2024 SPRING PACKARD MEET
(Go to the PHOTOS page to see pictures from the Meet)
The Tour is completed. See the BREAKING NEWS page for the report
Tom Kaiser co-founded the Devereaux-Kaiser Car Show with his longtime friend, Maurice Devereaux, in 1970 and never missed the meet in 45 years. It continues as the largest collector car show in Florida now sponsored by the Sarasota Firefighters Benevolent Fund and remains a free event, at his direction.
2024 FLORIDA PACKARD TOUR, April 4-7
Hotel Suggestion for Florida Packard Meet
2025 Devereaux Kaiser Car Show
Map to Fall Meet
We're excited to host another fun Packard Tour in 2025. Every year, we move our tour to a different city. Last year's tour was held in Mount Dora. This was a central location for most members, and we had great participation.
The 2025 Tour is being planned for Lakeland, another central Florida town. So great participation is again expected.
Reserve these dates on your calendar, and stay tuned to the newsletter and website for details.
Count on three fun-filled days of backroads touring, including great stops and meals together. Bring your Packard or register to ride in a member's Packard (subject to availability). Registration Form with Itinerary will be found on the CLUB EVENTS page of the website, www.flpackardclub.org, when available (probably in November). There will be plenty of parking for trailers and RVs, and special room rates at the host hotel. So, please plan to attend!
32nd Annual Florida Packard Club Meet-Sunday, January 26, 2025
TOUR NEWS - Mark your Calendar!
5th Annual Florida Packard Club Weekend Tour and Meet
April 3-6, 2025, in the Lakeland, Florida area
Hampton Inn I-75 Bee Ridge, 5995 Cattleridge Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34232, phone 941-371-1900
Our 32st Annual Meet will be held on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., in the same location as always—Jacki Kaiser's "Wit's End" in Sarasota. This is a beautiful green setting amongst majestic live oaks, with great friends and great Packards—who could ask for more! Lunch is available to all, and FREE to Packard drivers. Mark your calendar for future years—our Annual Meet day will be the last Sunday in January. The address is 2805 Sarasota Golf Club Blvd., Sarasota FL 34240. See map, below.
2024 Packards Under The Oak
The 31st Annual Florida Packard Club Meet was held on Sunday, January 28th, 2024 in Sarasota. This was our first January Meet. The previous 30 Meets were all held during the month of November. Because several of these November Meets were affected by rain and wind (Hurricane season lasts through November), we changed the Annual Meet to the month of January.
The Meet was held in the usual location, Jacki Kaiser’s lovely “Wit’s End” property, so named by our founder, the late and great Tom Kaiser.
As it turned out, this year’s Meet was again threatened by rain. There were showers during the night on Saturday, and more were predicted for Sunday. This deterred some Packards owners, but attendance was good, with over 100 club members and visitors participating.
Despite the threat of rain, which usually dampens car show participation, the following Packards were displayed in the “preferred” back yard show field:
1915 Twin Six Roadster, Norm and Kathy Madsen
1937 115C Sport Coupe, Carter Richards
1937 115C Club Sedan, David and Andriana Rivaz and family
1948 Custom Eight Club Sedan, Rob and Hank Evans
1949 Club Sedan, Joe Wareham
1951 250 Convertible, Julio Martell
1953 Clipper Sedan, Marty and Sue Brackin
1953 Clipper Sedan, Matt Forlenza
1954 Packard Convertible, Steven Dragon
In addition to the Packards, there were quite a few vehicles that we (tounge-in-cheek) lovingly refer to as “Brand-X Cars.” Included were, among others, a 1915 Saxon Touring, a Model T, a 1929 Pierce Arrow Touring, a 1930 Franklin Sedan, a 1956 Imperial Hardtop and more recent British and German sports cars.
As always, hamburgers and hot dogs were cooked fresh on-site and served up with all the fixins’ and all Packard drivers were provided lunch for free.
The Meet was a great opportunity to visit with friends old and new. The Packards brought us together, but the friendships keep us together.
club events:
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The Florida Packard Club is a Region of The Packard Club / Packard Automobile Classics, Inc.