Do you remember much about the engine/trans setup? Gear ratio? Any neat tricks employed when building it,or any really weird quirky traits it had? That's just one hell of a cool car! Scott Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
426 Max Wedge is all i remember. Sorry man, I was just getting into the scene then. I ran into the guy YEARS later (not too long ago), and we talked about those times. If I see him at the Hot Rod Reunion in a couple weeks I'll ask him those questions, OK?
I got my license in the late 70's and of course wandered into the street racing scene. My first: 67 El-Co, 283 big hyd cam "too big" junk yard Edelbrock Tarantula intake from Colorado Salvage in Santa Monica, Powerglide w/shift kit, Vega torque convertor 'still wouldn't idle in gear with the "big cam", borrowed Holley carb & Tri-Y Headers... The hot spots at the time: Bob's Big Boy on Jefferson in Westchester "racing on Perhsian" to the south of that Randys Donuts with racing on "The on Ramp" La Cienega 405 Fwy on ramp "first car to come out of the second bridge" won, good spot to watch and race if you had short gears, it was a short quarter. Torrance: Sandy's now Denny's at Western and the 405 Fwy, Santa fe and Del Amo...... SFV: Van Nuys Blvd, Raymer St., Zanga, Roxford and the 5 Fwy, Woodman & Saticoy, Tuxford "sorry I can't remember all the cross streets. Some of the legends of the day: L.A. & Torrance: Steve in the "TARKUS Mustang & 4 Dr Chevelle" 7-Up Larry (from Inglewood) " Nova & (?), Gary (Bimbo) "Camaro", Dennis (fat jap) "68 Chevelle", The School Teacher "Camaro", Black Mark " 64 Nova & Luv truck", Dirty Ron " Vega or anything he drove", Nin'o " Red 68 Camaro w/white stripes and Center Lines" he still has it, Cheater George "?", The late Curt from Culver City '70 Z/28 white w/blk fenders and polished Center Lines, The kid from Tayco "blue Bug", Ron H from La Dera Heights "blk 64 B/BLK Chevelle, 64 Nova B/BLK, g/friends 70 SS Nova" all 4 speeds, Ron from Culver City "Chevelle, Bike", Heckle & Jeckle "Ford 4 dr Fairlane", Gary D. (from W.L.A.) " white 67 Chevelle later sold to the late Fat Jack, The Englishman "Blk Mopar" GTX ?, Peg Leg "?" Sammy "2 Brown Camaro's one B/BLK & one SM/BLK" Van "primer blue matching Camaro & 64 Impala tow car Some cars can't remember the owners: Snoozen "Nova' and his crew from Torrance, The blk Cad powered Stude, "Keeps me Broke" orange Camaro, 60's Mopar wagon white w/Harwood scoop, The Coor's Lite Camaro etc. Can't remember them all S.F.V.: The famous Groucho from these pages "several Bitchin cars", Volksmasters VW Club, Tim S. "57 oval bug w/blue peral w/flames, Sorry the Valley memory has faded will add more when I remember.
The street race that wasn't: Guy pulls up next to my 55 4 door. I looked very stock but sounded nice. He revved his tuner Honda and talked some #$%^ followed by how he would beat my grandpa car to the next light. I pushed in the clutch put it in 1rst and spun my bored out 283 to 8500 rpm. "Oh #$%! Never mind, never mind!" it was quite funny.
That's funny!I had a close encounter one time too. First night I ever had my first car out,after diving into a complete restoration as an 18 yr old.Car ended up being re-assembled and running about ten yrs later. Anyway,the first night I bring this o/t 66 Ford coupe out on the street,it's running a warmed over 302" motor with 10:1 comp,aluminum intake,headers,Holley,dual point dist,mild cam,etc,but in total,probably only a 300hp motor on its best day. But I was running it uncorked,so it sounded tough as nails sitting here idling. Anyway,I have the car idling,sitting at the pump when three guys in an o/t,bigger Chevy musclecar pull in.It looks pretty clean,so I stroll over for a look.The guy is quick to brag up his 468" bbc in front of his buddies,but since I'm dying to get some runs under my belt,I say "let's run em ." Well his buddies have a little side conference,and I can hear things like "probably a 428CJ..." and "no way it's stock..." and a bunch of other stuff ThT really has me struggling to keep a straight face...lol In the end,they couldn't run because the Chevy had "transmission trouble",so it looks like the good noises coming from my little uncorked 302 had psyched out guys with a car it never could have touched....lol Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Yes Bob we need to bring Groucho back. Fly united yes it is Manchester. Rice and beans the white wagon is still around Brian Penny owns it. it was out of Hot Rod Performance. You forgot Cuda man and Gerald from L.A..From the valley Lonnie Larson, Lee Baltzell, Chevy Ray, Marones Bros, Screwy Louie, Pat Mcmahon, Eddie Alvarez. I prob forgot some too. I'm old.
Bob, Do you remember the tall blonde guy with a brown chevelle 66-67. He also had a 55-56 ford pick up?
440-6Pack: I'm 5'2", everybody's tall. LOL No, it doesn't ring any bells. Too many of my neurons getting unemployment checks, I suppose. Why, was he your brother-in-law or something?
440 - 6Pack: Just razzin' ya about the relative thing. You know, I had a 440 Road Runner with a Torquer and 3.91 gears long before I had the BottleBob nick stapled to me. In fact it was before I seriously started street racing in the valley. The RR was probably a low 13's car, so not very competitive with the serious street racers in that time period. I really liked that car.
That's like déjà vu....I bought some carbs a few months back from a HAMBer who has a clone of that car! Mean looking! Does it still get run hard,or is it mostly out to pasture now...? Scott Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Yes, that's who I meant. They bought my buddies elcamino. They lived not that far from him. Last time I saw them was at Bob's Big boy with some sort of chevy coupe I think. I'm old and trying to remember. There was an Anglia called little Hellion I think also. It was a panel. Bob you should get another Mopar....Alway's loved to watch your Vette race.
6 Pack: Those new Challengers/Cudas whatever, look pretty cool. Uh Oh, that's REALLY got to be Off Topic for THIS group. I've got a Z-06 from the first year they came out. That will probably be my last car. I was born in '45 so I'm probably already significantly beyond my expiration date. Glad you got a kick out of my races. I had an inordinate amount of fun doing them.
Stay up all night thinking of that one did ya....? It's not about people planning to go out and race,it's about stuff these guys did back in the day,and the really focus locations and legendary cars and drivers involved. If you don't like it feel free not read the thread. Thanks. Scott Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Didn't stay up all night, I too was around "back in the day". I saw the results of the actions talked about in this thread and decided long ago that I had grown up and that the subject of this thread is juvenile at best. I don't read the thread, just saw the title and won't waste time reading it. I say again, die stupid thread.
I don't go out of my way to picket in front of your silverware store because spoons made me fat,do I?No. So don't let the door hit ya in the ass on the way out. Ps:Everybody has a bad story or two about something.This site is a place where people come to just relax and enjoy time spent talking about old cars with other guys with similar interests. We come here to get AWAY from everyday concerns,from bills,work,ex wives,etc.....please just let it be a fun place where everybody is having fun,and it's all lighthearted and happy. It's not the time or place for getting on a soapbox about "responsibility",or "consequences".......These are just a good bunch of guys getting together and reminiscing about crazy shit we all did when we were kids,not some diabolical master plan to endanger civilians everywhere. Just breathe,Man.Its ok. Have a good day. Scott Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Street racing's a part of a lot of our younger days as young hot rodders and the foundation for many forms of sanctioned racing today. I don't think many are defending it here as much as reflecting on it as what a lot of us did growing up, wrong or right. I see more people enjoying the posts than not. If you're in the "not" category it should be easy to find something you do like here on the HAMB as there's so much talent and diversity and lots of other threads.
Guess you still have a little juvenile in you, seeing as you stopped to look at it in the first place, and then came back again to see who responded, and went juvy again to respond to pwrshfter. Wonder how long before you get juvenile again.., 5,4,3,2,..
The Jalopy Journal
