Anyone know about the Speed-Shifters based out of Linden, NJ

I was wondering if anyone knew about a club called the Speed-Shifters based out of Linden, NJ in the late 50s. I found their name and mailing address in a old mini mag and wanted to get in contact with former members or current if the club is still around.

Thanks

 

I have no idea about the late 50s, but I haven't heard of them being around these days.

 

I'll ask my old timer friend from Linden tomorrow if he knows.

 

I don't know anything about the NJ club, but there was a Speed-Shifters in Marshalltown Iowa in the 50's or 60's. My brother and I both have aluminum plaques with the logo on it. We've adopted it as our own just to keep the name alive. Do you have a picture of the NJ mascot/logo?

 

Thats pretty cool you did that. I do have the old logo for them I believe. It was actually pictured in the book I found their name in. I contacted O'Brian Truckers and they dont have a plaque for this club in NJ, but they have plaques for two other states. One of them being yours I believe. Could you send me a picture of the plaque you have? Would love to see it. Ill try to scan a picture of the plaque photo I have.

Any word from the old timer Leaky Pipes?

 

the only club that i know was the revmasters that manny (hot rod dad) belong to in linden chop olds may know he grew up in linden i,ma old newark boy but i remember hearing about races at linden airport in the early 50.s

 

I haven't heard of them, but when I see my buddy Joe, I will ask him. Hes been around for a while and if anybody knows them he would. Fossil might know, too. — MRAK

 

I can't find nuthin about the Speed Shifters in N.J. but there was a club under that name from Washington D.C. Circa the late 50's. There is an article from Garage mag #14 page 28. I might try gettin in touch with the folks from Garage they seem to have an uncanny abitility to find obscure info.

 

I appreciate everyones help. Thanks a lot

 

My friend says the name doesn't ring a bell. There were a lot of car clubs around Elizabeth and Linden during that era he says. Here are a couple of the ones he remembers.

E-Port Wanderers (Port Elizabeth)
Rev Masters
Golden Chariots

 

Don't have a pic right now, but the Marshalltown Speed Shifters used a chopped-n-channelled '32ish tudor sedan, with a large shifter in it.

I think the plaques we have came from O'Brian. I know a guy whose Dad was in the club back then, and he has one of the originals circa 1960.

 

The plaque in the picture that i have has a chopped merc or hudson flying around a turn with gears flying out from under the car. And it says Speed-Shifters.

 

This one?

 

Yup. Evidently my shifter isn't as big as I remembered. (that's what she said)

 

Digging this up again. Anyone else have any clues?

 

Hey gang, just registered for this site cause I came upon this topic via google. I googled "Speed Shifters of New Jersey" The reason for this is that I have an old club jacket that appears to be from the 60's. It is a baseball style jacket that I got at a garage sale back in the 70's. the colors ar e black and blue. I would like to see it returned to an actual club member. feel free to send me an email at kenykop@yahoo.com

 

i have a speedshifters jacket form the 60's. got it at a garage sale. I would like to return it to an actual member. feel free to email me at kenykop@yahoo.com

 

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Maybe pictures of the jacket will jog someone's memory!


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How about Hot Heads? I guy at work, his father was part of that club. He lived in Kearney.

 

Its me kenykop. I am the one that actually has the jacket. After much searching I finally found it inmy attic. It is a size 42, has the name Joe on it and there is a Standard shift ****** as a logo. Kenny 609-694-4171

 

I tried to restart this club, but I have been unsuccessful to locate any original members.


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Well since I am in possession of the only surviving colors. I feel it is my responsiblity to re activate this club. I live near Atco Raceway in NJ so I will be starting up the NJ Chapter. **welder** can start a TX chapter.

 

you may want to ask " Frank Carey" ... he is on the H.A.M.B... he has been around for a long time

 

Funny enough there is a defunct Speed Shifters CC here in Dallas, TX.

 

That name doesn't ring a bell. The earliest club I remember from Linden was the Linden Auto Club. They were not just hot rods but they were one of the clubs that worked the Linden Airport drags in 1954. In 1957 I met a guy who had been a member and had worked Linden drags. He told me the club was then defunct but had been huge - 30 or 40 members. My program from the 1957 Newark show does not list the Speed-Shifters so they were not participating in that show and were likely defunct by that time as reported by my friend. My friend was an active drag racer at the time and hung out with a crowd from Newark and Jersey City. I don't think any of that crowd were members of any clubs. I think the Phalanx Road Angels of Newark were also defunct by that time. His crowd included Doc SanFilippo, George Woodall, and a guy named Frankie who had a '54 Cadillac with an Engle roller cam, a LaSalle trans, and a 4:56 Olds rear. I remember seeing him beat some very fast '55 Chevys. Any of you old timers likely remember these guys.
.
Frank (back from a long hiatus that I won't try to explain. No. I'm not on parole!!)

 

I think it is Wack That no one knows of this club. I may put the Jacket on Ebay and see what happens.

 

CHOPPED OLDS might know .He is from linden.