chicago street racer names and reputations, late 60s

[hvychev]

Bob, My father (58 years old) grew up on the west side of Chicago near 26th & Pulaski, and he said most of the street racing near him went on at Ogden & Kostner. He also told that many guys had "names" for their cars typically on the bottom of the front fenders or on the rear quarter pannels.

[StealthBird]

I worked with a guy for over 3 YEARS, but I only spoke to him occasioanally when we passed each other in the hallway. All I knew was that he wanted a 2000-2002 Corvette, and he used to tell me everytime he found a "blip" on the radar.

Well, one day, he had heard I had an old Pontiac. As we talked, I found out he used to street race in the Chicago area. To my surprise, he told me he had bought a brand new 1969 Chevelle SS396 4-speed from the Chevrolet dealer he worked at (and for the life of me, I don't recall which dealer, but it wasn't one of the big names, like Colonial or Nickey). He said he had ordered a brand new black 1970 Chevelle LS6 4-speed, and he was going to trade in his 69 SS396. He waited weeks for the 70 to come in, but when it finally arrived, it had a bench seat (he ordered buckets). Being impatient, and dying to get in one of the new LS6 454's, the dealer told him there was a dark red LS6 on the lot, with buckets and a 4-speed, but it was their demo car, so it had a few miles on it. This guy said he was impatient, and because he didn't want to wait to have the dealer "correct the problem" with his new black LS6, he took the dark red Chevelle LS6 demo car. He said he still kicks himself about that decision, because a couple weeks later, a friend of his bought an identical dark red SS396 Chevelle (TH400), and people always got the two cars confused.

Anyway, he said he street raced heavily back in the 1968-1970 era, in and around Chicago, and he had some great stories. He said he and his friend put a 4.88 gear in the LS6 (right in the dealer service dept), and a week later, he scattered the LS6 on the expressway. He said he was already overevving the engine (accidentally, he just put the gears in), and then he hit a bump at high speeds, and he said he could tell the axle jumped off the ground, then "boom" under the hood. He said there was actually a rod out of the side of the pan.

Don't know if the car was ever fixed under warranty (I doubt it), but he said he sold it soon afterwards.

[black69]

thanks for the info on who to talk to. the stories of him blowing engines racing and getting special engines made by nickey are cool to hear. he said he raced at skipps and mostly anywhere, but he was from the nickey - mr norms area (he was actually one of mr norms top salesmen for a while, yet was a nickey guy). he sold cars at all the big dealers as it sounded like he moved around alot (why i do not know). he used to beat hemi cars in street racing, but in endless runs, it was hard to beat a hemi. his car back then did 9.8. he would show it or drive it around with a smaller intake carb setup, and then switch with the manifold just before a race. they would agree on money before a race went down. It will be fun to hear more details next time I meet him. My mother in law has pictures of his cars in shoe boxes, now I need to go see them next time I am at her house.

[Mr70]

StealthBird
Ask your coworker if the name Phil Zygrebski was part of his past.

[Stefano]

Chicago "Street Racing" didn't only happen in the '60 or '70s. It is still "illegally" done.

Check out; www.Chitownracing.com there are a few "oldtimers" who hang out there as well.

[budnate]

[ QUOTE ]
Chicago "Street Racing" didn't only happen in the '60 or '70s. It is still "illegally" done.

Check out; www.Chitownracing.com there are a few "oldtimers" who hang out there as well.

[/ QUOTE ]

oh Yea baby great post.. I was watching it close a few years ago from the net, there are a couple forums the fellas hang on there are also a few killer vids out made by Slick and another cat I think from the Small Block Posse club...some cool stuff and heavy hitters on the street makeing full on wheels up passes...

http://smallblockposse.net/eve/forum...m/f/3026095412

.

[StealthBird]

Archer Ave. was a hot spot for street racing too, all the way into the late 1980's. Not sure if they still hang out there in the parking lots, but it used to be pretty crowded.

Duke's Drive In, Flukie's, not even sure if they're still around? I remember back in the early 1990's, Duke's started attracting lots of new Mustangs, then imports, undercar neon, etc. Seems like Duke's was abandoned by traditional street racers and Musclecar owners. The hard core street racers went elsewhere, and up popped suburban cruise nights, sponsored by local towns and/or malls. With sponsorship came the "family entertainment" thing, lawn chairs, lots of baby strollers, kids, etc.

[jeff morocco]

i was heavily into the street racing scene with a buddy(who is now the director of racing for edelbrock and the KING of N20) in the late 80's early 90's. we would go to Flukeys, Skippers, Boppers, and Dukes before we would head down to the south side of Chicago. that was where the BIG money races were. we hung out in the Stockyards and negotiated a race and then head over and race behind the old Ampitheater,or go to 63rd and Cottage Grove or 135th and Doty.Most of the guys from the "Burbs" would go down there and race but as we got older and wiser decided to race legally with the help of classes like, Super Stock Outlaw, Modified Super Stock, NMCA,NMRA events and others that were started back then. lots of good times and very bad times as well......

[hvychev]

[ QUOTE ]
he sold cars at all the big dealers as it sounded like he moved around alot (why i do not know).

[/ QUOTE ]

That was just the nature of the car business. Guys just moved around for no reason, a buddy of theirs was at one joint, more money could be made at this joint, etc.