I'm trying to research the history of racing in South Texas and was wondering if anyone here has ever done anything like this. The information is hard to come by and all the old timers are either dead or have moved away, so it seems. I'm specifically looking for old speed shops that have come and gone but so far I'm not having much luck. I came to this area over thirty years ago and can remember one or two shops but I'm looking for shops that existed back in the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and so forth. Does anyone have any suggestions were to find information on these old shops. I've contacted a local historian and asked him the same question but his response was "what's a speed shop?" I don't expect much help there. Anyone?
Starting point...some of the 1950's small books on rodding have state-by-state speed shop directories in the back...I know I have those for several years, though that does not mean I can find them! I know the ones put out by Popular Mechanics had this, and think there were others as well, and perhaps the earliest couple of HRM books. Historical archaeology! A couple of years ago, I went to San Diego, and tried to find "Dago" Stewarts axle dropping shop...got within a few yards of where it musta was, lost the trail in a tangle of widened intersection and parking lots...
I can't really offer any help, but I did want to thank you for inspiring me to do a little historical archeology of my own. There's an old building here (Birmingham, Alabama) with cool old faded signage on it that says "A.C.E. Speed Warehouse". I've always wondered about the shop's history. After seeing your post, I decided to do a web search, thinking maybe somebody has mentioned it in some online ramblings. Not only did I find a cool photo of part of the signage (scroll down to the "old logo" link here: http://www.kennysmith.org/blog/2005_10_01_blog_archive.html), but I also found that it is still in business! Its now in a part of town that I never visit...but I will now! It's odd that I've never heard anybody in the Birmingham area mention this speed shop, though. Its not like there's alot of speed shops here...basically just two, Rocco and Cheaters and SECO.
What about the old Speed and Sport in downtown San Antonio? Dont know when it first opened, but it was around for awhile.
I don't know of any in south Texas, but you might try calling Wayne Calvert at Calvert Precision Engines in Denton. I haven't talked to him in several years. I think he's "retired" and his son runs the business now, but if he's in good health, he's probably at the shop. Another old Texas Speed Shop owner would be Carl Stone in Dallas.
My 1951 Hot Rod Handbook lists: Wade Bedell Jr 246 St Francis St(1954 listed at 637 S. Presa) San Antonio TX H.C. Brown 819 Wilkes St Houston TX Ellis Speed SHop 601 Austin St San ANtonio TX Johnie Johnson 2301 Seventeenth St Lubbock TX L & S Speed SHop 605 Henley St Houston TX Ralph's Hollywood Muffler Shop 2220 Jacksboro Hwy Fort Worth TX Sappenfield Auto SUpply 115 S. Union St WHitesboro TX Tip's SPeed Shop 1318 W. Hollywood San Antonio TX As Speed Parts Distributors in Texas. Have fun, take pictures of the old buildings if they still exist and let us see 'em. Remeber to check the businesses on either side of an address if they're old timers and see if you can get any other information. You just never know!!
If you have any racing museums in your area, you might try their archives for programs or newsletters from that era. Speed shops often put their advertising where it would reach their desired customers. I love searching the "paper vendors" for old speed shop catalogs from the by gone days. Some times the catalogs were printed by the manufacturer with nothing more than a rubber stamped phone #, name and address identifying the local speed shop that carried their wares. I vividly recall the articles that Bruce mentioned. It was cool to me as a pimply teenager to see a local speed shop that I was familiar with appear in a national magazine.
1954 Hot Rod Handbook from Popular MEchanics: Babb's Hot Rod SHop 1227 Walnut St Amarillo TX Custom Car SUpply 1506 E. 10th ST Amarillo TX Frank Taylor 207 N. Virginia St Amarillo TX Gray's Auto Repair 1523 E. 7th St Amarillo TX Allen Bros. Garage 1800 W. Third ST Big SPring TX Speed & Power Equipment 809 W. Third ST Big Spring TX Trevino Garage 1218 Madison St Brownsville TX Chandler Auto Supply 308 N. Fisk Brownwood TX C.C. Speedway 3901 Agnes St Corpus Christi TX Grant Motor Parts 3003 Agnes ST Corpus Christi TX Stoneking Service 602 Channing ST Dalhart TX Bert D. Hallett 6523 Latta St Dallas TX Californis Muffler Co 1410 Zangs Blvd Dallas TX Custom Automotive 2122 N. Pearl St Dallas TX Pleasnt Mound Garage 3118 SOuth Buckner St Dallas TX Ellis Auto Service 311 W. Oak St Denton TX House of Chrome 2500 Texas Ave El Paso TX Joe FUlton Ferris TX Bryant's Speed Shop 922 W. Harrison St Harlingen TX Earl Hay Auto Service 4715 Allen St Houston TX Phillips Gargae 8312 Park Place Blvd Houston TX Tom's SUpply House 1901 Washington Ave Houston TX Kermit Motor Co Kermit TX Fillip's Speed Shop(still in business) 1810 Volney San ANgelo TX George Vinas 552 Leigh St San ANtonio TX Hi-Way Automotive Parts 2108 W. Erwin St Tyler TX Langford Racing & Muffler CO 2200 Harrison ST Wichita Falls, TX
Phone books: Start at local library, asking reference people about state and county library system. Someone somewhere in that system has at least some old phone books. You'll probably have to read the whole car parts sections, as I doubt there will be a specific heading for speed.
I know San Antonio was kind of a hub for racing in south Texas back in the day but was by no means the only place where it was happening. Ricci Ware (pronounce like "wear")was heavy into it in the 50s - 60s and on into the 80s as far as I know and started racing at an old track near Austin Highway and Eisenhaur road back when that was out in the country. The next track was up near Topperwein & I-35 before it moved down to highway 16 on the southside. Drag strips were near an old airport on Rittiman road and then down next to the roundy roundy track on highway 16. Now they have the new track on I-10 east towards Houston. I think Ricci's son still races. The downtown public library would be one of the only places you can find local info after the old timers are gone.
Wow, you guys are a wealth of knowledge on this subject. This is going to be an interesting project but an research like this takes a lot of book work and library time. I used to research old shipwrecks when I was in college, I was obsessed with finding the mother lode, so I'm familiar with that part of it. Thank you very much for your help and if anyone has any further information please feel free to p*** it on. Thanks again, Aman
Spend some time visiting with Drew Williams. I'll PM ya his info. He was discussed on here a bit ago....with pictures of an awesome overhead converssion for a flatty.
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