Well, I'll admit, my best ideas are ones that I stole from someone else. So with full props to Mopar John, I've decided to embark on a similar tale of a life filled with wing cars since I was a young boy. I don't know if I can top any of John's stories, but hopefully, it will keep you interested to follow along for a bit. Certainly, it will be a bit of a homage to my mother Jean and my dad Monroe, the photo below taken in 1987 at the HPAC meet in Kansas City.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Our%20Cars/TMP91.jpg)
Dad has been gone since 1993, and mom since 2005. Not too too many of you knew dad, but a few of you here did. He was quite a character. There are a couple interesting twists and turns along the way.
Dad was a lifelong car and racing enthusiast and told me of attending races at the now closed mile track called Trenton Speedway. Dad was a born salesman and worked his way up the ladder at Hill from the service department into sales.
Dad was a field salesman for the CV Hill company of Trenton New Jersey. Hill made refrigerated cases for grocery stores and was the gold standard of the industry. He was a lifelong car and racing In early 1957, there was an opportunity to become an independent distributor for Hill. There were two territories available – one near Toronto Canada, and the other in Wisconsin. After probably not too much thought, he decided on the Wisconsin location – drove out, found a brand new house. And so in April 1957, the family uprooted from New Jersey and moved to Milwaukee Wisconsin.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Our%20Cars/TMP86.jpg)
The above photo is from the winter of 1957-58. The old man is out shoveling the driveway. You'll see the house in various photos over the next 52 years. In the late 50's, our area just outside of Milwaukee was still pretty rural with the closest grocery and banking about 10 miles away. I understand my mom and the other three kids were waiting for the moving van while dad was on the road selling. Our subdivision was brand new with not too many houses built before ours. I wasn't born until a few years later, so I missed all of this.
Dad's business took off in the early 60's with a deal to supply the largest local grocery chain. Times were pretty good. Mom did not have to work outside the home and focused on taking care of the four kids. All my older brothers and sister had their own gas charge card when they came of driving age. He eventually bought a piece of business property close to home and built a nice new industrial building in 1967. This would later be the first Superbirds of America headquarters in 1975. Within the family, we simply referred to the structure as "the building".
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Our%20Cars/warehouse.jpg)
Over the years, dad had bought several old cars storing them all around wherever he could. With the new building he could bring them all to one location. This was my first recollection of seeing them. All were unrestored in various states. There was a 1931 Model A 2 door in good shape, as well as my favorite to sit in, a nice 1936 Chevy Master Deluxe Coupe, a ratty 1933 Chevy sedan, a rough 1930 Chevy coupe, and a rougher 1931 Chevy Victoria. I think these pictures might be the only ones that exist. This one is of dad and the Model A, probably about 1967. That car and the 36 Coupe are ones I would not mind owning today.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Our%20Cars/DadModelA.jpg)
We're not to the wing cars yet. That'll take a while. But I'll talk some about how the family went racing next, and how a lifelong GM man like my dad wound up buying a Superbird...
Cool Doug - Bring it!
I've been interested in cars as long as I can remember. I had the usual pedal cars and stuff, and liked my Matchbox cars - these were before Hot Wheels you know. The photo here is dated Christmas 1966. I don't remember much about the little ride on car, but I still have one of my two pedal cars. Today, after moving back to the house I grew up in - much of that stuff is still here. My mother didn't throw much away, and a lot of fun stuff including some toys was intact. It's not quite "Hoarders", but we must have some sentiment in the family. I'd like to restore the other pedal car someday. I have a tough time of letting go of stuff, but I think I've gotten better.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Our%20Cars/TMP90.jpg)
My older brother David, built model cars, and that was something I really liked and developed an interest in, which I still have today. I don't have time to build, but I still like to collect.
My oldest brother Monnie had a nearly new yellow '65 Mustang 6 cyl. Shortly, the plan became to paint it black, and when it passed to Dave, he decided to put a V8 in it. That car made an impression on me, as well as a new '66 Impala we bought. Dad also had a 1961 Pontiac and for some reason I was interested in it. He traded it in on a new '65 Olds, and I recall making him take me to the used car lot to see our old car. During one of these times, a salesman came out and unknowingly tried to sell my dad his old car. "Oh, I don't think I'd be interested in that one. he said. I think the transmission slips", which indeed it did!
Milwaukee was also a great racing town, with short track racing running five nights a week, and big time stock car and Indy car racing at The Milwaukee Mile just ten minutes away. Dad took a lot of 8mm film at the Mile through the years, unfortunately NONE during the wing car era.
My first recollections of racing were at the local short track, Hales Corners Speedway. As I mentioned, this was part of a series that ran five nights a week at different tracks in the metro area. In 1968, my oldest brother Monnie, would try stock car racing at the local level later too with a 1955 Chevy Sportsman car. Below is the brand new car about to be flat towed by his buddy John's new Lemans.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Our%20Cars/TMP81.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Our%20Cars/TMP83.jpg)
Well the first time out, I think he got the car on its roof. I remember by mom being a little concerned about this racing thing.
For 1969, the '55 Chevy was updated to a '56. I don't remember the reason why. But here it is being rebuilt outside dad's building. I'm not so sure about those cement block jackstands.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Our%20Cars/Monnie153.jpg)
Well here is the finished product for 1969. Not too bad. They cut a large Bow Tie emblem in the hood too. That is dad's business name on the quarter panel.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Our%20Cars/TMP84.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Our%20Cars/TMP85.jpg)
In the spring of 1969, big brother Monnie also bought a new 1969 Camaro SS. Blue, 4-speed, deluxe interior. Not too many options. He wanted the most bang for the buck. Then he got drafted and that put an end to the racing. I don't have a period photo of the Camaro, but to whet your whistle, this is what it looked like after we pulled it from storage in 2003 as a 42k mile survivor. The tags on the car expired in 1974.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Our%20Cars/P1010294.jpg)
We're just about done with all this Chevy stuff, and can move on to Mopars shortly.
I love reading stories like this. Keep them coming!
Doug I enjoy these as well.I would like to copy John as well.I just can't remember all of the details like I need to.Kepp it coming.JW
More please. :2thumbs:
Quote from: skip68 on February 27, 2010, 08:55:53 PM
More please. :2thumbs:
:popcrn: :popcrn: :popcrn: :popcrn: :popcrn: :popcrn: :2thumbs: :2thumbs: :2thumbs: :2thumbs: :2thumbs: :2thumbs:
Awesome.....great stories! Can't wait to read more!
I never met your father doug but I spoke to him many times when I first joined the club in the 80's and he has burned a spot in my brain ever since. He was incredibly generous with his time whenever I called and was always willing to help me when I asked "dumb" questions about these wing cars. I was quite impressed with his patience of my ignorance. Can't wait to read more.
:2thumbs: Great stuff Doug. Can't wait to read more. :popcrn:
really cool!
Ive been to Trenton Speedway along with the track in Langhorn PA. Im sure whoever went to Trenton also attended langhorn.
Cool story, what's going to happen to the camaro? 69 SS in blue, 4spd. Really nice.
Very cool Doug, looking forward to some more........
I never got to meet Monroe personally, but I remember seeing him driving the lime Superbird on Hwy100 back in the late 70's and early 80's. He was a bit of a legend among the kids that hung around that area during that time. I remember seeing him pass by the old Standard station on Oklahoma one weekend night. I recall it was pretty cold that night, he was wearing a green and gold knit Packer hat with the little yellow fuzz ball on top. That 'Bird was the coolest, most outrageous car I'd ever seen. I only saw him pass by once that night, but that did it for me.
I saw the him and the 'Bird a few times after that, but never got a chance to meet him or talk to him. I remember seeing the car at one of the Milwaukee Auto Shows for new cars at the old Mecca in a display of muscle cars, several years later. The Superbird was prominently displayed in the center.
Without ever knowing it, Monroe and his Superbird was probably responsible for my love of all things Mopar and wingcars in particular.
Very cool reading, and pictures :popcrn:
Doug great thread so far. I know that I met your father years ago, but at the time I was but a mere child, even though if you ask my wife I'm still one now. Looking forward to reading this thread as it progresses.
Doug,
I am really happy that I helped motivate you to tell "YOUR STORY" ! Mine has been great especially when I spark interest about something! You have already filled in some early information about your family! In my story I first met your clan back in 1978 at the Milwaukee meet! Please continue!
Mopar John
good read & great pictures :coolgleamA: :popcrn:
Quote from: 71-500 on February 28, 2010, 08:01:11 AM
I never got to meet Monroe personally, but I remember seeing him driving the lime Superbird on Hwy100 back in the late 70's and early 80's. He was a bit of a legend among the kids that hung around that area during that time. I remember seeing him pass by the old Standard station on Oklahoma one weekend night. I recall it was pretty cold that night, he was wearing a green and gold knit Packer hat with the little yellow fuzz ball on top. That 'Bird was the coolest, most outrageous car I'd ever seen. I only saw him pass by once that night, but that did it for me.
I saw the him and the 'Bird a few times after that, but never got a chance to meet him or talk to him. I remember seeing the car at one of the Milwaukee Auto Shows for new cars at the old Mecca in a display of muscle cars, several years later. The Superbird was prominently displayed in the center.
Without ever knowing it, Monroe and his Superbird was probably responsible for my love of all things Mopar and wingcars in particular.
That was the 1990 new car show in Milwaukee. I forget how we got involved with it, but they put the Superbird on a turntable in the hall with the musclecars. It was pretty neat and they were very nice to us. That is what this photo is from.
One of the best Hwy 100 cruising stories was about 1979. For those of you out of the area, Hwy 100 was the main cruise strip in Milwaukee in the late 70's and 80's. Dad and I were out in the green Bird. So he was pushing about 60 then. As you know the Superbird is a magnet for attention. Some kids in another car pulled up alongside, and you could hear them exclaim, "Look at the old man!" They just couldn't believe it. So we got to a stop light and conversed a little. A little later, dad decided he would really mess with them. At the time, he had at least three wing cars. So we took the green car home and got a Daytona, then headed back to the strip. Then he pulled onto a side street and waited for the same carload of kids to come by. When they did, he pulls out and follows them. They were totally blown away. "Look, he's got another one!" And so we went on for a while. I can't remember if we went home and got the third one, or not. Either way, his point had been proven.
Another Hwy 100 story in the green car he really got a laugh out of, was some kids on the side of the road yelling at him about his "Lawn Boy", ie: the green Bird with the handle on the back. He liked to tell both of these stories.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Our%20Cars/TMP93.jpg)
Quote from: 1969chargerrtse on February 28, 2010, 07:07:40 AM
Cool story, what's going to happen to the camaro? 69 SS in blue, 4spd. Really nice.
It is running again as a time warp car after 35+ years of sitting.
Please continue.....!! :cheers:
Doug,
Thanks for sharing your story. Keep it coming.
Jerry
Hey Doug brings back lots of memories.
Monroe is the reason I became interested in wing cars. It started when he picked up Doug one day from High School in a Bird.
An interesting story about Monroe and Hwy 100. Be had parked in the lot of a local food store in the Green Bird and while I was talking with him a cop stopped and shined his spot light at Monroe hinting for him to get moving. Well Monroe then turned on his head lights to shine them at the cop. After Monroe turned off the lights the cop looked back at the car and you could see him mouth the words "am old man". He shuck his head and yelled to get moving, so we did.
Hitail
good stuff Doug, thanks for the memories,. keep it coming!!!
hey, great story so far, thanks for sharing and keep it coming .cheers
In the summer 1970, after some more trips to Hales Corners Speedway, the local short track, I had begun to enjoy the racing a lot more. I went back to the Milwaukee Mile with my dad. The wing cars were there. I don't remember much, being only about 9, but I do remember something of a duel between Roger McCluskey's Superbird and Don White's yellow Nichels Daytona. It went on for quite a while until Don's engine came up lame, and Roger went on to win.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/TMP92.jpg)
In 1971, my sister started dating Ralph, a salesman at Hub Chrysler Plymouth. You might recognize that name as a sponsor on the Superbirds of Norm Nelson and Roger McCluskey. Ralph for his personal car, had a brand new 1971 Plymouth Sports Suburban wagon, green with woodgrain – a beautiful loaded car. For a demo, he also briefly had a Superbird, Tor-Red, bench seat, and it was kind of unique with turn signal indicators having been fitted under the fender scoops. The car had been sold by the time we met, but this car would cross our path years later.
About this time, dad had read an article in Esquire magazine about modern cars that might be future collectibles. Some of the car mentioned were the 2 seat Thunderbird, the Avanti, the 2 seat AMX among others. There were some hits and some misses. It got him thinking that maybe he could buy something newer to drive and enjoy, and maybe make a buck on down the road.
Ralph and my dad would go to the races at the Milwaukee Mile. I don't think I went in 1971 at all. But I think I went to most of the four stock car races in 1972. Up here in USAC, the wing cars were still legal. Don White's and Butch Hartman's Daytonas were done after 1971. Same with the Talladegas of Jack Bowsher and AJ Foyt. But the Superbirds were still running very strong. Roger McCluskey had the #3 car, Sal Tovella had the #8, Ramo Stott had the #47 and probably the fastest was Bobby Unser's Nichels #5. I remember that Unsers car would consistently sit on the pole, but would often blow up early in the races.
Getting back to that Esquire article - well, dad had also knew that the Superbirds were production built and that. And in Ralph (who by then had married my sister) he knew a Plymouth salesman. And they got to talking and dad told Ralph, that if he ever heard of a Superbird coming in on trade at the dealership, to let him know.
In the summer of 1972, Ralph got a really neat demo. It was a 1972 Satellite Sebring Plus. It looked like a Road Runner to me, but Ralph explained it was just one notch down, but it was loaded with options. It was that pale lime green, white top, sunroof, power options. Ralph took me out in it and showed me how the Slap Stik worked. It had also been the pace car at the Milwaukee Mile the week before, and still had the signage on the quarter panels.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Our%20Cars/TMP190.jpg)
I liked this car so much I took a photo of it. I know it's a horrible photo, but I don't think I took a picture of any of his other cars. Then below is another photo of that same pace car on track with Ramo Stott's #47 Superbird following behind. I was aware of this car, along with the other Superbirds on the race track. This car raced as #7, #77 or #47 depending on the year and race series. But it is always the same car. As a kid, I knew this was the last season for the Superbirds, and they would be gone. At the end of the year, while the other racing Superbirds were rebodied into something newer, at the end of the 1972 racing season, the #47 race car would go into long term hibernation at Ramo's garage where it would sit intact until 1988. At that age, I certainly had no comprehension yet that we might own a Superbird someday - or that I'd see that #47 car again years later.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Our%20Cars/TMP191.jpg)
Great stuff Doug! keep it coming.
Brent
October 1972 - How we got the Bird... Almost...
By the fall of 1972, brother in law Ralph called my dad and said there was a Superbird available.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Our%20Cars/Bird73.jpg)
The car was owned by an 18 year old college kid, and he had gotten a couple tickets. He had not had the car very long, and his parents said it had to go. He brought it into Hub Chrysler Plymouth to trade it in, and they would not touch it. Fortunately, Ralph was there and got the kids phone number and passed it on to my dad.
So late in October, my dad and I went to look at the car. It was right before Halloween, and I remember arriving at the peoples house and getting some Halloween candy. Well there was the car. As we drove up, you could see it in Lime Green from a couple blocks away. Up close, it looked fantastic. I was aware of what the car was from seeing them at the race track, and really hoped dad would buy it. There was only one problem, right away - and it was a BIG one. He hated the color. Those were the first words out of his mouth before we even got our of our casr. He kept repeating, "Who would drive a car that color?" Now you have to remember that at the time, my dad was 52 and it wasn't like it is now where a 50 year old guy would drive a car like this. The Superbird was a young mans car. Nevertheless we pressed on and went for a test drive to see what the car was all about. It drove like a new car. It smelled new inside. Well, it ought to. It only had 8600 miles on it. It had two Polyglas GT raised white letter studded snows in the trunk, but it looked like they had not seen much use.
Well, we went down the freeway, dad driving, the owner in the passenger seat and me in the back. We got back to the house and it was time to talk turkey. He erally liked the way it drove, but he still kept coming back to the statement that he didn't like the color. I don't know what the seller wanted for the car, but I think it was in the neighborhood of $2500. Well dad being the horse trader he was wouldn't go near that. He offered the boy $1800, which was quickly declined. Dad said, " I really didn't want it because of the color anyway. But when the offer was turned down, dad did give the boy his phone number and told him if he changed his mind, to call him. We left. I was pretty disappointed, and pretty much thought that was the end of it.
Well, some time went by. Maybe a couple weeks or so. The phone rang. It was the seller of the green Bird. He'd take the $1800 offered. This was all unknown to me by the way. But dad was still set against the color and made up some story that my mom would give him heck if he bought another car (probably would have) and walked away.
But the story wasn't over just yet...
Quote from: hitail on February 28, 2010, 09:27:54 PM
Hey Doug brings back lots of memories.
Monroe is the reason I became interested in wing cars. It started when he picked up Doug one day from High School in a Bird.
An interesting story about Monroe and Hwy 100. Be had parked in the lot of a local food store in the Green Bird and while I was talking with him a cop stopped and shined his spot light at Monroe hinting for him to get moving. Well Monroe then turned on his head lights to shine them at the cop. After Monroe turned off the lights the cop looked back at the car and you could see him mouth the words "am old man". He shuck his head and yelled to get moving, so we did.
Hitail
The old man would do stuff like this frequently. One time, he was out on wing car parts run out of state, and called up his friend Dick Drake from Kansas City. Dick started the HPAC club which is the Mopar group in the Kansas City area. Dad shot the breeze on the phone with Dick for probably 20 minutes, "Hey what are ya doing?" figuring out what Dick was up to, washing his car or something like that. Anyway, he never bothered to tell Dick that he actually was at a pay phone in KC, around the block from his house. He eventually wound up the car, see ya later, and hung up the phone. Then he showed up in Dick's driveway about 5 minutes later. They had a good laugh over that.
But it still wasn't over. The green Bird had to have nagged at him. Because he never threw the note with the guys phone number away. His desk was a total mess, and he'd come across the phone number and push it aside. Then he'd unbury it again a few days later. Fate was about to intervene.
His building was on a major road. While all of this was going on, there was a lady who lived close by would drive by his building in this 4-speed silver Daytona, running through the gears. And she would be on it too.
(http://www.superbirdclub.com/files/TMP178.JPG)
Well that Daytona driving past every day worked on him, and after a while, he started to soften up on the lime green paint. "Hey that color isn't so bad after all." It would be so simple. Call up the kid, bring him $1800 and get the car, right? Not.
He decided he'd work the boy over a little more. So he called him up and without saying who he was, started the negotiations all over again. When the price of the car was quoted, he said, "I can't pay anywhere near that." Well the boy told him, "If you come down and look at the car, I'm sure you'd offer me more, BUT MAYBE YOU WOULDN'T. If he hadn't said that last bit, he'd have gone down and paid the $1800. But there was an opening there, and he went for it.
Dad went to my brother Dave who was 20. "Dave, you want to buy a car?" "Sure, yeah." So they went over the drill and dad gave him $1600 bucks, and an extra $20 for his other pocket. It was the old "lay the money on the table routine". They made the appointment and Dave went down there under the name "Bill Foster" my grandfathers name. In fact, the seller called him "Bill" a couple times and Dave didn't remember the ruse. respond. Well anyhow, my dad was camped out around the corner on the main street waiting to see what would happen. About 15 minutes later, the green Bird pulled around the corner. My dad was like "Hot damn we bought the car!"
Of course, I didn't know any of this. But they took the car up to dad's building. At some point, they went home and got me. I know I was very excited to see the car sitting there inside the shop. When my mom got wind of how they two of them had bought the car, she got really mad. "You cheated the man!" she said. On top of that, dad had told my brother to use our grandfathers name (her dad) to buy the car. She was hot! Dad had a different perspective in that he had simply negotiated for the best deal.
Well, he had the car, now what to do with it. For the first couple years, not much. It just sat in the back of his building. The only other car he knew was the lady's silver Daytona. Her name was Donna Schill. Also, one by one, he sold off the old cars he had. I still miss that '36 Chevy. But he had fallen for the Superbird pretty hard, and it wasn't long and all the old cars were gone.
Quote from: Aero426 on March 04, 2010, 10:26:29 PM
His building was on a major road. While all of this was going on, there was a lady who lived close by would drive by his building in this 4-speed silver Daytona, running through the gears. And she would be on it too.
(http://www.superbirdclub.com/files/TMP178.JPG)
The only other car he knew was the lady's silver Daytona. Her name was Donna Schill.
Hey, I remember that name... but I never saw that car when it was silver. When I saw it, it was custom painted a dark wine red and black and had it's engine compartment chromed to within an inch of it's life. I mean every engine component, latch tray, wiper motor, brake booster and master cylinder, suspension parts, everything was chromed. Lots of velour in the interior, too. Talk about 'pimped out'. Ah, the good old days.
As I recall, it was at the Custom Auto show at the Fair Park (might have been at the Mecca) for a couple of years.
Does she still own it?
This is good stuff! :popcrn:
Quote from: Hemidog on March 05, 2010, 04:57:23 AM
This is good stuff! :popcrn:
:iagree: this is good reading & great pictures ! thanks for sharing all this stuff :yesnod: :popcrn:
Quote from: 71-500 on March 05, 2010, 12:27:46 AM
Quote from: Aero426 on March 04, 2010, 10:26:29 PM
His building was on a major road. While all of this was going on, there was a lady who lived close by would drive by his building in this 4-speed silver Daytona, running through the gears. And she would be on it too.
The only other car he knew was the lady's silver Daytona. Her name was Donna Schill.
Hey, I remember that name... but I never saw that car when it was silver. When I saw it, it was custom painted a dark wine red and black and had it's engine compartment chromed to within an inch of it's life. I mean every engine component, latch tray, wiper motor, brake booster and master cylinder, suspension parts, everything was chromed. Lots of velour in the interior, too. Talk about 'pimped out'. Ah, the good old days.
As I recall, it was at the Custom Auto show at the Fair Park (might have been at the Mecca) for a couple of years.
Does she still own it?
Donna had two different Daytonas. She sold the silver 4-speed car about 1979, and bought a real clean Hemi Orange automatic car out of Florida. THAT one is the car that got the black cherry paint and heavy custom touches. The paint was done by "Butch" Brinza who is a legendary name in custom paint around these parts. I think she spent well over $2000 on the paint in '79. Doesn't seem like much now, but it was a big number then.
The silver car is L9B409069 and belongs to Wayne Perkins today. Donna sold the black cherry car, probably mid-80's. That one survived in the custom state until recent years when it was been restored back to stock and has kicked around the internet for sale repeatedly. That car is L9B409058
The photo below is from the 1980 World of Wheels at State Fair Park, Milwaukee.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Daytonas/80WoWDonna.jpg)
Quote from: 71-500 on March 05, 2010, 12:27:46 AM
Quote from: Aero426 on March 04, 2010, 10:26:29 PM
His building was on a major road. While all of this was going on, there was a lady who lived close by would drive by his building in this 4-speed silver Daytona, running through the gears. And she would be on it too.
(http://www.superbirdclub.com/files/TMP178.JPG)
The only other car he knew was the lady's silver Daytona. Her name was Donna Schill.
Hey, I remember that name... but I never saw that car when it was silver. When I saw it, it was custom painted a dark wine red and black and had it's engine compartment chromed to within an inch of it's life. I mean every engine component, latch tray, wiper motor, brake booster and master cylinder, suspension parts, everything was chromed. Lots of velour in the interior, too. Talk about 'pimped out'. Ah, the good old days.
As I recall, it was at the Custom Auto show at the Fair Park (might have been at the Mecca) for a couple of years.
Does she still own it?
fairly current picture of the silver daytona , has had a Hemi in it since the 80's
Quote from: Aero426 on March 05, 2010, 09:15:38 AM
Donna sold the black cherry car, probably mid-80's. That one survived in the custom state until recent years when it was been restored back to stock and has kicked around the internet for sale repeatedly. That car is L9B409058
that would be the sold/restored/Happy Days/Joe Carroll/sold privately/sold at Mecum/BoS/Joe Elder/BoS car. I think 'repeatedly' might be an understatement for that poor thing. :lol:
Quote from: pettybird on March 05, 2010, 12:54:21 PM
Quote from: Aero426 on March 05, 2010, 09:15:38 AM
Donna sold the black cherry car, probably mid-80's. That one survived in the custom state until recent years when it was been restored back to stock and has kicked around the internet for sale repeatedly. That car is L9B409058
that would be the sold/restored/Happy Days/Joe Carroll/sold privately/sold at Mecum/BoS/Joe Elder/BoS car. I think 'repeatedly' might be an understatement for that poor thing. :lol:
Wow, that thing qualifies for frequent flyer miles! :smilielol:
Quote from: pettybird on March 05, 2010, 12:54:21 PM
Quote from: Aero426 on March 05, 2010, 09:15:38 AM
Donna sold the black cherry car, probably mid-80's. That one survived in the custom state until recent years when it was been restored back to stock and has kicked around the internet for sale repeatedly. That car is L9B409058
that would be the sold/restored/Happy Days/Joe Carroll/sold privately/sold at Mecum/BoS/Joe Elder/BoS car. I think 'repeatedly' might be an understatement for that poor thing. :lol:
I think your time table on the car only goes back the last 5 years too Doug. I went and looked at the car when it was for sale at Happy Days and that was right after I had bought my C500. I was $10K short on buying it then.
:2thumbs: MORE MORE MORE ...... :cheers:
Quote from: Aero426 on March 05, 2010, 09:15:38 AM
Donna had two different Daytonas. She sold the silver 4-speed car about 1979, and bought a real clean Hemi Orange automatic car out of Florida. THAT one is the car that got the black cherry paint and heavy custom touches. The paint was done by "Butch" Brinza who is a legendary name in custom paint around these parts. I think she spent well over $2000 on the paint in '79. Doesn't seem like much now, but it was a big number then.
The silver car is L9B409069 and belongs to Wayne Perkins today. Donna sold the black cherry car, probably mid-80's. That one survived in the custom state until recent years when it was been restored back to stock and has kicked around the internet for sale repeatedly. That car is L9B409058
The photo below is from the 1980 World of Wheels at State Fair Park, Milwaukee.
That's the one. I didn't know the paint was "By Butch". Yep, he was a legendary painter back in the day. He used to have a shop on Ramsey Ave in Cudahy, just a little west of Packard Ave. White stucco place with an arched doorway in the front. I heard he sold the business and moved out to the West Coast, but haven't seen his name in years. Big fish/little pond syndrome?
Sorry to hijack your thread. This is just too cool to pass up. So many memories... even though at the time, I was just a know-nothing kid that watched from the sidelines. I went to grade school with the son of a custom interior guy named Karl Kasperczak, back when we all rode Schwinn Stingrays with banana seats. Our little group got to meet some pretty cool people through him. Kasper moved out to Waterford and we lost touch around the begininning of our high school years.
Quote from: 69_500 on March 05, 2010, 06:21:57 PM
Quote from: pettybird on March 05, 2010, 12:54:21 PM
Quote from: Aero426 on March 05, 2010, 09:15:38 AM
Donna sold the black cherry car, probably mid-80's. That one survived in the custom state until recent years when it was been restored back to stock and has kicked around the internet for sale repeatedly. That car is L9B409058
that would be the sold/restored/Happy Days/Joe Carroll/sold privately/sold at Mecum/BoS/Joe Elder/BoS car. I think 'repeatedly' might be an understatement for that poor thing. :lol:
I think your time table on the car only goes back the last 5 years too Doug. I went and looked at the car when it was for sale at Happy Days and that was right after I had bought my C500. I was $10K short on buying it then.
happy days is only 20 minutes from my salvage yard
Trivia: Butch painted the Dodge Deora.
Trivia moment over.
Back to the story. It's now 1974 and here is the Superbird in dad's building. It did not come out very much except for a couple of short hops around town with about 9000 miles on the clock. By now the antique cars that would have been in the building were gone.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Our%20Cars/Bird74Inside.jpg)
At some point dad started wondering what to do with the car, knowing that there had to be other people out there that had them. There were a couple other cars spotted here and there around town, but the silver Daytona of Donna's was the only one close by. And so, one day, he followed her home, maybe with the Bird, I don't know. Anyway, he showed up in her driveway and met her and her husband Ted. Dad asked Donna if she'd be interested if there was a club started for the cars, and she said yes.
Dad drew up a couple of ads and ran them in Old Cars Weekly and Hemmings. Here is one of the letters.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Our%20Cars/SOAad75.jpg)
Not knowing what would happen, he crossed his fingers and began watching the mailbox. Sure enough, there were a couple inquiries that came in. When that happened, he sent back this letter.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Our%20Cars/SOA75letter.jpg)
By 1975, I was crazy about racing, and we were going regularly to the Milwaukee Mile for the USAC races. It was very exciting to go down by the fence and feel the speed. I snapped these on my little 126 camera. Here's Ramo Stott in the 1975 Road Runner at the 1975 Miller 200. Ramo went on to be the USAC stock car champion that year.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Our%20Cars/TMP87.jpg)
Below is Don White's race winning Charger. This was a big win for Don as he had encountered something of a dry spell after leaving Nichels after 1970. I recently found five rolls of Super 8 film of this race and afterwards in the pits that I will get converted to DVD.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Our%20Cars/TMP88.jpg)
Taken about the same time. Dig my bike and Petty Blue Plymouth racing jacket.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/Our%20Cars/TMP89.jpg)
Doug,
More great stuff!! Do you know if your dad started numbering the memberships right off the bat?
Monroe #1?
Donna #2?
How many members were "CHARTER MEMBERS"?
I joined early on and am #181! Not a charter member :'(
How many left ahead of me?
Now, the rest of the story.......... :icon_smile_big: I know you'll probably get to this, but when were the Fords and Charger 500's "allowed" in?...... :icon_smile_big:
Troy
Longtime family friend Joe donated me his wingcar memorabilia when he retired and sold his car that he got in 73.I think he saw a ad in hemmings and joined and he collected anything and everything wing from yellow club banners to etc etc
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e67/75414/buddyJoe.jpg)
Quote from: Mopar John on April 01, 2010, 08:51:01 PM
Doug,
More great stuff!! Do you know if your dad started numbering the memberships right off the bat?
Monroe #1?
Donna #2?
How many members were "CHARTER MEMBERS"?
I joined early on and am #181! Not a charter member :'(
How many left ahead of me?
John, there are still 15 active members between #1 and your #181. I am going to guess that you joined up in 1977. Yes everything was in sequence. Dad was #1. Our neighbors who did all the letterhead artwork and the silkscreen banners that Dave just mentioned are #2 and #3. I'm #4. Donna was #5.
Quote from: hemi68charger on April 02, 2010, 07:31:02 AM
Now, the rest of the story.......... :icon_smile_big: I know you'll probably get to this, but when were the Fords and Charger 500's "allowed" in?...... :icon_smile_big:
Troy
The first time I remember the Fords being involved was the 1977 meet in Michigan. 500 owner involvement was pretty limited until then too.
Quote from: Aero426 on April 02, 2010, 08:51:53 AM
Quote from: Mopar John on April 01, 2010, 08:51:01 PM
Doug,
More great stuff!! Do you know if your dad started numbering the memberships right off the bat?
Monroe #1?
Donna #2?
How many members were "CHARTER MEMBERS"?
I joined early on and am #181! Not a charter member :'(
How many left ahead of me?
John, there are still 15 active members between #1 and your #181. I am going to guess that you joined up in 1977. Yes everything was in sequence. Dad was #1. Our neighbors who did all the letterhead artwork and the silkscreen banners that Dave just mentioned are #2 and #3. I'm #4. Donna was #5.
so additional hijack--where are we?
Quote from: pettybird on April 02, 2010, 06:16:20 PM
Quote from: Aero426 on April 02, 2010, 08:51:53 AM
Quote from: Mopar John on April 01, 2010, 08:51:01 PM
Doug,
More great stuff!! Do you know if your dad started numbering the memberships right off the bat?
Monroe #1?
Donna #2?
How many members were "CHARTER MEMBERS"?
I joined early on and am #181! Not a charter member :'(
How many left ahead of me?
John, there are still 15 active members between #1 and your #181. I am going to guess that you joined up in 1977. Yes everything was in sequence. Dad was #1. Our neighbors who did all the letterhead artwork and the silkscreen banners that Dave just mentioned are #2 and #3. I'm #4. Donna was #5.
so additional hijack--where are we?
lost if you dont know :icon_smile_big:
Quote from: pettybird on April 02, 2010, 06:16:20 PM
Quote from: Aero426 on April 02, 2010, 08:51:53 AM
Quote from: Mopar John on April 01, 2010, 08:51:01 PM
Doug,
More great stuff!! Do you know if your dad started numbering the memberships right off the bat?
Monroe #1?
Donna #2?
How many members were "CHARTER MEMBERS"?
I joined early on and am #181! Not a charter member :'(
How many left ahead of me?
John, there are still 15 active members between #1 and your #181. I am going to guess that you joined up in 1977. Yes everything was in sequence. Dad was #1. Our neighbors who did all the letterhead artwork and the silkscreen banners that Dave just mentioned are #2 and #3. I'm #4. Donna was #5.
so additional hijack--where are we?
You are right behind Mopar John at #188. He is member #181.
If I'm not mistaken isn't it listed on the address label on the newsletter each month? Or is that not what the 0289 on my newsletter each month stands for? I don't think my dad joined until April of 1979.
I think that must be correct because i didnt join untill like 97 or so and mine says 2585 ?
:popcrn::Any updates to the story? :popcrn:
Im bad, I don't even know what my # is but I joinrd this year :scratchchin:
My DSAC # is 3230.
I don't have a clue what my WWNBOA # is.
Just glad to be a member of both organizations.
The shirts for the national meet in Branson this year had both club logos on the back. Way cool.
Was this the first time for that?
Quote from: hotrod98 on July 14, 2010, 12:07:33 AM
My DSAC # is 3230.
I don't have a clue what my WWNBOA # is.
Just glad to be a member of both organizations.
The shirts for the national meet in Branson this year had both club logos on the back. Way cool.
Was this the first time for that?
no there have been joint meets in the past , just not recently over 10 years for sure .
Quote from: hotrod98 on July 14, 2010, 12:07:33 AM
The shirts for the national meet in Branson this year had both club logos on the back. Way cool.
Was this the first time for that?
The shirts were very nice. The last joint national meet prior to this year was the "Milsek meet" in Weirton WV. I believe that was 1997.
Quote from: Aero426 on July 14, 2010, 10:29:47 AM
Quote from: hotrod98 on July 14, 2010, 12:07:33 AM
The shirts for the national meet in Branson this year had both club logos on the back. Way cool.
Was this the first time for that?
The shirts were very nice. The last joint national meet prior to this year was the "Milsek meet" in Weirton WV. I believe that was 1997.
I personally being a member of both clubs, am really pleased to be having joint meet again . I look forward to the meet next year . :yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod:
Back to the story in the summer of 1975.
After my dad ran the ads looking for people who owned Superbirds and Daytonas, he received this note from Joe Machado who will be known to many of you. This would be in June or July of 1975. At the time with no internet, no email, you just bumped into other people who owned cars like these. Joe is asking if he saw our car at Daytona. But it wasn't us. Joe also says he is part of a club called Winged Warriors Limited which was based in southern California at the time. They were also just getting going, and were an offshoot of a local Road Runner car club.
As a result of the Old Cars ad, there were people who responded from Wisconsin, Michigan, Mississippi, California and Tennesee. And so the first club newsletter was written up and sent it out. This is the cover of volume 1, number 1. I think the first club dues were five dollars.
You can read that at the time there were three other clubs for wing cars around the country. Les Bowman's Plymouth Superbird Club from Ohio. Tony Waters headed up the Superbird & Daytona Enthusiasts of America from Tennesee, and Winged Warriors Limited in California. Although Les Bowman had started his group informally in 1972 among his family, all four clubs basically came on the scene at the same time in 1975.
The other wing clubs I can recall besides the ones already mentioned Nascar street classics out of NC I recall .WCOA Dan Azzariti FL
Quote from: nascarxx29 on July 14, 2010, 11:23:19 AM
The other wing clubs I can recall besides the ones already mentioned Nascar street classics out of NC I recall .WCOA Dan Azzariti FL
NASCAR Street Classics was an interim name for Winged Warriors during a time they expanded to allow the Fords and Charger 500's. I don't remember the other one from Florida.
I got a few of his newsletters somewhere around here.He also owned a superbird .I believe it was called wing cars of america out of Spring Hill FL .Dan Arraziti .Dan also for a short time reproduced metal parts for the superbird.He may be one of those short lived companies from the 80-s
There was another vendor back in the day 80-s vendor for noses/wingcar parts in Alum Kiwi something I recall .I have there price list .
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e67/75414/parts1.jpg)
I believe Dan Azzariti had his club mostly in the 90's and he set-up the national meet in Florida at the time. I remember Monroe was there and Monroe and I talked quite a bit. I was there and Dan had an early computer with info he had collected on cars. Dan was looking for info, tags, broadcast sheets, etc to put down on his computer. I asked Dan, at the time what he had on one of my cars. He looked it up, totally wrong 3rd. party info he had gotten completely mixed up. Dan had a lot of energy. Didn't he have a friend that was a judge that had a few mopars?
Quote from: Aero426 on July 14, 2010, 11:49:51 AM
Quote from: nascarxx29 on July 14, 2010, 11:23:19 AM
The other wing clubs I can recall besides the ones already mentioned Nascar street classics out of NC I recall .WCOA Dan Azzariti FL
NASCAR Street Classics was an interim name for Winged Warriors. Never heard of the other one from Florida.
this decal was on my rear quarter window when I bought my car in 2001
I't still there, I think Rick Edwards has the same decal on his Limelight 'Bird in the same place
So the next question may be if the NASCAR Street Classics became the Winged Warriors, is there any way they may have prior owner history on my car? I'm not a WW member so I'm not really sure of the structure or archived records
Scott
Quote from: Redbird on July 14, 2010, 12:18:07 PM
I believe Dan Azzariti had his club mostly in the 90's and he set-up the national meet in Florida at the time. I remember Monroe was there and Monroe and I talked quite a bit. I was there and Dan had an early computer with info he had collected on cars. Dan was looking for info, tags, broadcast sheets, etc to put down on his computer. I asked Dan, at the time what he had on one of my cars. He looked it up, totally wrong 3rd. party info he had gotten completely mixed up. Dan had a lot of energy. Didn't he have a friend that was a judge that had a few mopars?
I do remember Dan Azzariti. I also rememeber the meet in Florida, as it rained a lot. The judge friend is Dan Andrews. We were over at his place during the meet.
Hey there,
From what I remember NASCAR told the club that they had a registered trade mark for NASCAR and we had to change the name or go to court. The name was changed to winged warriors. Everyone was told to remove the NASCAR decal. I liked it and didn't remove it. Now it's a part of history. THAT'S MY STORY AND I'M STICKING TO IT! LOL :icon_smile_tongue: :nana: :cheers: :Twocents:
Rick
Quote from: talkiemopar on July 14, 2010, 01:07:59 PM
Hey there,
From what I remember NASCAR told the club that they had a registered trade mark for NASCAR and we had to change the name or go to court. The name was changed to winged warriors. Everyone was told to remove the NASCAR decal. I liked it and didn't remove it. Now it's a part of history. THAT'S MY STORY AND I'M STICKING TO IT! LOL :icon_smile_tongue: :nana: :cheers: :Twocents:
Rick
thats only one of your many stories :nana:
Hey Stuart,
I don't think I'm going to let rich live long enough to tell ALL his stories. He's like a shadow that won't go away - like he's sitting here watching me type.
the secretary
more old pics, more old pics
Quote from: talkiemopar on July 14, 2010, 02:01:37 PM
Hey Stuart,
I don't think I'm going to let rich live long enough to tell ALL his stories. He's like a shadow that won't go away - like he's sitting here watching me type.
the secretary
you deserve a metal sherry :smilielol: :2thumbs:
Quote from: moparstuart on July 14, 2010, 03:41:13 PM
Quote from: talkiemopar on July 14, 2010, 02:01:37 PM
Hey Stuart,
I don't think I'm going to let rich live long enough to tell ALL his stories. He's like a shadow that won't go away - like he's sitting here watching me type.
the secretary
you deserve a metal sherry :smilielol: :2thumbs:
Of course she meant that in a good way Rick. :smilielol:
WINGR/Steve
Although it has been a while, I will get back to the story. In the summer of 1975, my dad formed Superbirds of America (now DSAC). In the process, he discovered Winged Warriors Limited in California, which was a spinoff of a local Road Runner club. Jim Radke and Joe Machado were the principals. Tony Waters in Tennesee also had a club in its early days. Les Bowman in Ohio had the Plymouth Superbird Club which had been around informally since 1972.
I don't remember which group Ken Langford was part of, but I think it was Tennesee club. He announced the desire to hold a wing car gathering at the 1975 Talladega 500. All the clubs were "all in" for this, and it sounded like a fantastic idea. It was coming up very quickly as well. At age 13, I had never been to a real NASCAR race and it was very exciting.
My dad and I met up with another fellow and his girlfriend from Fond du Lac Wisconsin at a truck stop outside of Milwaukee early on Friday morning. Our green Superbird had never been on a long trip, and only had 9500 miles on it at the time. It needed a master cylinder (from sitting around) before the trip, and I think he was concerned about a tire too. Anyway we hit the road, through downtown Chicago, Indiana and contuinuing south. I distinctly remember the sunset that night in Tennesee with Gerry Rafferty's Baker Street on the AM radio. I also remember the car turning 10,000 miles.
(http://www.superbirdclub.com/files/kings_inn.jpg)
We made the trip to the hotel in Huntsville Alabama very late that night. It was very exciting to see other Superbirds outside at the hotel. There were quite a few of them. In the morning, we saw were more cars arriving and it was clear it would be a very successful turnout of cars. Jim Radke and Joe Machado had driven from California in Joe's silver Daytona, a really spectacular car. Gilbert Tarr drove the Keith Black Orange County Hemi Daytona from California. Incredible! Les and Barabara Bowman had the white and blue custom Superbird most of you know of. Mike McGuire had an orange Superbird. Tony Waters had the blue Superbird with the black nose and the spectagraph prism Superbird letters on the quarter panels.
(http://www.superbirdclub.com/files/keithblack.jpg)
In early afternoon, we took the cars for a cruise over to the Werner Von Braun Civic Center. There is a lot of rocket history in Huntsville, and Chrysler was no exception as they had a facility there.
(http://www.superbirdclub.com/files/vonbraun.jpg)
Back at the hotel, we made the photo some of you are familiar with. It did not take much cajoling to get the owners up on the wings. You just took your shoes off and hopped up. The newspaper took a black and white photo which they printed. I am sure this was the largest gathering of Daytonas and Superbirds since the cars were new.
(http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af143/Aero426h/75meetsm.jpg)
Late in the afternoon the skies were getting darker, and it eventually rained. We had a nice gathering inside at the motel.
(http://www.superbirdclub.com/files/TMP17.JPG)
Sunday morning, VERY early, we were on the road from Huntsville to Talladega. It seemed like it took forever to get to the race track, at least a couple of hours drive. And when we got to the track, the skies were very dark.
(http://www.superbirdclub.com/files/TMP21.JPG)
Here we are lined up just before the parade lap. Joe Machado's silver Daytona and Ken Langford's blue Superbird are up front. Tony Waters' blue Bird and our green car are in the second row. If you've been on the parade lap before this is the old air base runway we are on, and we still use today. Just a few less peple are cars back there then.
(http://www.superbirdclub.com/files/TMP18.JPG)
Nothing prepares you for the size of the banking at Talladega. It doesn't look like much here, but it is awe inspiring. There are not too mkany cars showing in this photo, but I think there were apx 22 cars there. Pretty decent for a first effort by all the clubs.
(http://www.superbirdclub.com/files/TMP19.JPG)
Wow! I'm impressed with this entire thread. I've been an avid car buff since I was a kid (I'm 42 now) and I love them all, the Fords, Chevy's and of course, the mighty MoPars. My first car was a '69 Dodge Charger and I favor the MoPars over the other brands, although I own a few fox bodied Mustangs now. I remember the MoPars well as a kid and reading your accounts of what happened back then brings back lots of cool memories. While I have never ridden in a winged car, I did get a ride in a '71 Challenger with a 383/4-speed when I was 9 years old (1977). I'll never forget that ride! Thanks for posting this thread! If you have more, keep it coming!
Well, we made it through the parade lap, and then it RAINED! It really rained hard. We thought there was no way to race would be run. They hadn't called it, but after a couple hours we decided to leave and head back to the hotel. We got 10 miles from the track and the sun came out. So back to the track we went - and it rained some more. We headed back to the hotel. Finally the race was called. Trouble was they were going to run it the following weekend, not the next clear day. So it was kind of a disappointing end to the first meet. I still hadn't seen a real Grand National race.
We headed at some time during the next day and stopped at the Indy 500 museum. I have misplaced those pics over the last couple months, but as soon as I find them, I will post them.
The race itself was run the following weekend. It was one of those races that gave Talladega the spooky reputation that it had. They started 50 cars in the race. Early on, Tiny Lund was fatally injured when his '74 Charger was hit in the drivers side. Lund was a driver who was very well liked. The same day, Mark Donohue was fatally injured in Austria and passed away. It was unreal because he had set the worlds closed course lap record at Talladega (221 mph) in the Can-Am Porsche 917-30. This took place the day before the rainout the week before. It did not seem possible that Mark was gone.
We finished up 1975 with a small local gathering in Milwaukee. It must be towards the end of October as the leaves are all off the trees and we were all wearing jackets. The green car is ours. The Tor-Red Bird in the middle is Al Hutchison's car which he still owns. It was a 440 4-speed car he bought without an engine. He ran a 318 in the car for a few years. When we would drive long distance, Al would laugh at us with the great fuel mileage he got. Eventually it got a 440 back. The Vitamin-C car is also a 440 car owned by Paul Phillips. My dad would eventually buy this car from Paul, but it would be several years later. In the first photo, I am the kid standing at the right of the photo in front of the nose of the green Superbird. My dad is to the left of me.
(http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af143/Aero426h/75FallMeet/75FallMeet4.jpg)
(http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af143/Aero426h/75FallMeet/75FallMeet2-1.jpg)
(http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af143/Aero426h/75FallMeet/75FallMeet1.jpg)
(http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af143/Aero426h/75FallMeet/75FallMeet3.jpg)
Before we went back to Talladega in 1976 for a bigger and better event, we held some local events in Milwaukee. As the club grew to close to 100 members, there was a lot of interest.
This was a little deal we had at my dads place of business. I thought it was 1976, but looking at the back of the pics, it actually was 5/22/77. I'll gert back to 1976 a little furthur down. Donna Schill sold the silver Daytona and bought the V2 car on left out of Florida. This is the car that eventually got painted black cherry and wound up at Happy Days cars a few years ago. My dads faithful green Bird is in the middle, and Bill Elliott recently bought the Tor-Red car with the chrome bumper on the front. Bill would quickly take that bumper off and eventually repainted the car. It was a very early Bird, something like J98006.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/DSAC1976/76meetNB.jpg)
Al Dearing's Lemon Twist car was a 6 pack, stick. The paint on the nose was typical of the times. Either you wanted something a little different or didn't want to pay the price for the factory decals. Stuff was expensive even back then.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/DSAC1976/dearingBird.jpg)
Richard Tiffany's F8 green Daytona with the chrome wheels. One of the few times this car was seen in public. This car is still very low miles and is now being restored by his son Mark. The yellow Bird still belongs to Steve Powers. His cars were in the most recent DSAC newsletter. Steve bought it new.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll56/Aero426/DSAC1976/76TiffanyPowers.jpg)
Still one of the best "reads" ever. How about an update Doug?
Thanks
WOW! Really cool! Thanks for digging this up Taxspeaker! :2thumbs:
Quote from: taxspeaker on June 20, 2018, 03:32:36 PM
Still one of the best "reads" ever. How about an update Doug?
Thanks
Thanks Bob, easy to do.
This is a cool shot of Richard in 1976 at the 2nd Talladega meet held. It was taken at a dinner where he was presented with the plaque. I forget who made these. But the car design was silk screened on the mirror. Someone painted the #43. I used to have one of a Daytona, but it cracked a few years ago and is now gone. At the time, there were really no collectibles available other than these or the Avon decanters. Probably a few old timers still have the mirrors.
Just read this thread Doug. Great stuff. I did not realise your dad lived in Trenton N J my home town. Of course I was one year old when he moved. Also in the 70s and early 80s I worked for a couple of commercial exhibit houses and Hill was one of the clients who came through with work from time to time. Small world and all of that. Also I got to know your dad after he contacted me about my Wing poster. Great guy but I was unaware how close my first contact with him was to his passing. The print was published in 93. Glad I was able to have his acquaintance.
If I remember right it was Dave Patiiks sister that made the cars on the mirror. I have two of them. One bird and one daytona. :2thumbs: :nana:
as always the secretary and Rick E
Quote from: talkiemopar on June 25, 2018, 10:31:43 PM
If I remember right it was Dave Patiiks sister that made the cars on the mirror. I have two of them. One bird and one daytona. :2thumbs: :nana:
as always the secretary and Rick E
Hi Sherry
Great thread and well worth a bump, and maybe an update if it suits :cheers: