18th Studebaker National Meeting
Larks and Hawks made up the bulk of the vehicles on display, but there were some rarities like the Transtar and Champ pickups, Packards from the short-lived Studebaker-Packard merger, as well as some impressive vintage Studebakers, including a 1913 model. Following the display day, attendees took part in an observation run and presentation dinner. A farewell breakfast on the Tuesday concluded six big days of Studebaker events and activities. Club members and organisers branded this years Nationals a huge success and one of the best-attended nationals ever. If you own, plan to own, plan to sell, or just love Studebakers, you may be interested in marking these upcoming Studebaker events in your diary.
International Drive Your Studebaker Day
July 4, Worldwide
The US Studebaker Drivers Club is urging all Studebaker owners worldwide to drive their cars - anywhere! - on July 4. No special runs, no concours, just go anywhere, as long as you're in a Studebaker!
www.studebakerdriversclub.com
45th SDC International Meet
July 12 - 18, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA
If you haven't already booked your ticket to the US for this event, act fast! "Studebakers to the Heartland" will feature swap meets, tours, seminars on Studebaker modification & repair, concerts, a concours display, club auction and more. If you're heading to "the heartland" this coming July, this event should be well worth a visit.
See www.sdcmeet.com for further details.
Studebaker Car Club of Queensland Concours Weekend
August 29 - 30, South Bank, Brisbane.
Celebrating the 40th birthday of the club, the concours display will be held at the Cultural Forecourt in The Parklands at South Bank.
See: www.studebakerqld.org for further details.
For the JUST CARS crew, this 1957 Transtar pickup was the highlight. We had a chat to the owner, Steve Leyden, who told us this vehicle was owned by a farmer in Spokane, Washington for 34 years, before being sold to another US resident and lightly restored. A Victorian member of the Studebaker club purchased the vehicle at the 2005 Studebaker (USA) Nationals and shipped it back to Australia, where Steve purchased it in May, 2006. The "Conestoga" style canopy (if you know your Studebaker history, you'll know the significance of this) was Steve's own creation.
The bows for the canvas top were made from electrical conduit - for its flexibility - with a rib along the top and timber frame in the pickup bed to help preserve the shape. In mid-2008, Steve converted the Transtar to run on LPG, which necessitated the fitting of a custom stainless steel exhaust system. This standout vehicle shared space with older and newer pickups at Ballarat, but this one is believed to be the only 1957 model, and the only factory automatic-equipped Studebaker truck in the country.
