Hot Rod Memories in Ontario

Gwillyville Kid · BRADFORD, ONT

Hot Rod Memories in Ontario

BARRIE, ONTARIO

I have the complete rolling chassis for the red an white hi boy Dizzy Dean Murray brought up from in the States , I cant recall what year he brought it up .
And I own a yellow highly modded 50 Chevy pick up built in mid ??? 70,s in Toronto . Still looks the same way , aged a bit , only thing different is the tires ..77.

workin class · FINCH, ONT

I have a bunch of stuff that I got from Jack Look if I can find it. Pics going back to the early 50s . If you ever get a chance to meet this man he has all kinds of Kool stuff going back to the early days.

oldkoot · BROCKVILLE, ONT

As far as I know, Jack Look still lives in the same house on Hwy 27

sasquatch · NORTH BAY, ONT

In the early sixties, this car was from London also:

53 or 54 olds- 2Dr. hardtop i think,, White, lowered, cruiser skirts, lake pipes, dummy spots, Blue dots in windshield, Lettered on each quarter pannel with " The Great White Whale".

sasquatch · NORTH BAY, ONT

And from Tillsonburg ( i think,) Maroon 50's volkswagon on some sort of frame, with a 394 olds.

sasquatch · NORTH BAY, ONT

And from Stratford about 1964-65? Red 55 chev Four door , Rear wheel wells cut out for large tires, powered by a 327 360 Hp?? four speed, car was always grubby looking,full of coffee cups, chip bags, etc Lol, used to be parked at night at a supertest station, and was driven by a guy named Laurie Rioux-(spelling,)and raced by a number of out of towners out on the "Harmony road" marked out 1/4 mile.
This guy could really shift that four speed.

sasquatch · NORTH BAY, ONT

I was told this car was from around "New Hamburg", 55 or 56 ford 2 door, straight axel, 390 , 4 speed, with 3 2bbl carbs. When i saw it it was late at night, no plates on it and was trailered to a back road 1/4 mile strip to race a few out of town cars.

We had to leave as the cops were on the way. Lol

TIREDIRN · SANDFORD, ONT

Does anyone here remember the Aristicrats Car Club from Richmond Hill, in the 60's.

Here's their jacket

Chris Stapley · CAMPBELLFORD, ONT

Jack spent a lot of time at our place dealing back and forth with my dad. Heck they swapped an early Jeep back and forth four times that I recall,ha,ha.. Dad finally sold it to a Carney and it's on the road all the time now.. We have a bunch of cool black and white photos somewhere of Jacks Hineymoon Roadster at our garage , hauling a tandem car trailer loaded with a Model A, horse buggy and a bunch of spinning wheels he bought from Dad on that particular trip,ha,ha.. "Trick ****" as Jack still always says.....

Yup, he's still up on 27 Highway, look for the mansion with the pond and the dirt stock car track on the front lawn for the vintage race cars to bomb around on.. Went up many a time for a burn in "Old #32", Jack always warns you to pay attention to turn three, that corner gets a little wet! ( The 25' deep pond is what he refers too!)

workin class wrote:

I have a bunch of stuff that I got from Jack Look if I can find it. Pics going back to the early 50s . If you ever get a chance to meet this man he has all kinds of Kool stuff going back to the early days.

Chris Stapley · CAMPBELLFORD, ONT

Hey Gwillyville Kid, ever go out and run off a bunch of cars while in the Belleville area? I remember going out faithfully every Saturday night to Mudcat Lane in Foxboro and we'd run off at least a dozen sets of cars before the cops would be dispatched...

Had many cool cars around Campbellford as I was growing up too, many a 55 Chevy with straight axles and fenderwell headers. Dave Carlaw had a 38 or 39 Chevy Coupe with a smallblock and fenderwell headers, my brother ran a wicked little 1965 Mustang 2+2 , Lots of Big block late sixties Fords, a couple of Bigblock Road Runners. Had one fellow who lived just down the road from my Dads shop who built the first Hotrod in town. It was a 1934 Chevy Coupe with a Buick Nailhead and Four speed, cycle fenders, black Lacquer and Tuck N Roll interior, still has it stuffed away in a barn... You know, some day I'm gonna fix 'er up again. I remember my Dad taking a couple of cars in on trades on our car lot, one was a 56 Chevy Nomad, Yellow with the black heavy diamond tufted bucket seats, four gear, big block with tunnel ram, straight axle, flip front end painted bright yellow. Said he couldn't wait to get it off the lot as every kid in eastern Ontario just thought they'd liek to take 'er out for a little test drive,ha,ha.. Took a T Bucket in when I was about 12 and was going to keep it around until I started it up and almost drove it off the ramp truck because it had no safety neutral switch... Never even got unloaded and disappeared before morning,ha,ha..
When I turned 16 he took a 1940 Ford Deluxe Convertible in from a cousin. California car, 59AB Falthead motor with two carbs on an Edelbrock Intake, matching high compression heads, Headers, Columbia two speed rear end and a funky cowhide suede interior that had been done sometime in the late fifties or early sixties..Came from California, sold that when I was about to turn seventeen after having it to run around town a bit when I got my license but that was OK because he then bought Mo's other car a nice triple white 1955 T Bird that I got to drive a bit the following summer... Then I bought my first custom car , a 1948 Dodge Convertible that came out of California too, Carson top, Edsel Grill, 59 Chevy Headlights, 55Olds Bumpers, 56 Corvette tail lights. 256 Chevy with factory two fours and a three speed stick, this had been a really cool car when it had been built, someone had spent a fortune on chrome , everything had been done.. I didn't think I'd ever get dome making payments on this car, I paid $3500 for it,ha,ha..

will · WALKERTON, ONT

Great post Gwillyville Kid

I enjoyed our conversation at Steve Plunkett's

There are a lot of memories of cars and hopefully your thread will bring many more to light.

Saturday was also good for me as I got to meet Theo Van Vlymen who also owned my roadster.

Last year we had 19 owners and we are now up to 21. I am now sure we have located them all.

Gwillyville Kid · BRADFORD, ONT

Back to Belleville, 68/69. Walked a lot of miles around town to see anything muscle car or hot rod. Was only 14/15. Went to BCIVS and grade 8 at Ameliasburg. I Remember an Orange 68 Chevelle SS at beach in A'burg. I see Owen Bosma still plays with cars. He was an apprentice at Patterson Motors (Plymouth) when my dad worked there. I went to school with his brother Bob. Waterloo in 66/67, dad worked for Jackson Motors (Plymouth). I recall a photo of a 65 or 66 Belvedere Jackson's ran at Bonneville. I never saw the car though.
In 65/66 we lived in Sarnia. Went to a parade in Port Huron, Mich. maybe July 4th, recall 2 1/4 pounders in the parade from one of the Dragstrips, slicks, open exhaust giving a free show in the parade. Lightin' 'em up & launches. One was a 64 or 65 GTO, other was a Mustang. And! I remember the radio ads for Detroit & Motor City Dragways on CKLW. The Michigan Madman! the Little Red Wagon & the Hemi Under Glass! Remember radio ads for GRAND BEND DRAGWAY! I remember the former John Petrie Super Car Clinic Hemi auto trans GTX convertible ending up on it's side at Sparta Dragway about 1971. The ISCA show car The Ox Cart wound up in the Bradford area for a while, as a street rod. One of the Hemi Under Glass 'Cudas wound up behind a barn in SouthWestern Ontario, maybe Chatham-ish?
it's back in the U.S. restored. This can NOT be all the hot rods in Ontario from that time period!
Some of these flashbacks must trigger somebody's memories. Get those fingers flying.

the Kid

sasquatch · NORTH BAY, ONT

Back many many moons ago,,Lol,, i was around 13-14 and we had a little pup tent pitched in the backyard.
We'd pretend to want to sleep in there usually on friday or saturday nights.
So by 10pm we'd head off to the tent, and Mother off to bed, -by 10:30 we knew she'd be asleep, so we,d come back out, grab our bikes and "Quietly" head out up town to were we knew the hot rod guys would be cruising around.

We frequented a drive-in burger place, and head out also to an outdoor "Roller Rink" /restaurant that had a number of "HOT" cars comming and going.
We'd hang out, listen to their car talk, watch them leave , some smokin the tires, some sideways, and we'd just groove off this activity,,, SO COOL! Lol

One of our favourites that never let us down was a little guy in a red 55 chev, (must have been a 265 four barrel or??, anyway he always put on quite a show for everybody.
Another was a 53? olds, with the 371 engine in it, and it was a three speed stick, -Rare set up even then!
Remember one night he let er go, sideways out onto the road, and it would leave quite a long patch of rubber,, a new kid was with us that night, and he swore for months there was "Flames" comming off the back tire!! Lol

So by 2:00am or so things had died down,, so back on our bikes, then head back for another night in the tent!!

sasquatch · NORTH BAY, ONT

Ok, another one, and this is car related.

A few times on our sturday night "Outings" from the tent, there wouldn't be many guys around at all, must have gone to a party or whatever. Going to be a "Quiet" night!! Geez!!

On the main drag was a large steep hill. At the top of this hill was an old gas station.
At times we,d park the bikes and sit there on the curb watching the cars go by, -the hotels closed then i think at 2:00am , and back then Many patrons drove home intoxicated. (not like now!!)
Aww, an idea,,, lets have some FUN!!! The one hotel, the patrons when heading home had to drive up this long hill.
So we,d grab a few old tires and wait behind a small hedge till we seen a car turn comming from the hotel, and start up this hill.
Then we,d roll a couple of these old tires down the hill at the oncomming intoxicated driver, and Bust our Asses laughing at these surprised drivers trying to miss these rolling tires!! It was funny as hell to see!

One night we had no tires, so scooped a big round pumpkin out of someones yard, and rolled it down the hill at an oncomming car that we reconized from "Tire Nights", and be darned if the guy when he saw it comming , floored the old 53 plymouth he had and just Smashed that pumpkin to smithereens!!
We laughed and laughed at that for an hour, while trying to get some sleep back in the tent.

flatblack55delivery · PORT HOPE, ONT

When I was young, yes they had cars then,around 66or67 I used to be a hang around/gofor at this garage/club house just off RoyalYork Rd in the west end of Toronto.This club was called The Etobi-Cams and did they build some cool rods .Some of them even made it into Rod&custom back then .I can remember riding my bicycle by the club house every day just hoping that one of the guys was working on something .I don't know how they put up with me but they were kind enough to answer my questions and let me help with some of there projects They even welded up a set of extended forks for my bicycle,man I thought that was so cool.I watched as tube grills were welded up and lead was used on custom body work.I thought that these cars were the coolest in the world better than any magazine car cause I watched them being built and sometimes got to help.I was obsessed with cars,At 13-14 who wasn't back then.If the clubhouse was not open I would go home and read about Clint Curtice and the Road Knights or get out my models and try to build a custom of my own design .These guys could have told me to buzz off but they didn't and there kindness putting up with me had everything to do with me enjoying a lifelong passion for custom cars.So maybe the next time some pain in the a-s kid asks a question or hangs around your garage or cruse night how you treat them could have more influence than you could ever know. Ed

sasquatch · NORTH BAY, ONT

Very good post ED, and you got it right, that is exactly how it was in those days.

A kid on a bike, fascinated by these cool cars being built, waiting for the day that he could start his own, actually driving to places in his "Pride and Joy", instead a self propelled bicycle.

shag766 · FOXBORO, ONT

Chris Stapley wrote:
Hey Gwillyville Kid, ever go out and run off a bunch of cars while in the Belleville area? I remember going out faithfully every Saturday night to Mudcat Lane in Foxboro and we'd run off at least a dozen sets of cars before the cops would be dispatched...

Had many cool cars around Campbellford as I was growing up too, many a 55 Chevy with straight axles and fenderwell headers. Dave Carlaw had a 38 or 39 Chevy Coupe with a smallblock and fenderwell headers, my brother ran a wicked little 1965 Mustang 2+2 , Lots of Big block late sixties Fords, a couple of Bigblock Road Runners. Had one fellow who lived just down the road from my Dads shop who built the first Hotrod in town. It was a 1934 Chevy Coupe with a Buick Nailhead and Four speed, cycle fenders, black Lacquer and Tuck N Roll interior, still has it stuffed away in a barn... You know, some day I'm gonna fix 'er up again. I remember my Dad taking a couple of cars in on trades on our car lot, one was a 56 Chevy Nomad, Yellow with the black heavy diamond tufted bucket seats, four gear, big block with tunnel ram, straight axle, flip front end painted bright yellow. Said he couldn't wait to get it off the lot as every kid in eastern Ontario just thought they'd liek to take 'er out for a little test drive,ha,ha.. Took a T Bucket in when I was about 12 and was going to keep it around until I started it up and almost drove it off the ramp truck because it had no safety neutral switch... Never even got unloaded and disappeared before morning,ha,ha..
When I turned 16 he took a 1940 Ford Deluxe Convertible in from a cousin. California car, 59AB Falthead motor with two carbs on an Edelbrock Intake, matching high compression heads, Headers, Columbia two speed rear end and a funky cowhide suede interior that had been done sometime in the late fifties or early sixties..Came from California, sold that when I was about to turn seventeen after having it to run around town a bit when I got my license but that was OK because he then bought Mo's other car a nice triple white 1955 T Bird that I got to drive a bit the following summer... Then I bought my first custom car , a 1948 Dodge Convertible that came out of California too, Carson top, Edsel Grill, 59 Chevy Headlights, 55Olds Bumpers, 56 Corvette tail lights. 256 Chevy with factory two fours and a three speed stick, this had been a really cool car when it had been built, someone had spent a fortune on chrome , everything had been done.. I didn't think I'd ever get dome making payments on this car, I paid $3500 for it,ha,ha..

jeez chris you are forgetting wayne-dave? townes. he was a legend back then in your area. i lived there for awhile and hung with carlaw and mathews. ooops, forgot about waxy, nut bar, and he had a yellow 55-57 chev. didn't hang with him to much. he was a different cat. lol after i rolled my 66 s/s nova through a pole in toronto phil found a 66 nova, post for me and we swapped the power over in his old shop north of town by the power plant. towne's heard about the car and we lined up beside phils shop headed north. i forget what he was driving at the time. my tranny locked on the first one and then i blew his doors off. i was a broker on durham transport at that time. guessing mid to late 70's. then there was ?? seyboyer with the 68-69 big block nova in havelock. oh yea, sayers, seyers ??. he left the area in a bit of a hurry. lol

sold a g.t.o. judge to harold carlaw some years later. r.i.p. still drop in and see phil from time to time at his shop on my way back and forth to peterboro. nice man and a hell of a wrench. banged into reg brown last time in to see phil. he used to ride his bycicle out to phils old shop. apparently not no more though.lol did the mudcat lane thing a couple of times with dave macIntyre and kenny ford, r.i.p., with my hemi runner. still see tom finkle quite a bit. him and a couple of belleville guys use to come up to petbo for a night. we use to go to taunton rd, oshawa way, once in awhile also.

anyone remember the down george st. to the plaza and then back up water st. to the a&w or coffe shop at parkhill later on. some of us called it "the no gas car club" . you had to of made that circuit at least once, chris.

ok, thanks for the memories guy's. getting a head-ache trying to think that far back. lol rick

ps: its those memories that got me into the pickel i'm in now. "to much stuff with no place to put it all."

-- Edited by shag766 on Friday 11th of January 2013 03:25:16 AM

Gwillyville Kid · BRADFORD, ONT

Sorry I daudled too long before I got back here.

Yeah, Friday & Saturday nights in London(1969) hanging around Dundas & Wellington watching the muscle cars & Hot rods. I was 15, bicycling to Dreamland. We would ride by Harvey's at Dundas & Adelaide on the way home. Some of the memories are still crystal clear.

On the cover of the January 7, 2013 issue of Old Autos is a photo of Keith Faulkner's Oldsmobile Toronado from Brighton, On.. Is this the same guy that had a T bucket in 1968 in the same area? His mother was one of my teacher's at Ameliasburgh Public School. Anybody Know anything?

the Kid

chevyboy · TORONTO, ONTARIO

sasquatch wrote:
And from Tillsonburg ( i think,) Maroon 50's volkswagon on some sort of frame, with a 394 olds.

I may have saved some pictures of possibly that car? It came up for sale about a year ago and I thought about buying it. He only wanted 2500 or something. black leather interior? Straight axel?

Gwillyville Kid · BRADFORD, ONT

Never made it out to the street drags at Foxboro. Was 14 when I lived in greater Quinte area. The old man got me 4 tickets to Deseronto when John Petrie's Super Car Clinic '68 Super Bee & Hemi GTX convert ran there, vs Lance Hill's Camaro & I believe Dave Benn's Mustang, Pro Stocks, but I had to get a ride.
I only made it to Deseronto a few times, but was there when Shirley Muldowney ran her gas dragster and the throttle linkage fell off at wide open throttle, as depicted in "Heart like a Wheel".
My old man was not a hot rodder. I got the disease early, so did my son and now his son. My grandfather Wilson had the White Rose at Dundas & Burwell in London that had the 2 storey White Rose lighted sign that would light from the bottom, blink, flash and go dark. There is a photo of it on the Canadian Petroliana site. I am the guy the writer refers to, and yes I did contact him as he requested. My gramps was a car guy, my dad worked his whole life in the car business, but never softened up. Too bad, I remember he had a 51 or 52 Chevy 2 dr sedan, '56 Chevy 4 dr ht, a 54 Meteor 2 dr post, a '57 Plymouth 2 dr ht. '59 Oldsmobile 2 dr ht and a '61 Buick Special wagon with aluminum 215 V8. I remember my dad brought a '67 Barracuda home from Jackson's Motors in Kitchener, he was the Parts manager there. It was a coupe with a slant 6 automatic. In Belleville, 1968, He worked at Patterson Motors, Plymouth, he brought home a '68 D100 with a 383 4 speed, once. Mostly slant 6 Fury sedans. No Road Runners, GTX, Sport Satellites. But once he did bring home a Sunbeam Alpine with rear bay window. That was it, boring. I heard when he moved to B.C. he drove a Volkswagen and when he left this world his vehicle of choice was a K Car. C'est la Vie.

Life is too short to be boring.

the Kid

Fast Elvis · LONDON, ONTARIO

TIREDIRN wrote:
Does anyone here remember the Aristicrats Car Club from Richmond Hill, in the 60's.
Here's their jacket

Hey brother.......was this your jacket?...... I have a large 1965 Aristicrats trophy and always wanted to learn more about this club.

Lil John · UDORA, ONT

Hey Flatblack Ed. I was on Kijiji a month or so ago and saw a 39-40 Ford coupe with cantilevered headlamps for sale. It is the same one that one of the Eobi-cams still owns after all these years. I remember seeing it and some more club cars in a hot rod magazine years and years ago.

John.

flatblack55delivery · PORT HOPE, ONT

Last time I saw that car it was called Black Sabbith or something like that .It was a few years ago not sure if the same guy owns it or not .It was built by Paul Durmo, I belive the spelling is. I have an old Rod and Custom with that club featured in it .I belive an old friend is in the picture .We used to hang around there club house and be the gofors.Man was I ever jealous he got to go on that shoot with them.Oh well it took 50 yrs but I did get a little revenge when Fatstax and I got our cars in Canadian Hot Rod on the back page feature on the Picton Armdrop drag races,take that Lorin.Foutunately I did get to see that awsome coupe with the full length tail light and canted headlights,Lincoin I think,being built.No fancy equipment there torches,snips and lead.I watched Lee Cox build the custom grill for his cool truck and even got to ride in Bobs(from Performance Inprovements )Tbucket a couple of times.There was another custom built in that shop with Jaguar headlights moulded into it and a coupe with a wild set of headers .As I have said before these guys were great and really made an impression on a punk kid, with there patience.Now I have to go and find that article and get jealous all over again. Ed

Gwillyville Kid · BRADFORD, ONT

'Nother trip in the Wayback Machine.

1969 in London, a 66 or 67 Nova with a 396, but badged 6 cyl or V8. Never really got too close to that one. At the Gulf Station on Richmond St, by the Ceepees (CPR)Hotel was a Burgundy 63 Galaxie 428 4 speed. That guy was actually a neighbour of ours, about 2 blocks away on Grosvenor St. I think the Gulf was where Doug Brinjak ran the "Hippy Hemi" T bucket Altered or Street/Roadster from.
A buddy of mine put a straight axle in a 67 Fury, that was London about 1972/73.
Jim McClelland (James Boys 33 Willys sedan) had a Vega wagon with 283, about 1973.

I had a chance to buy an orange 68 Mustang fastback from Competition Toyota on Oxford St. London 72/73. $2895. Rear axle was "seized" was the word. I passed. I met the guy that bought it. Dealer repaired rear axle, He painted it brown. It was a Shelby GT 500. Oh well.

I bought a Blue 1969 442 from McManus Motors 1973. Was looking at a 1970 Superbird in St Thomas on used car lot for $4500, at the same time. Oh well.
Passed on a yellow 1970 Boss 302 Mustang for a song in 1973. Hindsight has 20/20 vision. Who Knew?

the Kid

Fordy Acres Car Farm · DORCHESTER, ONT

I remember a handful of '55 Chevs tearing up the streets of London, belonging to John Elliot with a four gear, Dan Wetstone with his ever changing drivetrains and that certain mint '55 with the cool tunnel ram high winding small block mill - all this was early to mid 80s.

fastchevy · NORTH BAY, ONT

Back in the early 80's I had a buddy that worked at Lambeth Shell..there was some cool cars at that shop...one in particular was a 67 olds named "SAM"...also a couple of 65 GTO"s...one had a straight axle under it..

sasquatch · NORTH BAY, ONT

Anyone remember "Big Joe Cross" from Hickson ont (Outside of stratford,) He had a 4 door 49-50 Prefect with a Hilbourn injected 265 in it and 4 speed.
It was dark blue with the duck "Little Yacky" cartoon character on the door?
Used to run it at St. Thomas Dragway.

sasquatch · NORTH BAY, ONT

Ok, this is an old one!!
Doubt if anyone here would remember this guy.

Bob Hayward from Embro Ont, he was i believe the first and maybe only "Honest Charlies" speed shop dealer in ontario.

Interesting article years back in "Old Autos" about him having possibly the first real dragster in Ontario. 270 or 302 Jimmy powered.

The best article i got a kick out of was he also had about a 36 Chev coupe, running a modified 270 jimmy, and he and a buddy used to head to London Ont occaisionaly, (the car appeared quite stock on the outside,) put on womens wigs, and pull up beside some guy with a hot car , and blow their doors off!! LOL

flatblack55delivery · PORT HOPE, ONT

So a drag race with two meanings then. Ed

teejay99 · BELLE RIVER, ONT

I guess that's why I enjoyed the movie " American Graffiti " so much ....reminded me of any town you care to mention . The goings on in the above replies were much the same down here in Windsor , at least in the 60's . There were 2 A&W's , a Big Boy , couple of Hi-Ho's , a Red Barn , some illegal races on the East side ....usual Friday and Saturday night stuff . Sure glad I was part of it all . We would cruise round and round , lying about the performance our cars of course , checking out the odd car that ventured over from Detroit ....not too many since Viet Nam was going on and most able bodied Americans were over there in the rice paddies ....their girl friends were in Windsor " wowing " the Canadian boys . It was a fun time and it seemed to last forever .
I guess I was a "Chevy Guy " back then ...they were more plentiful and cheaper to modify , but I went over to Ford after buying my '68 Mustang GT ...wish I still had it ...and have been a Ford enthusiast ever since . I don't think our kids ( and grand kids ) will ever experience the "fever" we enjoyed .

T

will · WALKERTON, ONT

sasquatch wrote:
Ok, this is an old one!!
Doubt if anyone here would remember this guy.

Bob Hayward from Embro Ont, he was i believe the first and maybe only "Honest Charlies" speed shop dealer in ontario.

Interesting article years back in "Old Autos" about him having possibly the first real dragster in Ontario. 270 or 302 Jimmy powered.

The best article i got a kick out of was he also had about a 36 Chev coupe, running a modified 270 jimmy, and he and a buddy used to head to London Ont occaisionaly, (the car appeared quite stock on the outside,) put on womens wigs, and pull up beside some guy with a hot car , and blow their doors off!! LOL

Well Ray I do remember Bob Hayward and yes, I am old. I was watching the Hydro unlimited boat race on the Detroit river the day when Bob was killed driving Miss Supertest.

He did build a 6 cylinder dragster back in the 50's. It is thought to be the first dragster in Canada. George Hurbert of London (Byron) bought the dragster and raced it locally during the 60's. It was this dragster that got us (Willoughby, Hope & Lang) started with our G Gas Anglia.

sasquatch · NORTH BAY, ONT

Thanks Will, i was pretty sure someone here would know the name Bob Hayward.
Quite a character, great story also about him leaving "Moto-Master" spark plug boxes lying around his pit area, after heading home with the dragster for his competitors to wonder at. Lol

teejay99 · BELLE RIVER, ONT

I certainly remember Hayward racing on the Detroit River ......even built a wood model of Miss Supertest and floated it in mud puddles outside . I wasn't aware of his life outside speed boats . We just enjoyed seeing him knock off the American boats when he came down to race over near Belle Isle back in the late '50's .

T

Fast Elvis · LONDON, ONTARIO

Fordy Acres Car Farm wrote:
I remember a handful of '55 Chevs tearing up the streets of London, belonging to John Elliot with a four gear, Dan Wetstone with his ever changing drivetrains and that certain mint '55 with the cool tunnel ram high winding small block mill - all this was early to mid 80s.

I remember those guys.....lol.

parklane · St THOMAS, ONT

There was two brothers out of West Lorne ON back in the 60s that ran a few cars at Sparta. Ron & Jerry Kershner, had a coupe called Rigimortus, and it was fugly. Ran a Olds with injection for a SBC (adapted) that ran like stink. Also had a 58 Olds 4 door that ran in the 13s. Their street car was a 64 Olds Cutlass. One day they came into St.Thomas looking for someone to run, and found me in my 68 Z28. We got to talking, and they said the Olds was running like sh!t, but wanted to give me a shot anyway. On the way out of town, they had to stop and fill rad with water, cuz of bad head gasket, went out and blew my doors off, and came back to town to refill rad again. My car would run 14 flat in street trim, so it wasn't a dog, but those boys knew how to make a Olds run.

Gwillyville Kid · BRADFORD, ONT

In '73 or '74 I ran a guy in a primer and paint Duster, I had my 69 442, 400 w/400th & 3:73's. He had a V8 4 speed, but I don't know how big of engine and lotsa exhaust leaks. On Welllington Rd south, London. "Green" and I was gone. Hole shotted him BIG TIME. I went for 2nd and he was gone! All I saw was tail lights, and not for long. Never did see that car again. Never recounted that race for years. Man, I thought I was Bill Jenkins or Ronnie Sox until 2nd gear. That was humbling.

I have mentioned my T bucket, that has some history in Sarnia and in the St. Thomas area. Previous owner Mike West told me that his grandfather did the wood in the ****pit area of the Miss Supertest. His grandfather gave him some of the left over wood, which Mike used for the dash in the T bucket. Mike asked that If I ever removed the dash would I save it for him. I did cut out a piece of the dash for a radio and did save the piece for him. Maybe see Mike at Ancaster Swap Meet.

by the way, My family had the Shell in Lambeth, on Hwy 4, til about 1976. That 64 Olds Cutlass with SAM on the doors was Sheldon and Marion (SaM) Hudson. He used to run the purple 55 Chev 2 door post at St Thomas with "Plum Wild" lettered on the doors. His Nickname is Ting. His 55 used to be the white & red "Hangover" 55 Chevy that ran at St. Thomas.
the memories are starting to flow now........

One more thought. Didja ever listen to Bruce Springsteen's "Glory Days" or John Mellencamp's "Cherry Bomb"?
Anybody else see themselves as they listened? Thought so.
the Kid

sasquatch · NORTH BAY, ONT

Wow, Parklane!
I'd forgotten about the Kirshner boys.
Met them years back , as a friend of mine, also an Olds guy who had a rad shop, somehow met them, and discovered he was an adopted brother of Jerry and Ron. There was also i believe two sisters also that i met.
I rode in the 58 Olds, a big heavy car, and that thing did haul A**, BIG torque!!
Never knew them real well, but super nice guys.

Man, Small world!!

fastchevy · NORTH BAY, ONT

Plum Wild,,That name rang a bell...,, after talking with Walt Baily ( who owns the TLB 55 chevy,) quite a few years ago, the doors from that car are in Toronto area..and they are supposedly the doors off the TLB chevy...the rest of the car ended up in BC in a wrecking yard where it was rescued,

sasquatch · NORTH BAY, ONT

Any of you old St. Thomas guys will remember the 63 Biscayne that ran at St Thomas drag strip, driven by -i think the first woman drag racer i saw there.
Sandy Wilkins Driving the car "Bewitched", wife of Big Tim Wilkins.
She won a number of races , and could shift that 4 Speed.

Then there was Lance Hill, Bill Morrison, Bob Burch, Don Cloake, Jack Hyde,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bob T · BRANTFORD, ONT

I Remember 'Bewitched' very well. 300 h.p. 327 as I recall. At the same time I raced a 63 Bel air 409 340 h.p. 4 speed in either 'c' or 'd' stock. Sandy raced one class lower and heads up during time trials if I was late on the tree she could beat me.I know the rest of the list as well. Sure dates us and unless you were there there's no way to explain how great those times were.

not as drunk as you thinkle peep I am · GTA, ONT

sasquatch wrote:
Ok, this is an old one!!
Doubt if anyone here would remember this guy.

Bob Hayward from Embro Ont, he was i believe the first and maybe only "Honest Charlies" speed shop dealer in ontario.

Interesting article years back in "Old Autos" about him having possibly the first real dragster in Ontario. 270 or 302 Jimmy powered.

The best article i got a kick out of was he also had about a 36 Chev coupe, running a modified 270 jimmy, and he and a buddy used to head to London Ont occaisionaly, (the car appeared quite stock on the outside,) put on womens wigs, and pull up beside some guy with a hot car , and blow their doors off!! LOL
will wrote:
Well Ray I do remember Bob Hayward and yes, I am old. I was watching the Hydro unlimited boat race on the Detroit river the day when Bob was killed driving Miss Supertest.
He did build a 6 cylinder dragster back in the 50's. It is thought to be the first dragster in Canada. George Hurbert of London (Byron) bought the dragster and raced it locally during the 60's. It was this dragster that got us (Willoughby, Hope & Lang) started with our G Gas Anglia.

i remember that boat from the ontario science center. here some more info on it and hayward.

01/02/2011

Miss Supertest III on display at Boat Show

Canada's most famous racing hydroplane, Miss Supertest III, will be on display at this year's Toronto International Boat Show Jan. 8 to 16 at the CNE's Direct Energy Centre.

Last displayed in the Toronto area many years ago at the Ontario Science Centre, Miss Supertest will be exhibited in the Industrial Building during the Boat Show's nine-day run.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Miss Supertest's climactic third defence of powerboat racing's most prestigious prize, the Harmsworth Trophy, in a series of races against an American speed boat in the waters of Lake Ontario off Picton.

Supertest III and her driver, Bob Hayward of Embro, Ont., had first won the Harmsworth in a 1959 showdown on the Detroit River against the American champion Maverick.

In keeping with tradition, a challenge for the Harmsworth always takes place in the home country of the champion and Supertest's first defence came in the summer of 1960 at Picton.

Thousands turned out for the races, including Prime Minister John Diefenbaker and Ontario Premier Leslie Frost. Hayward and Supertest won again, as they then did for the final time in 1961.

A month after their third Harmsworth defence, the 33-year-old Hayward was killed while driving Miss Supertest II in a race on the Detroit River. The boat's owner and designer, James G. (Jim) Thompson of London, Ont., who was a racing champion in his own right, quit the sport on the spot.

Said Thompson, who continues to own Miss Supertest III and gave permission for her appearance at the boat show: "With the untimely death of Bob Hayward, the members of our racing team would derive little satisfaction from further success."

In honor of Miss Supertest III and Bob Hayward, a ticker tape parade up Bay St. in Toronto attracted thousands and the stretch of water near Picton where they enjoyed their greatest success was renamed Hayward Long Reach. And this September, Canada Post will issue a special commemorative stamp.

Thompson, Hayward and Miss Supertest III are members of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. Thompson and Hayward are also Honourable Mermbers of the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame.

Ragtop · BELLE RIVER, ONT

Memories like this are a big part of what makes this hobby so great. Hope the next generations will think back to aome of our cars and feel the same way! Meeting John (Will) and helping him research the T Bird Deuce was a great way to spend a few months and it's lead to a great friendship. I remember most of the hot rods from around the Windsor/Tecumseh area and my coupe is a tribute to my favourite car from that era. I've posted most of my old pics on one webpage or another over the years but here's a few to jog some memories: The T for Two

s110.photobucket.com/user/47convert/media/Tecumseh%20Push%
The Golden Rod - (Dual Quad Packard Patrician V8 - beat Kaletta at New Baltimore)

Ted Kwiatkoski's '34 coupe:

The Tecumseh Push Rods' "Zorro" Raced against Bob Hayward's dragster. The push rods Members were always very impressed with Hayward's cars!

Richard Prenny's cabriolet - Y block powered then switched to a blown Nailhead - very fast

I've got a hundred more great pics from the 50 s and 60 s

-- Edited by poncho62 on Thursday 19th of September 2013 05:43:58 PM

flatblack55delivery · PORT HOPE, ONT

One of the guys in the Ratlers bought a 55 Chevy gasser .Straight axel.Hoged out rear wheel wells,flip front end,engine set back deep into the firewall.The car is a green 2dr post and has had a lot of work on the rear quarters.There was a figure of a Yosiminity Sam type guy holding a beer in each hand.The name as far as we could make out was Loaded Six Pack.Just curious if anybody has heard of it of its history.I belive it was from the western end of the province at some point in its life.Thanks for any help . Ed

-- Edited by flatblack55delivery on Thursday 19th of September 2013 07:17:56 PM

will · WALKERTON, ONT

sasquatch wrote:
Any of you old St. Thomas guys will remember the 63 Biscayne that ran at St Thomas drag strip, driven by -i think the first woman drag racer i saw there.
Sandy Wilkins Driving the car "Bewitched", wife of Big Tim Wilkins.
She won a number of races , and could shift that 4 Speed.

Then there was Lance Hill, Bill Morrison, Bob Burch, Don Cloake, Jack Hyde,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

How about this guy racing at St. Thomas. Any one remember?

Bob T · BRANTFORD, ONT

Conrad "Connie" Kalitta. One of the biggest *******s in drag racing

sasquatch · NORTH BAY, ONT

Not as drunk,, Thanks for the article about Miss Supertest and Bob Hayward. Neat!

Ragtop, Great pics!! Please post up some more, i'm sure a number of us look forward to these.

Man, The "Pushrods" Zorro car is scarey lookin , by todays standards, Can't see too well, but that appears to possibly be a cadillac engine? AND,,, NO ROLL CAGE AT ALL???

That is a "TimeWarp" pic for sure!!

Ragtop · BELLE RIVER, ONT

Zorro had an Olds mill and every second weekend they'd pull it and install the Packard out of the Golden Rod roadster - that thing flew with the Packard in it. The driver was Mike Soulierre, who worked for me years later.

Ragtop · BELLE RIVER, ONT

Al Dixon's '58 Ranchero Altered wheelbase car. Presently being restored but I hear it's going to have a 526" SOHC like his brother's car replacing the Tunnel port he ran at Various dragstrips in the 60s and 70s.

Deuce coupe at Cayuga - late 50s

Bob Walker's record holder Willys at Windsor I think:

George Turnbull's SourKraut - Small block chevy then Big Block I think

Deuces Wild from Amherstburg Ontario - I believe it was Buck Anderson's car:

Windsor Based Willys - 426 Hemi, My memory is failing me - going to need to check on a couple of names.

'34 Cabriolet

Sam Krizan's A coupe

Larry Wendt's Cabriolet< Larry's still involved with cars today - has a gorgeous 56 T Bird, a '53 Ford truck. and more

will · WALKERTON, ONT

How about the dragsters of Don Swanson -- Don Cassidy and Gil McNorgan. -- Ken Davis:
The altereds of Roger Miller and Glen Gregory -- Ken Davis, Bill Gorman & Gary Dennis --
The Super Stock Chevy cars from Parklane Motors and the Super stock Ford cars from Lampton Ford- both from Sarnia

I know there are lots more, but you know what they say about the 60's -- If you can remember the 60's, then you really did not live the 60's. WOW -- I sure have some blank spots. It must have been fun!