Stude-Fest 2026

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, surely you’re aware that today in International Drive Your Studebaker Day. Or, as my friend Vic cheekily calls it, “International Push Your Studebaker Day.” For Vic had been my neighbor many years ago, when I owned a 1960 Studebaker Hawk. And thus Vic witnessed the not-infrequent appearance of a AAA towtruck bringing home the Hawk from its travels.

Those of you who have read my memoir know that that Studebaker Hawk was my first car, purchased immediately after I got my license, and it remained my main source of transportation for a good 20 years. I finally felt compelled to get rid of after I found myself married with a young son. My wife wouldn’t let our son ride in “that death trap,” and in any event I didn’t have the time or money or space to maintain it.

You’d think that would be the end of the story. But about five years ago I moved to the town of Placerville, California, which, it turns out, is (almost) literally haunted by John Studebaker. As every schoolchild knows, John Studebaker was lured to Placerville during the Gold Rush, but quickly realized his fortune could be earned not in the gold mines but by selling provisions to the miners. Studebaker took a job at a local blacksmith’s shop, and in his off hours built wheelbarrows that he sold to the miners. After he amassed enough money, he returned to South Bend Indiana, where he and his brothers formed the Studebaker Manufacturing Company. They built wagons for the Union during the Civil War, and in the early 20th century they began producing automobiles. Like my 1960 Hawk.

Living in the town that played such a crucial part in the history of Studebaker reignited my interest in the marque, and so earlier this year I went out and got me another Studebaker–this time a 1963 Studebaker Avanti.

The Avanti was Studebaker’s last-ditch effort to turn around its flagging sales figures. It was conceived as a “luxury sports car,” designed by the legendary industrial designer Raymond Loewy during a six-week crash program in Palm Springs. Alas, the Avanti could not save the company and Studebaker shuttered its South Bend factory in 1964.

So the Avanti, like all Studebakers, is considered an “orphan car,” and their owners keep them on the road thanks to a network of specialty vendors and the mighty Studebaker Drivers Club. It’s the SDC that promotes “International Drive Your Studebaker Day” each year.

So today I did my part: I took the Avanti on a nice, scenic drive along CA Route 49 into downtown Placerville.

When I got into town, I parked at the site of that old blacksmith’s shop where John Studebaker built his wheelbarrows some 175 years ago. (The site is now a bagel shop.)

I also made a drive out to the Placerville Fairgrounds, where every year they hold the “John M. Studebaker Wheelbarrow Races.” I’m not making this up.

Placerville also has a road named Studebaker Road. I have not been able to determine if John Studebaker had any direct connection to this street, or if it simply honors him. If you have any leads, please share them!

Sadly, I did not see anyone else driving a Studebaker in town. (There is local guy who owns four Studebakers from the 1920s, but they were all parked in his driveway this morning. Maybe he’ll be making a drive later this afternoon.) I am aware that there’s a local Studebaker group based in Sacramento that’s driving together to the Sacramento River Delta for lunch. Me, I mainly just cruised around Placerville’s Main Street.

No matter how you choose to celebrate International Drive Your Studebaker Day, I hope all my readers have a Stude-tastic holiday.