H-E-T Club Southern California Chapter Newsletter - Awarded the Golden Quill May 2016 Exclusively for Fans of Hudson Motor Cars Bob Ross - Editor This year we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Southern California Chapter of HET. Oct. 25, 1964 - 1st West Coast Meet in North Hollywood Park, 38 HET Club members & HET cars. Fred Roth, Organizer June 26, 1965 - 2nd West Coast Meet at North American Aviation Employees’ Park. 22 members & 23 HET cars. Bob Kline, Organizer Oct. 2-3, 1965 - Lockheed Antique Auto & Airplane Meet Nov. 7, 1965 - 3rd West Coast Meet. Met at Sig Caswell’s home where initial talk of a structured regional organization was discussed. or Jan. 23, 1966 - The Riverside 500 Parade and Race. Gary Klann, Organizer Feb. 1966 – 94 members. A constitution committee was assembled. T First Officers: President: Pete Booz Vice President: Herb Malone Sec.-Tres.: Nancy Booz Tours: Elliott Meyerson flec Editor: Bill Rankin West Coast Rep.: Fred Roth E ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Show up at the AMX Show This month we have been invited to join with the AMX Club for a show in Montclair. See the following flyer for details. They announced that there will be a Hudson class. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ And it is also time to renew your membership ($15) for another year. udson r Mark Your Calendar July 4 - 4th of July Parade, Sierra Madre, H Ross’ Host 50 Years of Hudsons in August - La Canada Early Rodders Meet Southern California Sept. 29-Oct 2 - All California Meet, San May 21 - West Coast All AMX Car Show, Simeon, CIC Host Montclair Oct. - Chapter Golden Anniversary June 2-4 - Western Region Meet, Crater Celebration Lake, NWC Host the the Nov. 5 - Laughlin Economy Run SCC Host June 12 - Annual Picnic & Elections, Cronks’ Host Dec. 11 - Christmas Party at Spaghetti Factory in Duarte June 25-July 1 - International HET Meet, Chattanooga, TN ------ Aug, 22-27, 2017 - International HET Meet, socalhet.org The First HET Chapter - 50 Years and Still Going page 1 Poway Homeless ------ This morning I was sitting on a bench next to a 2018 - International HET Meet, Chula Vista Resort, homeless man, I asked him how he ended up this Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin way. ------ He said: “Up until Last week, I still had it all!!! Board Meetings are open to all members. Phone A cook cooked my meals, my room was cleaned, 805/987-8187 for directions. my clothes were washed, pressed, I had a roof Want to be a host for an SCC Meet close to your over my head, I had TV, internet, I went to the home? Just find a park or other attraction with gym, the pool, the library, and I could still go to parking and facilities. Then give Jon a call (805/987 school. ..” -8187) or Carolann 323/750-1998. I asked him, "What happened? Drugs? Alcohol? +++++++++++++++++++++ Divorce? From the President’s Garage “Oh No, nothing like that.” he said. “No, no ... I got out of prison.” Volunteerism is alive and well! Was there any doubt? I ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ recently received a call from a Hudsons Around the Southland club member, looking for workers to assist with a task at May 7 - Antique Nationals - Drag Race - an upcoming club function. Fontana Mind you, this person wasn’t a May 21 - West Coast All AMX Car Show, member of the host chapter, but Montclair - All AMC Relatives are invited. not only had agreed to head up the task, the http://socalamx.net/carshow/index.htm member also took on the responsibility of June 12 - We are the selection committee finding the rest of the necessary workers. Now for the San Marino Concours. This year that’s stepping up! we have a class for American orphan There are lots of ways to help out in our club – cars. We need some of your wonderful local chapter officers, special tasks at the Hudsons! It is a low key show in a very nice regional and international meets, and the folks park. Proceeds go to the Pasadena that step up for those assignments keep our Humane Society. programs first rate. I hope you’ll be looking for a Here is the link to register. You can opt to volunteer position in our chapter and/or at a be display only and not judged. regional/international meet this summer. https://www.sanmarinomotorclassic.com/san- Just a reminder – our chapter’s election meet marino-motor-classic-application is around the corner in mid-June. We will be electing individuals for all positions, and the I hope to see you guys there. campaigning… – well, there usually isn’t any! Thanks, Please give me a call if you’d like to be a part of Tina steering the SoCal Chapter into its next 50 Tina Van Curen years of Hudsoning. Jon Autobooks-Aerobooks 2900 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505 818 845-0707 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ socalhet.org The First HET Chapter - 50 Years and Still Going page 2 socalhet.org The First HET Chapter - 50 Years and Still Going page 3 From the HET Historical Society although she dropped by 5 races, down to 22 The Hudson Triangle wins. By 1954, her wins were down by another The Last “Real” Hudsons 5, for a total of 17 wins. Still, it was an impressive record by any standards. The very late forties and early fifties were a transition period for the American automotive But, as impressive as all those wins were, they industry. The pent up demand for new cars, somehow didn’t translate into sales. Over the caused by the war years, was coming to a close. decades, when a car manufacturer entered The automotive market was, once again, racing, their main purpose was to create becoming a buyers market. The automakers publicity in order to bring buyers into the knew this would happen, and most prepared in showroom, and ultimately sell cars. Hudson had their own way. been a race winner starting back in the ‘teens with her “Super Six”. She was a star performer Hudson had a winner in her “step-down”, and at Pike’s Peak. She was known for fast cars, with her outstanding racing background, decided even in the thirties. All these times, wins lead to to bet her future on her new entry, the “Fabulous publicity, which lead to volume sales. Hudson Hornet”. In 1951, based on her “step- down” design, and using a 308 high- But, perhaps, times were changing. It was performance inline six, the Hornet made her exciting to see your favorite brand win at the appearance. First, the outstanding car was track, and Hudson fans had much to cheer about in the fifties. But, in earlier days, racing played a more important role. Winning not only meant prestige, but reliability and power as well. By the fifties, virtually all cars were reliable, and had enough power for practical family use. Winning a race, even in today’s world, always creates publicity, but may not lead to volume sales, as it did in the automotive world’s early days Marshall Teague, seen here with his #6 car on Daytona Beach, While the Fabulous Hornet was making a name became synonymous with Hudson performance in the Fifties. for herself at the track, sales were dropping. Yes, some buyers bought Hudson because of introduced at the showroom, and then, just as her wins at the track, but not enough volume to quickly, it was introduced to the American public put her over the top. on the NASCAR circuit. It was a natural at Nothing lasts forever! racing. It was fast, with great acceleration, and it had exceptional handling capabilities. What was once Hudson’s greatest asset was quickly becoming her Achilles Heel. At a time The “Fabulous Hudson Hornet” dominated the when the major auto manufacturers introduced a NASCAR scene from the time of her introduction completely new body style every three years, in 1951 through 1954. Volumes have been and in some cases, even less, the buying public written about those great racing years. The was always looking for something entirely new in Hudson Hornet was at it’s zenith in ’52. She won the showroom. As advanced as the step-down 27 out of 34 NASCAR Grand Nationals that was, unfortunately it was looking dated. As time year. In ’53, the record was much the same, went by, sales began to drop dramatically. In the socalhet.org The First HET Chapter - 50 Years and Still Going page 4 early days of the step-down, sales were over the 140,000 mark, and some sources tell us that the company could only produce and sell about twenty-five percent of what they could have sold. By ’51, sales had dropped to a little over 92,000, and by ’52, 79,000, or just slightly over the break even point. To make matters worse, the body was of such a design and style, that it was expensive to redesign. +++++++++++++++++++++++++ HETHS Application $_______ LIFE Member $1,000 or more $_______ CONTRIBUTING Member $100 $_______ ACTIVE Membership $40 $_______ GIFT in Honor or in Memory of __________________________________ $_______ General Donation _________________________ $ ________ TOTAL funds enclosed. Name: Address: Phone: Email: Please make payment by cash, check, or money order payable to HET Historical Society, Inc., in US Dollars, and mail to: The Southern California chapter of the HET Cheryl Holz, 13270 McKanna Road Minooka, IL 60447 Club is a Life-time member of the HET Historical Society heths.info Thanks for your Support! socalhet.org The First HET Chapter - 50 Years and Still Going page 5 socalhet.org The First HET Chapter - 50 Years and Still Going page 6 It always happens that way….