Local car enthusiasts will be excited to learn that the Keystone Region Chapter of the Studebaker Drivers Club (SDC) will hold its Atlantic Zone Meet on Wednesday through Saturday, July 24 to 27, at the Classic Auto Mall in Morgantown. The event will include a swap meet, a display of Studebakers and a cruise-in open to cars and trucks of all makes and models. This is the first time that the event has been held locally.

Events will open on July 24 with the swap meet and vehicle display from noon to 8 p.m. Studebakers will be on display both outside and in the two convention rooms at the Holiday Inn Morgantown, which is connected to the auto mall. "We have over 50 cars registered for the outdoor show," said SDC member Jim Sinclair. "The indoor show is for any independent brand - not Ford, Chevy or Chrysler. Independents are the old Studebakers, the Kaisers and the Packards."

July 24 will also feature a cruise-in and Food Truck Night. "We are doing an all-brand cruise night with food vendors from 3 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday night," Sinclair noted. "Pop's Grill (food truck) and Lickity Split from New Holland will be here, and the Churchtown ladies auxiliary will bring their food trailer."

The car show will continue on Thursday and Friday, July 25 and 26, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. On July 26 there will be an outdoor Studebaker Show and Shine and visitors will be able to vote for People's Choice awards. There will be a car cruise to Historic Poole Forge for the awards ceremony and barbecue from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

The event will conclude on July 27 from 8 a.m. to noon with a Cars and Coffee event, which is open to all makes and models of cars and trucks. Breakfast and coffee vendors will be featured. There will also be a display of American Motors vehicles.

According to a history of the Studebakers, members of the Studebaker family came to South Bend, Ind., from Germany in 1736. At first, the company built horse-drawn farm wagons. Studebaker entered the automotive business in 1902. In addition to the original South Bend vehicle plants, separate buildings were added through the years, including a plant in Detroit and one in Canada.

"Studebaker has deep roots in Lancaster County. The mother of the five Studebaker brothers, two of which started the wagon and automobile business, was Rebecca Mohler of the Mohler Church congregation (in Ephrata)," Sinclair noted.

After an unsuccessful attempt to merge with Packard in 1954, the South Bend plant stopped producing automobiles in December of 1963. The company decided to concentrate production in its small assembly plant in Canada. "The last Studebaker was built in 1966 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada," Sinclair added.

He noted that the Studebaker is an international favorite with many collectors. "The club has over 10,000 members worldwide. Our local chapter is basically central Pennsylvania, and we have roughly 225 members," said Sinclair. "Our club meets monthly at different locations. We just held our national convention last month in Dubuque, Iowa."

"We have been nicknamed the action chapter because we have more events and we are the drivers' club, so we try to encourage (people to drive their Studebakers)," he added.

One of the Studebakers in Sinclair's collection is a blue 1962 Champ. "I have been driving (Studebakers) since I was 16. I am a life member of the club," he said. "The engine in my (1962) truck was in my first car when I was 16. My truck when it was new was shipped from Modesta, California, which is the hometown of George Lucas."

The Classic Auto Mall and the Holiday Inn are located at 6180 Morgantown Road, Morgantown. A complete schedule of events is available at http://www.sdckeystoneregion.com. Additional information is also available at http://www.facebook.com/SDCKeystoneRegionInc by choosing "Events."