Cruising returns to Van Nuys Blvd

Nicknames just stuck on people for different reasons. Usually in an effort to distinguish "which" Bob, or "which" John, beings there'd be several street racers with the same 1st name.

For the most part, street racers hung out at Jack in the Box on Weds night. But, I don't recall street racing the primary reason for being there on Weds night. BUT, B o A and other "meet" spots on Sat. nights at midnite, WERE just for street races

 

Are you thinking of Hugh's Market on Balboa and Devonshire(S.E. corner)?

PS-don't forget Food King at Devonshire @ Sepulveda (N.W. corneer). I actually remember that one BEFORE B o A

 

Groucho:

Ahh yes, I remember the SE Balboa & Devonshire spot now that you mention it. But the other one was at NE corner of Balboa & San Fernano Mission Blvd. near a Jack in the Box. Then at another time at the SE corner.

At a different time period they met at the NW corner of Baboa & Devonshire.

Oh and don't forget Got'Cha's "lot" at Sepulveda and Brand Blvd where it curves into Sepulveda.

And Lumber City on Sepulveda above House of Corvettes.

Or the Lumber City on Sherman Way right next to the airport underpass.

Sherman Way and Canoga ave. Looong time ago. One of the first lots I went to. With my '70 Roadrunner.

Canoga and Norhoff - Builders Emporious or something like that.

La Tuna & Sunland at the gas station (7-11?)

Norhoff and Reseda near the College.

Fry's Electronics on Canoga below the railroad tracks.

Devonshire & Desoto.

Laural Canyon and Victory behind the restaurant.

Christ, it's a wonder they even found each other there were so many places to meet. Sometimes it was like a different spot every other week.

 

There's a few of those I don't remember, or were before my time. But, the Laurel Cnyn and Victory sure seems an unlikely spot. When was that one used?

 

Groucho:

When? This was way back for me, I wasn't even racing yet, probably somewhere in the early to mid 70's on the SW corner behind Toys-R-Us and in front of where they later built the Theaters. Big parking lot. The restaurant was called - crap, it was on the tip of my tongue, but it's gone now.... Oh, I've got it, it was the Lamplighter.

It feels like there are 10 more spots just under the surface, but obviously out of reach of my immediate retrieval ability. Sucks gettin' old. LOL

 

I remember Lamplighter. I used to eat there with BeeDee (remember her at all?). I believe before that it was Van De Kamps. On Laurel, a block S. of Victory. Also, I know the lot well. It was a short cut between May Co. Mall (a popular hangout), and part of N. Hlywood Park (another hangout). But I have zero knowledge of it's use for street racing at all

 

It was also in the late 60's. We tried to get the Sepolveda Basin for a strip. Willie was part of it then too. I was off the Blvd by the 80's and don't know about the 80's attempt.

 

Some earned the nick name by their actions, car or some quirk about them as well. They didn't go looking for it, it found them.

I didn't street race in the valley much. The L.A. County Street racers would start at Hughes on Van Nuys and then go to the shopping center at Crenshaw and Santa Barbara.. about 1 or 2 AM a place was decided on and off we would go.

 

It was Earl's Toys. I used to work there!!



alan

 

ACCVN was to try and curb more then the street racing and I remember it from the late 60's or early 70's. There was vandalisum of the dealerships and thefts in the lots as well. I was with a van club by '72 and we had a guy that went to the meetings I think.

 

Alan:

Yeah, come to think of it, it was too small for a Toys-R-Us.

You worked there? Jeeze, what a small world.

 

AMX Dave, a HAMB member and one of the founders of "Race?" was also a member of ACCVN. He was also the originator of the "Cruise Cool on Van Nuys Blvd" campaign and would be on the radio in the mornings with Robert W. Morgan on KHJ promoting it. He told me that the city had promised them time and again that they were going to build a track in the Sepulveda Dam Basin to get racers off the street. Once the city reneged on the deal, the ACCVN disbanded and they went street racing with a vengence. He told of one night shutting down the 101/405 interchange to get a race off on the freeway...I believe that may have been the start of "Race?"...This was around 1973(?)
Remember races on th 210 & 118 freeways before they were opened? Good times indeed...

 

Thanks Reid. Do you know how the ACCVN came together. Gotcha John said the cops came to him, but, I'm only getting bits and pieces from him. You know how he is, besides, he's kinda busy right now.

Also, what was "Cruise Cool"?

Thanks

 

A bunch of us got tickets from the CHP one Sunday morning on a section of the 210 circa 1981, maybe early 1982. Mine read: "Pedestrian on the freeway observing a drag race." If I remember correctly, it was a tube chassis '69 Camaro trailered in by Lazar Nitrous, and they were to race some hyped-up mid-8 second turbo bike.

 

Dumb question time... has cruzn actually returned? I check this thread once or twice a month and rarely see any photos. Just wondering... Gary

 

Sure has!

 

Yo Paulie! What's up?

 

Check out the VNCA web site listed below my signature...Also, go on YouTube and search "Cruising Van Nuys Blvd" for videos...
yes...Cruising is back...

 

The "Cruise Cool" campaign was an effort to bring down the delinquency on VNB. The ACCVN was working with the LAPD, had meetings with them every Wed before cruising. The idea was to get people to be have (Yea right...teenagers) and keep the cops at bay. We all know the outcome of that...I remember seeing bumper stickers "Cruise Cool on Van Nuys Blvd". Sure to be a collectors item today..

 

Drag Racing on the freeways of L.A...Amazing. About 1961,2 and 3 if Riverside Drive, Forest Lawn Drive or the 2 freeway were not OK to race another alternative was the 134 just west of the 5 by Victory. Of course this was midnight or 1AMish. Sure can't do that now with traffic like it is, different world then.

 

Yo BOTTLEBOB, you going to be at Van Nuys this time? I'll have Greg with me.

 

Wow, Earls Toys. That brings back memories!! I remember that place

 

Yes, the 210 at Yarnell. We'd get on at Yarnell and park. Behind us at that point would be barracades of a not yet completed 210. A lot of faster races happened there

 

YES, "Bottle" Jim killed that supposed 8-second street car. Speaking of nick-names. John Stewart(?) from Lazar Nitrous Systems was a pretty good talker, and recieved the nick-name "Lazar Lips".

 

Hey Reid,

Does your Race? jacket have this shoulder patch?

Thanks,

 

This:

 

Daaaaaaaaang

 

Robert:

I won't know till a couple of hours before it starts. I'm sorry I missed you & Greg at the last one though. I also would have liked to have seen Steve Johnson and Larry Dixon again.

 

that's very nice Paulie.........

 

See, that's what you get for missing a cruise.