Hello, Having grown up in Long Beach, how was it that we got involved in hot rods and drag racing? Well, our So Cal neighborhood had several early hot rods, we were very close to Lions Dragstrip, all of the schools were close by, and of course, the cruising grounds of Bixby Knolls was just up the hill. We were close to the industrial area of the Westside of Long Beach, just a couple of blocks from our house. So, those drag racing parts manufacturers and speed shops were all over the place. Some were well known and others were in it just because it was hot rodding. This is the story of the “Two Joes.” Joe Reath towered over most everyone at the dragstrips. When we started our drag race build of the 1940 Willys coupe, the name Reath Automotive was the center of our “go fast” parts bin. (our neighborhood auto supply store was where we got most of the little things, screws, plugs, gaskets, oil, linkages, etc.) We were not the only ones to constantly go to Reath Automotive for speed parts and of course, the knowledge that came from Joe Reath with every visit. There was a generation older than us that started the trek to the 10th and Cherry Ave. Speed Shop in the real, early days. They too, got the endless valuable information with each visit. This is a well known scenario played out daily, weekly, and monthly at 10th and Cherry Ave. From the Joe Reath Tribute at the Legends of Lions. So, yes, Joe Reath was an inspiration to us young teens wanting every bit of drag racing/engine building speed secrets we could get from his vast knowledge in the field. When we went there to get a part or two, we always got an ear full of unsolicited drag racing knowledge from Joe Reath. He loved to talk to people. Here was this tall guy looking down at us little 5 to 6 foot guys and giving us his knowledge of all things mechanical / drag racing. We wished we could have recorded the knowledge, so we would be able to replay throughout all of these years. The information would have made a great coffee table book, too. Jnaki What about Joe Mailliard? He was a less outgoing person, but still had the wealth of engine mechanical knowledge we all wish we had then and now. He was kind to us young guys, as we frequented his speed shop, after our weekly bike ride, to get the recent Drag News Paper. Once he knew we were building a 671 SBC 1940 Willys coupe for the drags, he became animated and more pleasant than he normally was when we visited his shop. At Lions, he had his hands full with the myriad of race cars that he had been involved ***embling, adjusting, and tuning…namely, the original Sidewinder. But, he was still friendly to a couple of young teenagers on their first drag race build. Giving valuable racing tips for more power, and who knows, a possible sponsorship, if successful. The ever present cigarette… 1959 The “Two Joes” knew each other from Long Beach, had a working relationship in the early days, developed many speed secrets together, until Joe Mailliard opened up his shop in the Westside of Long Beach, just a couple of blocks from our own house.
The Jalopy Journal
