60'-70's Vintage Oval Track Modifieds

the 18 was the 13 the last time it was raced

 

And I remember it being green too, when me and Marty Himes Jr. restored it around 1980 or '81.

 

In the early 60's, a blue 18 car was owned by Butch Mecieka and driven by Al DeAngelo. The first time I saw a picture of that 18 car with Freddie's name on it, I assumed that Butch was the owner. Butch lived in Glenn Cove and was a close friend of Bob O'Rourke. In fact, the first time I ever attended Islip with my own car, Bob was towing the 18 car on an open trailer and passed me on the L.I.E. doing about 80 mph. That was before he became a NASCAR OFFICIAL. The walls of his Bar & Grill in the town of Glenn Cove were covered with pictures of all the early great cars and drivers.
Can you tell that I'm "old" ?

 

I don't remember what the years were, but good old Freddie drove the Mecieka #18 for a time, the above pictured coupe, another coupe that was super neat and the yellow full bodied camaro that at one time had a Dodge Daytona wing on it. I'm sure that Meade kid could add some facts about this.

 

Great history lesson guys! I recall it as a green 13 also. Didn't seem to run as well though as the blue 18. ;-)

 

Probably the color.

 

naw the racing stripe made it faster of course!

 

Actually, it was all about the script lettering on the roof...

 

They only help in the turns!

 

We'll try this again...specifically; what was lettered on the roof.
Try to keep up Pete!

 

I've probably mentioned it before, but one of the great things about Fred was that after the races at River head, win or lose, he'd be there in the pits, a cold one in one hand, a smoke in the other, and a friendly smile for anyone who wanted to stop by and say hi.

 

Hell, he'd have a smoke in his mouth waiting to time trial, LOL.

Always had a great Q in the pits after the races, especially at Islip. I say that I guess because that's where i hung out with him more if it was down at his shop.

 

If you are talking the 18, The Flying Dutchman of course. If the 13, I never paid it any heed so wouldn't know what was painted on it other then the number 13 and me thinking. Who the hell would drive a green modified with a number 13 on it? Guy must have a death wish. Was the drivers name Charles Bronson by any chance?

 

So the green car curse is alive and Well in the US too? Never seen a green car win.

 

It is.

The only car I ever got upside down in had a green sponsor logo on it.

After we beat the body back straight again, that one got peeled off and replaced with a blue logo.

With the demon banished, she stayed shiny side up for the rest of time I had her.

No green on any car I drive, I don't care if it's a stupid superstition or not. Racing is hard enough without pointlessly tempting fate.

 

Can any of you guys give me a time frame for when disc brakes started showing up on modifieds,( like those available now from Wilwood etc.)? Thanks.

 

I believe that the first aftermarket would have been Hurst-Airheart, but 'adapted' factory setups would have shown up first. Pics I've seen of Lenny's car (with DeSarro driving) taken about 1970 have disc, while pics of other cars from the same time have drum. The best way to figure out when wilwood or JFZ were used is to look at when they started producing product. I found a good link on how to build 60's modifieds: http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/columns/ron-hedger/the-basics-of-restoring-an-antique-car

Barry

 

http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/columns/ron-hedger/the-basics-of-restoring-an-antique-car

Here's the link (hopefully it'll post correctly this time.

Barry

 

Great article by Ron Hedger. He and I were in college together at Oswego, NY. Spadaro was in there with us.

Ron and his family ran modifieds for years. Dick Clark drove them for quite awhile.

Most everything he mentioned was pretty accurate. In eastern New York we started running the '58 Chevy short tail shaft transmission rather than the Ford. But as power increased, it was back to a Ford, but I don't think it was the one he mentioned.

Many folks ran a 55-57 Chevy steering box laid on it's side. Yep, truck tie rod ends, Buick brake drums, 3/4 ton rear axle bells/tubes, Chrysler rear leaf springs, old Ford front axle and a host of other junkyard stuff worked in the build.

You could still do it today, but to a lesser extent. An inexpensive race car is still possible if the rules are written properly.

 

Modifieddriver, you're funny!

 

Thanks for that link, Barry.

 

Modifieddriver thanks for the link, that story is awesome. I may be only 42(...LOL...he said "only"), but truly believe this is the stuff that "REAL" racecars are made of. I absolutly hate the direction that racing has taken with all the store bought stuff, but I guess that's "progress". I can't deal with walking through the pits (or seeing on TV) drivers that dont have a clue as to what is entailed in building and maintaining the cars they are driving, but I imagine there has always been a certain number of those very unfortunate folks. In the years that I have raced ,wow its been 20, I have done every stitch of work on my cars, of course with some very appreciated help from my father, kids and a few sponsors. From fab, engines, drivetrain, bodywork, painting and lettering. And, I wouldnt have it anyother way!!!! Just to let you guys know there are still a few "home builts out there, my Rat Mod is exactly that....wrecking yard stuff and less than about 2500 bucks. Thanks for letting me rant...LOL


..this started out as a GM full frame...can u say 55 chevy?


..its all in the angle of that big 4 spoke steering wheel...LOL


..of course have to have the engine turned dash, and Powerglide shifter to look like an old hand clutch.


..and it would be a sin to drive in anything but WHITE!!!

 

Nice car, Slopoke (which, I am sure is a misnomer! lol). I admire your skills and dedication to the sport. (Can I drive it??)

 

Richie Evans brought WILWOOD in from what I heard. Late 70's early 80s maybe? He had brake issues from the heat and figured if his brakes could work longer with the heat, he could be tougher to beat, which he was.

He also was known to go through a pile of tires looking for a name or serial numbers that were close to tires that he had success with recently. Dedicated

 

slightly newer than 60-70's, but I am trying to locate info and pictures of the Brett Hearn Freightliner #6 coil car that was built for the Dirt/Asphalt series in 1990 ... any info appreciated ... thank you

 

Slopoke21m,

That's a nice lookin' car. Nice fab work. One of the first times I've seen a early Chevelle body on a modified. Good lookin'.

You did the lettering? Great job.

 

Modifieddriver, Yup on the lettering....as a matter of fact, yup on everything on this thing... Been racing for 20 years and have built everyone of my cars from bombers, to hobby stocks, garage built IMCA mod in 1995 and these vintage style modifieds. Growing up had a guy with a similar car but it was a 64 chevelle and it was one of my favs. Thanks for the compliments, its greatly appreciated.

Heres a pic of the car a few years ago but with a different chassis for a class that had different rules than what I run now, but good pic of the rear of the body and tail lights.



And this is the car I grew up around at Merced Speedway (circ. 1972), my dad painted it and crewed on it. Sort of the insperation of this type of vintage racer.

 

Slopoke21m = Borat?? Inquiring minds want to know!

 

SLOPOKE

Some nice looking builds there

Can't believe you can still find parts in the "yard" to build a car today

The only REAL race cars to me are the ones built from the "junk yards"

Now if we could only do something about the "full face" helmets

 

Drive a dirt car on a heavy track just one night, and you will thank your lucky stars that you've got a full face helmet and tear-offs, I guarantee it.

Not everything from the days of yore was better.