America’s Car Museum (ACM) Displays 1964 Studebaker Daytona Coupe

America’s Car Museum (ACM), home of the Grand Finish for The Great Race 2019, will display a 1964 Studebaker Daytona coupe that placed second in the Expert division and eighth overall in a field of 120 entries through January 2020. The Studebaker, which features a 350-cubic-inch V-8 engine and power-shift automatic transmission, is owned by Steve and Janet Hedke, and the pair, along with daughter Allison, have been participating in the Great Race since 2000. 2019 marks their second race representing ACM.

“The Great Race is the most fun you can have in an old car,” said Steve Hedke. “We’ve traveled the back roads of nearly every state across this amazing country. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime adventure you can do every year. We’ve been thrilled to have ACM’s support and encouragement.”

This year, Team Hedke not only received 12 Ace Awards – presented for perfect leg scores completed over each day of the event – but received the “My Best Friend” award, which recognized the team as the most supportive of other racers. Along with those honors, the Hedkes also landed a total of five main trophies.

“We are very pleased to have the Hedkes’ Great Race car on display at LeMay-America’s Car Museum,” said Renee Crist, ACM’s Curator of Collections. “They truly represent the spirit of the Museum, and America’s passion and excitement for competitive driving.”

The Great Race first began in 1983 as a cross-country long distance vintage vehicle rally. This year’s 2,300-mile journey started on June 22 in Riverside, California and ended on June 30 in Tacoma, Washington at ACM. The nine-day race is a test of time, controlled speed and endurance open to cars 45 years or older. The 120 foreign and domestic vehicles entered range in years from the 1900’s to the early ’70s, and may be modified for safety but otherwise must meet period-correct standards in terms of racing modifications. Each car has an age factor applied to their score which helps to provide an advantage to older cars and level the playing field.

The Great Race Studebaker is currently on display in ACM’s entrance gallery, where it will remain through January 2020.