The flywheels Car Club of Silverton Oregon was formed in early 1961 at the suggestion of Silverton Chief of Police Vic Grossnickle.  He hoped that an organized club would help restrict illegal street racing.  Drag racing had started at the Aurora airport in the mid 50’s and of course it flowed over into the local streets by the wannabe’s.  Two clubs, the Ty-Rods and the Shifters had been organized in Silverton earlier but had disbanded.

Chief Grossnickle asked Leon Riggs who was a Silverton police officer at the time to help organize the club and be the department’s representative.  Leon was interested in cars and he was young enough at about 24 years old to be an effective emissary for the department.  Leon contacted a number of people that he knew who might be interested and got the word out.  An organizational meeting was held in the police department office in the Fischer Building.  The room was used as a courtroom by the local judge one day a week and for meetings at other times.  The Chief’s office was one corner of the building.

Twenty one young men showed up for the first meeting and decided to form a car club.  There were already many clubs throughout the state including at least three in Salem.  On February 16, 1961 the group elected Larry Brown President, Wes Oster Vice President, Vern Meighen Secretary, Chuck DeGuire Treasurer, Mike Patton Sergeant-at-Arms, and Don Klaus Publicity to serve for six months.  New officers were elected every 6 months.  The club purpose was to promote safety; show courtesy on the highway; help persons in distress; contribute to the good of the community; respect at all times all traffic laws; to promote legal dragging; and in general to build respect and fellowship between hot rod clubs and the general public.  Also to instruct and show the proper method of building and maintaining members cars and to build and maintain club cars.  Membership was open to anyone interested in the Club purpose and who passed the probation period in good standing.  

 The name Flywheels was decided on for a club name and club colors of blue and white were chosen.  The fly on wheels emblem was drawn by Mike Rowe.  Plaques were cast and the club was in business.

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The club continued to meet at the police station until Leon left the Silverton police department and joined the Marion County Sheriff’s Department.  Then the club meetings were held in the Armory.

The club was very active for a few years.  The membership settled down to about 15 members with about 10 attending meetings regularly.  The first year the club installed seat belts in cars as a good will/safety campaign and to raise money for club activities.  It held model car shows at least three years in sponsorship with Silver T Horseless Carriage club.  The club rented a couple of different garages for members to work on their cars in for a while but this eventually depleted the club treasury until it was no longer practical.

The club faded out in the late 60’s, there are no records to show when.  Some members continued to carry the club plaque on their cars but there was no official activity.

In the eary 80’s Wes Oster spearheaded reactivating the club with a few old timers and a few newly interested car nuts.  They put on a car show at the Silverton Elks Lodge in 1980 and 1981 with mild success.  Then for three years they held a car show for Homer Davenport Days on the Eugene Field School playground with a few more cars attending.  The big turn-around was in 1985 when the Miller brothers asked him to conduct a Cruise-Inn at Macleay.  He interested the group in this endeavor and it has grown into a popular outing for many street rodders and car buffs of all persuasions.  It draws nearly 200 participants now.  The club has grown to over 30 members, including some fathers and sons enjoying their interest in cars through the club. An annual club picnic was started in 2000, bringing families into the social life of the club.  New activities include group outings to car shows and cruise-ins throughout Oregon and Washington.  In 2000 the club took over the Homer Davenport Days car show from the Rotary Club and it is developing it into a well-received event also.

Wes Oster has remained as President for these many years of recovery and growth with Rand Breitbach ably supporting him as Secretary-Treasurer.  Their repeated offers to step aside and let new members take over have been unanimously declined.

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