I have recently been introduced to a bunch of old geezers that belong to a club here in Stockton Ca. called The Franklin Syndicate, They have been active since 1949, and claim to be the oldest continualy active car club in the U.S. Anyone know of a club that can claim a longer life? I know that there are clubs that were formed earlier, died, and were reactivated, but what about ones that stayed alive for the duration. One guy has been in the club since 1956! I think this is amazing, concidering how many clubs I have seen come and go in the last ten years or so.
Chris, We've had alot of car clubs in New England, and I suspect from the enclosed thread, that Safariknut may know some real old time ones. Good luck. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=150560
Road Mates in Toronto Ontario Canada, have been going since 1956 with the same President...Jeff Norwell is a member. and they are the coolest guys.
I heard it was the Stags from Ogden, Utah. I've seen the display in the NHRA Museum about them and I think is was on this subject??... Lurker Mick is a member, maybe he could shead some light on it...
The Prowlers in San Diego have been active for many, many years. I don't know if any members are hambers, but the history is well documented. I hope someone with more knowledge than I have [that should be easy] pipes up with exact dates.
Rather than wait for someone else to do the work I did the search on the Prowlers. They claim, correctly , to be one of the oldest. They were started in the spring of 1947 and are still going strong. The annual Prowlers Picnic is one of the best events in San Diego.
the Road Devils were established in 1946 were still going strong with chapters all over the place........ RDFL !!!!!
Why would you close this? Its about history the of Hot Rods and Customs....unlike most of the stupid shit people post about!!! If you dont like don't read it...who made you the H.A.M.B police?
The Cluster Busters Hot Rod Club was founded and has been continously active since Jan of 1948. This also documented in the Peterson Muesem. Around ten years ago, the club did some research and discovered they were the oldest continuiously active club east of the Rocky Mountains. I think there were one or two older clubs in California, but don't know the names.
I would think that some of the SCTA clubs, Gear Grinders, Rod Riders, ect. may be older. The SCTA was founded in 1937 of existing clubs, and I believe some of todays clubs are the same clubs from '37. Dan?
What a dumb ass responce. It's about letting old guys have their dreams, it's not the most important issue on the planet who was first.
Oldest club was probably the *Knight Riders* of Fullerton, formed at Fullerton High school in 1934.....Duke Hallock was an original member and cast the first few Hallock windshields in the high school metal shop.........Bernie Couch was a member and he still lives in Fulerton today and still has his Deuce roadster for about the last 60 years! Yhe Knight Riders changerd their name to the California Roadsters in 1940 (I think) and they still exist today.....some of the notable members are Bernie Couch, Dick Roseberry, Frank Currie and Mark Morton of HOP UP online magazine.......check out their site: http://calroadsters.com/clubbio.html Brucie
I know the Century Toppers were one of the first car clubs in Cali They formed around 47 possibly 48 and are still running strong but today they are known as the Pharoahs!! And the Toppers are the m/c chapter of the Club..
There was a club up in Bedrock, I do not remember the name, but it started the day after Fred Flinstone invented the wheel and I think it is still active today.
We 3rd gen. Pandraggers long thought our club to have been established in 1950 Fresno, but recently learned it began in 1947 (also in Fresno). An OG member happened to meet us @ Paso, with his original coat... Great post! How long have the L.A. Roadsters been around? Pasadena Roadster Club been around since the 40's, I beleive.
I myself think its interesting.I'm pretty sure theres alot more who do also. I think your responce was more "dumb ass"!!lol JimV
We may not the oldest clubs in the Nation, We are the oldest in Michigan, I am a Member of the MHRA "Road Knights", MHRA associated in 1951, All the remaining clubs in the MHRA are still very active, We are still Host the Detroit Autorama which we started in 1953,... some of the club do shows, or swap meets, The Road Knights put on the Barn Show,....... We have a websight at www.mhraonline.org The seven clubs are,... MMAC ( Motorcity Modified Auto Club) -----1948 Bearing Burners Auto Club ---------------- 1950 Road Knights Auto Club ------------------- 1951 Competition Specialists Auto Club --------- 1954 Spark Plugs ------------------------------ 1955 Millwinders ------------------------------- 1955 Shifters ---------------------------------- 1955 We have a lot of 50 year members in the association, and in our club we have Harry, a active member sense 1952.
I believe that the L.A. Roadsters were formed in 1957..... http://www.laroadsters.com/2007/index.html Brucie
Road Runners est: 1937 http://www.ussarcherfish.com/roadrunners/ Roadrunners Glendale Sidewinders are older by at least a year.
My buddies are from a car club xcalled Options that formed in 1958 and been active all the way,and my buddy Mike knows that for sure because his dad was the original president..
This is really cool! The fact that these guys have hung together for so many years is amazing! In the fast paced world we live in nowadays, where everything is disposable and temporary, clubs like these are an inspiration. Thanks for the responses, and support these old guys, they know more about this hobby than 95% of the people on this board put together. The storys I heard in just a few hours of hanging out with these guys blew me away. Keep 'em coming, This is the history of our hobby/passion, and it is important that it's not lost. The Franklin Syndicate has realzed that they are getting old and are concidering opening up for new, younger members. Now I've just gotta get them over calling me a 'Rat Rodder" (sorry guys, bad word), and accept that not everyone canafford a $20,000 Himsel flame job, or wants one for that matter.
Just stumbled across this old thread and was surprised to see no one mentioned that The Outriders, a currently active club that was started in 1932. Think that makes them the oldest ?!?!?!?
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