It was on December 27, 1971 that I saw a footnote in an Automobile Quarterly article mentioning a Chrysler 300 Club and an R.E. Dupin at 3303 Curran Rd. Louisville, KY 40205. So I wrote a letter to Mr. Dupin asking for more information. It didn’t take long to receive a handwritten letter from him dated January 5, 1972 describing the group and inviting me to join. (See letters attached) I was so impressed with the handwritten letter in an age of typed form letters that I wrote him back thanking him, and also sent in my $5.00 to join the Club. (Yep, 5 bucks) He said there would be an upcoming Meet in Irwin, PA on May 6.

I decided to go to this gathering. The trip would be 350 miles for me and it was a one day gathering. So it was a 700 mile round trip. No hotel, no other activities and no banquet in those days. It was strictly a gathering of 300 enthusiasts and their cars. I have no idea what hour I left that morning, but it must have been about 6 AM. A buddy of mine and I drove directly to Irwin and met the group in a shopping center parking lot. We then drove to a beautiful field where the cars were arranged by year in a semi-circle. My 300L was on one end of the semi-circle being the newest car and only L there. It was an awe inspiring sight. To say I was hooked would be an understatement considering it was the first of 73 Meets I have now attended. We stayed through the afternoon and then left for home. It was long day but one to remembered forever.

My 300L, which was bought new on May 25, 1965, was not yet 7 years old and was like a new car. I always had another car so it was not driven in inclement weather.

So it has been 51 years since I met many people who have become long time friends. I don’t recall who all was at that Irwin Meet, but I do remember quite a few that have become good friends. Listed alphabetically the list includes Jim Bartuska, Gil and Carol Cunningham, Duane and Donna DeButts, Robert Dupin III, Lew Frazer, Arnold and Johneen Lueth, Terry McTaggart, Allan and Gloria Moon, George and Eleanor Riehl, Eric Sorensen, and Dave Werner. Eric was elected President that day, but has not been part of the Club for many years. Sadly seven of those shown above are no longer with us.

Looking over the roster from back then, there were a lot of other people who very likely were there also, but there is no listing of who attended.

The next Meet was in Rockville, MD hosted by Lew Frazer. Lew was a bit older than most who were part of the Club and a real character. He often told the story of how he happened to attend the first gathering in Holly, MI in July, 1970. He heard about some kind of gathering to be held there and decided to go. He drove from Annandale, VA to Holly, MI, about 600 miles, and when he got there he just rode around the town until he spotted a bunch of 300s outside 207 Center St. home of the Cunninghams. He just walked in and became a charter member.

As this is written, I am about to attend the Spring, 2023 Meet in Hershey, PA. Another adventure to add to my Chrysler 300 Club memories.