Larry & Carmen Nicklin’s house, 4746 Stratford Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana. As likely a place as any to start a Ferrari club.
Early in the 1960s, Ferrari was a little-known name in the United States. There was a small community of racers who had imported Ferraris, frequently used ones. These soon became non-competitive, and some, late in their lives, even acquired American engines. In 1961 or 1962, John Lundin, Gerry Sutterfield and Ken Hutchison were at the Elkhart Lake races with friends and saw a Ferrari Barchetta in tatty condition. Later in the day, the hood was opened, revealing that the Barchetta had a Chevrolet engine! The group agreed that something had to be done to encourage preservation and restoration of such Ferraris. Ken, John and Gerry were motivated by this experience, and soon joined with others of like mind to develop a Ferrari enthusiasts’ club.
Jack Katzen of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania wrote to Road & Track magazine, indicating his desire to join a Ferrari club, if one existed, but it developed that he did not want to undertake founding one. He did, however, write to those who responded, sending each of them a list of all respondents. The resulting awareness of other Ferrari enthusiasts helped make possible the gathering of potential club organizers and members.
The Ferrari Owners’ Club in California (FOC/CA) predated the Ferrari Club of America (FCA), but was considered by mid-westerners to be a local (Los Angeles area) club. FCA folklore later said also that the FOC/CA went inactive for a while in its early years, and then restarted after the FCA. Larry Nicklin and Dick Merritt had met in Detroit around 1957, at a picnic/reunion of Art Center College graduates, held at General Motors. John Delamater also knew Dick, and these three soon became acquainted, and would share information on Ferraris and their frequent travels from owner to owner.
Soon after, Delamater and Hutchison recognized that their experience would be better utilized if they traded positions, which was readily accomplished, with the agreement and support of John Lundin. John embarked on a miniature career in those early days and months, planning and executing the numerous tasks of organization and coordination to fill needs which he recognized. Larry Nicklin contributed a set of SCCA bylaws which could serve as the basis for our Club’s bylaws.
C. J. Habich, manager of RRR Motors, the Ferrari dealer in Homewood, Illinois, wrote to Ferrari on behalf of the FCA. This began a chain of correspondence, extending over two years, which dealt with the Club’s early development. Ferrari recognized and encouraged the FCA in its role as a Ferrari enthusiasts’ club, utilizing the Club’s new name.
Their ultimate approval involved our proposed logo, and specified the condition that we always maintain the red background surrounding the official Ferrari badge design, and the words “Club of America” appearing against that background. The FCA Board met, readily approved the logo, and John Lundin responded to Ferrari, agreeing to those conditions. Now we could proceed to procure our “engraved” stationery, the first series of hood badges and other regalia items. To the left you will see three unsuccessful badge prototypes.
On October 24, 1963, incorporation of the FCA was completed in Illinois, with John Lundin, Ken Hutchison, Tom Caulfield, John Delamater, Larry Nicklin and Dick Merritt listed on the papers as Directors. The first three of this group were Illinois residents, and signed the document.
Tom favored a club “spare parts scheme” similar to that of the Bugatti Owners Club in England. Tom had recently bought a group of Ferrari spare parts from Alfred Momo’s company, and proposed that the FCA assume the sale of parts to members. This could have been a great aid to members, but the Club probably did not feel ready to undertake a project of that magnitude at that time.