History Anybody Remember Douglas Speed Sport Center?

Douglas Speed Sport Center opened when I was about 12 and immediately became my favorite hang out. Doug Fleharty, Steve Novick, Bruce Wheeler, Al Friedman, Jack Weller and others were my heros when I was a kid. They lavished me with decals and copies of Drag Times and tolerated my frequent presence as an adolescent hot rodder wannabe. Doug's finally closed a few years ago. As a tribute, I recently had my truck lettered to reflect a shop truck that might have been. Marc Weller

 

Love the truck lettering, great homage to pay your Mentors!

I have a new sign, all lettered and ready to hoist onto my new shop.

It reads, " A****ER SPEED & SPORT. "

Wife HATES the initials...

 

Does anyone have a picture of the race car Tony De Carlo built for Douglas Speed and Sport. That would be when Doug Fleharty was there

 

Marc,

My name is Gary Furstenberg. I'm a little late to this site. I found it when I was researching connections to DSS in SS, MD and I hope there are still respondents out there.

I used to live in the same neighborhood with Doug Fleharty in NW DC back in the early 60's. I was just starting my freshman year at St. John's (College Prep) HS on Military Rd. Doug had either spent some years attending or had just graduated from the same school, I don't remember exactly. He and I became friends although he was a few years older than me. When his grandmother p***ed she left Doug a pretty decent chunk of change. In addition to being a pretty good musician (guitar) he was also, like me, a gear head. He invested some of his inheritance in a 1961 Chevy 2-door Impala SS 348, 4 Speed. This was a pretty rare car as GM only produced around 500 or so SS models in '61. It ran pretty good in stock form but it was destined to do better. Doug decided that owning an auto parts shop would be a good way to earn a living as well as further his appe***e for drag racing so he negotiated a lease and opened Douglas Speed-Sport on Fenton Street in Silver Spring, MD. I remember riding up to Philadelphia with him to buy his first truckload of speed parts to stock the store. Steve Novick (or it might be spelled Novak, I'm not sure) was also living in the neighborhood and was a friend to both of us. Doug asked Steve and I to help at the store. Chronologically this would be around '65 or '66. I worked there until I went into the AF in April of '67 and also for a short time when I returned to the States and rotated out of the service in 1971.
I also remember Jack, Bruce and Al but also an outstanding wrench at Hick's Chevrolet, Tony DeCarlo, who we all befriended. Doug's '61 SS became a project for the store with Tony handling the majority of the mechanical work, Steve and I crewing and Doug did the driving. We mainly raced at 75 & 80 in Damascus (now closed), Aquasco Speedway and Capital Raceway but we got up to York PA from time to time also. The car was sponsored by the Speed Shop and ran in "A" Stock for awhile then somehow Doug was able to purchase one of the 427 Porcupine Head "Mystery Motors". To this day I do not know how he managed that. Only the elite Chevy Teams had those. Since, at the time, Doug was still living at home in his parents apartment he rented a garage to house the SS. Tony set up the engine and we ran in "B" Modified Production. The Speed Shop put us in touch with a lot of top name racers, Strickland, Jenkins, Malcolm Durham and the like. We had good contacts with all of the big boys in the industry, Weiand, Edelbrock, Gebler and others. The cars racing life was short but towards the end Doug and Steve took it south to have Ronnie Sox (Sox & Martin) set up the suspension. While there it ran 11.26 @ 126 MPH. Pretty good for a 3800 lb. steel body car. When Doug and Steve returned home they were quite excited to relate how Ronnie and Buddy stated that they were glad Mr. Resistor wasn't racing in their cl***!!
The car was basically retired not long after that but the Speed Shop went on with some minor sponsoring of a couple local cars that all did pretty well. The store really was a gathering spot for a lot of the areas hot rod enthusiasts and just so much fun to work at. After I left to raise a family the shop got sold to Steve Cantor who ran it for several years. Steve also went off to raise his family and Doug got back into his music. Sadly Doug, long ago, p***ed. I believe Tony has also p***ed as well as Malcolm Durham. For the record those two were, without a doubt, true gentlemen. Both friendly, kind and talented beyond belief and Doug always had great driving skills. I think he invented the "Hole Shot" as he would make that 4 speed sound like an automatic with a B&M shift kit in it!!

The reason I'm posting this is that at 71 years old now, I'd like to reconnect with any of the old gang that's left. I live in the North Bethesda area of Montgomery County MD. Last I heard, Steve and family lived in Damascus, MD but I haven't seen or heard from him in well over 30 years. His son Scott and my son Justin went to school together at Gaithersburg HS. Unfortunately I have no pictures of the car or our time at the tracks or the speed shop. The best bet for photos is Steve. I think he had a copy of the '61 pulling the front wheels off the ground as Doug launched it down the track (probably 75 & 80). This photo was blown up very large and placed as a placard in front of the car at one of the Ram Rod Car Shows that it was entered in. If I remember correctly it won Best in Cl*** that year.
Hope someone gets this and would like to respond.

 

Sent you a message,and welcome to the HAMB.

 

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm not too versed on this Social Media thing. I thought I was responding to a message from Marc. What did I do wrong? BTW thanks for the heads up.

Gary F.

 

Gary,hold the arrow(from mouse) on the persons name click-start a conversation-

type then send.

 

Gary, Welcome to the HAMB. The OP (original poster) hasn't been back on here in over 5 years. Don't dismay though as there is a Md. Social Group on here that is quite active. You might know some of the folks on there so post away on there. There are also a couple of threads on the main page that you might find of interest. One in reference to Aquasco Speedway and the other about the Mighty Mo and Hot Shoppes in the D.C. area. Another one is about car clubs from the D.C. area. Check 'em out. I remember Douglas Speed Sport from back in the day though I was never there.

 

HI GARY! http://www.maui-angels.com/wheelerdealer/

 

Bruce, post up some photos........please.

 

Technology is amazing. My lengthy intro actually got a reply from Marc Weller. He's alive and well on the West Coast where he has lived for the last 40 years (near Pomona). He sent an e-mail yesterday (on the HAMB letterhead) but I have not seen it posted on the message board. maybe he has chosen not to do that??

Gary

 

I'm not on Facebook, Gary, but this place is like Facebook for Hot Rodders....I managed to re-connect with quite a few folks from back in the day that I otherwise would have never found. Hopefully Marc will choose to get back on here and post some more memories for us all to enjoy......Don.

 

Bruce...good to hear from you. Yesterday Marc Weller sent me an e-mail. He has not posted it to the HAMB message board and maybe has chosen not to do that?? Can you clear something up for me? I have been under the impression for a long time that Doug Fleharty p***ed away. Marc thinks, for reasons that he wishes not to disclose, that Doug is indeed still with us. I ran a search and the first hit I got seemed to be THE Doug Fleharty. Name is Douglas W. Fleharty, lives in Arizona, is 74 years old, previously lived in Silver Spring, MD. I hope that it's true. Also are you still in touch with Steve Novak?? Or know how to reach him? Very sorry to hear about Al. He was a good guy. BTW your photos are incredible. By any chance do you have any of Doug's old "61 Impala SS, Mr. Resistor?

 

Marc,
Got your e-mail yesterday but I don't know how to access it on the Message Board. Maybe you have chosen not to post it. No problem. Good to hear that your still around. I also heard from Bruce Wheeler not long after you. The old Speed Shop boys are waking up!! Just like you, I had heard long ago that Doug had past. The last I saw of him was probably around '80 or '81. A friend of mine had an Italian Restaurant in Viers Mill and we were all attending one of his waitresses wedding and lo and behold Doug and his small band was playing the reception. He came back to the restaurant with all of us and we ate, drank and chatted for awhile. That was the last time I saw him. A few years later I heard that he p***ed. After reading your e-mail I ran a name check and got an immediate hit..Douglas W. Fleharty, age 74, lives in Arizona, previously lived in Silver Spring, MD. This all sounds like THE Douglas Fleharty. Man that would be great if it's true.
Gary

 

Katt,
My name is Gary Furstenberg. I was good friends with Doug Fleharty and was one of the first employees to work there back in the mid '60's. I have recently re-connected with another early employee and friend, Steve Novik. Steve actually owned the speed shop for some time after Doug decided to pursue other avenues. He is the best source for photos like the ones you are asking about. I have a few myself. I see you haven't been active on this MB for a few years but hopefully you check in from time to time. Please let me know if I can be helpful.

Gary F.

 

I remade the decal that I have had on my toolbox for forty years. I made a t-shirt for old times.

 

............Love it.

 

Was Steve Cantor ever a car salesman at Loving Chevrolet? It seems I remember the name from when I worked there during the mid 60's to mid 70's. I bought a few things at Douglas .

 

................Are you still in this general area?

 

Cloverly area

 

.........Cool. Hope you have the chance to get out to some of the events in our area. The Jalopy Showdown is well worth the drive up to the Hanover, Pa. area..........Join us on the Maryland HAMB Social Group on here. It's a pretty interesting bunch..........Don.

 

That sounds a lot like my toolbox !!!!

 

..............................Very cool.

 

Here's some memorabilia from DSS, I use the key chain for my 56 keys, and am tying to figure out where the sticker will go

 

Where are you now, John? Are you in the D.C. area?

 

Hello,
My name is John Ordona. Mr. Resistor was born in my fathers backyard house in DC. near Old Walter Reed.
I worked on electrical stuff and radios. Doug and I named the 63 big engine Chevy. Tony Decarlo was on his
way to look it over. When he got to my back yard we had already did a trial painting on the fenders. Mr. Resistor.
The other fellow at the start was Jimmy Lagnell. He did the Holly carb work, Tony did the tuning. We used my
car to pull the first tow bar, then later a trailer. I was the one driving the car at the track when the hood flew open when I shifted to 2nd gear.....Hood covered the entire windshield. At one time I had a lot of pictures. Now they are
all gone. At that time the car ran in B Highway Cl***. Big engine, one carburetor, calc was HP to Weight ratio.
Doug and I went to Sacred Heart Catholic Grade School. 1st to 8th. We took guitar lessons together at Kitts Music Center, downtown DC 14th and F. He father was bank president at 15th and F. I don't recall the bank name. Doug spent a lot of weekends at my house as we grew up. We also had a common link in guitars, Chuck Levins Music
Center and one of my uncles. I got married and Steve Knovak stepped in. Then Speed and Sport got started.
Malcom Durham lived 2 blocks down the street from me. At that time I had a 1957 Ford Fair Lane 500. We used to stop at the Sunoco station at East West Hwy and Wisc Ave to by 100 octane blue gas. That was the trend at that
time A few years ago I met up with an old DC friend, Norman Sullivan and he told me that Doug had got into a lot of trouble. In reading your post you indicated that he has p***ed on. Is that true....? I know that his mother p***ed on and his father was living in North Carolina. This was quite a few years ago. Most likely he has also p***ed on.
I ran across your post bay accident. Small world we live in.

Regards, John O

 

No....I am in wet / sunny Florida.....Have we met...?

 

I am sorry, I type 1963.......it should be 1961

Regards,
John O

 

Thanks for responding, John. It's great to hear your memories of that particular time frame in the D.C. Metro area.