Lakesters Car Club

 Much of the history of the club has been handed down via word of mouth.  It was started in the late 1950’s (April 1958?) by high school students.  The most complete description of the club comes from an article in the Sentinel dated Thursday, December 18, 1958, portions of the article:

“ These boys don’t pass stalled Cars”

The Christmas spirit of “giving” is as all-year-round feature of Fairmont’s Lakesters Car Club.  Five hundred motorist’s in difficulty have had help from members of the group since April.

Members know it because they had 500 cards printed at that time.  The cards says, in effect, “You have been helped by a member of the Lakesters Car Club”, and they are given to motorists after some courtesy has been performed – such as helping to change a tire, going after gasoline, or pushing a stalled car.

The club was organized by high school boys early this year.  It was formed to promote courtesy and safety on the highways by encouraging young men’s interest in automotive mechanics, operation and safety.

The club has between 30 and 35 active members between 16 and 20 years of age.  Officers at the time were Jerry Pietan, president and John Riegel, treasurer.

Fairmont police have backed the program from its beginning via Major Jones.  The VFW provided a place to meet with a VFW member present at all the meetings.

The club now rents a two-stall club garage where members can work on their cars. They have purchased a 1931 roadster to be made into a hot rod for the drag strip.  The club is working on a fund raiser to help promote the club and improve their garage and to hold a car show next summer.

Here is a listing of some of the original car club members.  Some are deceased and some are still participating in the old car nostalgia yet today: Mike Anderson, Neil Benschoter, Dave Carney, Ron Edhlund, Tom Felber, Don Ford, Warren Haeckel, Rodney Olson, Wayne Olson, Jerry Pietan, and Mike Pietan John Riegel, Jerry Warnick, Robby Willard, Don Leaper

Note : It is this enthusiasm and spirit that started the club in 1958 and the new Lakesters Car Club will continue to carry on this tradition.  We have one of the original members in the current club who is helping to do just that. Warren “Bo” Hackel was in the orginal group and was a driving force in getting the new group together.

Some memorabilia items have been donated to the Martin County Historical Society.