by Rama K. Ramaswamy
The Modifiers Car Club is all about “classic cars, people and fun.” The club meets monthly to plan events, share car knowledge, discuss ongoing member car projects, preferred auto parts sources, repair secrets and classic car finds. The Modifiers name comes from the hot-rodding world, where individuals took pride in customizing their cars for style and performance. According to Wellesley Community Service Executive Director Stephen Beach, “this is an historical first where the Wellesley Community Center is sponsoring the oldest car club in town. Many of these club members are true artisans in that they can handcraft and machine parts to suit their individual projects. There are many examples within this club to illustrate these capabilities.” The Wellesley Community Center already has a history of sponsoring “Wheels of Wellesley,” wherein The Modifiers play a key role to ensure success, year after year. The Modifiers was started in 1962 - that’s the same time period as George Lucas’ “American Graffiti,” in which Wolfman Jack crooned: “Where were you in ’62?”
When the club got started, it was initially a group of high school pals who loved to tinker with cars and figure out how to make them go faster. As the decade went from the Kennedy administration to the Johnson administration, things heated up and the early Modifiers got job offers from Uncle Sam. Consequently, the club lay dormant for much of the 1960s and 1970s. Largely under the leadership of Bob Gobiel, the club re-organized itself in 2010, including and building on input from Dick Barrick, Gary Buckley, Richard Knights and Arthur Taddeo, some of whom continue to represent the membership. The Modifiers currently serve the Metro West community and focus on all the aspects of car culture. Members discuss everything from design trends to engineering, and engage in healthy debates over fixing and restoring a variety of vehicles including pre-War classics, post-War hot-rods, muscle cars, and the occasional rat-rod, as well.
What exactly is a rat-rod? Come to the show, sponsored by the Wellesley Community Center on September 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., to find out.
For more information on the Club, visit http://www.modifierscarclub.com or http://www.modifierscarshow.com.
