wait for it ..

This struck a nerve...we had Engineered Racing Services, Karbelt Speed and Custom had a bunch of locations, so did Performance Improvements, Lucky's Performance, Straight Line Racing, Beatty and Woods (who campaigned an original SS/AA Cuda back in the day) and many others.
I worked for a year as a wholesale rep for Karbelt who was a Warehouse Distributor as well, calling on independent speed shops across Ontario. Not a bad way to spend your work week...

Besides mail order ruining the business, it needs to be considered that as the cars started to appreciate in value many dollars that would have been spent on speed parts went to resto suppliers like Year One, Legendary etc. Too bad...

We had one here in Waterford CT the closed sometime on the mid to late 80's (visited a few times) and there was Chet's Speed shop in Preston that closed 10 or 15 years ago. He was a Chevy guy but great sense of humor and a great place to pop in and get AN fittings. Was at all three of his locations before he shut down for good.

The nearest place now is in Gilford? Near New Haven that I'm aware of. Had a few bottles filled there, but a long drive. Stopped at the old Don's location on the Pike years ago, WOW did he have a bunch of old school stuff! I hear it burned down several years ago, very sad.

Out here on Long Island SK Speed is still in business. They recently closed the second place in Rockville Centre and are expanding the location in Lindenhurst which is about 25 minutes from me. The machine shop has been there forever, like what 45 years? Supposedly the expansion is going to include an engine dyno room.

Like others have said about their respective local places it's good if you're a Chevy/Mustang guy but basically no Mopar-specific stuff. The kids behind the counter are OK.

I do try to give them a shot before I order online but they never seem to have exactly what I need. They carry XRP fittings which I'm not a huge fan of. Lots of carb parts, MSD, Auto Meter, Moroso etc. Lots of books and mags, gas cans, tires yada yada yada.

Does anyone know if S+S Speed in Queens on Atlantic Ave. is still open? I used to go there when I lived in the city, that was cool place!

We had a bunch in the Huntington, WV area. Jim Minnick, NHRA record holder and Natl. event winner at Pomona, had a nice brick building located right on I64. The shop is still there only now a diesel and truck machine shop ran by his wife. Leo Christians Speed Shop. Gary Bates Speed, he would race anything from a red wagon to a boat, Ray Gene Hamilton speed shop, raced a Mustang, Dave Mosley's NAPA,raced a variety of cars, Nationwise, Trailblazers etc. We made a lot of trips to Columbus to the Rod Shop and even the old Jegs on 11th AV.

Saw the 1st pic in this thread and got a little nostalgic until I remembered how much parts cost at my local speed shop in the 70s early 80s.

I try to support locals and do like Glendora dodge(more than just m.p. parts), Qmp, Superior automotive, team C, Hawaii racing and others. But the evil empire has helpped make racing a little more affordable. We need to support others but remind them price and service is important.

I remember the Super Shops in Milwaukee on Highway 100, it closed in the 90's and became a Chinese restaurant. The Ramchargers were still in Detroit up through the middle of the last decade, I think Livernois bought them in 05(?) and tried to rebrand them as Detroit Speed Shops, but those quickly went under as well.

Got my first set of Hooker Comp. headers @ Gratiot for like $80.

Rod Shop Karl Wortman photo

Not really a "speed shop" but, its the correct era and a cool pic

There use to be alot of speedshops in NYC, it seemed particularly in Brooklyn & Queens. I think the first place I ever went to was "Charlie's Speed Barn" off the Long Island Expwy. It was asmall place & Charlie was almost always there, friendly, & funny & seemingly knew about every part in his inventory. I remember seeing Scott Schafiroff's 68 (?) Camaro with the shop's name on the side. As a 15 year old trying to build his first hot rod Charlie was real encouraging & usually ave me the "good guy" price on stuff, knowing he was "cultivating" a more serious future customer.

Yesterday I did my level best to buy from the local speed shops. All I wanted was a set of header gaskets. They didn't have any in stock, and wouldn't order any for me either. They told me to just call Summit.

Obviously JUST a set of header gaskets isn't worth their time and effort, but I ended up spending $500 on other stuff as well since I was ordering. I most likely would have bought the same stuff locally - if they were actually willing to talk to somebody or pick up the phone and order me the parts. Either way I was going to be waiting for them to arrive.

Yesterday's experience has finally convinced me that attempting to support the local speed shops is a waste of time unless you have a chebby or a phord. They appeared to have all kinds of header gaskets for those.

I just experienced the same thing today on a pair of MT drag radials. I went into a Sacramento "speed shop" and looked at a dusty pair they had for $220 each. I asked if they would price match with Summit at $207 each...

NO.

I said "You're going to give up $414 in sales revenue over $26 bucks"? "I KNOW you have alot more margin in those than $26". I got a blank look and was told "the price is the price".

I left and called Summit...and even icing on the cake was the applicable discount code!

About two years ago a new speed shop opened about 5 miles from my house. Precise Racing Products. I guess they are scattered around the states. They opened because of Lernerville Speedway that is a 1/2 mile dirt track 1 mile up the road. It is a very well stocked speedshop with lots of fittings and odd hard to find parts. They are open late into the day except for Friday nights. (race day) Usually about 5 BIG Hoosier tire trucks in their lot through-out the week. Very nice to have them in the area. www.preciseracing.com

We still have one here in Vegas. Figspeed, owner is Les Figueroa, past S/G champ. I frequent them often. The also have a mobil unit at all D7 racees and many at LVMS, NMCA and PSCA evens.