Reminiscences
A look at things long gone, and hopefully forgotten. © 2009 by R. T. Hamilton Brown
A look at things long gone, and hopefully forgotten. © 2009 by R. T. Hamilton Brown
Here we have the ultimate Hero Driver with one of his many admirers, the lovely and talented Miss County Line Road of 1962, posing with the incredible 1962 Porsche Beater and Wembly, the dog. The two round objects above the license plate are membership badges in the Central Indiana Volkswagen Club and the Volkswagen Club of America. Barely discernible at the bottom of the license plate is the badge of the ODHDC which will be explained below.
Photo taken in 1962 by an unknown photographer.
Photo taken in 1962 by an unknown photographer.
This is the badge of the Outer Drive Hero Driver's Club. A group of mostly sport car owners who traveled the venerable Outer Drive in Chicago in the 1950s before the Dan Ryan and other expressways made it less of a necessity for travel into downtown Chicago. Compared with today's traffic it would have been considered a drive-in-the-country; but, back in the dark ages of the fifties, it was the ultimate commuting road warrior's challenge. Bumper to bumper cars, going faster than common sense dictated, trying to avoid the occasional accident and the traffic cops. Surrounded by beautiful park like scenery with Lake Michigan on the east side seldom seen by most drivers as they concentrated on the cars within inches of their own. The ODHDC member's owning mostly tiny little drophead coupes half the weight of the giants around them. The ODHDC was blessed with the participation of the above unnamed rally team of intrepid VW club members who had ventured into the big city in search of, "Just one more conquest."
Sadly, the results of that venture have been lost in time.
Sadly, the results of that venture have been lost in time.
An original Volkswagen Club of America badge. This one suffered a little abuse on the front bumper from many miles of gravel rally roads before being moved to the back. |
Another original. The Central Indian Volkswagen Club badge from 1960. The CIVC was associated with the VWOA and participated in many of their national events. As VWs become more and more popular and joined mainstream America as just another car driven by non-auto enthusiasts the club eventually faded out in the late sixties or early seventies. Are there any later day members around? |
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Several members, thinking their VWs were that other rear engine German car Porsche,
joined the Sports Car Club of America and the regional affiliate.
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joined the Sports Car Club of America and the regional affiliate.
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Click the page directly above to see the
CIVC newsletter, Vagen Views, printed fifty years ago. |
Almost everything we did had a dash plaque for the entrants. Most were rectangular, but every now and then we went way out and had something wild. We were so avant-garde |
Following you will find the beginning.........
February 11, 1962. A red letter day even though our poor man's press, the Vagen Views, only did black. On the right side under Guests look at the 7th place team with 78 points. That was the first time I saw the young lady who I still see every day of my life. I feel totally blessed.
February 11, 1962. A red letter day even though our poor man's press, the Vagen Views, only did black. On the right side under Guests look at the 7th place team with 78 points. That was the first time I saw the young lady who I still see every day of my life. I feel totally blessed.
