February 28, 1965. It is a special date for members of the Lower Michigan Region Vintage Chevrolet Club of America, since it was the first official regional meeting held at Paul and Rosie Hammond’s home in Lansing, Michigan.
For Clayton Rector, the region’s first director, it was a dream come true. In 1964, he spearheaded the effort to set up a VCCA region in Michigan by sending out letters to Michigan members of the national organization. Although the response was poor, he sent out another notice six months later with a meeting date, time and place. About 30 to 35 members showed up and the Lower Michigan Region (LMR) was a reality. (Since Michigan is geographically divided into two areas, “lower” and “upper,” the national organization had a vision that someday there would be two VCCA regions. So far that has not happened.)
With Rector as the director, other club officers were chosen which included: Lew Clark, assistant director; Bill Linsner, treasurer; Lee Smith, recording secretary; and Bob Moore, corresponding secretary. The board consisted of Clayton Rector, Howard Reinke, Pinky Randall, Clyde Hale and Paul Hammond. Others who attended the meeting were Bob Donohoe, Jim Payne, Dave Brockette, Howard Dunlap, Buck Matthews and Bill White.
According to historian Winnie Crawford, the charter members present at the February 28, 1965, meeting were:
- Jerry Murray
- Bob Moore, #00921
- James Payne, #01046
- Pinky Randall, #00037
- Clayton Rector
- Howard Reinke, #00913
- Lee Smith, #00844
- Ken Vanheusen
- Lew Clark, #00575
- Howard Dunlap, #00291
- Clyde Hale, #0100
- Paul Hammond, #01069
- Dave Leitner
- William Linsner
- Art Maki, #00926
- Ken Malkfroid
In the early years of the club, region members owned mostly 1933 and 1934 Chevys, which were considered the newer antiques. During the summer of 1965, many of the members participated in three events: a picnic outing at Paul Hammond’s home, a hot dog roast at Pinky Randall’s after a visit to the Randall family lighthouse, and a jaunt to Grand Rapids.