I picked up an old cast aluminum plaque from Carl's Speed Shop.Anybody have any history on the place?Thanks for any info.
The camera is on the fritz and I haven't figured out how to upload pics from the cell phone.It has a front engine dragster on it,very cool.
I bought it at an auction house,it was stuck in with some old 50s license plates and a few people were wondering why I paid so much.The stuff came out of an estate,and from his other stuff,incuding his college degrees from the late 50s,I ***ume he was in his early 70s.Perfect age group for hot rod goodies.I find it strange that people let good stuff like this end up at auctions.
Everyone knows the "greatest generation" is unfortunately leaving this mortal coil.They were the originators of our hot rods and now their "stuff" is changing hands. Sad situation all around,selfishly it's materialistically beneficial for us?
Carl's sponsored Rod Stuckey (or Stucky? I've seen it both ways) as a driver in several fuel and gas dragsters, including the ex-Lou Cangelose (who I'm still trying to learn more about) "Missouri Missle". Don't have any more information than that...Google didn't reveal anything worthwhile. Blaine: Do you know who "Carl" was?
Don't know if they sponsored a multi-engine digger but they did sponsor Jerry Cogswell's B/A. This car was one of the very first fibergl*** bodies to be used in racing. He took a mold from his deuce hot rod, this is in the mid-60's a real inovative pioneer.
You might contact Chris Simmons' here on the HAMB "KCTA Chris" is his user name, he might have some history for you. Not sure if he logs in on the HAMB much anymore.
Thanks for all the info,guys.My Dad and I know Chris,so I'll have to hit him up for some lore.The way I found the plaque was at an estate auction.I bought a box of old license plates and it was in there at the bottom.Talk about a lucky find!
Very cool plaque. I used to go into Carl's all the time back in the 60's. It was in a real weird building, kinda like a cave. It seemed like a mob hangout. They sponsored "reputed mobster" Lou "Black Louie" Cangelose's AA/FD. I was present the day Lou died after he left the track at top speed and flew into a tree at Springfield Dragway in Springfield, Mo.
Somebody beat me to it ----But here's Jerry Cogswell's current '32 roadster that he is an LAR ***ociate member in. We are good friends of Jerry & Carolyn-----------Don
HI Chris O, Great photo of the Muffler Shop... Location denoted on the building, says 2743 McGee. Most unusual building for KC... Is it gone now or still there? I retired to New Mexico from Kansas City... duane (NM Sandrail)
Great picture Chris! Oh, and I believe the bldg is no more. That addy would put it in the middle of Crown Center. I will verify though. Mike
Carl's was south and west of Hallmark. Crown Center was built to the north and west of Hallmark. Carl's is not there on Google maps....looks like a freeway or something is being constructed there. On a similar note, someone recently posted a photo of Rudy Fick Ford on the vintage photo thread here. Their used car lot is where I bought my high school '55 Chevy Convert ($600 in 1962). Rudy Fick was on the corner of Pershing and Mc Gee and was replaced by Crown Center.
My uncle's shop was right next door to Carls' - Ferguson Automotive. I think it opened in the 20's. My cousin is looking to see if he has any pics from back in the day. I used to hang out at my unlce's shop all the time, and we'd see (and hear!) some pretty cool cars coming into Carl's...
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