May Monthly Meeting
2024-05-14 11:30 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Sardi’s, 234 West 44th Street, Manhattan, NY, 10036, United States
We’ve all paid some attention to Bring a Trailer, often as customers or at least dreamers. Succeeding on the platform is more complicated than many might imagine.
For the May meeting, our speaker will be Anthony Serra, the President of 1600 Veloce. Anthony’s company is one of the largest if not the largest seller of cars on Bring-a-Trailer. With him will be his general manager, Diane Bourque and his director of Marketing, Greg Coe.1600Veloce is an automotive lifestyle, media company, and one of the largest online retailers of vintage cars.
1600 Veloce is the leader in the virtual collector car marketplace and pioneered the way cars are presented and sold on-line. They are automotive enthusiasts first and foremost and proud to be an official partner of Bring-a-Trailer. They have helped hundreds of BaT community members produce a winning on-line auction listing since 2014. At @1600Veloce they provide everything an automotive enthusiast needs in-house including: mechanical servicing, restorative detailing, professional photo & video production, collection consulting, and storage.
At our May meeting, Anthony will discuss his company and Bring a Trailer. He will provide a unique perspective on the on-line auction business, his rise to prominence in the field, and the evolution of Bring-A-Trailer.

Chowder Group Photo at Greenwich Concours
2024-06-02 10:00 - 16:00 | Roger Sherman Baldwin Park, 100 Arch Street, Greenwich, CT, 06830, United States
Concours d’Elegance features 18 judged car classes including post-war American, Italian and English automobiles, plus special classes like Bertone, Pre-war & Post-war Rolls Royce, Porsche Carrera, and so many more.
10:00am to 4:00pm
Chowder photo @ 2:45 pm

June Monthly Meeting
2024-06-11 11:30 - 14:30 | Sardi’s, 234 West 44th Street, Manhattan, NY, 10036, United States
Speakers this month will be representing Lime Rock Park. There will be updates on some major additions to the racing schedule for the season, as well as some exciting developments for the Historic Festival, related to the racing and the Concours d’Elegance. Additionally, this year at Lime Rock Park has been designated the “Year of Skip Barber.” There are a number of activities planned to celebrate the contributions this Chowderhead has made to Lime Rock as well as to the motoring world across the United States. This meeting will be a great opportunity to to have an insight into what looks to be a most exciting season at Lime Rock.
We will also be talking about The Greenwich Concours d’Elegance this past weekend where we had a first – the awarding of the Madison Avenue Sports Car Driving and Chowder Society Trophy.

July Monthly Meeting
2024-07-09 11:30 - 14:30 | Sardi’s, 234 West 44th Street, Manhattan, NY, 10036, United States
I’m hoping the summer is treating everyone well. Next Tuesday, the 9th will be the July Meeting. We have a great speaker lined up – Marikay Satryano, the Executive Director of the Malcolm Pray Achievement Center. There is much going on there, all of it aimed at furthering the dreams and values of long time Chowderhead, the late Malcolm Pray. As usual we shall start at noon at Sardi’s.

Annual Summer Picnic
2024-08-25 10:30 - 14:30 | MPAC, 16 Bedford-Banksville Road, Bedford, 10506, United States
The Annual Chowder Summer Picnic is Upon Us!!
Chowder Society members and their guests are invited to the famous Madison Avenue Sports Car Driving and Chowder Society picnic starting at 11-ish AM on Sunday, August 25th at the Malcolm Pray Achievement Center in Banksville, NY (just up the road from Greenwich).
We will run through the afternoon. The Pray Achievement Center has most of Malcolm’s collection on display so we will have delectable cars to see inside as well as what is always a magnificent collection of road cars that some of our members will drive to the picnic.
The picnic provides a perfect scene for contemplation of loud cars and interesting people.
Pack a sandwich or two and something to drink, There will be some dessert available. For those wanting to over achieve we are suggesting packing the most elegant picnic spread you can come up with. (Candelabras and even champagne in Crystal glasses ((plastic will do)) are allowed). There will be a Bridgehampton-themed award, fabricated by Board Member Susan Blackwell. There are deli’s nearby capable of fabricating a sandwich or three should that be your pleasure.
Non-members, families, children, and pets are welcome. You do not have to drive a “special” car, though you certainly may. .Other than the good natured competition for the most elegant picnic spread, it’s not a competition for the neatest car. The photos from previous picnics may whet the appetite for the mechanical beauties that might be seen.
The MASCDACS picnic is the one of the most fun ways to spend time around cars that aren’t moving — and with the people who love them, and with the picnic fare and beverages that they’ve brought.
We’d like to get a headcount in advance, so if you’re coming, please let us know by clicking the button below.

September Monthly Meeting
2024-09-03 11:30 - 14:30 | Sardi’s, 234 West 44th Street, Manhattan, NY, 10036, United States
Our September Meeting is ONE WEEK EARLY, on the 3rd of September.
We are honored and delighted to be hosting Sam Schmidt, a legend at Indianapolis for both the quality of his team, (2nd and 4th this year at Indy) and for his personal courage and leadership in overcoming the accident that took away control of his arms and legs. That would have stopped lesser mortals. but Sam continues with racing and with leading the charge for research to overcome this sort of injury. He is thoughtful and entertaining – a most inspirational man.
We shall be at Sardi’s as usual and are hoping for a big turnout. Be there

October Monthly Meeting
2024-10-08 11:30 - 14:30 | Sardi’s, 234 West 44th Street, Manhattan, NY, 10036, United States
We have an interesting speaker lined up to recount his latest motoring adventure.
Chowderhead Jim Shelly has been trying to finish in the Hemmings Great Race for a number of years now. He’s usually tried in a prewar beastie, a 1939 Buick. His breakdowns along the way have become the stuff of legend – at least among his friends. One didn’t realize there were so many ways for a ’39 Buick to leave on by the side of the road. For is latest foray he decided that reliability might be more important than the romance of running that many miles in a prewar sedan. Instead he found a rally prepared MGB-GT and he proceeded to take its original preparation to a whole new level. Jim and his navigator actually made it from the start to the finish and did it reasonably competitively. Jim will show some photos of the event and will talk about how one prepares and practices for this, the country’s longest Time/Distance/Speed/Rally. The fact of their finishing did not preclude various adventures along the way. Come to the October Chowder Meeting and hear more.

November Monthly Meeting
2024-11-12 11:30 - 14:30 | Sardi’s, 234 West 44th Street, Manhattan, NY, 10036, United States
We have a great program planned. Knowing that every chowderhead is likely to have a collection of automobilia – magazines, photos, paintings, models, oil cans, and a half a million other possibilities, we have as our speaker one of the world’s greatest authorities on Automobilia. Our speaker is a long time chowderhead, Marshall Buck. Marshall is the co-founder and Editor Emeritus of Automobilia Magazine. Automobilia is the world’s source for information on markets, individual types of items, their rarity and desirability. Marshall is also a most talented modeler. He will give us an overview of the various aspects of the automobilia collecting hobby, where is has come from and where it is likely to be going. He will also answer questions and help us understand better what it is we have on all of those shelves of neat stuff.

67th Annual Holiday Party
2024-12-10 11:30 - 15:00 | Sardi’s, 234 West 44th Street, Manhattan, NY, 10036, United States
Please join us at the usual spot, at the usual time, for our 67th Annual Holiday party.
The lunch will be the traditional buffet and we have gotten Sardi’s to keep the price to within one dollar of last year’s cost.
We aren’t certain that everyone is getting our emails yet, so please reach out to your Chowderhead friends to remind them of the party and to make plans to get together on Tuesday.
There will be presents to be raffled off – donated by some of our members as well as by a few others. Expect a few surprises as well.
When you make your reservations

We’re limited to 130-140 people, thus your timely response to the RSVP is critical to us. WE MUST GIVE SARDI’S a guarantee of numbers by the Friday before the event. We regret any inconvenience.
Please use the form below to RSVP. Do not send your RSVPs by phone, text, email or pony express. They will invariably get lost and then you won’t be on “the list” to get in.
Please do not RSVP 4 times with your name if you are bringing 3 guests. If you do, we will have to email you and ask for each person’s name. Please include the first and last name of each guest.

January 2025 Luncheon
2025-01-14 11:30 - 14:00 | Sardi’s, 234 West 44th Street, Manhattan, NY, 10036, United States
Details as they become available

March 2025 Luncheon
2025-03-11 11:30 - 14:00 | Sardi’s, 234 West 44th Street, Manhattan, NY, 10036, United States

April 2025 Luncheon
2025-04-01 11:30 - 14:00 | Sardi’s, 234 West 44th Street, Manhattan, NY, 10036, United States
Our speaker will be Mark Steigerwald, the Director of the International Motor Racing Research Center in Watkins Glen. There is much happening there these days and they have come a long way since the center opened. The first Chairman of the Board of the Center was a Chowderhead. It was Syd Silverman. Chowderhead Mike Stott was also one of the leaders that helped shape it. Mark will have much to say.

May 2025 Luncheon
2025-05-13 11:30 - 14:00 | Sardi’s, 234 West 44th Street, Manhattan, NY, 10036, United States
“As Lerner and Lowe’s Guinevere reminded us in Camelot, “It’s May! The lusty month of May! That lovely month when ev’ryone goes Blissfully astray.” Thus it’s the perfect time for Chowderheads to gather and find an excuse to “go astray, preferably in a loud motorcar.
The Chowderheads shall gather, as is our custom, at the Chowder clubhouse, Sardi’s on 44th Street. The gathering time will be noon. We’ve got an interesting program this month, with a look ahead at a planned upcoming event that is being heavily influenced by one of the long time organizers of the legendary Goodwood Festival of Speed. The major domo for this concept if Stephano Santinelli, who has been a regular attendee at the last few Chowder luncheons.
For the past five years, Stephano Santinelli has been exploring an idea for an automotive experience that’s been missing in New York. Together with a few friends from, this vision has taken shape as RUSH — inspired by that unforgettable feeling of first driving a race car or glimpsing the green diamond at a baseball stadium.
“We’re still figuring out the details for year one,” he says, “but for me, it’s always been about creating something meaningful that brings people together in a beautiful setting — and, of course, fast cars.”
Alongside Stephano, Chris Salmon will also be on hand to share a few words. Chris brings a wealth of experience, having spent 16 years at Goodwood as Director of Concept & Event Operations and Ground Operations Manager. He also served as General Manager for Motorsport Events, overseeing world-renowned gatherings like the Festival of Speed, Goodwood Revival, and Glorious Goodwood.’
The pitch should prove thought provoking.

June 2025 Luncheon
2025-06-10 11:30 - 14:00 | Sardi’s, 234 West 44th Street, Manhattan, NY, 10036, United States

Watkins Glen Road Trip
2025-07-22 08:00 - 2025-07-24 17:00 | IMRRC, 610 S Decatur St, Watkins Glen, NY, 14891, United States
At the IMRRC we would see a movie on the development of racing at Watkins. Bill Green, the Watkins Glen historian would provide a talk and insights into his recollections of having attended nearly every race there. Bill would lead a tour of the old course that was used from 1948 to 1952. It’s just over six miles long and we might do two laps together. (The course is all public roads so people may revisit it at any time.)
The tour will point out the site of Sam Collier’s fatal accident in Briggs Cunningham’s Ferrari. We’ll cross the old stone bridge, bounce over the railroad tracks and go through Archie Smith’s corner. If time and size of the group works we might stop a few times along the way. We will return to the IMRRC for a recap with Bill and more chance to browse this wonderful resource. One can also walk along the walk of fame and find the names of drivers we’ve known of over the many years of racing here.
We will plan a Seneca Lake dinner cruise with Captain Bill’s evening sailing. Captain Bill promises a chance to “…savor a multi-course meal featuring the best of the Finger Lakes, from prime rib to local wines.” The dinner cruise cost is $96.99. The cruise is 7:00 to 9:30 PM. We will see if they will offer a group rate when we have an idea how many may be coming.
Nearby is the fabulous Glen Curtis museum in Hammondsport. Curtis was an early motorcycle racer before becoming one of the fathers of aviation in the United States. The museum is large and covers both interests.
The Watkins Glen State Park with it’s glorious walk down through the gorge is another attraction not to be missed. The gorge can be walked from bottom (steep) or one can take the shuttle to the top and walk down (easier). The many waterfalls and stone cliffs are breath taking. (Better carry some extra breath.)
Hotels are easier mid-week, hence a Tuesday to Thursday itinerary. There are a number of choices for hotels from the all-but-lavish Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel to the famous Seneca Lodge, where many drivers stayed back in the fifties and sixties. There are also delightful boutique hotels with costs starting just under a hundred dollars per night.
We will need to make plans shortly. Chowderheads will be on their own to find a hotel of their choice. We will book the cruise but will need that prepaid.
Please let us know if you will come. Families are also welcome as are friends who aren’t yet Chowderheads.
RSVP Please, by the 4th of July.

2025 Annual Summer Picnic
2025-08-23 10:30 - 14:30 | MPAC, 16 Bedford-Banksville Road, Bedford, 10506, United States
Chowder Society members and their guests are invited to the famous Madison Avenue Sports Car Driving and Chowder Society picnic starting at 10:30-ish AM on SATURDAY AUGUST 23 at the Malcolm Pray Achievement Center in Banksville, NY (just up the road from Greenwich). No charge. BYO Food & Drink.
The picnic will run through the afternoon. Besides hobnobbing with motorheads, The Pray Achievement Center has arranged for free admission to a most interesting eclectic collection of Malcolm’s vehicles indoors. There will be delectable vehicles inside as well as what is always a magnificent assemblage of road cars driven to the picnic by attendees.
The picnic on acres of shady lawns provides a perfect scene for contemplation of loud cars and interesting people (or did I get that backwards?)
Pack a sandwich or two and something to drink, Some dessert will be available. For those wanting to overachieve we suggest packing the most elegant picnic spread you can come up with. (Candelabra and even champagne in crystal glasses [plastic will do] are allowed). (There might be a prize.) For non-DIYers, nearby delis are capable of fabricating a sandwich-and-beverage picnic.
Non-members, families, children, and pets are welcome. You do not have to drive a “special” car, though you certainly may. Other than the good-natured competition for the most elegant picnic spread, it’s not a competition for the neatest car (but there may be prizes awarded in categories we won’t announce here. The photos from previous picnics may whet the appetite for the mechanical beauties that might be seen.
The MASCDACS picnic is the one of the most fun ways to spend time around cars that aren’t moving — and with the people who love them, and with the picnic fare and beverages that they’ve brought.
We’d like to get a headcount in advance, so if you’re coming, please let us know by clicking the button below.
No charge. Bring your own food and drink. Dress is Chowder Casual. The cars dress much better than their owners

September 2025 Luncheon
2025-09-09 11:30 - 14:00 | Sardi’s, 234 West 44th Street, Manhattan, NY, 10036, United States
Our September meeting is already upon us and it will serve to highlight the joys of Chowder summer activities and offer a preview of the months ahead.
We will have a show and tell with photos of two major 2025 Summer Chowder Events:

The road trip to Watkins Glen
The Annual Chowder Summer Picnic.

Watkins was a great time. There was a view of the original course with Watkins Glen Historian Bill Green as our guide. We had a movie at the International Motor Racing Research Center, a wine tasting at a local vintner, and a marvelous dinner cruise on beautiful Seneca Lake.

2025 Cannonball Reunion & Judy's Birthday Dinner
2025-10-11 18:00 - 21:30 | Crab Shell Restaurant, 46 Southfield Avenue, Stamford, CT, 06902, United States
Join us on Saturday evening in Stamford, CT at the Crab Shell Restaurant for a special evening. We will be getting together this evening to celebrate the 46th anniversary of the 1979 Cannonball Sea-to-Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash with Cannonballers old and new, and the birthday of Chowder’s own Judy Stropus.
Drinks will begin at 6:00 pm, dinner will be served at 8:00 pm. RSVPs are required and can be made via the Cars and Coffee Darien website.

Cars and Coffee Darien Cannonball Edition
2025-10-12 07:00 - 11:00 | Goodwives Shopping Center, 25 Old Kings Highway North, Darien, CT, 06820, United States

November 2025 Luncheon
2025-11-11 11:30 - 14:00 | Sardi’s, 234 West 44th Street, Manhattan, NY, 10036, United States

68th Annual Holiday Party
2025-12-09 11:30 - 15:00 | Sardi’s, 234 West 44th Street, Manhattan, NY, 10036, United States
The 2025 Chowder Christmas Party is nearly upon us. Date is 9 December. We will, once again, be meeting at Chowder’s Historic Club House, Sardi’s on 44th Street. It should be memorable.
We are promised a bounteous buffet. In addition to the ever desirable Sardi’s Steak House Creamed Spinach we will enjoy what this particular chief Chowderhead considers the finest cannelloni on the face of the earth. There will also be the usual salmon, chicken, and such.
Santa Claus has promised to make his usual jolly appearance and likely will have his elfin helper/sidekick. Santa will be handing out presents to good little Chowderheads (at least those with an acceptable alibi for whatever they may have done during the year). We’ll settle for an indictment without a conviction as good enough.
Pricing isn’t finalized at this time but should be less than $100/person.
*** Additional details to follow ***

January 2026 Luncheon
2026-01-13 11:30 - 14:00 | Sardi’s, 234 West 44th Street, Manhattan, NY, 10036, United States
The January Chowder Meeting will take place, as usual, on the second Tuesday of the month. In this case, the 13 of January. As always we will meet at the Chowder club house, Sardi’s at the usual time. NOON
Our speaker is Leigh Diffey. Leigh Diffey is likely one of the best known auto racing and track and field commentators in the world . He is best known for being the lead play-by-play announcer for much of NBC Sports‘ motorsports coverage, currently calling NASCAR Cup Series, IMSA sports car races for the network and AMA Supercross. Before this, he was the lead voice of NBC’s Formula One and IndyCar Series coverage. Diffey has also worked play-by-play for NBC’s coverage of the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, most notably becoming the network’s lead track and field sportscaster prior to the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Diffey’s broadcasting career began by calling motorcycle races in his home country. His career has included stints with Network Ten in Australia and the BBC in the United Kingdom covering various forms of motorsport. In the United States, Diffey joined Speed Channel in 2003 before moving to NBC when Formula One’s US television rights were transferred to the network in 2013.
He is looking forward to an interactive session with Chowderheads and will be happy to answer questions.

February 2026 Luncheon
2026-02-10 11:30 - 14:00 | Sardi’s, 234 West 44th Street, Manhattan, NY, 10036, United States
Our upcoming meeting is this Tuesday, the 10th of February at the Chowder Clubhouse, known also as Sardi’s. The topic of our discussion should be of some interest. Few of us would claim to be ignorant of Bugatti history, but not very many may know that, when he couldn’t sell enough Bugatti Royales to use up his supply of already fabricated engines, he used them for a most amazing railroad car.

The result is, or was, the Bugatti AutoRail, a very high speed and innovative train. There is today only one example left. It sits in the National Railway Museum in Mulhouse, France. That’s just about 500 Km from Paris. It’s been there a very long time. 2026’s Retromobile in Paris celebrated Retro’s 50th anniversary. What better excuse might there be to carry the AutoRail all the way to Paris and show it at Retromobile at the Porte de Versailles? Have you ever thought about how one might move a very large railway engine along the highway? Somebody at Retro did.

March 2026 Luncheon
2026-03-10 11:30 - 14:00 | Sardi’s, 234 West 44th Street, Manhattan, NY, 10036, United States

April 2026 Luncheon
2026-04-14 11:30 - 14:00 | Sardi’s, 234 West 44th Street, Manhattan, NY, 10036, United States
This month’s speaker will be Don Meluzio, who owns one of the two or three remaining Porsche 901 prototypes. Meluzio’s 901 of was one of the actual prototypes for the now ubiquitous 911. The 911 started its life as the 901 but that changed (see history below) This will prove a tale of Automotive Archeology. Don will tell about his experience finding this one and then identifying what it actually was. It looked like a 911 but there were some very odd details. He’ll have lots of photos for us. Anyone with even the slightest love of the Marque will want to be here.

May 2026 Luncheon
2026-05-12 11:30 - 14:00 | Sardi’s, 234 West 44th Street, Manhattan, NY, 10036, United States
RETROMOBILE, ARGUABLY THE BEST VINTAGE MOTORING GATHERING IN THE WORLD HAS BEEN GOING ON IN PARIS FOR THE LAST FIFTY YEARS.
Many of us have attended and dreamed of a similar venue in the Capital of the World, New York City. Our May featured speaker is Tim McGrane, who is one of the chief organizers of the new RETRO NEW YORK now scheduled for November of this year. He will also have with him the event’s CEO.
This is a most exciting opportunity and it will also be one of our last meetings at Sardi’s unt il their restorations are done in the Autumn. They will close at end of June for several months. This meeting is NOT one to be missed.
PLEASE RSVP so we can five Sardi’s an idea of how many to expect

June 2026 Luncheon
2026-06-09 11:30 - 14:00 | Sardi’s, 234 West 44th Street, Manhattan, NY, 10036, United States
