...despite the heat! First time I've driven a Stude to South Bend in ten years and first time ever without someone driving behind me! Great time...South Bend is definitely more fun when you're driving a Studebaker!
I was happy to bump into and visit with Bob Andrews, Matt from Australia, Gary Lindstrom ("Studegary"), StudeRich (didn't know he was coming out and glad to see he's feeling well), Dave Arnold, Bob Palma (of course!...the best goodwill ambassador for this hobby there is, IMO!), and also to meet Brent ("Milaca" on the forum) and Craig Parslow for the first time...great conversations with all! I'm sure I'm missing some folks, excuse me, but I had a wonderful time!
Got to meet Mary Anne and Jerry Hanson, who had owned an Avanti new back in '63 and just recently bought a beautiful, low-mileage gold '64 R1 serial no. 5634, built on the last day of production! They looked like they were enjoying themselves a lot.
Enjoyed meeting Larry from Oregon (last name escapes me now), at the Polish Dinner, who has a flock of '63 and '64 Studes, my favorite vintages, including an Avanti-powered Jet Green '64 GT, which is my favorite Stude of all!
At the hotel (Country Inn and Suites) in Mishawaka, I met Wayne Remaly, who drove his beautiful gray '38 President Sedan to the meet. Like me, Wayne is apparently a 'morning person' and we had several nice conversations in the parking lot of the hotel.
Brent...who had the gorgeous black '64 R2 GT on the trailer in the hotel lot Friday morning? That car made my knees weak! LOL
I was happy to get my old friend Carl E. Filer, Jr., who along with his Dad had been a Stude dealer from '26 to '66, there at the meet. He enjoyed meeting everyone and seemed to particularly enjoy both the Administration Building tour (having been inside in years long-past) and the tour of the back of Studebaker International (he wanted his picture taken with Andy there!).
Hats off to the Michiana Chapter. It can't possibly be easy orchestrating an event like that but they pulled it off!
Incidentally, I was also happy to see Avanti no. 5643 make its appearance there. That is the last Studebaker automobile built in the U.S., not just the last Studebaker Avanti, since Avantis were built for a week after Lark-type and Hawk production ended.
I wasn't aware about the drama about Mr. Curtis 'til I got home and saw the forum. I'll have to look at the Jan. TW to see what was so controversial.
I was happy to bump into and visit with Bob Andrews, Matt from Australia, Gary Lindstrom ("Studegary"), StudeRich (didn't know he was coming out and glad to see he's feeling well), Dave Arnold, Bob Palma (of course!...the best goodwill ambassador for this hobby there is, IMO!), and also to meet Brent ("Milaca" on the forum) and Craig Parslow for the first time...great conversations with all! I'm sure I'm missing some folks, excuse me, but I had a wonderful time!
Got to meet Mary Anne and Jerry Hanson, who had owned an Avanti new back in '63 and just recently bought a beautiful, low-mileage gold '64 R1 serial no. 5634, built on the last day of production! They looked like they were enjoying themselves a lot.
Enjoyed meeting Larry from Oregon (last name escapes me now), at the Polish Dinner, who has a flock of '63 and '64 Studes, my favorite vintages, including an Avanti-powered Jet Green '64 GT, which is my favorite Stude of all!
At the hotel (Country Inn and Suites) in Mishawaka, I met Wayne Remaly, who drove his beautiful gray '38 President Sedan to the meet. Like me, Wayne is apparently a 'morning person' and we had several nice conversations in the parking lot of the hotel.
Brent...who had the gorgeous black '64 R2 GT on the trailer in the hotel lot Friday morning? That car made my knees weak! LOL
I was happy to get my old friend Carl E. Filer, Jr., who along with his Dad had been a Stude dealer from '26 to '66, there at the meet. He enjoyed meeting everyone and seemed to particularly enjoy both the Administration Building tour (having been inside in years long-past) and the tour of the back of Studebaker International (he wanted his picture taken with Andy there!).
Hats off to the Michiana Chapter. It can't possibly be easy orchestrating an event like that but they pulled it off!
Incidentally, I was also happy to see Avanti no. 5643 make its appearance there. That is the last Studebaker automobile built in the U.S., not just the last Studebaker Avanti, since Avantis were built for a week after Lark-type and Hawk production ended.
I wasn't aware about the drama about Mr. Curtis 'til I got home and saw the forum. I'll have to look at the Jan. TW to see what was so controversial.
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