Hot Rods Anyone know of any DC car clubs The speed shifters

Here is one more that I just added to my site .....

 

Actually it all started when Capitol Street rods inc put on a show at the Montgomery Junior college campus. I was not a member then. Capitol persuaded NSRA to participate and collect a percentage of the proceeds when it was moved to Timonium. The club made money on the deal and if a member brought in receipts to the club meeting, the club would reimburse him for his motel bill and entry fee. The club was all about getting people to drive their rods. Once NSRA realized it was a money maker, they moved it to York where the clubs up there were willing to work their asses off with no compensation.

Yes Andy Hammond is a friend of mine from the club. I don't think he was ever the president but he did go to a lot of shows and represented Capitol real well. He has a rare 38 Chevy coach (a flat back 2dr sedan) and a 38 Chevy P/U.

Not that it matters much but Andy is black and as far as I remember our club was the only integrated club around in that era. He was not the only black member. This was only a few years after the riots so fear and distrust was still a factor for both of the races.

I never knew any of the guys in the above article not because of an prejudice but because our circles just never crossed. I'd bet they were at the track more than at a rod run where I was. I see no pre 48 cars which was a big deal for us at that time.

PS I love that Bel Air HT. I never really cared for the Impala but the Bel Air HT turned my crank.

 

Toe, Very interesting piece of local history. Thanks for taking the time to scan and post it for the rest of us to enjoy.....................Don.

 

Great thread with lots of old memories of the Capitol Street Rods. Along with Andy Hammond, we had another black member from Fredrick who last name excapes me, but his first name was John and had an upholstery business.
I recognize several of the Speed Shifters as my customers at Ai Fiberglass over the years.

 

I must commend the gentleman for bringing that article forward thank you very much. I showed the pic's to some old guy's and they flipped. I had no idea they wrote an article about them. I wonder how many of the old speed shifters saw it. That article cleared up alot of questions as well. That was some good reading, thank you so much.

 

......Get those old guys on here so they can tell us some cool stories from the past. We love stories.........and pictures as well............Don

 

Speaking of Soulful Hot Rodders, there was a guy that worked as a mechanic at the Texaco gas station, next to the bowling alley, in the Queenstown area of Hyattsville, MD. He had a baby blue 58 Ford. Up high in the front, low in the back, baby moons and loud pipes. I used to pump gas at that station once in a while but can't remember his name. I seem to remember the car ran pretty good for what it was. Just a remote memory. I thought it might trigger others.

 

Big Ben and his wife Roxy (I cant remember their last name) were always there in that time period. He had a 34 5W with an FE in it. There were several other black members and their families in Capitol. I can tell you a lot about their cars but not their last names. CRS I guess. Specialized memory. This was the late 70s-early 80s.

 

I found this site on the web: http://www.daararacing.com/billmcpeek.html

I was never much into circle racing but the guy mentions hitting all the DC area straight tracks in the day and says his favorite was Aquasco. If anyone knows this guy I bet he'd have a bunch of history to share.

 

Interesting. Bill McPeak was the name of the Redskins head coach in the 60s but it was spelled differently.

 

This thread has been dormant for over a year now. I'm sure there have been some folks join up on here since then who might enjoy this history lesson of the D.C. area. Post up your photos and memories from the period....................Don.

 

btt

 

..................Any more stories from the Washington D.C. area? Step up and tell the stories. The statute of limitations for prosecution has expired........hopefully!!

 

Pictures from the period are especially welcome.

 

If I wasn't 200 miles away, I'd go up to the archives on Adelphi Rd in Hyattsville and research some hot rod history and dig up some old newspaper articles. There had to be articles on the grand openings of the largest Drive-in movie screen in the world: Queen's Chapel. There had to be articles on the grand opening of the Mo. We all know of friends who totaled cars which made the news back in the day. Certainly there were articles car clubs, drag racing crackdowns, etc.

 

The Mo New Hamp. ave.- 1st and 3rd pic
Kentland- 4th
Bladensburg Skate Rink Fire
Blad. H.S.
Cry Baby Bridge
Northwestern H.S.
The Vue College PK
Glen Echo
Wilson Line, every kid in DC area took this trip at least once.
No stories Don and Paul but maybe these will rekindle some memories

 

A few more, the second to the last is Mellwoods crossing in Hyatts. and the last is Bladensburg flood from the 20's for you real old guys. Sorry if any of these have been posted before.

 

My next-door neighbor graduated from Arlington High School in 1958.
He tells stories of regularly drag-racing against his friends up and down the under-construction runways at Dulles Airport in the early 1960's... Just before it was dedicated by President John F. Kennedy on November 17, 1962.

 

Thanks for posting guys. Great stories, great pictures.

 

back up

 

Anymore stories from the clubs or street racing in the D.C. area back in the day?

 

Yes! In my household the name "Speed Shifter" was spoken all of the time. Uncle Charlie along with my father, Sammy Stewart (Photo on page 4 of article at bottom right), and other Uncles had created this legendary club. My father is 81 years old now. We never grow tired of his vivid-detailed stories of this era and he & my Mom's adventure's along the way. He (and we) is still a very proud Speed Shifter! And I suspect will always be! Thanks for sharing all!!

 

...........Post up some pictures if you have them. We would love to see them. Welcome to the HAMB........Where do live now? No need to be specific, just curious if you are in the D.C. area still.........Don.

 

The Rendezvous on Rt. 1 across from U of Md.? (An absolute gold mine from Sept. to June)

Seventies and eighties around Olney, Laytonsville and Redland my students raced on Zion Rd. (narow and dangerous), Shady Grove Rd. (before population), Fieldcrest (new road to the new landfill, now surrounded by subdivisions), and Connecticut Ave in Aspen Hill ( three lanes wide).

 

Back in the late 50s early 60s a DC stone mason Bob Bernardon raced his 39 Chevy coupe "Jolly Dolly" and dominated the C-gas class. Believe he was a member of the "Gear Grinders" car club in Maryland. Enter his name or the cars name in the search bar and you will find a lot of great pics.

 

...........One of the most beautiful cars to ever grace the dragstrip. Most often seen at Aquasco Speedway in Southern Maryland.

 

Right you are! I worked the stone and tile business with Bob B. through the 80s and 90s...he was a great mechanic and a real character. A guy who ran a kitchen remodeling company bought the "Jolly Dolly" and together with Bob they restored it to its original racing configuration. Think it still makes the rounds on the nostalgia circuit.

 

Yes, the Rendezvous. Often called the Vue or Vous. Known for cheap beer and generous bar tenders that didn't ask for IDs. I never raced or spectated at any of the locations you mentioned but I know them well. My Mom lived off Georgia Ave in Aspen Hill. Completely different world now.

 

^^^^The floor never got cleaned in there. From all of the spilled bear and occasional puke, your shoes would stick to the floor as you walked inside.^^^^