Jake Dykstra's 1962 409/409 Impala!

**RPOLS3** · #1 10-26-2009, 06:08 PM

Sam-

I forwarded your response to my dad and this is how he replied:

I don't remember that particular car, but as I remember, the Mopars were lighter, and consequently in a different class. When we ran the 409, I think we were in the C/S class. Most of the Mopars we raced on the street were automatics. Eddy raced on the street, and he always chose to race weird cars, like a '55 Chevy with a 401 Buick, and an early 4 sp. Hydramatic. He knew the combination he had worked, and could figure out in his head the power to weight ratio of the cars he raced against. Sometimes it was very close, but he always won. I do remember the Pie Pan restaurant. We raced a 421 Pontiac on Eden's expressway one foggy night, and Eddy had the 409 sideways at about 100 mph. It seemed perfectly natural, and he never lifted! Later when we returned to the restaurant, we saw the Pontiac driver, and he said Eddy was crazy! There were many "Hot" cars there, and they would test their tune-ups on the Eden's Expressway on Friday and Saturday nights, prior to going up to the Drag Strip on Sunday. After being beaten on the Eden's, they would ask Eddy where he was going to race on Sunday, and they would go to another strip! Usually on Fridays, we would go to Skips in Melrose Park, and race on North Ave. When the Police stopped the racing on North Ave, we would go to a side street next to Amlings, and race there. Saturday's were usually spent preparing the car for Sunday at the drag strip. If the car felt really strong, we would go to the Pie Pan, and embarrass the "Big Boys" on Saturday night.

Ah, the memories! I feel like I'm 20 again!

Thanks -

Jake

**mockingbird812** · #2 10-26-2009, 08:40 PM

Good stuff Jake - thanks for relaying my comments to your Dad! In 1962 when the Max Wedges were released, my Plymouth was in the Super Super Stock (SS/S, one year only) class due, as you stated, to its power to weight ratio. My Plymouth is a 3 speed HD T85 BW manual trans. Second owner, Jerry Zielinski, lived closer to the Pie Pan and made a habit of hangin out there too. He has some good Eden's Expressway stories to. Little doubt these two cars probably crossed paths at one time. Thanks!

**markjohnson** · #3 10-27-2009, 12:38 AM

Great stuff here! I've been following this story and photos(old & new!) here and on the 348-409 site. Thanks for taking the time to share everything with us. I've been around these '62-'63 409 cars for my entire life and they'll always hold a special place in my heart! It seems like EVERYONE has a great 409 story about a particularly fast one in Anytown, USA. It's mind-boggling to see a list of the famous racers that started out with a 409. They have become legends, tearing up dragstrips from coast-to-coast, but this use and abuse has made them scarce and REAL ONES have become VERY few and far between. You have a great one there and it's neat to see it with somebody that has known the car for its' entire life. Take care of that beast!

**dykstra** · #4 10-27-2009, 03:32 AM

A great story indeed!!

x Baldwin Motion · #5 10-27-2009, 04:09 AM

"....Eddie drag raced the car around the Chicago area on the weekends and his parents drove the car during the week as their everyday car...."

how freakin' cool is THAT !!??

great story, glad you got her back home

**olredalert** · #6 10-27-2009, 04:13 AM

------Hey Dave,,,Glad to see you on here. Hows that Fountain (beak boat) doing??? No doubt winterized by now like mine. I see you on OSO or Serious every now and then and keep meaning to message you. For the rest of you,,, Dave is Jakes younger brother and another one of the great Dykstra family......Bill S

**Xplantdad** · #7 10-27-2009, 05:15 AM

Welcome Dave!

BTW, Jake...thanks so much for sharing this unbelieveably cool story with all of us!

**dykstra** · #8 10-29-2009, 12:35 AM

Hey Bill, thanks for the kind words! This whole experience with this car has been amazing!! Take care and I 'll talk to ya later. Dave[ QUOTE ]
------Hey Dave,,,Glad to see you on here. Hows that Fountain (beak boat) doing??? No doubt winterized by now like mine. I see you on OSO or Serious every now and then and keep meaning to message you. For the rest of you,,, Dave is Jakes younger brother and another one of the great Dykstra family......Bill S

[/ QUOTE ]

**gb70** · #9 10-29-2009, 11:01 PM

Great story with a happy ending.

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