Vehicle Rosters... Where's the link?

[paintim613]

I am all for it since I own a 53. I have always wondered how many SDC people own 53/54's.

Tim-53 Custom Starlight aka The Studebird in Yuma, AZ

[wmsteve]

Vehicle Rosters... Where's the link?

Who is out there doing this commendable task? On any stude?

I bring this up because, I guess, nobody out there has a roster going for 1953-1954 Stude cars? Since 1970!!

I did learn from Dwain G. that the last person was (or is) a Ms. Jo Sawatsy from: Winnipeg, Manitoba (National SDC Secretary & Zone Coordinator,THANK YOU!) and, I went back to my copy of "Turning Wheels", January 1973 and found Her name... Also, a Mr. Don Stone, was was (or is,THANK YOU, TOO!) keeping keeping a roster of 1954 Coupes.

I guess my question is: Shouldn't we have a site that we could go to and get all this info and collected data-from the dedicated few- on our cars?

Am I asking for the impossible? Am I being too nieve?

Steve

[Jerry Forrester]

I think that's a good idea. I nominate Steve Wilkie to do it.

quote:Originally posted by wmsteve

Who is out there doing this commendable task? On any stude?

I bring this up because, I guess, nobody out there has a roster going for 1953-1954 Stude cars? Since 1970!!

I did learn from Dwain G. that the last person was (or is) a Ms. Jo Sawatsy from: Winnipeg, Manitoba (National SDC Secretary & Zone Coordinator,THANK YOU!) and, I went back to my copy of "Turning Wheels", January 1973 and found Her name... Also, a Mr. Don Stone, was was (or is,THANK YOU, TOO!) keeping keeping a roster of 1954 Coupes.

I guess my question is: Shouldn't we have a site that we could go to and get all this info and collected data-from the dedicated few- on our cars?

Am I asking for the impossible? Am I being too nieve?

Steve

Jerry Forrester
Douglasville, Georgia
Be sure to check out my eBay store
http://stores.ebay.com/CHROME-CHROME-CHROME_ and my EZ33 store http://tinyurl.com/2g2j88
for your shiny Stude stuff


More pix of Leo the '55 Pres HT here...http://tinyurl.com/2gj6cu

[bams50]

Always a good idea. Not so easy to find someone to tackle and maintain a project like that...



Robert (Bob) Andrews Owner- Studebakeracres- on the IoMT (Island of Misfit Toys!)
Parish, central NY 13131

"Some people live for the rules, I live for exceptions"- 311

"With your Lark you're on your own, free as a bird, alive as a Lark. You've suddenly discovered that happiness is a thing called Larking!"

[3rdGenStude]

How about Speedsters? I read there was a registery for them, but don't see a link for it with the other registries on the SDC links link.



Paul

In memory of Boris, the 1950 Land Cruiser project,
. . . he became a down payment for. . .
Natasha, the 1955 Speedster project

[klifton1]

Paul
I have a couple of old Speedster registeries. I had intentions of starting it up again but it will be vary time consuming. Are you interested in doing it?
Klif

55 Speedster

[wmsteve]

Well... Thank You! Mr. Forrester, for the nomination but, before I roll-up-my-sleeves... I'm a bit concerned by the comment by StudeRich in my posting: "What does this trim number mean." If this model is not considered rare than, why compile information on them?

Is the consensus of this club about: selling stuff to each other, trading information, driving around in different "marquee" cars or, being custodians of the History of what we own (modified or not)?

I guess I'd just like to know, now...

The Chevy and Ford folks have made this leap, is it our time yet?

Steve

P.S.

Is Ms. Sawatsy out there? Please email me. Thank You.

[StudeDave57]

I think what my Dad was trying to say was that tracking one of the most popular '50s Studes would be tough. Think about it. Those C/K bodied cars from '53/4 are one of (if no THE most) popular Studes out there. Some were made into customs. Some have stayed stock. Some have gone from one to the other and back again. They change hands often. OH~ and let's not forget how easy it is to make one out of a later car!!!


BTW~ I know a little bit about what it takes to do something like this~
I've been trying to do a Registry of sorts for '56-'58 Sedans and Wagons. You'd be pretty surprised at what you get (and don't get) when you put yourself out there like this. Very few people actually give you the information you've asked for. Most of your time is spent 'following up' with the folks that gave you little or nothing to go on!!! [:0] Sometimes you hear back from them. Some can't be bothered to take that first step at all... [V]


StudeDave [8D]
www.studebakersandiego.com

'54 Commander Regal 4dr 'Ruby'
'57 Commander DeLuxe 2dr 'Baby'
'57 Champion Custom 2dr 'Jewel'
'57 Parkview 'Betsy' (she's a 2dr wagon...)
'58 Packard sedan 'Cleo'
'65 Cruiser 'Sweet Pea'

[Michidan]

My experience is exactly the same as Dave reports. It IS tough to get all the same info from folks to keep a registry that has any relevance. Lots of Stude owners aren't on the web, aren't interested, etc. That's Ok.

Mine may even be confusing for some, because I jump from 52 hardtops up to 58 hardtops and ignore everything in between. I'm not sure everyone sees the same "ugly duckling" kinship with these 2 cars that I do. I've had several guys with 53-55 hardtops contact me, but had no other registry to refer them to.

I think the other thing is that you really have to give it years and years. The 56J site and registry (which is one to aspire to)did not come together overnight.

Dan
52 hardtop
www.studebakerhardtop.com

[Dick Steinkamp]

I've told this story a few times here, so sorry about repeating it.

A couple of years ago, I bought the cars, parts, and documentation from the estate of Dennis Hommel. Mr. Hommel ran a VERY active registry for 53/54 C/K cars and owners and had collected (literally) a TON of documentation on the cars. Bob Kabchef (Mr. Biggs) was instrumental in helping me retrieve the stuff from 3 different locations. He ended up with the majority of the documentation on the C/K's. He later passed it on to Paul Johnson (53K) who I beleive still has it all.

Mr. Hommel pursued this task with a passion. He published a roster and a newsletter periodically. He most likely spent SOME part of each day on items related to this. He even had a data collection flyer that he widely distributed....



He was one of the few that have been successful with a registry (jet thrust cars are the only other I can think of).

I think the key is that it was a PASSION to him. I don't believe you can let folks come to you with cars and data, you have to actively go after them. Drag them into the fold kicking and screaming. Be visible and a PITA. There are VERY FEW club members who have the time, the energy, the organization skills and the passion to do this (IMHO)...but without it, it is sort of a useless exercise.

I'm sure others like Gary L. can fill us in on some of the things Mr. Hommel did to make his registry a success.

[65cruiser]

I guess to answer the original question, here is the link to the current registries:

http://www.studebakerdriversclub.com/links.asp

Mark Anderson
Member SDC and FMCA
Keeper of the Studebaker Cruiser Registry
http://home.alltel.net/anderm

My next Studebaker is in the future, but now getting my hair messed up in a Sebring ragtop!
Almost as fun as a Studebaker!

[MikeW]

I can speak to this to some degree as I have resurrected a Packard Hawk registry some years ago. You have to really want to do it as it is difficult to get info from some owners. And I am only tracking a very limited number of cars. (588) Without the help of others you are going to soon burn out. I have spent a lot of time trying to get owners to share information on their cars. Some seem to think you are up to no good, while others simply don't care. One of the hardest parts is the fact that it's a continually changing enity. Cars are sold and bought and you have to trace the new owners. Some are very helpful and others are not. I offer any owner of a Packard Hawk, a copy of the roster of surviving cars, free of cost. I also keep a data base of numbers and part sources, associated with Packard Hawks, that I will share as an incentitive to get others to list their cars. And I am still chasing some cars for several years and will probably never get their info. I must comment that I have had a lot of help from Ron Ellerbe of the Jet Thrust Registry. He has found a lot of west coast cars for me. I also have a lot of owners watching for Packard Hawks and reporting their results to me. That helps. By the way if you have a Packard Hawk and its not on my roster please contact me. :-)

Mike
www.packardhawk.com

[65cruiser]

I'll second what Mike says. As keeper of the Cruiser Registry, a lot of owners think you are up to no good and are going to use their VIN number to make a new set of keys and take their car! Others will gladly send you their information and even information on other cars they've located.

I've been doing the Cruiser registry for less than a year, but have had an overall good response so far. It does take a little bit of time every week to keep up with it (I try to track the Cruisers that show up on Ebay from time to time).

Mark Anderson
Member SDC and FMCA
Keeper of the Studebaker Cruiser Registry
http://home.alltel.net/anderm

My next Studebaker is in the future, but now getting my hair messed up in a Sebring ragtop!
Almost as fun as a Studebaker!

[53k]

quote:Originally posted by Dick Steinkamp

I've told this story a few times here, so sorry about repeating it.
A couple of years ago, I bought the cars, parts, and documentation from the estate of Dennis Hommel. Mr. Hommel ran a VERY active registry for 53/54 C/K cars and owners and had collected (literally) a TON of documentation on the cars. Bob Kabchef (Mr. Biggs) was instrumental in helping me retrieve the stuff from 3 different locations. He ended up with the majority of the documentation on the C/K's. He later passed it on to Paul Johnson (53K) who I beleive still has it all.
Mr. Hommel pursued this task with a passion. He published a roster and a newsletter periodically. He most likely spent SOME part of each day on items related to this. He even had a data collection flyer that he widely distributed....
He was one of the few that have been successful with a registry (jet thrust cars are the only other I can think of).
I think the key is that it was a PASSION to him. I don't believe you can let folks come to you with cars and data, you have to actively go after them. Drag them into the fold kicking and screaming. Be visible and a PITA. There are VERY FEW club members who have the time, the energy, the organization skills and the passion to do this (IMHO)...but without it, it is sort of a useless exercise.
I'm sure others like Gary L. can fill us in on some of the things Mr. Hommel did to make his registry a success.

Thanks for the reminder Dick. I did get a BUNCH of stuff from Studebob (50-pound box plus another mailing). I have started through it a couple of times in an attempt to resurrect the Hommel registry. However, I just haven't been able to sort it all yet. I do intend to start it up though.
I signed up for the Hommel registry back in the 70s and did receive his newsletter briefly. I do remember that he had contacted Clive Cussler, author of Raise the Titanic and many other such books, because Mr Cussler had (has) an unmolested, very original '53 Commander Starliner. He also has a Speedster, a '57 Golden Hawk and an Avanti. He features one of his cars in each book he writes- i'm just waiting for a Studebaker to show up. Unfortunately, he has a very large collection of very exotic cars so it may be a while. To see his Studebakers (and other cars): http://www.numa.net/car_collection/group9.html


[img=right]http://www.frontiernet.net/~thejohnsons/Forum%20signature%20pix/R-4.JPG[/img=right][img=right]http://www.frontiernet.net/~thejohnsons/Forum%20signature%20pix/64L.JPG[/img=right][img=right]http://www.frontiernet.net/~thejohnsons/Forum%20signature%20pix/64P.jpg[/img=right][img=right]http://www.frontiernet.net/~thejohnsons/Forum%20signature%20pix/53K.jpg[/img=right]Paul Johnson, Wild and Wonderful West Virginia
'53 Commander Starliner (since 1966)
'64 Daytona Wagonaire (original owner)
'64 Daytona Convertible (2006)
Museum R-4 engine
1962 Gravely Model L (Studebaker-Packard serial plate)
1972 Gravely Model 430 (Studebaker name plate, Studebaker Onan engine)

[Dick Steinkamp]

quote:Originally posted by 65cruiser

I'll second what Mike says. As keeper of the Cruiser Registry, a lot of owners think you are up to no good

IMHO, there has to be a WIIFM (What's in it for me) thing in order to get folks to join the registry. A bi-annual newsletter, distribution of the roster so they can network, a web site, etc. If there is no reason for them to sign up other than "the goodness of their heart", it won't happen.