BALLARAT, VICTORIA

9 - 13TH APRIL 2009

From the President of the Studebaker Car Club Of Australia - Dave Pink

Dear Friends,

As we prepare to celebrate the 40^th Anniversary of our car club in December 2007 we want to continue the celebrations into the 18^th Anniversary of the National Meet in 2009.  To celebrate these great events we want as many members as possible both here in Australia and overseas to join us with their cars, their stories and most of all their enthusiasm for STUDEBAKERS. 

The organising committee listed below as you have seen have already begun planning for the 18^th National. Ballarat is a town in Central Victoria, full of Gold Rush and Eureka Uprising history.  It dates back to the 1850’s,as does the STUDEBAKER, to a time when the fever of finding gold caused a rush of people from around the world to travel to Ballarat to make their fortune. 

Accommodation has been booked at Bell Tower Conference Centre. This venue will house all our delegates, and for those wishing to stay at a caravan park there is one just up the road or one close to the concours site for your convenience. All formal and informal dinners will be held on site at the Bell Tower, which also has a massive car park for trailers and extra cars that you might like to bring along.  Every unit has back and front access and also space for your car. 

Michael, Leon and myself are looking at the North Gardens, part of the Botanical Gardens that has Lake Wendouree at its centre for the concours.  It has shade, toilets and a large area for cars to be displayed at their best, plus all the beauty of the Gardens with the Begonias at their peak during Easter. 

Jan and Ralph are travelling around the area to locate a great drive on Sunday. The historic Clunes and Daylesford, plus major tourist attractions such as Kryal Castle, Sovereign Hill and the Eureka Centre are all being considered.

Margaret and Phillip will be handling registration details and of course that will begin as soon as the Queensland meet concludes.  The Harrington’s will be the first port of call for all your inquiries but remember all the committee can be contacted via our email address and post office box. 

Michael will continue to update the web with information as it becomes confirmed.   This link will be a vital part of our communication strategy. Richard, Wayne and Colin will organise sponsorship And Promotional Gear for the Meet. 

The Committee is endeavouring to have an example of as many Studebaker models, as possible, in attendance at the Meet.  To achieve this we would like to contact every owner in Australia over the next two years to encourage him or her to join us at Ballarat.  

If this does happen then we will certainly STRIKE GOLD at Ballarat.   

Dave Pink - President