Message from the President:

Dear Studebaker Enthusiast,

Welcome to our website.  We hope you will find our content informative and helpful.  We are always pleased to help anyone in need of parts, advice, resources.  We are a friendly social group who enjoy, picnics, museums, road trips, car shows and holiday events.  We sponsor several charities with our club.  We welcome the comradery of all those interested in the history and hobby of our vehicles.

                                                                                                                       Keith Wahl MD
                                                                                                                         

 

 

The San Diego County Chapter of the Studebaker Drivers Club serves greater San Diego County and has been in existence for 50 years. The Studebaker Drivers Club was founded in 1962 by Harry Barns.  At one time the national club had 12,000 members. Our San Diego club was founded by a group of twenty-five members.  In 1970 a meeting was held in the home of Lester & Ester (Croteau) Schmidt.  A letter was sent to the zone coordinator.  John Cummings was able to obtain the official charter in 1972. The chapter’s first president was Les Schmidt.  His wife Esther held every office through the years.  Meetings were held in Spring Valley and various other places. John and Ester eventually arranged with the Allied Gardens Rec Center to hold meetings which lasted for several years. John started the tradition of saying the Pledge of Allegiance before every meeting.  The early club hosted an International Meet on the Queen Mary, Long Beach in 1996. 

Les and Esther came to San Diego from Milwaukee, Wisconsin in a newly purchased 1965 Daytona. Les became a collector, hobbyist and used parts supplier. At one time he had 125 Studebakers!  Keith Rider, Roy Heckers, Colin Fort and John Cummings were early members.

The San Diego County Chapter has hosted the “Cool Classic Car Show” most recently at Spanish Landing which is a welcome event for all our friends from the west coast and Arizona.  As a member of the Pacific Southwest Zone  which includes California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Hawaii, we hosted a Zone Meet in San Diego in 2011 at the Town and Country Hotel. 

The San Diego County Chapter offers technical support, parts and service information that can be found on this website.  We welcome new members. By joining our club, attending meetings and car shows you'll be exposed to the entire world of dedicated Studebaker enthusiasts who will be happy to help you keep your car on the road or just share stories about their hobby.  The Chapter also participates in events sponsored by The BCOIE, The Los Angeles Chapter and the Arizona Chapters.