We also want to do a dedication to the members who have passed, because this is their club and is often a really important part of someone’s life and we are the members left, and we should honor them. In a way, we have a duty to do it. The following has been taken from a speech Tim O’Hara gave at a zone meet held in Calgary….its a start. If you are reading this, thank you, if you have more to add, thank you. Please send additions and/or comments to Jack Gregory.

Tim's Speech: 

Vern Spencer who had a 1950 Starlight and a 1967 Daytona. Now you’re all going to say there was no 1967 Daytona, but someone found out what the changes were that were contemplated and had built one and Vern had bought that car. Also with his Starlight, the Canadian Government decided to do stamps for cars that had been made in Canada, and they picked his Starlight to do it. His Starlight, however, was green, they didn’t like green, so they just changed it to yellow on the stamp. 

Vern Scown who had a 1952 2R6, 

Mason Beebe who had a 1965 cruiser and a 61 Lark.

Paul Pankow and Martine Pankow who owned 105 Studebakers, 

William Paarsmarket who had a 1964 Daytona and a 1966 Cruiser, 

John Kristiensen who had a 1959 Hawk, 

Walter Guse who had a 1965 Cruiser, 

Gord Cantley who had restored every model of 1951 Studebakers, and I have a story about Gord as well, the problem with the story about Gord is that somebody at the table is going to ruin the story before I can give you the punch line. Because I have a 1951 Studebaker and I hadn’t been around Studebakers for a while when I bought the 1951, though I had been around them when I was much younger. It had a problem that it wouldn’t start when it was hot, it was driving me crazy and I went through a whole bunch of things trying to fix it so I’m talking to Gord about it and I said Gord I think it’s the timing chain, he said, “No it’s not the timing chain,” so I said, “How do you know it’s not the timing chain, it gets hot, it flips over one, then it won’t start, it’s got to be the timing chain,” Gord said, “No it’s not the timing chain,” and I got really frustrated and said, “How do you know, you haven’t even looked at it,” and he said calmly, “Because Tim, your car doesn’t have a timing chain.” 

George Basaraba

Stu McLean who had a 1957 Champion. 

Keith Brooks who had a 1964 Avanti. 

Gord Watts - a 1953 Champion.

Elbert Miller who had a 1937 Coupe Express. 

Rudy Boonstra who had a 1966 Wagonaire.

Harry Smith who was parts man.

John Druhall who had a 1963 Hawk. 

Joseph Belcourt who had a 1951 Champion. 

Wreford Nix who had a 1946 M5.

Stan Johnson who had a 1947 Convertible, Stan was really interesting, he had been a mechanic at a Studebaker dealership, he owned a 1947 convertible and managed to get two speeding tickets in one month, that’s a badge of honor for a Studebaker driver. But my favorite story about Stan is that when I originally bought my car, I went for breakfast with the club, Jack Gregory who is here tonight was there, and so after the breakfast, I said come on out and see my car. So, I lifted the hood, and Stan was looking at the engine. Now it is important to know that the car has direct crank case ventilation, so there is always a drip of oil that comes out when you stop, and below the car was the stain of the oil on the pavement. So, I said to Stan, “That’s normal isn’t it?” Stan paused a little then said: “Yes, that’s normal...but for normal that’s a lot.” 

Brenda Schiffner with a 1950 Champion.