Hudson Hornets Roll Into Sandpoint | Community Spirit

Each fall Sandpoint and the surrounding hillsides burn with the beauty of the changing fall colors. People breathe in the fresh mountain air and enjoy the fleeting scenery.

On Saturday, October 20th, some of the temporary beauty was provided by the Gem State Chapter of the Hudson, Essex & Terraplane car club.

“My dad brought me home from the hospital in one and I’ve had one ever since,” said Charlie Nau, sitting in the front seat of his 1957 Hudson Hornet.

He drove from Missoula, Montana along with his club-mates Greg Maroney and Kathy Burrington of Kalispel, Montana, to Sandpoint for the seventh and final meeting of the year for the club.

Eight of the historic cars made the trip this year. A forecast of rain and possibly snow kept many of the 128 members away.

“Can you imagine driving a 1937 Terraplane all the way from Kalispell in a snow storm?” asked Kathy Burrington while sitting comfortably in the passenger’s seat of Nau’s Hudson.

Maroney would have been happy to drive the Terraplane from Kalispel, but, sometimes, it’s just best to sit back and enjoy the ride of a friend’s car.

Most people walking on First Street didn’t notice the Hudson invasion. Most of them were too busy looking in shop windows or trying to avoid the swirling leaves blowing through town to stop a take a look at the cars.

The big fenders and chrome trim harkens back to another time, another America. The Hudson’s are from an era when a car gave you freedom. You drove it to the drive-in burger joint where the girl on roller skates would deliver fries, burgers and a shake. You drove it to the drive-in theater to watch the latest Elvis movie on the big screen.

Back then cars had personalities and each model year could be identified by small changes.

Now the cars are passed by without a glimpse from someone checking their phone for the latest text.

For members of the club, the cars are a link to their youth.

“My dad was a Hudson dealer down in Berkley,” said Dave Shellenger, sitting in his 1953 Hudson Hornet on First Street. “I grew up with them.” Shellenger made the trip to Sandpoint from his home in Medical Lake.

“They only made 3,600 that year,” said Nau of his ’57 Hudson. “It’s known as the ice cream car because it looks like Neapolitan.” Little did anyone know in 1957 that there wouldn’t be anymore ice cream cars, or Hudsons.

The car company had merged with the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation three years earlier and a decision was made to phase out the Hudson name.

The last Hudson rolled off the production line June 25th, 1957.

“My dad used to say, if it’s in the air, it’s an airplane, if it’s on water it’s a hydroplane and if it’s on the ground, it’s a Terraplane,” said Shellenger.

For the most part, the cars will now be put to bed until next spring.

The club gets together in January, but the cars are left behind, waiting for when they can once again hit the warm open roads.

Each fall Sandpoint and the surrounding hillsides burn with the beauty of the changing fall colors. People breathe in the fresh mountain air and enjoy the fleeting scenery.

On Saturday, October 20th, some of the temporary beauty was provided by the Gem State Chapter of the Hudson, Essex & Terraplane car club.

“My dad brought me home from the hospital in one and I’ve had one ever since,” said Charlie Nau, sitting in the front seat of his 1957 Hudson.

He drove from Missoula, Montana along with his club-mates Greg Maroney and Kathy Burrington of Kalispel, Montana, to Sandpoint for the seventh and final meeting of the year for the club.

Eight of the historic cars made the trip this year. A forecast of rain and possibly snow kept many of the members away.

“Can you imagine driving a 1937 Terraplane all the way from Kalispell in a snow storm?” asked Kathy Burrington while sitting comfortably in the passenger’s seat of Nau’s Hudson.

Maroney would have been happy to drive the Terraplane from Kalispel, but, sometimes, it’s just best to sit back and enjoy the ride of a friend’s car.

Most people walking on First Street didn’t notice the Hudson invasion. Most of them were too busy looking in shop windows or trying to avoid the swirling leaves blowing through town to stop a take a look at the cars.

The big fenders and chrome trim harkens back to another time, another America. The Hudson’s are from an era when a car gave you freedom. You drove it to the drive-in burger joint where the girl on roller skates would deliver fries, burgers and a shake. You drove it to the drive-in theater to watch the latest Elvis movie on the big screen.

Back then cars had personalities and each model year could be identified by small changes.

Now the cars are passed by without a glimpse from someone checking their phone for the latest text.

For members of the club, the cars are a link to their youth.

“My dad was a Hudson dealer down in Berkley,” said Dave Shellenger, sitting in his 1953 Hudson Hornet on First Street. “I grew up with them.” Shellenger made the trip to Sandpoint from his home in Medical Lake.

“They only made 3,600 that year,” said Nau of his ’57 Hudson. “It’s known as the ice cream car because it looks like Neapolitan.” Little did anyone know in 1957 that there wouldn’t be anymore ice cream cars, or Hudsons.

The car company had merged with the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation three years earlier and a decision was made to phase out the Hudson name.

The last Hudson rolled off the production line June 25th, 1957.

“My dad used to say, if it’s in the air, it’s an airplane, if it’s on water it’s a hydroplane and if it’s on the ground, it’s a Terraplane,” said Shellenger.

For the most part, the cars will now be put to bed until next spring.

The club gets together in January, but the cars are left behind, waiting for when they can once again hit the warm open roads.

Click here fore more information about the Hudson Essex & Terraplane car club.