By Cynthia
The 2022 Western Regional meet of the Hudson Essex Terraplane Club is being held Friday and Saturday, June 24 and 25, at the Ramada Plaza and Convention Center in Sheridan, Wyo.
There were attendees from several states including Montana, Idaho, Nebraska and Colorado. Many drove their Hudson cars, but some brought them to Sheridan in a trailer.
Registration opened Thursday, and the group toured several sites in Sheridan, including the Trail End Mansion. During the weekend there were also tours to Gillette to see the Frontier Auto Museum and a working coal mine.
Ray Klien, Buffalo, and one of the directors of the Western Region Hudson Essex Terraplane Club International, talked about his Hudson cars.
Jeff Wandler, owner of the Frontier Auto Museum in Gillette, brought his 1949 Hudson Commodore.
Hudson Motor Car Company made Hudson and other cars from 1909 until 1954, when they merged with Nash-Kelvinator and formed American Motors Company. Cars with the Hudson name continued to be made until 1957, when it was discontinued by the company.
Hudson’s were the stars of the early days of stock car racing, with Herb Thomas dominating the 1953 NASCAR Grand National season in his 1951 Hudson Hornet.
Smitti Pock drove his 1954 Hudson Hornet up from Golden, Colorado. He said that 1954 was the last ‘true Hudson’ before they merged with Nash Rambler. He said he has had this car for four years, and he said he ‘chased it for nine years’ before he finally got the chance to purchase it.
Pock said he grew up around Hudsons, they were a family affair.
Pock also added that he has been in the Hudson Club for 46 years, and he had a 20-year, 30-year and 40-year pin. He said the 20-year pin was actually a replica of what Hudson gave out at the factory to their employees after 20 years.
Shane Baird, of Judith Gap, Montana drove his Hudson about 240 miles to come to the meet, and he said his 1948 Hudson ‘did really well, I just cruise ‘er at 70, and it doesn’t work her too hard.” Baird has had his Hudson for six years.
Klein said that the meet was a success. “We have 22 people registered. It’s slow because of gas prices. People come from all over the west, and it costs them a fortune to drive out, or even trailer the cars out.”
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Last modified: June 24, 2022