Driving Again
Members of the Tucson British Car Registrar often go to local car shows together, where they can talk cars with other enthusiasts. (Photo courtesy of Geo Hahn)
“A lot of club members will bring their kids or even their grandkids to the event, which is really fun,” says Hadinger, who’s been a member since 2009. “When someone has family in town, they will bring them to a meeting. It’s a big family. They all really are there for each other.” Two brothers in the club helped Hadinger restore her 1956 Chevy 210 Post bers also have a 1937 Rollsthat she inherited from her The Old Pueblo Mustang Club has Royce and 1920s and 1950s father. Her children have, in cars like a 1968 Ford Mustang Coupe. fact, grown up around the Bentleys. (Photo courtesy of Laurie Slawson) club and classic cars. Many of Cohen’s cars have “They have a love of classtories behind them. sics. In fact, they call it ‘the One of his vehicles was first fancy car,’” Hadinger says. owned by a serviceman in “It’s definitely been a part France who drove it in Europe. of their childhood. When I Another of his cars was driven joined the club, I was pregby a U.S. diplomat in Sweden. nant with my youngest. It He has met the previous owntook us six years to restore it. ers. We didn’t have a lot of monCohen says it is possible to ey, so we just took our time find out about the history of vewith it. We’d go see the proghicles if one wishes. ress on it and take the kids “You can get a certificate that with us.” shows the day your car was Hadinger shares a love of made, where it was shipped,” classic cars with her husband, Cohen says. “It’s nice to track whose dad had a classic car down the history of your car if when he was a child. you can.” “We both grew up going Before the pandemic, memto classic car shows. When bers regularly met to go on we were dating, we contindrives on Wednesdays and Satued to do it,” Hadinger says. urdays to Mount Lemmon or “They just have been part of wine country and have breakour lives since we were little fast together. A few times a kids.” year, members head farther out Many club members either to places such as Palm Springs, have their original cars or Las Vegas, Southern California inherited vehicles from paror El Paso. “On a weekend, you can have The Classic Chevy Club of Tucson attracts members with vehicles such as ents. One member still owns a 1956 Chevy 210 Post. (Photo courtesy of Melisa Hadinger) a Chevy truck he had when decent roads and not a lot of he and his wife were dating in high school traffic outside of city,” Cohen says. “We individuals often still have a love of Chev— 60 years ago. can meet somewhere, get out of the city rolet cars. “That, to me, is cool — the longevity of — be it out into the desert somewhere or A nonprofit organization and affiliated up into the south area, into the Chaparral member of Classic Chevy International, it. Hopefully his kids and grandkids will — and you have an open road with a 50- the Classic Chevy Club of Tucson has op- continue that story with that vehicle,” to 60-year-old convertible. What more erated here since 1985. It specifically fo- Hadinger says. Hadinger says classic cars have a discuses on Chevys and GM vehicles that are could you want?” tinctive sound and smell that is different 1972 or older. The more than 65 members range in from other vehicles. Tucson British Car Registrar “It’s definitely a thrill ride every time,” age from the 40s to 90s, with Chevy NoMembership dues: $35 Hadinger says. mads, Chevy Chevelles, the 1957 Chevy Info: tucsonbritish.com “The sound of the engine, it’s just so Bel Air, high-end custom vehicles, woodbeefy, loud and wonderful. There is an old bed trucks, and cars from the 1940s. Classic Chevy Club of Tucson Melisa Hadinger, the public relations car smell, and I love it. You have to slam Growing up, many people owned officer and club webmaster, says it has a the door. You can’t just close the door, Cars...continues on page 11 Chevy cars — or their parents did. These family-friendly environment.
Local car clubs break down their benefits
BY LAURA LATZKO Each classic car has its own history and story to share. Those who own these vehicles often have strong memories attached to them. Through local car clubs, aficionados meet likeminded people with a love of cars, especially certain makes or models. Tucson offers several different car club options, many of which are specific to certain types of cars. The clubs had to scale down or take a break during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but they are beginning to open again.
Tucson British Car Registrar The Tucson British Car Registrar has a rich history that goes back almost 40 years. President Ben Cohen says the club evolved from focusing solely on MGs to embracing other cars. It now has a variety, including Austin-Healeys, MGs, Mini Coopers, Jaguars, Morgans and Triumphs — primarily from the 1950s to 1970s. The club has about 138 members, with close to 180 cars. “Many members are multiple car owners or, as we say, are ‘multiple offenders,’” Cohen says. Some individuals inherited cars from their family. “There are a few people in the club who have that family history, where it’s been in their families for generations,” Cohen says. “We have three-generation cars. The grandkid now is driving the car.” Cohen, who started with the 30-yearold club in 1994, became interested in British cars in the 1970s. He first bought an Austin-Healey in college. He now has a number of British cars, including rare ones like a Lotus that is one of 1,000. “You feel lucky to be able to find it, let alone own it and drive it,” Cohen says. The Tucson British Car Registrar mem-
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