Studebaker show draws crowd

 Many Custer residents came again to enjoy the annual outdoor show of Studebaker and Packard cars and trucks on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, Sept. 1. They joined a crowd of visitors who reported they were from 26 states and four foreign countries. A variety of restored or modified vehicles were on display at Mt. Rushmore Road and 6th Street. Their owners were from eight states and Canada. The show was sponsored by the Dakotas Chapter of the Studebaker Drivers Club.
Visitors coming to the show could vote for their favorite vehicle from the 49 shown. Receiving the largest number of votes was the 1934 gold Packard coupe owned by Lonny and Barb Koster of Deadwood. The exterior was patiently reconstructed by Lonny over a period of 11 years. The interior, including the rumble seat, was restored by students of the Hot Rod Institute in Rapid City.  This car also received the highest number of votes from the other participants, and Koster was given an additional trophy.
Another Packard, a fully-resroted 1957 Clipper Wagon, owned by Curtis and Sheryl Hussey from St. Michael, Minn., won the second place Visitors Choice trophy.  There was a tie for the third-place honors for two South Dakota Studebakers. This included the 1958 Transtar pickup owned by Rob and Janet Young of Rapid City. Also receiving the same number of high votes was the 1937 President coupe restored by Steve and Pat Brown of Ft. Pierre.
Participants ended the weekend with their banquet where additional honors were announced for Studebaker vehicles and their owners.  Custer Mayor Bob Brown selected the 1960 Lark Wagon belonging to Dick and Susan Dittman of Rapid City, who received the city’s plaque.  
Representing the Custer Area Chamber Chamber of Commerce,  Fred Bauman and Director Dawn Murray chose the 1942 M16 tow truck owned by Perry and Jackie Meyers of Minatare, Neb., for that organization’s honor.  
The Dakotas Chapter of SDC had also designed two honors in memory of distinguished members who have recently died. The Jim Neuzil award was presented by Dave Hammerquist to Ned and Betsy Stephenson of Hartsville, Ala., for their 1950 2R truck. It had been refurbished but with a contemporary design of the paint job. The Ingvar Vik award recipient, Paul Heinert of Custer, was selected by Brad Canfield, noting Heinert’s care in restoring and then maintaining cars to their original condition.   
Two individual members of the SDC were selected for their outstanding service to this car club.  The Dakotas Chapter co-presidents, Susan and Dick Dittman, honored Stuart Tritt of Kimball, Neb., for his skills of creating trophies for many chapters’ events and his early and active membership since 1978. Clayton and Judy Studebaker, descendants of the founders’ family, selected Chuck Donkle of Las Animas, Colo., for his long service in SDC and representing the regional eight states on the national board of directors, hosting zone and international meets and mentoring many younger owners in repairing their automobiles.
Of particular interest this year was the display of a Surry Carriage which was an example of vehicles first manufactured by the five Studebaker Brothers in the 1800s. In 1901, models were developed by the Studebaker Company which were powered by electric batteries. Then the management updated its thinking to produce gas-powered cars in 1903. This Surry is owned by Arny and Kay Erickson of Valley Springs.