The Indy Chapter of The Studebaker Drivers Club (SDC) would like to personally invite all SDC members to attend the 57th annual SDC International Meet September 8-11 2021, Indianapolis Indiana. The past twelve months have been challenging due to the COVID pandemic, hopefully with the vaccines we can return to our normal lives. Over the past year the Indy Chapter has been planning for an annual meeting in a casual setting at an affordable price.
The location for the International Meet is the Marion County Fairgrounds, the facility mimics closely the 2019 Mansfield meet. The fairgrounds encompasses 144 acres with several buildings that will be utilized. Camping with full hook up is available on the grounds as well as free car trailer parking. The entire facility is secured by fencing. From the fairgrounds our chosen hotels are a short 10 minute drive on rural roads. The hotels were chosen by a three point criteria, safety, cleanliness and price. Three of the seven hotels are under $90.00 per night and filling fast. Hotels are within walking distance of each other so it is easy to gather evenings and visit with friends, new or old.
Your National Board has approved a meet registration that includes an ”early bird special”, please take advantage of this offer before it ends. Due to COVID many of our planned tours are in limbo as mandatory closures of many venues are still in effect. In the near future we will publish a list of those events and any costs associated. By late spring we should have tours and attractions finalized.
Our daily calendars are full of activities ranging from swap meet to seminars with a couple new twists. New this year will be an “all makes” car show along with the Studebaker car show on Saturday September 11 2021. Also on Saturday will be the annual Midwest Model Car Show, this year they will be featuring all models Studebaker. More details to follow on the model show, SDC members will be able to show and compete if desired.
Our Swap meet will be a combination of indoors and outdoors along with a car corral. One building is sold out with the second building nearing 50% capacity. A third building can be added if demand for space requires it. Outdoor vending is more than ample with most enjoying shade tree sites. Food and drink vendors will be on the grounds each day of the meet. We will also have a hospitality room for folks to gather and rest, water, coffee and snacks complimentary.
Seminars, Dr. Herbert Terry, SDC member, will present a two part seminar on the Studebaker US6 truck and its’ part in World War II. Jeff Rice, SDC member, will be presenting two seminars one on cylinder head modification and another on intake manifold modifications. Of course the staple Studebaker Co-Operator seminar is also scheduled. Board of Directors meeting as well as the regular members meeting are also included.
What gathering would be complete without some music? We will have our staple, The Studebaker band preforming several concerts during the meet. A brass band will entertain on Tuesday evening at the Ice Cream Social and on Friday evening we will have a “street dance” with a disc jockey as well as a variety of food truck vendors for your dining pleasures.
Those of you who enter cars for concourse judging, we will again use two days for judging and drive thru as in the past. We are going to tweak the format with additional judging stations and dedicated stations per class. This will make for a much shorter time in the judging line. Awards will be presented on Saturday at 3:00p.m. Followed by a farewell Bar B Que dinner.
We are not finished, there are more events still to be confirmed. Check your monthly issue of Turning Wheels for updates. SDC events have been cancelled and members separated for too long by this pandemic, we look forward to once again joining together in the hobby we love. Book your hotels and register early, see you soon!
- Joe Bacon, Indy Meet Chairperson