It was on December 27,
1971 that I saw a footnote in an Automobile Quarterly article
mentioning a Chrysler 300 Club and an R.E. Dupin at 3303 Curran Rd.
Louisville, KY 40205. So I wrote a letter to Mr. Dupin asking for
more information. It didn’t take long to receive a handwritten
letter from him dated January 5, 1972 describing the group and
inviting me to join. (See letters attached) I was so impressed with
the handwritten letter in an age of typed form letters that I wrote
him back thanking him, and also sent in my $5.00 to join the Club.
(Yep, 5 bucks) He said there would be an upcoming Meet in Irwin, PA
on May 6.
I decided to go to this
gathering. The trip would be 350 miles for me and it was a one day
gathering. So it was a 700 mile round trip. No hotel, no other
activities and no banquet in those days. It was strictly a gathering
of 300 enthusiasts and their cars. I have no idea what hour I left
that morning, but it must have been about 6 AM. A buddy of mine and
I drove directly to Irwin and met the group in a shopping center
parking lot. We then drove to a beautiful field where the cars were
arranged by year in a semi-circle. My 300L was on one end of the
semi-circle being the newest car and only L there. It was an awe
inspiring sight. To say I was hooked would be an understatement
considering it was the first of 73 Meets I have now attended. We
stayed through the afternoon and then left for home. It was long day
but one to remembered forever.
My 300L, which was bought
new on May 25, 1965, was not yet 7 years old and was like a new car.
I always had another car so it was not driven in inclement weather.
So it has been 51 years
since I met many people who have become long time friends. I don’t
recall who all was at that Irwin Meet, but I do remember quite a few
that have become good friends. Listed alphabetically the list
includes Jim Bartuska, Gil and Carol Cunningham, Duane and Donna
DeButts, Robert Dupin III, Lew Frazer, Arnold and Johneen Lueth,
Terry McTaggart, Allan and Gloria Moon, George and Eleanor Riehl,
Eric Sorensen, and Dave Werner. Eric was elected President that day,
but has not been part of the Club for many years. Sadly seven of
those shown above are no longer with us.
Looking over the roster
from back then, there were a lot of other people who very likely were
there also, but there is no listing of who attended.
The next Meet was in
Rockville, MD hosted by Lew Frazer. Lew was a bit older than most who
were part of the Club and a real character. He often told the story
of how he happened to attend the first gathering in Holly, MI in
July, 1970. He heard about some kind of gathering to be held there
and decided to go. He drove from Annandale, VA to Holly, MI, about
600 miles, and when he got there he just rode around the town until
he spotted a bunch of 300s outside 207 Center St. home of the
Cunninghams. He just walked in and became a charter member.
As this is written, I am
about to attend the Spring, 2023 Meet in Hershey, PA. Another
adventure to add to my Chrysler 300 Club memories.