Studebaker Car Club Of New South Wales Inc.

Studebaker Heritage

STUDEBAKER Car Club of NSW

Our beginnings

We will continually add to this page as we gather more information.

If you can provide information on the club's beginnings during the early years,

we would appreciate hearing from you.

The information shown here has been compiled from the recollections of past and present members, and as such may not be totally accurate.  With the passing of time, our memories lose some detail, but we do our best to recall as much as we can.

If you have corrections/additions, that can be supported by documented records or corroborated by other members, please forward it to the club, as we would love to make this page as accurate as possible.

As we confirm or correct anything that varies from the original memoirs, we will provide relative details, by identifying revisions numerically, and as listed in the legend at the bottom on this page.

Some Background

The Studebaker Drivers Club (USA) was formed by Harry Barnes & some friends in New York in 1962.

Phillip H of Oakdale was the original representative of SDC in Australia, and his father owned a fully restored 1928 Studebaker Director 2 door coach. Dale F. was visiting Phillip's family in their first GT Hawk, and after a lengthy discussion with Phillip, plus learning the history of SDC, Dale decided to join SDC in 1967.

In 1968, the SDC informed Dale that the SCCA (Studebaker Car Club Australia) had been formed in Victoria and it would be beneficial for him to join SCCA. Coincidentally at that time Dale was attending a Hot Rod show at Burwood in their GT Hawk. On returning to the car after the show Dale found a note, under the wiper arm, from Helen & Charles S. who were visiting Sydney at the time. Helen, who was the secretary of SCCA, invited Dale and Yvonne to join SCCA.

Thinking that SCCA was a chapter of SDC, Dale promptly joined.

Several months later when his Stude Bulletin, the forerunner to Turning Wheels failed to arrive, Dale was distressed to find out from the SDC that SCCA was not a chapter of SDC, and that he was no longer a financial member of the American club, so hastily re-joind SDC in 1970.
 

Our Club's beginnings

In 1972 Helen S informed Dale that as there were now about 20 NSW members it might be advisable to form a branch of SCCA in NSW. Subsequently Jennifer T placed an ad’ in the Herald which resulted in a meeting at her home in Carlingford.

At this meeting on 21st August 1972 it was agreed by those present that a NSW branch of SCCA be formed. After about a 3 hour discussion it was decided to adopt the Victorian constitution, modified to suit NSW. The fees were set at $6 per year, and it was agreed to hold a further meeting in one month at the same address to formally establish the car club.

The second meeting was held at Jennifer's home on 20th September 1972, and it was at this meeting where the election of office bearers was held after the collection of fees.

(1) Jennifer chaired the meeting, at which sixteen people joined the SCCA (NSW) with a few visitors including, Chris P,

Scott R, and Graham C.

Future meetings were to be held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at the Uniting Church Hall in Hurlstone Park at 8pm.

It was decided to hold an inaugural run to Prospect Reservoir, which was held on 8th October 1972.

See link to ‘Custom Rodder Magazine’ article. Issue #17, March, April, May 1973.
 

A short time later the fledgling club was advised that neighbors of the Church Hall had complained of the cars parked in the street for the one night per month meeting and the Church asked that it find an alternative venue.

Eventually the club moved to Drummoyne Civic Centre and meetings were held there for several years.
 

The club’s first Concours was held at Parramatta Park in 1972

The first Motorkana was being organized by Barry Helsham, when he passed away with Leukemia. The Club decided to hold an annual motoring event in Barry's honor. A shield was made with plaques for the winners name on it.

An annual Christmas run/party was held at various venues over the years, often with Ian S dressed as "Santa" as he had the figure and the Santa suit. He would arrive in a Studebaker (naturally) and as there were a number of member's children, and Santa would hand out presents to them (supplied by the parents)

In 1978 it was decided to publish our own magazine & it was Yvonne's suggestion to call it "Stude Torque". At this time we had 55 members. After a few years this magazine was discontinued as the availability of the original printer had gone and the contributions from members had declined, so it was no longer viable.

The first National meet was held in Cooma NSW in 1975, which was primarily organized by Chris Priestley. At this National it was decided to hold this event every 2 years with each State taking it in turn at holding a National meet.

In 1995 a 20th Anniversary National Meet was also held at Cooma & primarily organized by Peter & Sharon Cole and the NSW Club

There have been 4 people nominated for Life membership in the NSW Club.
Dave D
Dale F
Dan G
Clare G

Unfortunately, Clare & Dan have since passed away.

When there were sufficient NSW members from the Hunter region they decided to form the Newcastle SCCA.

This also happened at Dubbo when Robin B organized the Mid West SCCA catering for people in that area.

Queensland had 2 Clubs at one time, however the SCCA Sunshine Coast eventually merged with the Queensland SCC when their membership declined.

There is now a club in each state except Tasmania & the NT, but only NSW has 3 clubs.

At the time of the 1979 National Meet in SA, SCCA Victoria felt as each state had different liability laws it would be better if all clubs were independent of each other. Victoria would however continue to publish the National magazine Stude News with input from each separate club (no longer branches of SCCA). This way SCCA would not be legally liable for any financial or other problems that may occur interstate for any reason.

Also in the 1979 National Meet in Adelaide the SA club had invited Brooke Stevens to attend, which he accepted.

About 1975 a "junior" membership was instituted, at a nominal fee, to encourage those children of members who showed any enthusiasm for Studebakers. Young Dale f and Darryn F became the first such junior members, and Darryn has truly been well infected with the Studebaker "virus".

(4) The Studebaker Car Club of Australia (NSW) changed it's name to Studebaker Car Club of New South Wales at the general meeting held on 20th July, 1982.  Dale F proposed several possibilities, and the majority vote went to SCCNSW.

.....oo0oo.....

Many thanks to these members, past and present, for the help and information to make this article possible.
Jennifer T. Click >here< to view Jennifer's memoirs.

Dale and Yvonne F. Click >here< to view Dale's memoirs.
John G.

Phil H.

Max M.
Scott R.
 

Click >HERE< for Our First Meeting in October 1972.

Click >HERE< for Our First Outing, Prospect Resevoir, 1972.

Information gathered and compiled by Steve King, 2010.

This page last updated 28/06/2010.