Folks Of Interest Sometimes you need to go backwards to have fun!

By now some of you may have heard of a cousin of mine referred to as Midnight Joe! Joe was a quiet kind of guy that could make a motor sing. He was never without his shades (black sun glasses) day or night. He was called Midnight Joe because he seemed to always be working on his or someone else's car all through the night. I was thinking about him the other day and remembered the time all the Cove boys were hanging out at the street corner. (The Cove was a part of Stamford CT. that I grew up in and hung out in). When all of a sudden, the sound of Joe's 348 powered chopped 49 Chevy could be heard flying up the road. Headlights glaring as Joe went through the gears as he blasted by the crowd and faded away.
This gave the boys something to cheer and talk about, but then that noise again coming from the other direction but no headlights glaring and no gears being gone through? Then it was there flying by just as fast as before only this time in reverse. That was Joe. The legend lives on!
RIP Joe. (1939-1991)

 

Good memory of a good time-the older you get the more that is worth.Thank you for sharing.

 

Enjoy those memories! Sounded like a great time!

 

WOW...I saw the title & thought this thread would be about "Johnny Sparkle"......

 

Was he a member of the Black Roads Club?
Did he own the auto electric business over by the old Redmond Chevrolet?

Jim

 

Yes, Black Road Club!(below) Did not own auto electric business. Second from the left bottom. Rare shot without sun glasses.

 

Great stuff, thanks for bringing this up on the HAMB.

 

I think every town had their own 'that' guy. Cooler than frozen peas, and could make anything a runner.
Ours was 'Fireball'.
Great story, thanks.

 

Cool story. How old were you at that time.

 

Cool Guy, Cool Car, and a reminder that time can stand still for a moment! (If only in our memories!)
Joe left too soon.
KK

 

Mark: I think Joe Galaso owned Auto Electric.
Do you know the names of the other guys in the picture of the Black Roads Club.

Jim

 

Around 14or15 Early 60's

 

Sounds like he was a wild & crazy guy!

People like your uncle Joe are always remembered fondly! HRP

 

Joe used to work nights at Severalies station in Branchville, Ct. back in the late 1960's that is were I first meet him. The best story he ever told was going to a demo derby some were and blowing the engine in his car. Bought the winning car from the demo derby, and batteries from all the losers, found some headlights and put the repair plates on it and drove home. Got stopped once, and claimed to be able to read the denominations on the bills in his pocket to make a widows and orphans donation to the guy holding the flashlight. He also had a dress code....................for his customers. Bob

 

Bottom row l to r: Tony Sabia "Savsie" (40 Ford Coupe Caddy motor) Joe Boccuzzi (49 Chevy 348 motor) Carmine Boccuzzi (55 Chevy) George Sally ( 49 Ford Caddy motor) Richie Dombroski ?
Top row l to r: Skitch Chichester Pinstriper (39 Ford Coupe Caddy motor) Frank Torora (50 Ford Coupe)
Jerry Herold ( 31 Ford Coupe Buick motor) Gary Grippo ( 49 Chevy Coupe)

Some guys missing were Bob Boccuzzi ( 55 Ford Hardtop)
Tony Ciardi ( 58 Chevy)
Mario Diacri ( 53 Merc)
Russ Farrington (50 Chevy)
Paul Lovallo (49 Merc)
Dennis Cyr (?)
Ed Paolini (30 Ford Roadster) (53 Stude w/ Hemi motor)
Joe Pregio (49Merc)
Phil Sagnelli (40 Ford Coupe)
Ted Boccuzzi Sr. ( 33 Chevy vette powered)
Claude Cry ( 58 Chev Convert.)
Frank Dagostino ( 50 Chevy2dr.)
Jim Ferrara ( 37 Ford Coupe)
Richie Hamernick ( 41 Ford Convert)
Rich Kralich ( 55 Merc)
Sam Melchionne ( 35 Ford Coupe)
Billie Perillo ( 51 Merc)
Joe Beaudoin "Bogey" ( 30 Ford Roadster AKA - The Jagged Edge)
Charlie The Greek (54 Chevy)
Skinner ( 51 Ford Convert)

 

Pretty cool stuff.

 

Yes good memoires. Thanks!

 

I came across your site whilst looking up my late father's name- Joe Boccuzzi-"Midnight Joe". I was so delighted to find this article and to hear a few stories about my Dad. He left this earth too young and its really comforting to hear people still remember him. Thank you very much!

 

Great story. Thanks.

 

This made my entire day!

 

When you shine that bright you need shades. Great story and thank you for sharing it.

 

Not all gearheads and greasers were hoodlums; most were just as nice to squares as anyone could be. Maybe they were just more willing to take risks that more reserved people would never think of! My home town didn't seem to have any memorable characters like these guys. Too bad for us, I suppose.

 

That's cool beans right there ,read on ,more stories to follow.

 

I though ye might like this article. Another rare picture of my Dad without glasses! There are only a few in existence

 

An Article from How to Hop-Up your engine March 1962 with an article of my Uncle Teddy's Coupe that my Dad helped him with. This car is still in family!

 

I love the HAMB because of posts like this one.

 

Thank you Lisa! Welcome aboard to a second generation original H.A.M.B. Era "Hoodlum"!

 

my cousin John owns JD Provisions in Newtown and named his best coffee after him!

 

Sounds like a trip to Newtown is in order. Bob

 

Tell him Lisa sent you! I live in Ireland so I haven't visited there yet, but he did send me some of the coffee and its lovely.