CAR CLUB OF THE MONTH SUBMISSION GUIDELINES To submit a club for consideration as an upcoming featured Car Club, please send a link to the club’s website (if applicable) and include with the submission the name and location of the club as well as the full first and last name, email address and/or phone number of a club leader or spokesperson who can supply the necessary information and imagery. Submissions may be emailed to [email protected], or mailed in hard-copy or flash-drive form to: Mecum Auctions 445 South Main Street Walworth, WI 53184 ATTN: Mecum Magazine Submission SKYLINE DRIVE CORVETTE CLUB OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA By Brian Thalhammer Back in the days before surfing the internet and spending weekend nights capturing moments for apps like Instagram and Facebook, young adults across the nation were chasing the spirit of the bustling streets via evening car cruises and meetups—cool and collected gatherings concocted by like-minded young men of the 1950s and ‘60s. The original founding members of the Skyline Drive Corvette Club (SDCC), known in the beginning as the Skyline Drive Corvettes (SDC) of Reading, Pennsylvania, enjoyed the same kind of after-supper weekend cruising while meeting new friends, chatting about their cars and holding small assemblies at each other’s homes when usual meeting grounds like parking lots and parks were off-limits. Dedicated rides down Penn Street in Reading, under the watchful eye of Reading Police to curb any rowdy behavior, were a regular occurrence for these gear-appreciative young men, most of whom were in their 20s, along with a few recent veterans looking to share an appreciation for the Chevrolet Corvette. This common interest led to the first recorded meeting of the SDC, held in June 1964 at the home of John Catalano, one of the 26 members who ignited a following that developed into what the SDCC is today—a club focused on a passion for the iconic Chevrolet Corvette, exciting events and generous community support. As the group of ‘Vette aficionados began to grow, the SDCC sent a letter to the General Motors Company in 1965 to register the club, and soon after, the SDCC’s club Charter was approved. The fuse had been lit—several members of the SDCC went on to participate in the historic Duryea Hillclimb and other surrounding races under the name “SDC’s Flying Fibers hill climb racing team,” breaking competition records, setting new ones and enjoying the power and performance their modified Corvettes were designed for. While the SDCC was built on the thrill-seeking energy of young, single men, the club’s demographics slowly began to change as those young men matured and members started families, eventually developing events that would accommodate the wives and children who learned to love the same Chevrolets that fueled the club’s fire from the very beginning. While the member demographics have changed over the years, the fun and community- focused efforts have grown more vital than ever before. Since the birth of the SDCC, members have willingly sacrificed their time to support organizations like the Vietnam Memorial, The American Cancer Society, PA Breast Cancer Coalitions, Autism Awareness, the 9/11 Memorial, Toys for Tots, The Animal Rescue League of Berks County and so many more community-focused organizations. Striving to maintain a positive, healthy and happy life for all within their communities and beyond, the SDCC is a club of about 250 members that properly define what “fun, love and positivity” is while having the opportunity to enjoy their iconic dual-flag sports cars as they provide support to worthy organizations. As selfless community support takes up a large portion of the SDCC calendar, the rest of the year is chock-full of fun events and meets curated to entertain members with the excitement one commonly looks for in a car club. One annual event that has achieved its own following is SDCC’s In-Vette-Tational, an event that debuted in 1979 and included 128 // MECUM.COM
