Back‐to‐back international Studebaker events converge at Richland County Fairgrounds, September 9‐14. The Antique Studebaker Club (ASC) holds its International Meet September 9‐10, followed by the even larger 55th Annual Studebaker Drivers Club (SDC) International Meet, September 11‐14.
Studebaker owners from across North America and beyond will bring their classic cars to Mansfield for a week of history, fun, bragging rights and comradery. Throughout the event, members show their vehicles, share information and memories and participate in concours judging.
Car enthusiasts who are not club members are invited to the Studebaker Car Show on Saturday, September 14 at the fairgrounds. For a nominal gate fee of $10 (free to those 15 and younger), the public will enjoy full access to check out all the cars, exhibits and parts vendors. Some 400 cars are expected, including original, restored, modified, and modern cars, as well as larger, commercial-style trucks and fire trucks.
Adding to the rarity of this event, custom‐built battery‐powered coaches dubbed “Tommy and Peg” will be together for the first time in more than 80 years. Starting in 1909, the two vehicles were used in Washington D.C. at the Capitol to transport U.S. Senators and Representatives in the 760‐foot underground tunnel connecting the Russell Senate Office Building with the Capitol.
“We are honored to welcome the Studebaker Drivers Club International to the Mansfield area,” said Lee Tasseff, President, Destination Mansfield – Richland County. “Beyond economic impact to our area, we appreciate the prestige events like this bring to a region.” The Meets are expected to generate over $1 million in economic impact for our region.
This is the first International Meet to be held by the SDC in Ohio in 42 years and involves the participation of the host chapter, Heart of Ohio, Tri-State, Ohio Region, and Western Lake Erie chapters of SDC, as well as thousands of members from the US and around the world.
For more information on the SDC Meet and the car show, visit sdcmeet.com (link: sdcmeet.com). For the clubs’ membership information, visit studebakerdriversclub.com (link: studebakerdriversclub.com) and theantiquestudebakerclub.com (link: theantiquestudebakerclub.com).
STUDEBAKER HISTORY AND CONNECTION TO OUR REGION:
In 1835, John Clement Studebaker moved from Pennsylvania with his three sons, Henry, Clement and John Mohler Studebaker to set up a home and blacksmith shop on US 250 in Ashland, Ohio. A historical marker stands at this location. Two additional sons, Peter and Jacob were born here and all would go on to found Studebaker Corporation. The legacy of Studebaker Corporation began in 1848 when the family moved from Ashland, Ohio to South Bend, Indiana and the two oldest Studebaker Brothers, Henry and Clement opened the H&C Blacksmith shop. The Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company was formed in the mid 1870’s and produced horse‐drawn buggies through WWI. Studebaker produced its first gas‐powered car in 1902 with the Garford. Throughout its history, the Studebaker Company produced horse drawn, electric, and gas‐powered cars, the only company to produce all these types. Later they produced cars, buses, trucks of all sizes, and military vehicles. U.S. production ended in 1963 with the closing of the South Bend plant and two years later, production ended in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
The Studebaker Drivers Club (SDC) was founded in 1962 by the late Harry Barnes with the purpose of honoring the Studebaker automobile and all Studebaker-related products. With more than 11,500 members, there are more than 100 chartered SDC local chapters around the world.
For up-to-date information about Mansfield and Richland County attractions and events, visit the website of Destination Mansfield – Richland County.
