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Skip's Corner 04/25/2016

4/25/2016

4 Comments

 

                               1961 Coachmen Rally

Picture
April 15, 2016
Spirit of the Rivers Studio
822 Franklin Street, Manitowoc, Wisconsin.


Nan Rower Morris, Margaret Dalton McHale, and Moria Mackert Krueger visited my studio some weeks ago. Moria happened to mention that she and Aimee Paque, (Aimee Paque Wittwer), had won (actually ROUTED) the Coachmen Rally in 1961 in a red and pink polka-dotted white Renault Dauphine named Desdemona. While, as Moria indicated in her letter to me, this might be a bitter memory to some CoachMEN, I thought it well worthy of posting in Skip’s Corner.  Here is Moria’s recounting of the event


Picture
Left to Right; Nan Rower Morris, Margaret Dalton McHale, Moria Mackert Krueger

Dear Skip,
I finally connected with Aimee, and we find that both of our memories are pretty foggy. We, of course, were the only all female team entered in the rally. The members of the club were not very thrilled about our presence. I think the car did have its red and pink polka dots at the time of the great event. 
​
I suspect members of this club had been involved in moving my car to people's lawns and placing
it upside down one time. (The police officer was actually going to give me a ticket for improper parking. I had to ask him just how I would do that and why I would do that. He changed his mind.) I do remember that the first rally clue told us to turn in a nautical direction (starboard, I think). Neither of us knew what the term meant. We just sat and screamed for a while. The clues were really hard, and I do believe dumb luck was on our side.  Both of us were quite surprised and very elated when we reached the finish line before any other car.  As the other entrants trickled in, they were obviously dismayed when they recognized that we appeared to be the winners. Other than my brother, Cass, none of them would talk to us or congratulate us. Of course, word got around Lincoln at jet speed on the next school day. I'm sure the Coachmen would be more gracious today.

Eventually, I took my Renault Dauphine (Desdemona) to California where I attended college. When the little car developed major problems, I had to sell her. Much to my everlasting regret, I was
unable to remove the plaque declaring us the winners from its extremely too-tightly-glued place of honor on the lining to the car nextto the driver's visor.


​Moria




​


Here is a copy of the photo of a model of her Renault, which Moria sent to me. She also mentioned that the 1961 Flambeau has a picture of Desdemona, pre polka dots, on page 38.

Side note;
 (Moria became a judge.  I don't know the details.)



​Skip
Picture
Moria's "Pre Polka Dot" Renault
Picture
1961 Coachmen Rally Winner
Picture
Moria Mackert LHS 62
Picture Aimee Paque LHS 62

​

Picture
Nan Rower LHS 62
Picture
Margaret Dalton LHS 62
4 Comments
Harv
4/26/2016 06:57:43 am

Moria / Aimee .. . may I be the first to congratulate you on your admirable win! You're right, it was a tough rally. Who knew the route would be planned by a sailor . . "Starboard"? Why couldn't they just say "turn right"! I remember, on that day, I had MUCH time to contemplate that thought. So if I did not properly congratulate you young ladies on that day (assuming, of course, that I arrived at the finish line before everyone went home) then accept my humble apologies and CONGRATULATIONS ON A RALLY WELL WON! Harv

Reply
aimee
4/28/2016 11:15:40 am

Harv, Good grief ! What you lacked in Auto Navigational skills, you have made up in your writing skills and gracious apology. And, no, I don't think 50 years has been too long to wait for this response ! We ARE from Manitowoc, after all ! Thank you again. I've had such wonderful memories reliving "The Coachman Rally". Aimee

Reply
Nan Morris link
4/28/2016 12:10:27 pm

Thanks to you folks for filling in my memory gap on the Coachmen Rally! I also participated in that event as the navigator for Gale Schleunes. I have often wondered how that event came to be and now I have been enlightened by those whose dementia appears less developed. Of course, I have repressed that event given its traumatic effect on my budding navigational skills. Gale totally blamed me for our failure to win and in the 50 some odd years since that day he never fails to mention it when I see him! I suppose I have ruined it for him ever taking directions from his wife!!!. I didn't even remember that Desdemona took first place but let me also extend belated congratulations to the ladies for a job well done!!! Perhaps we could have a rematch? Nan
.

Reply



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