The Salt Creek Sports Car Club’s 40th anniversary celebration dinner was held on September 18 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Naperville. Fifty-nine Salts (current and former members, friends, and relatives) were in attendance. The evening started with cocktails and reminiscing around a table covered with memorabilia from the past 40 years. Almost every edition of "Salt Creek Speaks" was there along with several scrap books from the 60’s and 70’s. A number of people brought their prized trophies, dash plaques, and other mementos to share. It was evident that some traditions have carried through the years. Thanks to all who brought items to display.

Several founding members were in attendance, including Marv Carlson (one of the original 10 charter members) and his wife Nancy (the first secretary of the Club), John Weinberger (#20), Barbara Bonow-Deer (#21). Several of the Salts regaled us with recollections of the very early days of the Club. Barb Bonow-Deer and the late Bill Bonow, Sr. were the first editors of Salt Creek Speaks. The first edition was printed in November 1959. Many early editions of the newsletter and some Nancy Carlson’s early minutes still exist in the Club’s archives. John, Barb, and Carl Middlege each talked about the early days of Salt Creek; little did they know that it would still be around 40 years later.

Tom Burke (who was active in the Club from the middle 60’s through the 70’s so he’s not quite as old as dirt) spoke about his interest in the Buffalo Prairie Gang Camp Foundation. This is an organization that runs a camp near Peoria for children with serious illnesses. It is an affiliate of the Hole in the Wall Gang Camps founded by Paul Newman. Tom has been active leader in this organization for the last several years.

The formal part of the program was brought to a close with a rousing rendition of the Salt Creek anthem "Working together" -- yes, we really do have a Salt Creek song. During the 60’s Steve Styers wrote the lyrics to be sung to the tune of "Puff the Magic Dragon". Steve brought sheet music so we could all join in singing those prophetic words "While other car clubs come and go, our end we do not hear, and when another year has past Salt Creek will still be here."

It was an evening of meeting old friends and making new acquaintances. It sure brought back a lot of fond memories of our 25 years of associating with a great group of people with a special interest of having fun centered around cars. But it showed that it truly is the people that make the Club, the cars are just an excuse.

We had some nice door prizes donated by present and former Salt Creekers: John Weinberger couldn't bring us an old Ferrari, so the next best thing was a Ferrari Jacket that was won by Steve Styers. Thanks John.

Burt Levy (another member from the 60’s) has written a couple of great books – fictional accounts of the sports car culture and racing in the 50’s. He donated a copy of "The Last Open Road" and its new sequel "Montezuma’s Ferrari" as door prizes. (Burt was busy racing and selling his newest book and wasn’t able to be with us for the anniversary celebration.) Sharon Chavoen and Denise Gainer won the books. Thanks, Burt for donating signed editions. I’m sure the winners and their husbands will enjoy the read.

Tom Schultz, the most senior active member in the Club (#230), donated a box full of car care items. By some (devious) method Henry Bene’ came up with the combination to the lock on the box and took home its contents. We appreciate the donation as well at the time Tom put into this unique prize.

Butch Deer (DRE-Deer Racing Enterprises) donated T-shirts and caps. Thanks to Butch (and Barb Bonow-Deer).

Jeff Barrow was kind enough to send several items from Allied Signal (can coozees, etc). Thanks Jeff (and Claudia and Steve Barrow for suggesting you donate these items or be disowned). Kay Springer, (Claudia’s sister) donated purses and key rings from Auto Glass Specialists. Thanks Kay.

The 40^th Anniversary Banquet was the result of hard work by committee members: Tom Schultz, Deb Cali, Cathy Hochberg, Claudia Barrow and Linda Strain. Deb researched hotels and we were able to get the Wyndham Garden on a Saturday in September. Tom ordered the 40th anniversary T-shirts and served as master of ceremonies (did you notice the tux??) for part of the evening. He and Deb did most of the decorating.

Cathy entered all 675+ members into a database for the mailing and future reference plus making all corrections. Claudia printed the letters and forms and kept records of the responses. She also made all of the neat name tags and ordered the tack pins that were on each name tag. Linda Strain put the memory booklet together, gathered door prizes and was the contact person working with the hotel. She spent a number of hours reading the old "Salt Creek Speaks" to gather information from the past and she organized the old newsletters and put them in notebooks.

Bob Strain served as Master of Ceremonies for part of the evening and made the covers for the Memory Books. Claudia & Steve also stocked the hospitality room with snacks & beverages.

The evening was saved on film by none other than our illustrious Webmaster, Sam Hochberg. He took many pictures throughout the evening and posted some of them on the Website. Sam also had our Website up and going on a laptop computer at the dinner. Thanks Sam. As you can see our "Working Together" motto lives on with each event that we organize.

We only have 9 years before we start planning Salt Creek’s Golden 50^th Anniversary. 

40^th Anniversary Committee