"brooklyn heavy" rest in peace

r.i.p.

 

A true street racing legend....Rest In Peace Heavy....

 

Btt

 

even in philly in the mid 90s he was still well known and respected by the serious street racing guys,i would really like to make the trek up to new york tommorow,but due to how busy i am at work it is not looking like that is not possible,

 

I grew up street racing in NYC. Heavy was just before my time, and a class above me, but he was one of the true legends and an inspiration for many of my generation both on and off the track. RIP Bro, and thanks.

 

My condolences to wolpack8110 and the rest of his family....rip.

 

Yesterday I took the time to watch the footage that Drag Racing Underground shot from the 4th Annual Head Hunters Car Club Brooklyn block party... It was dated July 14th, 2007... Rufus "Brooklyn Heavy" Boyd was sitting outside the corner bodega, wearing his orange race shirt, with the name "Heavy" stitched above one of the top pockets... Like I wrote in an earlier post, he was completely surrounded by people who admired, respected, and loved him... "Heavy" spoke at length into the microphone-- One thing he said that sticks in my mind, was something to the effect of "I'll always be here, I'll always be here...", referring to the Head Hunters Brooklyn NY block party-- I thought that was kind of sweet, like maybe his spirit will always be lookin' down on those Bkyln streets where he made so much street racin' history... There's another fellow who was sitting next to "Heavy", who called himself "One Way George", I believe this fellow made some street racin' history too-- He seemed like a good old friend of "Heavy's"... I mailed a copy of the footage off to Rufus' Grandson... Yeah, I cried a little watching the footage, but I was also happy to see Rufus "Brooklyn Heavy" Boyd having the time of his life, while surrounded by many of his peers who admired him most... Diana

 

RIP Brook...my uncle and father and mother spoke highly of you always...rest in peace

 

That would be "One Way George" Govan, another Brooklyn street racing legend I can't thank you enough Diana for the priceless footage of Heavy enjoying the admiration of the generations surrounding him. And I couldn't believe my eyes when George Govan happened to be interviewed as well!! It was a nice surprise. What class acts that generation of street racers were. Those were the REAL street racers. They were professional in their conduct and legends in their own time. At 24 and a life-long inhabitant of Ontario, Canada, I've never met any of these guys (I'm referring to the NY/NJ racers, i.e Rufus Boyd, Mutt Bros, Levi Holmes, Tab Talmadge, Smallwood Bros., "Fast Earl" Mitchell, George Govan, and on and on), but from the research I've done, I have nothing but respect and admiration for them. Their street races were serious, no-bullshit, high-money speed contests. Most of the time it was a one-shot-takes-all situation and they were absolutely professional about it - no bitching, no guns, no knives, no insults.

Now with Ronald Lyles, Tab Talmadge (among many others) and now Rufus Boyd passing away, these men who I will always admire as the greatest generation of street racers are slowly leaving us. There needs to be more interviews with these guys. There needs to be comprehensive records not only of their racing achievements, but of their lives. These guys lived such interesting (and sometimes extraordinary) lives that it's a shame there isn't more documented history on these gentlemen. If I lived in the New York/New Jersey area I would be personally making sure their histories were preserved, unfortunately I don't so it's certainly hard to meet them in person and get the stories in their own words.

It's also reassuring to see so many of us fellow gear heads expressing nothing but respect for men like Brooklyn Heavy and finding ourselves saddened by the passing of a legend. I sure hope some of us, especially those personally close to them, will take some time and help preserve their life stories. Sitting down with them and letting them speak at length about their life and racing exploits would be a great gift for all of us in the automotive hobby.

R.I.P. Rufus "Brooklyn Heavy" Boyd.

 

RIP HEAVY, Doc, I'd love to see that footage from 07, I was there with my car, had a race that night on 150th that fell through. I Was at HeadHunters Last night paying my respects.
And those streets are alive and well up there to this day. lol

 

i would also like to see that interview

 

I second(or is it third now?) the motion. Diana,seems like a talk with Ryan about a link to this may be in order-PLEASE! I would like to think that the Detroit scene could be more well-documented as well,along with what went on in places like Chicago,El Lay,Cleveland,Dallas,et al;big cities where there was probably a wee bit more money to spend on cars-and wagering.

If I only had the time,financial wherewithal and confidence in my writing abilities,I might consider pursuing the Detroit history-we've lost a few of the legends and probably most of the legendary cars,but there's stories still out there,waiting to be told.

 

Rotonda huh ? I'm betting you have ALOT of storys to tell yourself. Welcome to the HAMB. Hang around awhile. We love hearing about the old days of drag racing. Are you Carmen's son, nephew ?

 

A old pic from the Raceway Park News with "Wild Pumpkin" Brooklyn Heavy / Carman Rotonda 68 AMP 427 Camaro on the cover. FYI ...This was Grumps old 68 with wheels in the air."

 

For the Memories of HEAVY .............

 

Wow, are they still racing on S. Conduit/150th?

 

To everyone I am Heavy's youngest grandson and I like to thank everybody for all the great things y'all have said out my grandfather.....through us my grandfather will alwayz live. If you have any pictures or videos or any other documents of my grandfather. I would love to see them so I can get to know him better.............THANKS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Yea i am Carmens nephew...you have no idea how many stories my father and my uncle have told me about Heavy and the rest of the scene. My mother loved the guy, she told me so many stories about he parties they went to at his house etc. You have no idea...i could literally go on for hours

 

go ahead ! love to here the stories!!

 

I agree that we would love to hear the stories. It might be a cool way to honor Heavys memory by passing on those stories to those of us who respected him. Drag your uncle in here too. Those stories of the old days often get forgotten as the years pass and sometimes get changed to make them more interesting, etc. To read about the bad old days of street racing as well as sanctioned drag racing from the people who were there or from guys like you who heard them first hand is awsome. Maybe start a new thread on here about what you remember ? Just something to think about .

 

Thanks NitroFC for posting the photograph of the RACEWAY NEWS with BROOKLYN HEAVY'S car on the cover , I occasionally write for RACEWAY NEWS and I really dig the old skool "book" format that they used to print it on... The "WILD PUMPKIN" sure is a beauty... And I also appreciate seeing the six other additional photos you posted, the "HEAVY'S RACER SPOTLIGHT" (also from E'Town's RACEWAY NEWS) is a great piece of nostalgia... I think that a couple years back, Brooklyn Heavy was a guest at E'Town's NOSTALGIA SUMMERNATIONALS/FUNNY CAR REUNION... Ya know, Old Bridge Township Raceway Park has always been a home away from home for the old skool NY/NJ street racers, it's still that way today, lots of heated "No Time" racing happens with regularity... I love that scene-- Shut down the clocks and LET'S RACE!... I've received some PM requests for DVD copies of the HEAD HUNTERS CAR CLUB block party footage that features Brooklyn Heavy, if anyone else is interested you can PM me, I'm kinda busy right now with other non-drag racin' projects, but I'll try to help you... And if the board would like to entertain the idea of posting a link to it or something like that, maybe that'd be cool... I received your email, wolpack8110, thanking me for the DVD, you're very welcome, and I'm glad that I was able to provide it for you and your family... It's pretty apparent that your Grandfather had many admirers and was loved by lots of folks in the drag racing community... "The Doc" (Celebrity Drag Racing Authority & Visionary)...

 

I haven't heard that name in a long time. RIP.

 

It's pretty apparent that your Grandfather had many admirers and was loved by lots of folks in the drag racing community... "The Doc" (Celebrity Drag Racing Authority & Visionary)...


even in the mid 80s Brooklyn Heavy was still a respected name in the philly street racing scene,I belive him and the other nyc guys set the precident in street racing nationwide, & i am not talking about the average guy with a hopped up chevelle or mustang racing for hamburgers on a saturday night<!-- / message -->

 

I've only just found out about Brooklyn Heavy through reading a thread here on The Hamb. To say the least I'm gutted to be reading this only a few days later. RIP.

 

REST IN PEACE ....

Rufus Boyd aka ‘Brooklyn Heavy’ passes

One of the seminal street racers during the heyday of NO TIME match races at E-town and Atco, New Jersey, Rufus “Brooklyn Heavy” Boyd has died.
Boyd was a fixture at Englishtown Raceway Park back in the day. He used top run a standing ad in the Englishtown Raceway Park newspaper inviting anyone to come by his shop and bench race. His neighborhood was so notorious that legend has it that he gave escorts to "outsiders" in and out of his ‘hood. He and Levi Holmes, who was from Newark, were a big part of the E-town street racing scene. [1/8/10]

 

r.i.p.heavy

 

I was a young teenager living back east in the early 70's, a big drag racing fan, and I do remember an artical about Brooklyn Heavy in some magazine.

RIP Brooklyn Heavy.

 

R.I.P. HEAVY.I've been looking for pictures of a 73/74 demon Rufus had?My brother and i have a simular style car that came from new york area we are thinking of doing a "tribute" to Heavy if we can get some pictures can anybody help?thanks

 

Hato..levi holmes

 

Hell of a great guy. Colorful won't even come close. I remember Heavy showing up at on of the tracks with a pair of clear plastic shoes.

I helped build his Pro Cuda at S&M. He was a grecious person. Tiped me $100.00 for mounting up and installing sheat metal screws in a new set of wheels. Rolled them out to his truck and he ran me down going back to the shop and stuck money in my pocket..

These great guys are greatly missed lot of great racers have left us..