The Vintage Motor Car Club of America

An update from the Technical Vice President, Steve Fitzgerald

- posted April 9, 2025

I have a cousin who lost everything, including his restored collectible vehicles, in one of those fast-moving, devastating California fires. He was in a company car and could not get home in time. He escaped with the clothes he was wearing and his laptop. I began to think of technical ways we can help in circumstances such as these. I have friends who have many vehicles in their collections. One with 61 vehicles in his collection had a fire come quite close to his nine-acre property. Which car does one save?

An idea came to me that every club member should have a list of members ready to help and put these in the form of a phone tree. They would only need to have the top two or three saved on their cell phone. A pickup truck or SUV load of members could arrive to drive cars out of harm’s way. On short notice, a member could load essential documents and such in his/her cars to be driven away by fellow members. Hopefully, the member has photocopies of essential documents kept at a place other than his/her home.

A phone tree is a simple, low-tech idea, especially if a member has prearranged with others on how to access his/her vehicles and where the keys are if not in the vehicles. This is a good reason to keep all vehicles in running condition.

I plan to implement this at our regular Studebaker Drivers’ Club meeting. Talk about this at your VMCCA meetings. Insurance never replaces all the hard work we put into our cars. Yes, I know, the fellow with 61 cars should give some project cars away to young folks who could enliven our clubs.

Steve Fitzgerald
VMCCA Technical Vice President