Founded in 1956 by an exceptional group of drag racing enthusiasts, Coachmen Auto Club is the established leader among regional drag racing and auto clubs. The club has repeatedly won local and national racing events, competing against world class professionals, and proving over and again that dedicated amateurs are a force to be reckoned with.

In 1977 the Coachmen Auto Club's dragster, driven by Rusty Firestone, set the eighth-mile world record for class A racers at 5.04 seconds. In 1967 Coachmen set national records with their AA-altered dragster powered by a supercharged Hemi V-8.

In 1957 the club put together a hot rod and custom car show at Playland Park and in 1960 repeated the show at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds. The highly successful show became the annual Cavalcade of Wheels and soon moved to Stepan Center at Notre Dame and finally to its current home at the Notre Dame Joyce Athletic and Convocation Center, where it annually fills both domes of the huge arena.

The Cavalcade of Wheels features a custom car competition where enthusiasts can pit their best work against that of others from throughout the region. There is a huge vendor display area where parts dealers, retailers and others can show off their latest offerings. For the young crowd there is a model car competition covering several categories.

The clubhouse, located at 2110 N. Merrifield Ave in Mishawaka, houses the club's custom drag racer, and includes a meeting room and garage work area where club members can work on their own or club cars. Membership ranges from 15 to 40 and meetings are held every Thursday evening at the clubhouse from 7 to 10 P.M. For more information call the club at 574-255-6200 or email info@cavalcadeofwheels.