Potomac Chapter The Commander Studebaker Drivers Club Volume 49 Issue 10 October 2017 International Drive Your Studebaker Day POTOMAC CHAPTER – 2017 International Drive Your Studebaker Day On Saturday, September 9, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. the following Chapter members met at the McDonalds on Edwin Miller Blvd., in Martinsburg, Berkeley County, West Virginia: Darrell and Ruth Carr, Paul and Karen Johnson, Terry and Shirley McDan- iel, Larry and Pat Merhaut, Bill and Maxine Morgan and their son-in-law, and Murray and Lynn Welsh, to depart on our International Drive Your Studebaker Day event. Traveling approximately 40 miles through Back Creek Valley in Berkeley County, West Virginia, we were fortunate to have enjoyed beautiful weather and minimal traffic, allowing us to have fun driving our Studebakers and viewing the scenery. The seven Studebakers driven by their proud owners were: 1955 Champion, 1963 Avanti, 1963 Lark Regal, 1962 Lark Convertible, 1947 Champion Convertible, and 1950 Champion. Club members, Larry and Darlene Pugh joined us midway through the tour in their 1962 Lark Cruiser. President: Vice President Treasurer Secretary Activities Director Steve White Chris Kidwell Mike Farris Murray Welsh Terry & Shirley McDaniel 17801 Farley Farm Road 3303 Sallisbury Avenue 4313 Landgreen Street 24121 Ridge Road 580 Welltown School Road Rockville, MD 20855-1661 Sparrows Point, MD 21219 Rockville, MD 20853 Germantown, MD 20876 Martinsburg, WV 25403 301-977-2627 443-224-8379 301-460-4341 301-253-3723 304-263-3915 (hm) [email protected] [email protected] david.farris @verizon.net [email protected] 304-671-6704 (cell) [email protected] Membership Historian Web Master Editor Nadine & Mike Farris Ed Lemanski Bob Johnstone Lynda Welsh 4313 Landgreen Street 7875 Red Jacket Way 12161 Holly Knoll Circle 24121 Ridge Road Rockville, MD 20853 Jessup, MD 20794 Great Falls, VA 22066 Germantown, MD 20876 301-460-4341 301-776-9893 703-450-0754 301-253-3723 ndfarris [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Steering Column Steve White Things are perking in the Potomac Chapter Studebaker Drivers Club. I big thank you goes to Terry and Shirley McDaniel for coordinating a terrific tour on Drive Your Studebaker Day. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to join the group but everyone said they had a great time because of the scenery, the res- taurant, the cool Studebakers, and, of course, the camaraderie. I was in Hagerstown at the Wings and Wheels Expo that I had committed to earlier. The GT Hawk allowed many people to reminisce about how wonderful it was to see Studebakers. Some younger folks learned about how cool Hawks still are. We had a wonderful Fall Picnic in the Catoctin Mountains thanks to Mike Farris finding a great spot for a very reasonable charge. You’d think he was the treasurer or something. Oh wait – he is. We enjoyed some great weather, lunched on a wide variety of excellent food, shared new and old sto- ries, and conducted a full business meeting. Please see Murray Welsh’s minutes for details of the meeting. We were also able to pick up our new Potomac Chapter t-shirts. They are really cool. We approved the new flyer for the Chapter at the picnic meeting. The flyer describes some of the bene- fits of being a member of our Chapter. A draft is found on page 10 of the September 17 “the Com- mander.” I’ll work to make it eye catching. How many of you have checked in on our Facebook Page? If not, please do so. Just go to Potomac Chapter Studebaker Drivers Club and one of us already a member can let you join the fun. We dis- cussed adding a biographical sketch book to our Facebook Page with photos of us with our cars. I hope you can join the Chapter Fall Tour. Paul Johnson described a really amazing trip with SDC Vice President Don Jones. Please let Terry McDaniel know as soon as possible if you will join the group on November 4. The last thing I’ll mention is a wonderful conversation with Gary Wyler of Maryland. He recently acquired a ’31 Studebaker Dictator and had some questions about who to contact regarding some questions. He sent my a few photos and his car is stunning. You’ll see one of the pictures here. I hope he will join our Chapter soon. The Commander is the monthly publication of the Potomac Chapter, Studebaker Drivers Club. Subscription is by membership to the Potomac Chapter at $15.00 yearly. Canada/Mexico $20.00, all other countries $25.00. Direct all membership correspondence to the Membership Director. Direct all correspondence relating to The Commander to the Editor, who retains the right to edit or modify any contribution. Deadline date is the 15th of the month for the following month’s issue. The Commander is also an internet publication. The Potomac Chapter is an officially chartered chapter of the Studebaker Drivers Club, Inc.; its by-laws were approved, and charter granted by SDC in June 1967. Membership is recruited from the States of Maryland, West Virginia, Northern Virginia and Washington, DC. And those from other areas wishing to join the chapter are welcome. POTOMAC CHAPTER SDC 2017 Activities Event Date Contact Hershey Fall Meet Wed 10/4/17 AACA (Hershey, PA) Bradfield Show Sun, 10/8/17 non-SDC (Bridgewater, VA) Rockville Antique & Classic Car Show Sat 10/14/17 Bill Morgan & Murray Welsh (Potomac Chapter is Sponsor) Reedsville Swap Meet Oct 2017 (TBD) Keystone Chapter SDC (Reedsville, PA) Fall Tour Fri, 10/20/17 to Don Jones New market Area incl battlefield(s) Sun 10/22/17 (Atlantic Zone Director) & maybe VMI in Lexington, VA Chapter Planning Meeting for 2018 Sat, 11/4/17 Terry McDaniel (McDaniel residence, Martinsburg, WV) Holiday Party Sun, 12/10/17 Mike Farris (The Inn at Charles Town 100 Hollywood Dr, Charles Town, WV 25414-1110) Email addresses Scotty Poole [email protected] Pete Rutledge [email protected] Don’t miss the Fall Tour flyer on page 8 & Rockville Antique & Classic Car Show page 11 3 (continued pg. 1) The scenic tour concluded just over the Virginia state line where a relaxing pre- Birthday arranged lunch in a private dining room was enjoyed at the Woolen Mills Grill in Clearbrook,. After enjoying a delicious lunch and time of fellowship, a photo session ensued on the restaurant parking lot. The memorable Drive Your Studebaker Day concluded with members return- ing to their respective homes on routes of their choosing. Thanks to everyone who attended. Hope you had a good time. We did! Terry and Shirley McDaniel (continued pg.10) 4 TECH TIP by Ed Lemanski FLOOD CARS - MORE COMMON THAN YOU THINK Are you considering buying a project vehicle? Steps/checklist to detect whether that Studebaker or Avanti has been in a flood: • Sit in the vehicle with the doors and windows closed and do the sniff test, which could reveal the scent of moisture or mold. Also look and smell for any extreme air freshener that could be masking the musty odor. • Look for obvious signs of flood water being present in the interior, such as on door panels, rugs and upholstery (beware of recent replacements), or silt under the seats and behind the dashboard. • Examine under the hood for signs of water. Use a flashlight to check behind mechanical parts and in crevasses for signs of silt or debris accumulation. Do the same in the hidden areas of the trunk. • Check any exposed metal parts, such as fasteners, for unusual signs of rust as well as under doors, body sills and wheel wells. Once a car has been under water, it can rust unseen from the inside out. • Look for droplets of condensation inside headlights and taillights, dashboard gauges and interior lighting. • If the seller refuses a mechanic’s inspection, then walk away. NOTE: While careful checking will provide some assurance, always arrange for a reputable mechanic/trusted friend from the chapter, for a more-thorough inspection. This would be the best course of action. And, that includes collector trucks too. So, even for a love-at-first-sight Avanti or Hawk, beware of the flood-damaged classic vehicle that could turn your life into a total nightmare. WHAT IF YOUR COLLECTOR STUDEBAKER HAS BEEN FLOODED The first thing you want to do is to disconnect the battery. Once the electrical system is under water, damage is happen- ing. Especially roll down the windows if you can or leave the doors open, use a fan to start to get some ventilation to it. Rugs and other movable interior and trunk items should be taken out, since these things can hold moisture against the vulnerable metal parts of the body and frame. Since water can enter and mix with the oil and other fluids in the engine, transmission, differential, fuel tank and brake- system hydraulics, drain them as soon as possible and replace the fluids. Do not attempt to start or drive the vehicle un- til after the fluids have been changed. Once the flood waters have gone and other priorities are dealt with, you the vehicle own- er will have to decide what to do next with the water-damaged classic. Contact your in- surance company within 48 hours and get their advice and guidance. A dry Studebaker not far from the flood. 5 HISTORIAN CORNER by Ed Lemanski The Studebaker Dictator (Info from Wiki) The Studebaker Dictator was an automobile produced by the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana (United States) from 1927-1937. Model year 1928 was the first full year of Dictator pro- duction.