The beginning of WRSDC submitted by Buzz Beckman
It all started in 1968 with this notice sent to Wisconsin members of the Studebaker Drivers Club: To: Studebaker Drivers Club Members - Wisconsin From: Buzz Beckman Re: Regional Dinner and Organizational Meeting Date: October 19, 1968 Place: Top Hat Restaurant, University Ave., Middleton, WI Time: Cocktails 6:00 p. m. Dinner 7:00 p. m. Menu: Choice of: Top Sirloin $5.25 Prime Rib $4.50 Shrimp $3.50 Please inform me no later than Monday, October 14 if you plan to attend. In your response please indicate which meal you prefer. (The restaurant specialty is prime rib.) See you there, Buzz Beckman The above meeting constituted the birth of what was to become the Wisconsin Region of the Studebaker Drivers Club, Inc. It was attended by Karl Foss, Lance Nesta, Phil Schlichting, Bud Beckman, Ralph Beckman, Buzz and Fran Beckman, Tom Beckman, and my mother, Elizabeth Beckman. The meeting was a memorable one. Great enthusiasm, enjoyable Studebaker conversation, and much productivity in terms of future planning. Out of the discussions that evening came the decision to form a club for Wisconsin Studebaker enthusiasts. It was called, simply enough, The Wisconsin Studebaker Club, a separate entity not affiliated with SDC. The reason we did not wish to affiliate is that the national club, at that time, was undergoing some growing pains which were causing discontent on the part of its members. In fact, the situation had gotten so bad that a competing club, The Studebaker Automobiles Society, had been formed. While SAS never achieved the membership base it anticipated, it did succeed in indirectly forcing SDC to make some much needed improvements. Consequently, in July of 1972, the Wisconsin Studebaker Club membership voted to become an SDC affiliate. To reflect its new status, the club's name was changed to Wisconsin Region of the Studebaker Drivers Club, Inc. |