The Spark That Started it All

More than fifty years ago, three friends — Stan Windemuller, “Jerk” Ritsema, and John Harthorne — shared more than just a love for vintage cars. For over five years, they made the drive from Holland to Grand Rapids for car club meetings, committed to the hobby they loved. But one evening, as the couples visited together, a simple idea surfaced: Why not start a club right here in Holland?

That conversation sparked something big.

They hosted an initial meeting, not knowing who might show up — and were stunned by the outpouring of support from local car enthusiasts. With momentum building, they drafted bylaws, scheduled regular meetings, planned tours and events, and held their first election. John Baumann Sr. was named the club’s first president, leading 39 family memberships — many of whom remain active members to this day.

From the beginning, the club welcomed every kind of car and enthusiast. Whether you rolled in with a wood-spoke Model T or a rally-rimmed muscle car, you belonged. Founding member Elaine Elzinga submitted the club’s official name, and Daniel Aument designed the logo — cleverly incorporating the name into a Model T silhouette. That iconic logo still stands today as a symbol of the club’s lasting identity.

And so, the Vintage Car Club of Holland was born — not just as a gathering of gearheads, but as a welcoming, multi-generational community where every make, model, and story had a place to shine.