A4

Bill Sherk

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Larry Ertel of Parry Sound, Ontario, visited his daughter and son-in-law in Ottawa for Christmas. While there, he saw my column in the local EMC paper and sent me the story of his first car. His daughter has several people at the Ottawa University Science Hospital eager to read all about it:

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A 1929 Hupmobile Roadster.

"In September 1950, while attending St. Jerome's College in Kitchener, Ontario, I saw a yellow and black 1929 Hupmobile roadster. I was 17 and working part-time at Loblaws making $7.50 a week. I could own this beautiful piece of machinery for $75 repayable at $5 per week. My Credit Union loan manager came through for me, even though the legal age for borrowing was 21 (I volunteered at the Credit Union every Monday night).

"Now the fun began. First, my parents knew nothing of my purchase. Things like auto insurance and garage parking (my dream car had no top) were of no concern to me. I convinced my dad that the 'old car' parked in our empty lot next door belonged to a friend and I could use it.

"I drove my 'Hup' to school every day and parked beside the two other cars there that belonged to staff. Imagine, private parking at no cost! Each morning I would arrive a few minutes before first bell to a standing ovation from other students. At Saturday night dances my 'Hup' got all the attention (if it didn't rain) over the large family sedans.

"My biggest thrill came one evening when my car was challenged by a large panel truck as to who could carry the most football players in full uniform to the game. I won! With 23 players on the running boards, bumpers, and stacked in the rumble seat, I needed everyone's directions to stay on the road. The truck could only get 17 players in. This was a senior team that later produced several CFL players.

"The real challenge was having to put gasoline in at 30 cents a gallon and keeping up with those heavy car payments. My friends kept the 'Hup' running by visiting gas stations after hours and draining the hoses. Each hose held about one quart (the owners didn't mind as long as we did no damage.) This free gas kept my car going for a full school year. After graduation I sold the 'Hup' for $75, and bought an all-weather car - a 1938 Ford coupe with a '48 Mercury truck engine, but that's another story."

Robert Hupp began building Hupmobiles in 1909. Popular for many years, sales declined during the Great Depression. The last Hupmpobile was built in 1941.