For most of us, it’s not every day that we can say, “Hey, check out that Avanti, Commander, Hawk, Lark or Champion.” And when can you see all of these at once? Well, March 2, 2014, at the Pomona Swap Meet & Classic Car Show, is when. While you’re cruising and perusing, getting your fix of parts and classic cars, be sure to stop and talk to our Featured Car Club, the Studebaker Drivers Club (SDC). The Beach Cities, Orange, Inland Empire (BCOIE) Chapter, Los Angeles Chapter, as well as members from several other chapters, will be showing off their vehicles and they’ll happy to talk to anyone with an interest in Studebakers. There are few American automobile companies with as interesting a history as Studebaker. From carriage and wagon builder in 1852 to electric vehicle manufacturer in 1902, truck and aircraft engine builder for the war effort during World War II and ultimately, one of the premier builders of innovative and stylish, luxury and practical automobiles.

SDC members have years of experience and plenty to talk about, from events, technical issues, parts availability, or the potential of becoming the newest club member.  The BCOIE Chapter currently has over 100 members and enjoys social activities, as well as the technical aspects of Studebaker restoration and ownership. The club participates in various family oriented events, other chapter events as well as hosting a few of their own. Club meetings are held on the 2nd Saturday of each month at 4:30pm (Nov. and Dec. excluded) at CoCo’s, on Imperial Hwy(west of the 57 fwy), in Brea, CA. Studebaker ownership is not a prerequisite for membership, only an interest in the exquisite automobiles produced by the Studebaker Corporation is. Check out the BCOIE Chapter’s website for more details. Of course, if you own a Studebaker vehicle, whether factory stock or modified, you’ll really benefit from an SDC membership, not the least of which is a subscription to their award-winning monthly magazine, Turning Wheels.

Across the US, Canada, and around the world, there are more than 14,000 SDC members in 100 chartered SDC chapters. Each local chapter conducts a broad variety of events throughout the the year, ranging from cruises to car shows and picnics to poker runs. Membership in the Studebaker Drivers Club is a prerequisite for joining a local chapter and most SDC members are also members of at least one local chapter.  Click here to find a local chapter near you. Members, including those in the U.S., Canada, South America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, England and the Netherlands, keep busy promoting the preservation of Studebaker and related vehicles.

Their first event this year will be the 29th Annual Studebaker Drivers Club Winter Meet, presented by the Los Angeles Chapter. Held on March 16, 2014, at the Petersen Automotive Museum, 6060 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, this event is open to Studebakers, Packards, Erskines, Pierce Arrows and Rocknes. This event is also a canned food drive so please keep that in mind when attending, and do what you can to help out. The SDC-LA Chapter holds meetings at 7pm on the 4th Thursday of each month at Denny’s, 9001 Tampa Ave., Northridge, CA. For more info, please contact studebakersla.com, or Howard Brown, President, at (818)606-0267.

Next, is the Antique Studebaker Club’s (ASC) So. Cal Chapter Meet in Palm Springs, CA. on March 13 – March 15. The host hotel is the The Curve Palm Springs Hotel and Resort (formerly the Palm Springs Travelodge), 333 E. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs CA., 1-877-544-4446. RSVP to Frank Wenzel by March 6 at 1-760-322-8762.

Then, taking place on April 10 – 12, 2014, is the  HCCA So. Cal Chapter’s 23rd Annual Tour & Swap Meet, held at the Kern County Fairgrounds, 1142 S. “P” Street, Bakersfield, CA. The host hotel is the Travelodge, 1011 Oak St., Bakersfield, CA., 1-661-325-0772. Get a flyer and info from Rick Peterson at [email protected].

Following that, on May 25th, is the 40th Annual La Palma Meet, held at La Palma Park, 1161 N. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, CA. Everyone is welcome to join the BCOIE Chapter from 8am to 3pm for this “All Studebaker” car show and parts exchange.  This is the 40th anniversary of the event and it’s expected to be the biggest gathering of Studebakers in many years. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to veteran’s organizations.

A fun event this summer will be the July 19, 2014, Studebaker Night at Irwindale Speedway, 500 Speedway Dr., Irwindale, CA. All pre-1966 “Orphan” vehicles are invited, including but not limited to Studebaker, Nash, Kaiser, DeSoto, Oldsmobile, Willy’s, and Packard. Come out and keep the love for these discontinued brands alive. Give “Studebaker Steve” Broock a call at (909) 973-6955 for details.

And to round out the car show season, you’ll want to make the drive to beautiful San Diego, CA, on September 27, 2014 for the 6th Annual Cool Classic Car Show. Held at Spanish Landing Park, 4077 N. Harbor Drive, on the scenic San Diego Bay, this gathering of Studebakers, Packards, and Pierce Arrows is presented by the San Diego Chapter of the SDC. Visit their website for more details.

Come out to Pomona on March 2nd and check in with the Studebaker Drivers Club. Who knows, you may get to say “there’s a Scotsman,” ” a 30’s Dictator” or “there’s the President!” OK, I’ll stop!

If you are a car club member and would like your club to enjoy a day at a future Pomona Swap Meet & Classic Car Show as our guests, please contact Matt by email or at (714) 538-7091.

-Matt Zarzana