Studebaker show names winners

Several elements combined to make the 2022 Labor Day Studebaker Events in Custer a successful three days from Sept. 3-5. Thirty four cars and trucks manufactured from the 1930s through the 1980s, and in both restored and modified conditions, were shown at the Sunday car and truck show. Studebaker Drivers Club (SDC) participants from 10 states and one Canadian province brought many different models of Studebakers and one Packard.
More than 1,000 visitors to the car show turned in ballots to express their opinions about their favorite car or truck. On their ballots they revealed they were from 30 states and five foreign countries. Trophies were presented that evening based on number of votes received for the individual cars or tucks.
 Receiving the highest number of ballots was Number 27, the 1958 Transtar model truck owned by Rob and Janet Young of Rapid City.  The second highest amount of votes was for Number 12, the 1937 President model, modified by Ford Stoecker of Golden, Colo. A 1954 Commander won the third place trophy and is owned by Rex and Verlee Raasch of Gering, Neb.   
The participants also voted for their favorite Studebakers and trophies were presented Sunday evening at a banquet held at the VFW. A 1952 Champion Convertible owned by Lee Randall of Broadus, Mont., was the car selected. And again, the 1958 Transtar truck belonging to the Youngs received the most votes for the best truck from the participants as well as from the visitors.  
Plaques were given to various individual members for their cars or trucks.
The Hard Luck award went to Leroy and Vicky Andrews, from Longmont, Colo., in compensation for for their 1963 Cruiser overheating on the cruise through Custer State Park.  
Custer Area Chamber of Commerce director Dawn Murray chose to give that organization’s honor to Chuck and Karen Donkle from Las Animas, Colo., who exhibited their 1962 Lark Taxi.
Custer Mayor Bob Brown had visited the car show and announced that the city’s award should be given to the 1937 President owned by Ford Stoecker.
A plaque is given yearly in honor of Ingvar Vik, Turning Wheels magazine columnist, to note significant restoration of a vehicle. It was presented to John and Debra Rothenberger of Brandon for excellence in maintaining their 1960 Lark.
The Jim Neuzil award was presented for a successfully modified vehicle.
The Dakotas Chapter Vice President’s award was given by Dave Hammerquist to Paul Heinert of Custer for his 1956 Flight Hawk.  
One individual member was also honored on Sunday evening. The Studebaker Family Award was presented to Mary Miller of Gering, Neb.  Her accomplishments were noted including her several decades of volunteering in leadership positions, planning the 1999 International Meet in Rapid City, helping to form the Dakotas Chapter and attending and showing her Studebaker cars at Custer’s Labor Day shows.
Members of the Dakotas Chapter of SDC also remembered two members who had died since their last banquet—Mary Breyer of Hot Springs and Arle Reetz of Custer.  
In addition to the cars and trucks shown at the car show on Sunday, visitors also enjoyed seeing other Studebaker-related products. One was a 1915 restored sleigh, brought by Paul Heinert, which reminded viewers that the Studebaker Company first produced wagons and other forms of  transportation before automobiles.
A small restored child’s wagon owned by Dave Zaner of Westminster, Colo., was also displayed.  It had been utilized in past decades to haul small items and also enjoyed by children. It was manufactured by the Studebaker Co. and sold through popular large stores or catalogs such as Sears & Roebuck. A child’s pedal car painted like the truck and located by the Transtar Truck was exhibited by  Rob Young.   
Also enjoyable for  Dakotas Chapter SDC members were several different Studebakers which were shown on Sunday for the first time. In addition, two vehicles were present  which had recently won top awards in their classes at the annual SDC International Meet.  These were the 1959 Silver Hawk owned by Larry and Diane Hradec, of Norfolk, Neb., and the 1954 modified Commander owned by Rex and Verlee Raasch of Waukee, Iowa.
Several other activities were enjoyed by SDC members over the Labor Day Weekend. A welcome reception on Friday night treated those arriving early for the weekend to beverages and snacks. The Super 8 provided the group with a new large tent for their use that evening and also for the outdoor breakfast on Saturday morning.  Pancakes and sausages were prepared by Tom Cantral and Grant Coffin and served by Steve Ault.  
This was followed by a meeting a little later to give directions and  to those driving on the cruise through Custer State Park.  A map showed the route Wayne Andrews, Dakotas chapter vice president, had selected. Participants drove past Mount Rushmore to the Watson picnic area in Keystone.  A scenic stop on the route can be viewed  in video format at dakotas
tudebaker.com.  
Members then returned to Custer or to Custer State Park to use their day pass for a dinner there or seeing the scenery and wildlife.