Connecting Highway

[hemicop]

Funny someone should mention NHRA's classification system---- I always thought it didn't allow for street cars, that AHRA did a better job for that. Kinda hard to picture a 3800lb Chevelle being put into Gas just'cause it had some engine mods & slicks. Truth be told told, that's probably what pushed so many guys onto the street.

[mopar68]

Originally Posted by hemicop

Funny someone should mention NHRA's classification system---- I always thought it didn't allow for street cars, that AHRA did a better job for that. Kinda hard to picture a 3800lb Chevelle being put into Gas just'cause it had some engine mods & slicks. Truth be told told, that's probably what pushed so many guys onto the street.

Some of the most popular supercars on the street were non-competitive in NHRA Stock and Super Stock racing. For example: 383 Road Runners and 400 cu.in. GTO's. Tons of them on the street--near zero at the Nationals.

And classifying street cars with the usual hi-po speed parts added to them to run against purpose-built race cars really was short-sighted and counterproductive on their part.

M68

[cammer427]

You know, now that I think of it I recall reading about someone pulling into a popular Brooklyn or Queens street racing haunt back in the late-'60s or early-'70s with one of Dick Landy's cars on a trailer. Can't remember if that was an article or a post.

[cammer427]

Art, did you not finish the Challenger because you teamed up with Tex on the Charger, or was it because of other projects on the go?

[hemicop]

Originally Posted by cammer427

You know, now that I think of it I recall reading about someone pulling into a popular Brooklyn or Queens street racing haunt back in the late-'60s or early-'70s with one of Dick Landy's cars on a trailer. Can't remember if that was an article or a post.

As I recall it was an article in Car Craft Magizine about NYC streetracing. I think the story was how Landy was in town for a race at NY Nat'l. and the streetrace had gone off near JFK Airport---can't remember who he was racing against, though but I vaguely remember something about Brooklyn Heavy possibly running him...

[cammer427]

Originally Posted by hemicop

As I recall it was an article in Car Craft Magizine about NYC streetracing. I think the story was how Landy was in town for a race at NY Nat'l. and the streetrace had gone off near JFK Airport---can't remember who he was racing against, though but I vaguely remember something about Brooklyn Heavy possibly running him...

I don't think I've read that Car Craft article, but an event like that I'm sure would have been mentioned elsewhere too. Did the article mention that Dick himself raced one of his cars against someone near JFK? That would be pretty wild if that did occur. You hear of many pros in the league of Sox and Landy doing some street racing before they went pro, but never doing it while or after that (except for the NYC guys, of course ... seems it's in their blood), so it's interesting to hear of them "cutting loose" like that!

I'm not entirely sure where Heavy did most of his off-track racing, but if he was involved, and it was near JFK, it was most likely 150th/South Conduit. The Mutt Bros, Levi Holmes and I think Tab Talmadge raced there (the Mutt Bros raced there almost exclusively). Heavy knew those guys (Ronald Lyles & Levi even shoed some of Heavy's cars professionally) so it wouldn't be surprising.

[hemicop]

It WAS ONLY RUMORED that Dick Landy himself was gonna drive--I think his brother actually drove. I was there that night but never got close enough to actually see who was driving. I do remember seeing 2 transporters pull in--Landys & another professionally painted rig, but for the life of me I can't recall the second car. I'm thinking it must've been someone local that I was used to seeing, so I simply glossed over it. I'm sure someone could call Landy's shop & ask his brother --- he might remember it & own up to the incident since it WAS so long ago.

[cammer427]

One of Landy's cars racing on a street in Brooklyn - what an awesome story! And you were there? Do you recall which of Landy's cars raced that night?

[art leong]

Originally Posted by cammer427

You know, now that I think of it I recall reading about someone pulling into a popular Brooklyn or Queens street racing haunt back in the late-'60s or early-'70s with one of Dick Landy's cars on a trailer. Can't remember if that was an article or a post.

That was us. When we got back from California with the car We took it to Benson Burgers in St Albans. Just for shock value, it didn't have a drive train.
Another time at the SummerNationals Irv Beringhaus (High Country Duster) broke a crank in his prostocker. And didn't have a spare. We had a short block ready to go. So he followed us up to Coney Island We pulled the motor changed it. Got it running Then made a burnout on Neptune ave.