History Old Time Philadelphia area Hot Rods + drags

the road he is talking about is (or was called back then) hog island rd. it is the access road to the UPS plane terminal now. I knew a guy that ran there back in the 60's and he said some crazy shit when on there, on more than one occasion a guy brought a slingshot dragster and ran it against anyone that wanted to run.

 

I read an article about Reggie Jackson once where he said he raced his '55 Chevy there. We used to come down from Chester County to race and watch. Last time I was there in 1965 the cops came in from all directions and rounded us up. Impounded the cars and put the drivers in jail overnight. Everybody else had to find their own way home. We ended up with six guys in a taxi all the way back home. Cabbie was a great guy and shut the meter off halfway back as we were out of money. Within a year most of us were off to the military with one more crazy story to tell.

 

Im looking for information on any 1964 plymouth max wedge or 1964 Hemi Dodge/Plymouth tht raced in the area.
Peter Milos.... Poor Boys (Hemi Hustler).. etc.. Thanks

 

Any new pics/stories? It's a shame a lot of them are gone in here. Maybe some new stuff will pop up!

My friend Eric is an old Hot Rodder and he bought his 32 Roadster in the mid-late 50's and it was a Modifiers car originally. He swapped an Olds with a Lasalle trans in it and then it sat for many years until the past few years where he's been redoing it. I always like visiting and helping with the car and hearing his stories of street racing around Philly in the 50's and 60's! Below are a couple of his photos of the roadster when he was swapping the Olds in and channeling it.

Also attached is a neat drag racing photo from the Philly/NJ area he snapped but he couldn't recall the car or track off the top of his head.

 

From the looks of the guardrail and the water tower tank in the background, I think that it is Langhorne. They ran 1/8 mile drags on a strip in the infield.

 

Hi folks, I have not been on this thread for a while and thought I would check in and see what is going on ? It is a shame that Photobucket pulled so many historical photos from this thread. Please post any old pics that you may have for this topic.........Goldy

 

Here are my pictures that were 'lost' ...

 

Some more -

 

And a video link - York US 30 Dragway, Bash's car at 0:55 and a the 'Filthy Forty' at 0:46
After 1:45 it is too new for mee.......

 

Great pics and video Dave. I spent a lot of time at York Drag Way as a kid. The track closed down when I got my drivers licence . I remember once in a while they would stop the race action, and a plane would come in and land, then right back to racing, LOL.

 

Hi Dave, thanks a bunch for posting !!!

 

I grew up in Hatboro in the 50's and the 60's and there were quite a few of the 60's cars and 70's cars that prowled the roads back then. Hatboro had a 409 car with ladder bars called "Get Around" , the Ciccione brothers had a 1966 Hemi Belvedere with a beautiful paint job and they called it "Un Chained"
and they used to drive around with slicks and new spark plugsin the trunk and I can tell you they never lost a race anywhere. There was a Yenko Camaro and hordes of Chevy Impalas, Novas and Buicks all hopped up and driving to McDonalds only to turn around and go to the Hot Shoppes in Jenkintown.
Many a 6 pack dart ran the roads. I was one of the Impala guys and I ran a 64 impala 300 horse 4speed and I would race any one anywhere. I lost to a buick 455 from a rolling punch. There was a corvette from Warminster called "Yellow Fever" and that car was only seen for a few times, it couldn't hook. I worked for Hurst in the shipping department and sometimes in the assembly lines to get things expedited like the pistol grip with the shifter. I had a buddy Jon Cunningham who also worked for Hurst and He had a Plymouth 64 fury 2 with duel carbs and a 426 wedge and a 4 speed, cheater slicks and wild abandon.
My name is Fred Patrick, email me at lazrweb@bciwildblue.com and lets talk cars.

 

Goldy- I have read all of your posts, almost all relate someway or another. We have been in each others
present one time or another. I born & raised in philly, grew up in Roxborough section 50-60 time area.
I visited Hatfield many times, on one or two occasions went with Jerry Stimillar, 57 270 chev, 150. drove
there opened the headers, put slicks on and raced. The car was all white, it stayed in Rox for many years.
I belonged to the Lancers Hot Rod Club, bought a club members 1940 ford raced at Hatfield a couple of
times, E / gas. We used to cruise to the hot shoppes, and big boys on blvd, back in the day. Later on built
a JR Stock, 57 wagon, N/SA. Raced at Atco. Then built and drove three NHRA S/S chevs. See web site
Don Glovers Chevelles. Worked at Hurst for several years, one of three Enginers that built the 1968,
Hurts / Olds prototype. Lately have traveled to many events displaying old Hurst info. Keep up
the great work.

 

I was born and raised in Northeast Philly and thought I would share these 2 clippings from the early 1960's that were hanging in my garage. Spent a night in jail but did a lot of laughing with the guys and gals and my dad thought it was funny when he came to pick me up the next day. A lot of street racing out of Big Boys on the Boulevard, the Concrete Strip behind Byberry Hospital, the Budd airstrip, the Meadows, for a short time Decatur Rd. and every time you would catch a Red light Boy I miss those days. Mantuajohn Tumolo

 

BILL CAMPBELL - HURST CO-FOUNDER
William "Bill" Campbell passed away on Feb 8 th, 2020 at the age of 97. He was born in Flushing
Queens, NY in 1922. Bill Campbell was one of the co-founders of the HURST - CAMPBELL COMPANY back in the 1950s along with George Hurst. Bill was a detailed engineer that made a lot of the ideas work. They made a great team together.
He worked at HURST- CAMPBELL until 1969 when he retired. Through the years other companies acquired the
HURST COMPANY. Presently the name still shines above the rest. Bill Campbell was the keystone and the cornerstone of
this legacy. I worked with Bill for many years.

 

Just ran across this photo on facebook. No details were posted with it, but this looks like the '41 Ford sedan you mention...

 

Yes Robin, that is exactly the car and the owner/ driver. Thank you for posting that photo. .....Goldy

Sent from my SM-A102U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Just checking in and trying to figure out how to navigate on the HAMB now.

 

Goldy, Thanks for starting this thread. Still looking for any info on my Uncle Ed (Eddie) Woodland from Frankfort Ave then Cherry Hill. Enjoy the pictures!

 

On the hunt for the car in my profile

1932 ford woody by John good and hanks speed shop