Story by Jon Stalnaker AKA The Studebaker Dude
I may be retired and getting older, but I still have something to contribute. I was very active in the Studebaker Drivers Club when I lived in California. It’s fun to look back on your life and reflect on how God is working in it, and how He knows way better than you do, what you need. I was excited to get the chance to serve on the board of directors for the Studebaker Drivers Club; that was about 6 years ago.
I was just getting started when COVID hit, and many of my ideas never got a chance to play out. Then, when we moved to Oklahoma, I had to give up the position as the directors have to live in their zone. My territory back then was California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and Hawaii. I stepped away from participation in Studebaker activities as we needed to focus our attention on Carlene’s mom.
It’s been almost a year since we lost her, and I noticed a solicitation for some positions on the SDC board of directors. There was a call for president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. Not exactly what I did before, but I was willing to be nominated for the vice president position. Don, the director of the South Central Zone (where we live) called me and told me he was planning to throw his hat in the ring for president. He asked me if I would be willing to fill his spot. I was delighted at the opportunity as I really wanted to be a director again. I remained a candidate for the vice president job, but the plan was that I would drop out if Don won, which he did. There was another candidate for vice president, and he got the job unopposed when I dropped out. I saw that as God’s hand in the whole thing.
So, here I am, back in the saddle again. I just picked up my new business cards and I’m ready to go to work. I have been thinking about organizing a relay road trip for the 100th anniversary of Route 66. My idea was to get as many Studebakers as I could muster up, to drive from Chicago to LA. Not expecting anyone to drive the whole way, but someone certainly could if they wanted to. I ran it by the board of directors at the International Meet in Pennsylvania and was met with enthusiasm.
There are 4 SDC Zones along the way and all four of us directors are excited to make it happen. Don, the new SDC President is on board too, and he told me that it’s my first task. I need to type up a basic plan to present at the next board meeting. It’s going to be a big task, and I want it to be a great event for Studebaker and Route 66. I’ll try to wrangle up as much publicity as I can. You can count on the Studebakers making an appearance in Sapulpa.
Last week I wrote a downer story about getting old. This story certainly snapped me out of that funk as this story’s events made me feel appreciated once again. I may be slowing down physically but my mind is still full of ideas about how to make this world a better place. I care a lot about the Studebaker Drivers Club and want to have a say in how we might build more excitement and make it a viable club for younger generations. It’s not going to change unless someone steps up and makes a difference. I may not have all of the solutions, but thinking outside the box has always been the way my brain works.
We spent two days driving to Pennsylvania and two days driving back. We didn’t take one of our Studebakers because they are not that comfortable on long trips. It was fun, meeting face to face with many of my Facebook friends. We saw a bunch of Studebakers, including Fozzie Bear’s Studebaker from The Muppet Movie. The Studebaker Museum in South Bend had just completed a total restoration of the iconic movie car. As Fozzie says, “a bear in his natural habitat, a Studebaker”. And if you happen to stop at the new Buc-ee’s in Missouri, check out the Studebaker truck on display. Studebakers are definitely fun…
