on interesting the younger generation in historic automobiles. “They don’t make cars like this any- more. Someone has to show them what they are all about and that’s what I like to do,” he says.

CLASSIFIED

Parts For Sale All 52 parts except for a 47 hood emblem that is in very good condition...2 head light doors; 2 parking light lens; 1 hood ornament; under hood air deflector with hood latch; 1 radiator very good; gauge panel with glass and frame; 6 grille teeth, very good; rear bumper, not that bad; fuel tank filler and filler neck with hoses, no rust; 2 tail light assemblies with new sockets; 1extra tail light door; 1 trunk handle with license plate light lens, not that bad; upper and lower pans for under trunk where bumper back bars go through; 1 left side rear correct stainless steel stone guard, very, very good; and the 1947 hood emblem very, very good. My Stude is going to be a pro touring car and these parts I can sell. Would like to sell the whole lot at one time, have not got the room or time to pack and ship....I know by today's prices there is well over a $1000 worth, but can be bought at $750 or best offer. If interested, please contact James Dowland at [email protected] or 772-708-0252 or 772-871-1173

Parts Needed Parts Needed Wants to find a 1963 G.T. (Grand Turismo) Since our last meeting I’ve purchased (2) needs the 289 motor and rear end (transmission) 57 Silver Hawks that I am trying to combine call Ron Carter at 813-671-2810. into one usable vehicle. I’m hoping some of you will have parts available. The only things I have to have are both door window glass

For Sale and front fenders (fiberglass would be very Trans: ‘64 3spd BW overdrive trans from acceptable). Please let me know if you have Champ truck. Complete $300. extra things that would fit—yours may be To purchase or for more information, in better condition than what I have. contact Sam Kroll at For more information contact 813-754-8187 or 813-541-0810 Phillip Brown [email protected] [email protected]

For Sale 1966 Parts Front bumper with brackets, e-brake pedal, (nos) left front fender, 2-original front calipers, (nos) door hinges and mirror inside of glove box. Call 352-426-4701 for more details.

Place Your Ad Here

For Sale 3 speed manual trans. With overdrive from a 1958 Packard Hawk with cables $300. N.O.S. oval Lark tail light 1961 Lark $20. Contact Skip Bonnell at [email protected] or call 813-493-1380.

To Submit Your Ad

Contact Wilber at [email protected] or call 727.580.1481

CLASSIFIED

For Sale My husband recently passed away, leaving his 1953 . It is in near-perfect condition. The engine was rebuilt earlier this year by Engine Labs of Tampa. My husband bought 4 new tires and did a lot of work on the car. For more information, contact Susan Boyd at [email protected]

To Submit Your Ad

Contact Wilber at [email protected] or call 727.580.1481