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Re: Street Racing in the 60's & 70's - Tell them your story
[Re: 68KillerBee]
#506037
11/05/09 01:20 AM
11/05/09 01:20 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,793
A collage of whims
topside
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,793
A collage of whims
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My '70s were in L.A., and Wed, Fri & Sat nights we'd drive all over Van Nuys, cruising the Blvd and catching street races on parts of Chandler, Woodley Ave, Burbank Blvd, and a couple places up at the north end of the San Fernando Valley. At the time I had a '57 Chevy with a T-10 and 4.88s and a small block; the car had been built for D/MP and some of the street equipment (signals, heater, etc) were removed. I don't think I ever powershifted it lower than an indicated 7500RPM on the old Sun tach of that era. I was one of the first to run narrow "frontrunners" on the street. I drove that car every day to work & wherever, in spite of no registration or plates, and barely any mufflers. 70MPH on the 101 was about 5000RPM, IIRC, and for a year I did that for 20 miles a day. It could & did badly beat a 406 Galaxie, a Hemi RR, God knows how many other cars; undefeated for 2 years, which might be luck, but mid-twelves would get the job done back then. I'd get the occasional fix-it ticket, and got "temporary operating" stickers from the DMV instead of having to smog (!) & license it. That was a great period, but as L.A. got more crowded, it became obvious that I needed to quit before someone got hurt, and run at the track. Sold the car, new owner got beat, motor went into a '62 Corvette, and I last saw the '57 in Van Nuys sometime around 1980, parked on the street.
I'm still amazed at my good fortune to have been there at the perfect time; and don't get me started on Lions!
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Re: Street Racing in the 60's & 70's - Tell them your story
[Re: fullmetaljacket]
#506040
11/05/09 10:46 AM
11/05/09 10:46 AM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 544
boston mass-moving to long isl...
massdaytona
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 544
boston mass-moving to long isl...
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Quote:
. It was well and alive till 85-86. I was there and the designated starter for quite a few years.
guess it was then.. i left 'the rock'(staten island) in 74, and for a couple/few years prior to 74, south ave had died... there was the occassional race there, and arden ave, but when 'leo' would see a large group of muscle rummbling on forrest/richmond ave, they knew the destination and got there first.
and then as u say development happened,and the fat lady sang and that was the end...
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Re: Street Racing in the 60's & 70's - Tell them your s
[Re: MikeyT]
#506041
11/05/09 11:26 AM
11/05/09 11:26 AM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,141
Phoenix,Az.
hemicop
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,141
Phoenix,Az.
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In NYC you had plenty of "bad actors" running the streets & some were even good enough to turn pro or semi-pro. Those guys would prefer not to own up to that part of their past, but those of us who were there Remember & miss them. The "Mutt Bros" with Ronnie Lyles certainly desreves mention. Scott Shafiroff (YES, the engine builder) was out there, Bernie Agaman a VERY good S/S racer was there, "Brooklyn Heavy" (aka Rufus Boyd)who on occasion had Herb McCandless drive for him was there with his "Wild Pumpkin Race Team", A strange guy I only knew as "Hogan" with a red,white & blue '66 Chevelle was pretty good ---and these are only guys I remember after 30+ years! I'll give credit to most anyone who could street-race in NYC back then as it all was a combination of good car, good luck, mind-games & the fine art of BS'ing that earned you the respect of your peers. Sadly, all that seems to have disappeared. The young guys simply have lost the fine "art" of street-racing & its etiquette. But for a few of us old guys that are stilla round & occassionally square-off with each other,we still remember  . I'd love to hears some of the "pros" accounts of back then. I can remember seeing some of them haging around, trying to hide until they actually had to get in the car & race then just beating on the car like they were at the track, not caring if or when the cops would show up. I always believed they paid someone off, as the bets were too high & the rep/BSing was too long for the cops to simply not be there without them getting paid-off.
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Re: Street Racing in the 60's & 70's - Tell them your s
[Re: 67Satty]
#506043
11/05/09 12:21 PM
11/05/09 12:21 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,527
minnesota
Kirby
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,527
minnesota
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Quote:
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Baddest of the bad, in it's own time and place, was my buddy's '67 Belvedere. In Minneapolis, in the mid-80s, for one or two summers, nothing would touch it. I'm talking 30 wins, zero losses record. It was a 440, .590 DC cam, tunnel ram, 3800 stall Turbo Action, 3.91s, SS Springs, subframe connectors, L60-15 street tires. But that thing would always hook hard on the street. The fastest it ever ran at the strip was low 12s but that was fast enough at that time and place to be untouchable on the street.
The body had been pulled out of a junkyard, and it had "Rock and Roll Machine" painted in big letters on the sides. Everyone laughed at it until they got stomped by it.
Big Al's gold one? 
No, but I remember that car and guy. It was a gold '66 or '67 Coronet that used to cruise Central Ave. in northeast Minneapolis. I remember he was running aluminum rods on the street, something we considered pretty radical at the time. I don't think my friend ever raced him.
Big Al is a trip! He's like an idiot savant with a six pack set up- he's helped me tune my T/A, and A-12 Bee. He really knows his stuff- and a lot of tricks too. He still has the Coronet- and has rebuilt the motor again- now a very nasty set up- he figures he'll get into the 10's now. The one thing that blew me away about him- is that he's gotta have a  burning in the ash tray at all times. I used to go on tour with the Dead in the 80's, and I have NEVER seen anybody get after it like that in my life. Great guy- he should have the Coronet back on the street by now- if not, spring for sure. He has TONS of street racing/cop ditching stories.  One thing I think is nuts- is he has a nasty shot of NOS on his car- and a 4speed to boot. The car looks exactly like you remember it- as he's never restored it cosmetically- old school look still-
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Re: Street Racing in the 60's & 70's - Tell them your s
[Re: fullmetaljacket]
#506044
11/05/09 01:28 PM
11/05/09 01:28 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 540
murfreesboro, TN
Qbird
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 540
murfreesboro, TN
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I'd rep New YORK in a ZOO YORK minute. Ready for my close up. Tony, we in or what? LOL.
Bro, I've thought about doin something pink for a while now...but my personal fleet is too dear to me, and dedicated race car cash goes into my Fuel Car a couple of dimes at a time...but I do think a few of us old school NY Street Rats could make that whole deal real interesting.
It sucks to hear that all the old haunts are built out and populated up. The scene we used to have was amazing...I think we took it for granted back in the day. There was always somebody to race somewhere. There were times I remember running the Fount early with one car, heading over to South Ave for the late shift with another car, and then going out to the Hole to check out their deal just before the sun came up, all in one night. I'd eat dinner, wash up, stash a few smokes in the lining of my jacket in case I got busted, and then GO RACING! 7 nights a week.
Remember those whack jobs down in Red Hook? That was one place I never had the stones to try. Narrow little strip of pavement that ended up in the drink. Fun stuff but I didn't have any scuba gear.
Man, I would do it all again in a heartbeat, but the scene just does not seem to exist anymore. Tell ya what Lee, and this is a promise. I've got one particular beast going together in my backyard that I think might be able to do some damage to that big asss Dodge of yours. I'm thinkin you and me, heads up, no break, three count on the pavement of your choice...sometime before one of us is dead. You down for that?
Last edited by Qbird; 11/05/09 01:29 PM.
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Re: Street Racing in the 60's & 70's - Tell them your s
[Re: Mopar Grandpa]
#506046
11/05/09 03:03 PM
11/05/09 03:03 PM
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,041
michigan woods
imfixinmopars426
master
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master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,041
michigan woods
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couple of cool memories are in the fall of 76,riding on the school bus,i kept seeing,in one of yards of the homes we passed, a really bad looking 55 chev,straight axle,flip front and "mighty mouse" painted on the 1/4's. now that was the start of me needing a fast car!
another in 1978 or so,my dad had a insurance agency uptown,and i mowed grass,and walking to the near gas station,i heard a fantastic engine start up,and clear out! i spun around to see a faded,but clean maverick leaving the gas station,cragers,open headers,and tom lipman driving.the local wildman,now dead druggie. he left the station,banging gears,and front end looking a little light,and posi's all over the mainstreet. later i found out,that his dad had a boss 302 wrecked,and they cobbed it into the maverick,man i can still see that bad machine,and toms wild look.
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Re: Street Racing in the 60's & 70's - Tell them your s
[Re: fullmetaljacket]
#506047
11/05/09 03:06 PM
11/05/09 03:06 PM
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 101
GA
steved033
member
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member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 101
GA
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Quote:
You know, come to think of it, in the early 90's, I remember saying to some cats that a street race show withholding the ID's of place and face would be a smash on TV. Cats laughed.
Who's PINK in the face now. I am, because I should have just gone and done it with a great proposal and bring the real DEAL OR NO DEAL to the screen. My art career gets in the way of some mischievous fun some times.
I think to bring some new jazz to the popular show on TV now is for a one episode special guest appearance by the TOP ARM DROPPERS of our time in major cities to guest DROP on the show. I know there is some of us out there still recovering from LONG ARM syndrome. LOL.
Kind of give a relief to Richard and make for real trash talking. I promise I won't upstage him.
I'd rep New YORK in a ZOO YORK minute. Ready for my close up. Tony, we in or what? LOL.
Along these lines...
So how cool could it be to have the next "fast and the furious" installment be set in about 1972?
Same characters (maybe playing their parents?)
sjd -- threadjacker!
'71 GTX, Tawny Gold, Ember Gold interior. Pics: 1971 GTX
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Re: Street Racing in the 60's & 70's - Tell them your s
[Re: imfixinmopars426]
#506048
11/05/09 03:20 PM
11/05/09 03:20 PM
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,041
michigan woods
imfixinmopars426
master
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master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,041
michigan woods
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1982,i was cruising in the 69 gts to the left,383,big cam 850,headers,and 4.56's...i keep seeing a black 340 dart pacing me from behind,through town. i thought to myself,i have him covered big time,so why not? finally we line up on the last light leaving town...now mind you,my dad has the biggest insurance agency in town,and is the bailbondsman,and he told me"dont EVER call me to get bailed out"...so usually i was careful,but...well you know,no punk in a 340,can get away with,that look,that smirk.so we rev'd,and i like to leave strong,so we do,and through my first,we are side by side,i powershift into 2nd at 6500,and pull on him HARD.as my eyes drift away from the tach,i look to the left,then hard to the left!....i failed to see the white,and black chevy suburban sitting at he light we just passed....opps,local sheriff dept! i let the dart pass me,and slide behind him,and like right now,the cops are pushing me to the curb,HARD! they cut me off,and blocked me,like they just busted the mob or something,and the passenger gets out,screaming at me,long story,short,RECKLESS DRIVING! so i tell dad,and all he says is fight it,it wont cost any more,so i did,and see the dart kid there to testify against me.after a hour,the clerk comes to tell me,the cop didnt show,and charges are dropped,and all dad did is smile...thanks dad! miss him bad,lost him in 1988   somehow i cant get the attach pic to come up,after i resize
Last edited by imfixinmopars426; 11/05/09 03:32 PM.
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Re: Street Racing in the 60's & 70's - Tell them your s
[Re: fullmetaljacket]
#506049
11/05/09 03:38 PM
11/05/09 03:38 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 540
murfreesboro, TN
Qbird
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 540
murfreesboro, TN
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Quote:
I'd rep New YORK in a ZOO YORK minute. Ready for my close up. Tony, we in or what? LOL.
Bro, I've thought about doin something pink for a while now...but my personal fleet is too dear to me, and dedicated race car cash goes into my Fuel Car a couple of dimes at a time...but I do think a few of us old school NY Street Rats could make that whole deal real interesting.
It sucks to hear that all the old haunts are built out and populated up. The scene we used to have was amazing...I think we took it for granted back in the day. There was always somebody to race somewhere. There were times I remember running the Fount early with one car, heading over to South Ave for the late shift with another car, and then going out to the Hole to check out their deal just before the sun came up, all in one night. I'd eat dinner, wash up, stash a few smokes in the lining of my jacket in case I got busted, and then GO RACING! 7 nights a week.
Remember those whack jobs down in Red Hook? That was one pla
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Re: Street Racing in the 60's & 70's - Tell them your s
[Re: Mopar Grandpa]
#506056
11/05/09 10:12 PM
11/05/09 10:12 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,101
Yes
sixpakdodge
master
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master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,101
Yes
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Quote:
I just remembered a guy named Joe, knew him but never really hung with him because he was a little older than us juniors and seniors in high school. Joe was a die hard Mopar guy and I think it was in 1967 he ordered a 4 door Coronet, Hemi, automatic, steel wheels and dog dish hubcaps. Guess how many people he fooled on the streets? Absolutely everyone and took a lot of wins from some pretty fast cars. The car looked like my grandma's car, other than the drive train.
Hmm. What color? Are you sure it wasn't a '66?
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. His parents have to bail him out over by the precinct near Queens Blvd. I never figured out the "justice" of risking kids racing on a road soaked by "government officials" yet trying to prevent a potenntially serious wreck was "disruptive" 
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