09/11/2026
International Drive Your Studebaker Out Of A Wildfire Day
On September 12, 2015, the second Saturday of September, declared "International Drive Your Studebaker Day" by the Studebaker Drivers Club, I was on a day off from the Harbin Hot Springs auto shop where my mechanic and I performed repairs and maintenance on nearly 50 cars, trucks, vans and golf carts in the Harbin fleet.
I was enjoying a get-together with Bay Area Studebaker friends.
When I returned home, Harbin and Lake County residents were evacuating from "The Valley Fire".
In addition to managing the Harbin auto shop and fleet I wore many other hats at Harbin, and one was as the Emergency Response Team Coordinator, so when I got back, I coordinated, and I coordinated until the very last minute.
In addition to other fire protocols that had to be followed, Harbin had 500 guests on property that day plus about 70 on-property residents that we had to make sure got out.
Although I personally trained Harbin staff on fire prevention and evacuation procedures, I really had no comprehension of how fierce this fire was going to be.
When I finally fled, I didn't even consider that I would never see my home or stuff again, so I just grabbed my cat and my cash and I left, thinking, I'll be back soon... I guess I thought that the road and creek in front of my house and the road and large parking lot and open expanse in front of the auto shop would act as a fire-break....but, no.
I did get out with my two shiny black things, "Elsie" the Studebaker and "Shadow" my cat who would be my emotional support animal during my post trauma time.
At the time of The Fire, I had been storing Elsie in a friend's garage about 5 miles from my Harbin home.
His garage (and home) burned so it may well be that, if not for "International Drive Your Studebaker Day" the car I bought in 1971 at age 16 may have met its doom.
The Valley Fire destroyed 76,000 acres in Lake Cunty including nearly all the buildings at Harbin, including the auto shop and my cabin.
I'd been out in my '52 Land Cruiser that morning so I was already in my vehicle of choice to save from the fire. Unfortunately, I could only drive one out. I lost a, thankfully well-insured '59 Lark VIII hardtop I co-owned with my girlfriend Jennifer and my fleet vehicle the "Toyotabaker" a '93 Camry wagon I'd mildly cutomized. Several Harbin fleet vehicles were saved but the majority were lost, including our '59 Chevrolet fire engine.
I saw several other collector cars in the evacuation traffic, including a Gullwing Mercedes and a a Jaguar XK-120/140.
My good Sacramento and Bay Area Studebaker friends, some of whom I'd been with on International Drive Your Studebaker Day the morning of the fire, extended their loving care in ways I'll never forget. They had a raffle to benefit me, and dear John Brayton stored Elsie for me for some time after...
This year International Drive Your Studebaker Day again falls on September 12.
Happily, the 2026 "Fire Season" in southern Oregon has left the Talent/Phoenix area unscathed, unlike in 2020 when on September 8th, the "Almeda Fire" forced me to evacuate and many neighbors lost their homes.
This year I'll again be out in my Firestorm Evacuation Vehicle of choice, enjoying this weekend's car shows, as a participant in the annual Lake of the Woods Resort car show and as a spectator at the prestigious, invitation-only "Gathering at the Oaks" car show at the Rogue Valley Country Club.
