Does anyone know of a web site that has details on any old speed shops? Tried searching but didn't really find what i needed. Looking for shops that were located in the NY area (Long Island) in the late 1950's through the mid 1960's. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Scott
The late 60's mags Hot Cars and Rodder and Super Stock and were based out of NY and had ton's of ads in them of the NYC /burrough based speed shops. A little later time frame than what you were looking for but many of the shops were still in business then.
There was the Super Speed Shop south of the Walt Whitman Mall on the west side of 110. Then, I forget the name but it's where I went often, a small place on Jericho T'pike just east of the Deer Park Rd extension on the south side. And of course there was and is S & S on Rte 109 in Lindenhurst on the north side. Merkles just off the LIE in Brentwood, Fontana's Speed in Brentwood who specialized in Hemis. McBetts, though he was just an engine builder and really not a parts house. There were other Mom and Pop shops around. I believe RaceMasters came along later on Suffolk ave in Brentwood.
Hey Scott I got a book that has all spped shop listings about that time all over the USA. I'll look for it...Send me your email....Lucky
Check out the latest issue of Hot Rod Magazine. A good friend of mine has owned it since 1948.For an owner in his early 80's, Glenn is still pretty sharp. I have to wait in line for him to go thru a vintage Barker mag for me.
There's S/K Speed on route 109 in West Babylon and also in Rockville Center. Been around a long time and carry some good stuff. http://www.skspeed.com/
One of the biggest during that time frame was Dons Speed Shop in Metuchen,New Jersey owned by Don Rawleigh...My avatar shows ours in Texas ,from 1948 till the 80s
The book referred to above is likely the Popular (Science, Mechanics, Mechanix, something) hot rod annual...I have some of various years, and they list speed shops by state in the back. Speed shops came in two flavors, rarely mixed. One type was a store that sold all the aluminum or chrome widgets and anything else you wanted (usually small stock of engine parts, lots of special ordering). These were usually small, seedy storefronts, one side reserved for used parts, counter with expensive bits hanging above, catalog basically built from snippings from supplier catalog. Always infested with drooling teenagers looking at and discussing everything with a bored owner who knew they were dead broke and driving Momma's '53 Chevy. Other type was a spe******t machine shop, nothing much for sale, dark cave full of machinery, filthy old anti social machinests, racers dragging in whatever they broke on Saturday.
Is there something/someone specific you are looking for? Growing up on the Island in the sixties there were speed shops everywhere. I grew up in Elmont and I can recall dozens within a half hour or so ride east from my house. You had Speedwin, Motion, McBetts, S&K, Ken's Drag Center, Mr.Biggs, A&N Speed, Ralph's 1320, Hi-Speed, Corvette City, Musclecars Performance, Marotta Comp, Racemaster, Elwood, Suffolk Speed, Ridgerunner & Speed Equipment World. Going west there was Flips, Victory Automotive, Speed Equip. World, Bronx Speed, Melrose Speed, Performance Specialties, Bayside Speed, Maspeth Speed, C&A Speed and more. Most had some pretty knowledgeable guys and ran some pretty tough cars, but very few are left.
There's actually a So Cal franchise in Douglas, MA. I'd give 3 hours from L.I. on a day with good traffic flow. Great guys over there too, they're totally into it. Check em' out -D
Don't want to hijack, so on a similar note. I'm trying to find out info on "Racing Parts and Machine" in the Baltimore area. The owner, Paul Hogge, built engines for me and my pals in the late 60's, early 70's. He was located in Towson then, later moved to Belair Road. I visited him there about 5 years ago. He was 73 then. The phone has been transferred to someone else. Anyone have any knowledge of how Paul's doing?
Racing Parts Phone number should be this: (410) 444-0052. Not too far from me. I live just north of them. Haven't had anything done by them, by some of my buddies swear by their builds.
_______________________________________________________________ I can't help with a website, but what is it you are looking for, maybe I can help. I can throw some old names around if that helpe....early 70's back into the 60's, before that I'm not sure. S&K Speed has been in Lindenhurst well into the 60's maybe before. LAB is still in business, I just heard. Speedwin I think was in Mineola, then moved to new building in early 70's, I worked there. True Performance, I think was in St James. Mighty Motors in Kings Park, R&M Automotive I think was in Lindenhurst. C&A Speed, I think St James, naturally Motion Performance in Baldwin, Super Cars and McBetts were in Copaique I think, South Shore Speed....West Islip, A&K Speed...out East somewhere, Kooks Custom Headers, then became Racemaster in Brentwood, Lovatte Racing Engines, I think maybe Farmingdale, Els***er Racing Engines on the North Shore out East, TiKi'S Performance....in Patchogue, Ghost Performance....East Islip, Fontana was in Central Islip, don't know where they were before, G&R Performance....Babylon, Doug's Performance....East Islip, Jack Merkel was in Ridgewood Queens than moved to Brentwood where they are now, Diamond Race Cars....I think in Farmingdale. There is probably a ton more that I missed.....I hope this helps. If I can help....email me at bblockbill@aol.com
StraightAxle, Yeah, that's the # I have. It's been transferred to someone else. I actually started a post called "Racing Parts and Machine" and someone told me Paul had retired. If you know different let me know. Thanks
_______________________________________________________________ Hi Scott, I thought of a couple more last night....Elwood Speed Shop...... I think in Dix Hills or Deer Park area,There was a Mr Biggs....I think it was on North Shore out east a bit, I was never there, Suffolk Speed.....rt 110 in Huntington, that was the store but they had a warehouseup on I think Railroad Ave up in Huntington, I worked there as well. The store and warehouse changed to Muscle Cars, then the warehouse became American Speed, then everything I believed changed to ATV Stores, the stores for sure, just not 100% for sure about the ware house. Then the chains, Speed Equipment World (Speed World), a friend owned one in Islip Terrace, Ridgerunner.... a friend owned one of those on the South Shore, N***au County. I forgot a friend worked for A&N Performance.... I think that was in Franklin Square, Almost all of these, 85% are gone now. I hope these help, I know, maybe not as far back as you asked, but some I mentioned did go back a ways...... Merry Christmas.
___________________________________________________________ I remember most of these, most of the city speed shops ran cars in Jersey or National Speedway. Westhampton was considered 2nd rate, even back then. I worked at American speed in early 70's delivering speed equipment to speed shops in Staten Island and Northern Jersey. These names bring back many memories..........Bill
In my neck of the woods there's Dixon Automotive in Waukegan IL, which has been in business for 50 years. They sorta specialize in sprint car stuff, but the old fella who owns it has a treasure trove of old hot rod speed equipment in a side room... including an early hemi powered Deuce 5w he's had for more than 40 years.
Try The Speed Shop in Valley Stream or Lynbrook L I NY its been there since I was a child and Iam 51.Owner is Frank Dominiani hes still alive the store has not changed at all since it opened Frank used to race on the SCCA circut and his mnumber was 69 he raced old corvettes.Its like a museum.Frank must be in his 80s now.
does anyone have any pictures from cars that where built at tikis performance in patchouge?my cousin built his car there and trying to find some pictures thank you frank
Square Speed was on Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park. The did a small block for me in 1964. Ralph's 1320 shop was in Laurelton on Hook Creek Blvd in the mid 60-s. He relocated in Suffolk County after he returned to Long Island in the mid 80-s.
Square Speed Shop on Jericho Turnpike run by Ray Bopp was one of the earlier L.I. speed shops I can remember. I know it was there in the late fifties. Most of the L.I. speed shops mentioned in this thread came well after Square. I remember Jack Merkle running his D/G 55 Chevy at Westhampton long before he opened his shop. Back in the day L.I. was what I believe the Meeca of hot rodding. Cruising to the Big Bow Wow, street racing on Crossbay Boulevard and the Connecting Highway was where the action was at. Too bad most people never experienced those days.
I was riding with my brother a couple of years ago and we were looking around at all the wonderful develpement and he said Thank GOD we grew up on Long Island when we did.It's sad, but so true all the drive ins, the burger joints, the hang out spots, the clubs,all gone.My father use to hang out at the Bow Wow back in the 50's I went as a kid.I grew up in it so I got to enjoy it,but for guys like my son it's just not worth it.If he wants to run his car he has to go down to Atco or Cecil county between hotels and tolls and fuel you are adding $250 at least to your tab.
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