Packard owners from as far away as the Carolinas and Washington State will take part in the four-day event for aficionados of the antique automobiles.
The public is invited to attend Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. to view the elegant luxury cars. They will be displayed in the parking areas around the Stagecoach Inn Motel during the judging process, said Tommy Baccaro, publicity chairman for the event.
Baccaro said attendance for the public is free and the photo opportunities will be many.
In past years the meet has seen as many as 40-75 cars and up to 200 members, he said.
“The economy may have an effect on that this year,” Baccaro said. “Right now we have 61 members registered bringing 50 cars. But that can change since we always have late registrants on Friday.”
Friday morning Packard owners will motor caravan style to Fort Hood led by their sponsor, Gordon Logan, of Salado.
“We’ll tour the 1st Cavalry Division Museum and have lunch on post, then return to Salado mid-afternoon,” Baccaro said.
The group will avoid freeways and take the scenic, winding route on two lane blacktops.
“Times have changed,” said Baccaro. “Today people drive their four-door sedans on the highway or freeway. Packards were popular in an era when people motored through winding country lanes in their roadsters or in their two-door coupes.”
“And Packard insisted on the proper French pronunciation of coupé (coop-AYE),” Baccaro said. “They said coops were for chickens. Packard made a coupé.”
Saturday the public will get an opportunity to talk with owners to find out what mystique about a Packard inspires them to restore them to factory new condition.
“‘The Packard was the motorcar of heads of state prior to the Great Depression of the 1930s,” Baccaro said. “Packard began making mid-priced luxury cars that the public could afford in the 1940s and 1950s.”
He said at least a couple of cars each year are offered for sale at Salado.
Two notable registrants will attend - Wendell Hawkins and Bob Aller. Both are a part of the Packard Motor Company’s history and heritage.
Hawkins was the last Packard dealer in Texas before the company merged with Studebaker. His dealership was located in downtown Houston at Milam and Hadley one block from West Gray.
Aller was an engineer with Packard in Detroit until it closed its plant in 1956. He gives seminars today on technical aspects of the machine.
Other scheduled events are for members only and include, an officers meeting, a technical seminar and a banquet and awards ceremony. The meet will end Sunday morning after an informal breakfast business meeting.
The Texas Packard Association sponsors the meet. It is comprised of four Clubs, said Baccaro. They are the Lone Star Packard Club of Houston, Packard North Texas of Dallas, Heart of Texas Packard Club representing San Antonio Austin and N. Central Texas and the ArklaTex Packard Club from the Texarkana area.
For information go online to www.oldride.com/events/5990515.html or www.texaspackardmeet.com/2009SaladoInformation.html.
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32nd annual Packard Meet at Stagecoach Inn in Salado
Thursday-Sunday, March 26-29
Schedule of events:
Thursday, Friday March 26-27
Late registration for club members
Friday, March 27:
Club members motor to Fort Hood 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Catered buffet for club members in Longhorn Room, 6 p.m.
Saturday, March 28:
Swap meet, Packard parts, 8-10 a.m.
Members arrange cars for judging, 8-10 a.m.
Public viewing of cars, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Packard technical seminars, club members, 2-6 p.m.
Banquet, club members, Stagecoach Inn Restaurant, 6-8 p.m.
Awards ceremony, club members, Longhorn Room, 8 p.m.
Sunday, March 29:
Informal closing breakfast in coffee shop, 9 a.m.
