AOAI President
Frank Petru
2021-2024
A self-described “car nut”, Frank learned to drive on his older brother’s 1963 Studebaker Lark and owned a number of Studebakers as a daily driver & later as show vehicles. He purchased his 1978 Avanti II in 2000, which is still in pristine original condition with only 26,000 miles on it.
After acquiring this Avanti, he joined the AOAI and soon became an active member of the Indiana Chapter. He has assisted in organizing several International Meets held in South Bend, as well as edited the Indiana Chapter’s Newsletter for 18 years. In addition, he has been a long-time member of The Studebaker Drivers Club and served as Newsletter Editor, Vice President and President of the SDC North Georgia Chapter.
Frank is currently serving as President of the Board, having previously served as Vice President and Secretary and also as AOAI Head Concours Judge.He is also active in a number of other car clubs and is a certified judge for AACA events. He is retired and lives in the Atlanta, GA area with his wife Bev.
AOAI Vice President
Charlie Boxell
2022-2024
I live in northwest Ohio where I was born and currently live in
Perrysburg, Ohio near the Maumee River. Married
with three grown children, I have had a career as a lawyer and CPA, plus teaching as an adjunct professor at the college level. I enjoy outdoor activities which include mountain climbing, white water rafting, flying, and motorcycling. I have had extensive experience with nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations in both health care and museums, so I am very accustomed to challenges of oper- ating an organization such as AOAI.
I am an Avanti owner (1963 R1 that I am fully restoring) and I previously have owned and partially restored a 1958 MGA and a 1967 Jaguar XKE Coupe. You will catch me often at Concours d’Elegance (Inn at St. Johns and Pebble Beach) and I am a regular at Sotheby’s Auburn Auto Auction along with my buddy who is an Auburn collector and who judges Auburn vehi- cles. Cars are in my blood.
AOAI Secretary
Tom Goesch
2021-2023
Tom Goesch has served as Secretary of the Avanti Owners Association International since Fall 2024, when he was appointed to the Board. A lifelong automotive enthusiast, Tom’s mother liked to say his first spoken word was “carburetor”—and he has been a car enthusiast ever since.
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Tom has spent 42 years as an automotive engineer and manager, with assignments throughout the United States as well as in China and the United Kingdom. Tom was recognized by General Motors in 1988 for his contributions to the development and production of the first Automotive Head-up Display(HUD) used in 1988 Cutlass Supreme vehicles. His professional career has given him a global perspective on the industry he has loved since childhood.
Tom currently owns a 1964 Avanti R-1, along with a 1966 Corvette convertible, a 1967 Amphicar, and a 1972 El Camino. Each reflects his appreciation for distinctive design and engineering.
Beyond automobiles, Tom enjoys photography, computer graphic arts, theatre pipe organ restoration, and many genres of music. He brings both technical perspective and creative energy to his role as Secretary, supporting the Board and membership through careful documentation and communication.
AOAI Treasurer
Don Hart
2022-2024
Don Hart’s interest in the Avanti dates back many years. In 1979, only a few years after college graduation, he purchased a 1963 Avanti which was subsequently fully restored. After enjoying the Avanti, family events (two children) dictated its sale in the late 1980’s. Since the sale of his beloved first Avanti he has purchased a 1983 20th Anniversary Edition Avanti (#4 of 25) and a 1963 R1 4 speed (63R2681). Both are “drivers” that he hopes to pass down to his grandchildren one day.
Don has been a member of the Studebakers Drivers Club for many years and was a co-chairman for the 1981 and 2015 SDC International Meets, and the 2023 AOAI meets, all held in St. Louis, Missouri.
At a local level Don is active in both the AOAI and the SDC MO/IL “Gateway” Chapters. He also takes pride in being an active participant in the AOAI Memorabilia Committee. Currently retired, Don serves as the AOAI Treasurer beginning in 2015. Although not a CPA, he gained financial expertise as a result of programming, systems design, methods and procedures and regulatory compliance related to cost accounting during a 37 year career with AT&T. He plans to continue to serve AOAI as Treasurer for some time contingent on continued membership approval.
AOAI Director
Jeff Grohs
2023-2025
I live in northern California and recently retired as a Silicon Valley engi-neering manager.
The Studebaker “bug” bit me early when my great aunt gave me a 1941 Commander she’d parked in her back- yard in the ‘50s. I rebuilt and drove that car for many years until the burn to have a car with a little more pep took over— enter Avanti! I currently have a 1963 R1 and 2006 convertible, and have driven them to many AOAI international meets, including the 2021 Indy meet.
I have been active in the Avanti Ltd. chapter since 2001. In the past year, as chapter president, I led the effort to rees- tablish the Northern California Avanti group as an AOAI chapter after a period of separation. I have also previously served six years on the AOAI board.
Thanks for reading to the end. Feel free to contact me at jeffgrohs@pacbell.net
AOAI Director
Alan Olas
2023-2025
It’s 1962, my brother and I were driving his ’55 Studebaker when we saw our first Avanti. It was one of the two that were being airlifted around the country to show dealers. It was love at first sight. I told my brother then that I was going to own one of them. Fast forward to the year 2000; I found the prettiest red Avanti in the world at the International Studebaker meet in Madison, WI. It was for sale, and, with my wife’s agreement, it gave truth to the statement I made in 1962. It has won many awards at AOAI, SDC, and local car shows. I totally enjoy showing our Avanti, sharing the history, and clearing up misconceptions about this amazing car.
Our family has had nine Studebakers, including my ’63 Avanti and our son’s ’70 Avanti. As you see, we have a diverse mix, which drives our family’s desire to want joint AOAI, SDC, and ASC meets. Our family has enjoyed these in the past and we have a desire for them in the future.
I believe the opportunities I have had serving as president, vice president and board of directors of the Heartland AOAI Chapter, as well as the 2016 Kansas City AOAI International meet steering committee are an asset to the AOAI Board of Directors.
AOAI Director
Lou Coté
2024-2024
I was part of the group of Avanti owners that revived the long dormant northwest chapter of AOAI. From the start I was on the board of directors, in charge of activities. I met Al Basile, a recent transplant from the east coast , who became our newsletter editor. When president Greg Prince stepped down to pursue other interests, I was asked to “take the reins.” I have never looked back. One thing that Greg Prince left us with was the outline for an authenticity guide. Al Basile and I worked together to complete the Avanti authenticity guide and addendum. Al and I were soon attending national meets to do the Avanti Authenticity judging, we both looked forward to see the quality of the cars we judged improve. If you attended the 2019 meet in Tacoma, that was my idea from the start, John Hull helped us pull it off. My Avanti RQB-4240 built when Stephen Blake owned Avanti Motors in 1985 is a rare car it is one of 6 cars that was built with a 5 speed manual transmission, one other rare option it has, it may be the last car with the Touring Coupe package.
AOAI Director
Mike Baker
2023-2025
