Madison Avenue Sports Car Driving & Chowder Society

As readers of Turtle Garage know, I am a regular participant at the Greenwich Concours d’ Elegance. Over the last twenty years, this annual event has moved up and become one of the more prestigious car shows in North America. The Greenwich Concours was founded in 1996 by Bruce and Genia Wennerstrom. Sadly, the Wennerstrom’s both recently passed away but their children have stepped up to continue the family tradition. Participants in the Greenwich Concours were recently invited to attend a luncheon of the Madison Avenue Sports Car Driving & Chowder Society (MASCDCS).

The MASCDCS operates under the following rules:

1. We have no known purpose.
2. We have accomplished nothing.
3. We ain’t mad at nobody.

The history of the Club is chronicled in detail on their website:

MASCDCS was founded in 1957 by Art Peck and King Moore who led the club until 1971. Austie Clark and Bruce Wennerstrom took over the leadership until Austie’s passing in 1991. Bruce and Genia Wennerstrom carried on the famed club until Genia left us in 2011. Bruce was the lone “Top Bastard” until his passing in 2015. In 2016, an Advisory Board was formed to guide the future of the club.

Speakers and members of MASCDCS have included: Janet Guthrie, Bobby Rahal, Syd Sylverman, Danny Sullivan, Karl Ludvigsen, David Hobbs, William Jeanes, Jean Lindamood Jennings, Brock Yates, Bob Sharp, Scott Sharp, Jack Baldwin, David E. Davis, Jr., John Fitch, Jaques Vaucher, Luigi Chinetti, Luigi (CoCo) Chinetti, Danny Panoz, Andrew Frankel, William “Bill” Green, Oscar Koveleski, Walter Cronkite, Vince Sardi, Briggs Cunningham, Butch Leitzinger, Edsel Ford, Bob Grossman, Sam Posey, Jim Haynes, Skip Barber, Tommy Kendall, Lee Holman, Leigh Diffey, Denise McLuggage, Judy Stropus, Murray Smith, Chuck Queener, Mike Spinelli, Tom duPont, Leigh & Leslie Keno, Scott Atherton, Reeves Callaway, Bob Varsha and Wayne Carini.

Since 1957 the “Chowderheads” have been meeting once a month at Sardi’s Restaurant in New York City. The routine is a short cocktail hour followed by lunch and a guest speaker. This week the famous British race driver David Hobbs was the featured guest. David’s long and illustrious racing career provided endless content. He told some great stories wrapped in an envelope of his own unique witty sense of humor—it all made for a lively and fun afternoon.

I have attended prior meetings with my good friend (and former MASCDCS member) Malcolm Pray. Malcolm died a few years ago so I’ve not been to a meeting since. It was a wonderful afternoon and part of me now aspires to someday join this illustrious club! Hopefully I will be invited to attend next month’s gathering.

The upcoming schedule of speakers is posted on the MASCDCS website and is as follows:

November 8th – Brian Vickers
December 13th – Bryan Herta & the Christmas Party!
January 10th – Mark W. Juron, Prestige Race Team Manager
February 14th – TBA
March – 60th Anniversary Celebration with Keith Crain, Dutch Mandel and many special guests!
(exact date TBD)

Sardis in full swing….

Guest speakers

Bruce Wennerstrom