THE HUDSON TRIANGLE Special Meet Edition Exclusively for members of the Hudson Essex Terraplane Historical Society. A 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization Introducing the Home of the National Hudson Motor Car Company Museum 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 museums across the country. All donations are tax-deductible and further the Society goals. HETHS is eligible to receive tax-deductible donations of money, cars, 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 Doc Hudson 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, Herb Thomas, 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 Tim Flock, 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 interesting information regarding the Hudson 1909-1957 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, Pennsylvania. 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.