Original hemi dart information

Paul Ceasrine · 09-20-2009, 06:03 AM

Bill,
For your postings, I owe you about a dozen Shrimp & Pasta dinners at the "Hilltop Inn", Nyack. The best eatery around (1977 thru 1985).
If you left Spring Valley Dodge, and headed east on Route 59 you would run into the place in West Nyack. I'm sure you remember that place.

I was working on the Northeast Darts first. Ron Mancini (Gratiot Auto
Supply) SS/AA NHRA champ (3 times). We ordered our first set of gears from Gratiot in July 68'. 4.56 gears, complete with a 42 case.
and assembled. $140 (Ouch, Boy have times changed).

More Northeast Darts (Originals)

6) S & K Speed Shop, West Babylon, L.I. New York (SS/B)
Dark Red w/black horizontal "V" shaped arrow on door w/ S & K
Speed Shop Lettering. Owners; Bryan Higgins and Ernie Krieg
A liitle history. S & K had several speed center shops around Long
Island. Good reputation. Jack Merkel was involved building some of
engines. They ran the car only a couple of months July 68' thru
maybe October 68'. Competed at 68' S/S Magazine Nats. Didn't
do to well. Struggled with the car. An article quoted Bryan Higgins
as saying, "The car couldn't get out of its own way". Friends saw it at
New York National Speedway a couple of times, running 11.20's.
They were looking to unload it, to get involved with the 69' AMX
Super Stock program. Car was sold to the famous Brooklyn street
racers "The Mutt Brothers". John and Ron Lyle. Car was re-painted
black, and raced primarily on the street (Conduit Blvd), near JFK
airport.
* There is a photo of this car ? at Englishtown in 69' or 70', with
Charlie Castaldo's Dart on the opposite side, on the starting line.
"Manhattan Speed Parts" is lettered on the front fender of the
black Dart. Manhattan Speed Parts was located on Varick Street,
NYC. On the other side of the Williamsburg Bridge, which connects
Brooklyn and lower NYC. Coincedence or ?

Paul, More hits to come this morning.

09-20-2009, 06:03 AM	#11
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Original hemi dart information Bill, For your postings, I owe you about a dozen Shrimp & Pasta dinners at the "Hilltop Inn", Nyack. The best eatery around (1977 thru 1985). If you left Spring Valley Dodge, and headed east on Route 59 you would run into the place in West Nyack. I'm sure you remember that place. I was working on the Northeast Darts first. Ron Mancini (Gratiot Auto Supply) SS/AA NHRA champ (3 times). We ordered our first set of gears from Gratiot in July 68'. 4.56 gears, complete with a 42 case. and assembled. $140 (Ouch, Boy have times changed). More Northeast Darts (Originals) 6) S & K Speed Shop, West Babylon, L.I. New York (SS/B) Dark Red w/black horizontal "V" shaped arrow on door w/ S & K Speed Shop Lettering. Owners; Bryan Higgins and Ernie Krieg A liitle history. S & K had several speed center shops around Long Island. Good reputation. Jack Merkel was involved building some of engines. They ran the car only a couple of months July 68' thru maybe October 68'. Competed at 68' S/S Magazine Nats. Didn't do to well. Struggled with the car. An article quoted Bryan Higgins as saying, "The car couldn't get out of its own way". Friends saw it at New York National Speedway a couple of times, running 11.20's. They were looking to unload it, to get involved with the 69' AMX Super Stock program. Car was sold to the famous Brooklyn street racers "The Mutt Brothers". John and Ron Lyle. Car was re-painted black, and raced primarily on the street (Conduit Blvd), near JFK airport. * There is a photo of this car ? at Englishtown in 69' or 70', with Charlie Castaldo's Dart on the opposite side, on the starting line. "Manhattan Speed Parts" is lettered on the front fender of the black Dart. Manhattan Speed Parts was located on Varick Street, NYC. On the other side of the Williamsburg Bridge, which connects Brooklyn and lower NYC. Coincedence or ? Paul, More hits to come this morning.