FROM THE
PRESIDENT
W
Magazine
Editor
Lewis Schucart
Proofreader
Barbara Regna
Layout & Design
Jaeson Kay
Chapters Editor
Thomas Gipe
Technical Editor
Jon Myer
Avanti Owners Association International
www.aoai.org
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Chapter Coordinator
Finance
Board member
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Mike Baker
Jeff Grohs
Thomas Gorr
Jason Ford
Don Jones
Chuck Decker
Jo Guerrieri
Hugh Edfors
Max Starkey
Bob Ziff
Larry Rembold
1468 Pippin Dr., Greenfield, IN 46140 317.467.4260
5760 Tamarack Way, Clayton, CA 94517 925.672.4059
609 Millview, Batavia, IL 60510 630.879.8897
E. 1171 Hwy. 29, Luxemburg, WI 54217 920.845.5641
PO Box 3307, Easton, PA 18042 610.428.3299
#38 Shagbark Ln., Murphysboro, IL 62966 618.684.4848
190 West Shore Road, Grand Isle, VT 802.865.5404
6 S. 180 New Hope Road., Naperville, IL 60540 630.355.5134
1635 W. Old Stone Road, Peru, IN 46970
17 N. Delmorr Avenue, Suite 1, Morrisville, PA 19067-6278
1250 NW Riverview Avenue, Gresham, OR 97030
Mike Baker
Jeff Grohs
Thomas Gorr
Jason Ford
Don Jones
Jo Guerrieri
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Chapter Coordinator
Board member
Max Starkey
Chuck Decker
Recognition Committee
Finance
mikebaker@aoai.org
jgrohs@aoai.org
tgorr@aoai.org
jason@aoai.org
donjones@aoai.org
chuck@aoai.org
jguerrieri@aoai.org
hugh@aoai.org
max@aoai.org
bob@aoai.org
lrembold@aoai.org
Hugh Edfors
Bob Ziff
Larry Rembold
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
AOAI Staff
Back Issues
Avanti II Historian
Kelly/Cafaro Historian
SDC/AOAI Liason
Studebaker Avanti Historian
Mike Barany
James W. Verba
Roy Steiner
Denny Lockmon
Bill Waterhouse
Advisors
Editor
All Avantis
AOAI Legal Advisor
1963-1985 Avantis
Memorabilia Chairman
Mission Statement: The Avanti Owners Association International, Inc. has been formed to
promote awareness and position the Avanti automobile as one of the most desirable U.S.
made cars ever manufactured, to document and preserve the history of the Avanti Automobile
Lewis Schucart
Jon Myer
Chuck Decker
George Dimitsas
Don Lindner
Avanti Magazine wants to publish your stories about restoration, ownership, car related events
attended or other situations in which you and your Avanti are involved. Please mail all stories or
contributions to the editor, or e-mail at EDITOR@AOAI.ORG
The information contained herein is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. All recommendations on parts and procedures are made without any guarantees on the part of the authors or the
organization. Because of the quality of parts, materials and methods are beyond our control. The AOAI, its chapters, officers, board of directors and publication authors disclaim all liability incurred in
connection with use of this information. Views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the organization.
Information contained in organization publications may not be used for any illegal purpose.
Avanti Magazine (USPS 019-656 ISSN-0889-6267), the official publication of the Avanti Owners Association International (AOAI), is published quarterly (March, June, September & December)
by the AOAI. EDITOR & PUBLICATION OFFICE: Lewis Schucart, 12102 Josephine Marie Drive, Maryland Heights, MO, 63043-4200: (314) 298-9991.
PRINTING: The Sheridan Press, 450 Fame Avenue, Hanover, PA, 17331. (717) 632-3535. Subscription is included with membership and is not for sale to nonmembers of the AOAI - $25 annually:
Canada and other countries - $31 annually. Magazine contents are copyright protected; all rights reserved.
Reprint rights automatically given to all chapter editors. Others should contact the AOAI editor. All materials submi tted are subject to AOAI’s right to edit.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes and returns to: AOAI, c/o Cornerstone Registration LTD., P.O. BOX 1743 Maple Grove, MN 55311-6743.
Periodical postage paid at Hazelwood, Missouri and additional mailing offices.
CANADA AGREEMENT #40734502; Canada Return Address: Station A, P.O. Box 54, Windsor, Ontario N9A 6J5; E-mail: editor@aoai.org
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AVANTI Magazine
Summer/Fall 2007 Issue 139
e had record
crowds at the
2007 South
Bend International Meet.
The Indiana Chapter was
proud to host everyone.
I’m proud to announce
the AOAI Rocky Mountain
Chapter was chartered
with Frank Nekvasil as the
President.
The Jamison Inn was
completely surrounded
with Avantis. Once again I
met a lot of new folks;
unfortunately, the week
went by so quickly. The fun
began on Monday night
with an ice cream social at
the Studebaker National
Museum (SNM). On
Tuesday morning, there
was lots of participation in
the membership meeting
prior to the board meeting.
Great ideas were shared
for growing the
membership and getting
the younger generation
involved. We’ve already
implemented some of the
suggestions like putting
Avanti videos on YouTube.
com. I encourage you to
submit your own.
Just think if everyone
gave one gift membership
to a relative or friend, our
membership would
DOUBLE. Think about this
as an exciting alternative
for birthdays or Christmas.
If you have other ideas,
please let the board of
directors know.
❏
On Wednesday morning,
the AOAI Life Member
plaque dedication
ceremony was held. It was
a pleasure to meet several
other life members and
share some stories. You too
can become a life member
for $500 and have your
name added to the AOAI
Life Member plaque on
display in the SNM
Clubroom. Call
Cornerstone Registration
(763) 420-7829 or visit
www.aoai.org to purchase a
life membership.
❏
A HUGE THANKS to
Dennis & Christine Zmyslo,
owners of Tom’s Car Care,
the Coffee Spot Café and
the Water Works Car
Wash, for sponsoring the
barbecue. We expected
around 150 people and
ended up serving 300
hungry folks. We sold out
of the meet shirts thanks to
Connie O’Neal, Norma
Sexton and Chris Parker.
We have begun production
on the 2008 Avanti
calendar. Order yours
today for shipment this
fall.
❏
Board member Jo
Guerrieri did a fantastic
job arranging the Avanti
Timeline Display. It was
impressive to see the
Avantis in a half oval
display on the concours
field. The Avanti timeline
brochure is posted on the
AOAI website for
download. These are great
conversation pieces to
hand out to the general
public. I recently attended
a Raytheon Six Sigma
training session and gave
my 30 cohorts a copy of the
Avanti timeline brochure.
Several of my classmates
were from Canada,
Australia, and Germany
Summer/Fall 2007 Issue 139
and had never heard of the
Avanti.
❏
Congratulations to the
2007 AOAI distinguished
member award winners
and chapter newsletter
editors. This is a small
token of appreciation for
all you do to promote the
association and continued
promotion of the Avanti.
See Max Starkey’s,
Recognition Committee
Chairman, complete
report.
A big round of applause
goes to John Hull, our
keynote speaker, for
sharing many rare stories
and videos during our
traditional AOAI banquet
Thursday evening. John
provided interesting
commentary throughout
the evening.
❏
Besides seeing all the
beautiful Avantis, I got the
rare opportunity to drive a
few. I drove Jason Ford’s
R2 Hurst 4-speed Avanti,
fishtailing back to the
Jamison Inn. Steve James
let me drive his 2006 pearl
white Avanti to the
concours and AOAI
banquet. David Ward
allowed me to drive his
Avanti given to his father,
Rodger Ward, for winning
the 1962 Indianapolis 500
by Studebaker. The
greatest thrill was driving
it around South Bend,
down to the Indy Motor
Speedway and finally a
short trip on the
Indianapolis Motor
Speedway track! These
were all intense rides.
❏
Since writing my last
president’s message, the
20th Anniversary Avanti
700R4 transmission wasn’t
shifting into 3rd gear or
overdrive. I parked it and
put 63R3172 back into
service. These Studebakers
are amazing. I changed the
oil, filled the gas tank and
hooked up a battery and it
started right up. I’m
putting the final touches to
Goldilocks – 63R2259 this
fall.
❏
In mid-August, AOAI
participated in the
Woodward Dream Cruise
to promote our great
association. We had around
20 Avantis and
Studebakers on display.
Thanks to AOAI treasurer
Jason Ford for
coordinating this event.
❏
Save the date for the
2008 AOAI International
Meet in Lancaster, PA
during September.
Remember to drive your
Avanti!
Mike
AVANTI Magazine
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