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This being 2009, the Wisconsin Chapter of the Austin Healey Club of America is 30 years old. The Chapter has sustained itself all these years because of the active participation of its members, some of whom have been with the Chapter for all 30 years. Over 25% of our members have been in our Chapter for 25 years or more. Many of these original members still have the same Healey(s) as when they joined. We are all amazed and appreciative that so many members have maintained an interest in their Healeys and our Chapter over such a long time period. Production of the Austin Healey stopped in 1967, which means our cars range in age from a minimum of 38 years to a maximum of 56 years. This speaks well for a sports car whose design still excites the senses after so many years, that is mechanically near indestructible and whose owners have enough continuing interest to want to keep their Healey. Some of our members have or had as many as five Healeys of various vintages. As an example of this continuing member interest, Leroy and Sue Joppa have been our National Delegate to the AHCA since 1983 and have attended every National and International meeting since that time. Yes, they still have the same BJ8.

It started with Walt Blanc who had driven up to Wisconsin from Illinois to attend the 1977 MG Car Club show that was being staged at the Brooks Stevens Design Center & Museum located in Mequon. This was to be the first of many car shows at this location. Walt was a member of the Illinois AHCA Chapter and he approached all the Healey owners who were in attendance to determine if they would be interested in forming a Wisconsin Chapter. We were told that all we would need is at least seven members to form a Chapter.

Along came Chuck Walker II, a Healey enthusiast who had moved to Milwaukee from Indiana. Chuck, a former member of another Chapter of the AHCA started contacting known Healey owners in the area in an attempt to form a Wisconsin Chapter. The first meeting took place at John Hawk's English Pub in downtown Milwaukee in the spring of 1978. Some of the Healey enthusiasts with their wives or friends attending the first few organizational meetings, were Tom Kovacs, Ken Zirtzlaff, Bob Walerstein, Jim Lucas, Fred Thomas, Jim Fitzpatrick, Charlie Brown, Fred Haase, Dave Woerpel, Jim & Karen May, Jim Happ, Alan Roberson, Kent Wittmann and Bob Lewenauer. These were to be the "Charter Members" of the Wisconsin Chapter. The Wisconsin Chapter was officially approved as an AHCA area Chapter at the National Fall Delegates meeting in 1979.

The first official Officers in 1980 were; Charles Walker - President, and Allan Robertson - Secretary/Treasurer. The following year Karen May became President, Kaye Kovacs, Vice President, Jim Lucas, Treasurer and Chuck Walker, Area Delegate. Through the years many members have gladly given their time as officers and as event organizers in order to keep Chapter's activities interesting and entertaining. It should be noted that Karen May, Kaye Kovacs and Jim Lucas continue to be members today. Jim Lucas maintains his membership despite retiring to the South several years ago. Some members want to be with us even though they are not near us.

Now that the Chapter was formally organized it was time to start offering activities so there were no excuses for not driving your Healey. The Chapter held its first gimmick rallye June 29th, 1980 known to us all as the Chief Constable John Gott Memorial Rallye. John Gott was a famous Healey driver in England who participated in and won all types of racing and rallying events in the early years. He drove an ex-works car that was arguably the most successful Healey of all times. His day job was being the Chief Constable of Northamptonshire, England. The turn out of cars for that first rallye event consisted of eight Healey's, a Corvette, Volvo, VW Scirroco and an MGB so we were off to a good start.

By 1981 the membership had grown to 69 members and by 1990 we had 95 members. We currently have 67 members. The first National Conclave attended by our club members was in 1981 in Fredericksburg, VA and the Wisconsin Chapter was well represented with 12 of our members attending along with family and friends. Our Chapter hosted the 1984 National Conclave in Oconomowoc.

Since those early days we have continued to be a viable and active Chapter throughout the years with activities including, but not limited to, rallyes, scenic tours, long weekends at various resort locations, car shows, vintage racing, National Conclaves at various locations throughout the United States and Canada and there is always our well attended annual winter dinner.

I want to thank to those members who helped in recalling the early years of our Wisconsin Chapter.

Kent Wittmann