I grew up there, and just happened to think I might find someone from my hometown here!
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I grew up there, and just happened to think I might find someone from my hometown here!
I used to run over to Danville back in the day,bought speed goodies from Fagan's, also used to cruise there when we wanted to go somewhere different.I graduated in '63 from Champaign High School.I drove dirt track 67-69 at Farmer City,there were a lot of legends from Danville in Sprint Cars and modifieds I would like to find some pics of them but no luck so far.Gene Henson,Larry Cannon,and Bobby Carrigan(The Twinburger Special #1)cosponsered by Barkman Chevrolet. I moved to Phoenix in '70 then to CA and back to Phoenix in '92 still here.My 54 Ford Customline came from Tucson if I can get it finished my goal is to drive it back next year to my 45th class reunion in Champaign as I had a 53 & a 54 in Auto Shop my Jr & Sr year.
Does it count that I lived there a L-O-O-O-N-N-N-G time ago? My father was a project manager on a manufacturing plant (GE) being built there. And I was a wee tad.
Jeff, Small world! I graduated in '66 from a farm school north of Danville. I bought parts from Fagan's, and used to cruise Champaign in a white 327 '57 Vette! I believe the Cannon brothers were barbers, and cut my hair as a little guy. One of them went to Indy! I worked at Barkman Chevrolet in '67-'70 in parts, and sold them crate motors for the sprint cars. I moved to Tucson in '75. Tell me about your '54. If it was a "glasstop", I had some dealings with one here years ago. JayQuote:
Originally Posted by Jeff B
"Child", My mother-in-law worked many years at the GE plant. When were you there? Maybe we went to kindergarten together. :-) JayQuote:
Originally Posted by Irelands child
BTW, Danville has a website at " allarounddanville.com ". The message board doesn't have a lot of activity, though with time I've located a few old friends. It also has pictures of many people, and current and historic places in the area. Jay
I grew up in Danville, California, does that count? :D
Pat
As a kid, I would have probably changed places with you! Like most young people, I thought I was living where nothing ever happened. I remember when a local bought a gorgeous black '57 Nomad with flames, out of California. We all worshipped that car since it was more of a real custom, being from the left coast! :-)
Jay,my '54 is a 2 door Sedan,I did have a '54 Glasstop in '69 with a 312 y-block that ran strong,if you cruised in Champaign most of the rodders hung out at Steak n Shake by U of I and Dog n Suds on Prospect:cool: .Yeah ,the Cannons were barbers.When Larry ran, the track announcers called him "The Mad Barber from Danville" when he went Indy he got the nickname "Boom Boom" Cannon.I used to make it up to US 30 Dragstrip in Gary,Ind saw a lot of the Legends there, saw a website recently showing whats left of it,really sad!:( I haven't been back to Illinois since I left in '70 have you? Jeff
Jeff, I was usually at the Steak and Shake. I miss their fries, Chili Mac", and "Chili Three Ways". :-(
I usually felt "fast", when I was cruisin' the '57 Vette, but a couple times a local silver 427 Cobra would park by me, and it would rattle the windows in the Vette. (Very Humiliating) :-)
I left in '75, and went back when a close friend died about 1980-'82. EVERYTHING HAD CHANGED! I realized then that "home" is not just a place....but also a time. I haven't been back since, but, thanks to the "net", I still stay in touch with several old friends. Unfortunately, I just lost another one. I still hold those days precious. Jay
I guarantee you'll not miss Steak n Shake these days,I too longed for those same treats,so on our trip last October we stopped at one in Memphis,no carhops,overpriced,portions half the size of yesteryear and lacking in taste:CRY: I should have just kept the memories,cause they sure screwed up a good thing.The one in Champaign is still there according to the website,but I wonder if they ruined it too.I hope I can still get a good pizza when I go back!
Jeff, The '54 glasstop I was involved with was becoming a '50s custom. It got '56 Packard Clipper rear fenders, and a top chop.
I had done a '56 Chevy pickup for the same guy that made the cover of Truckin' June of '88, and it is now in California. This was his next project, but he was fighting cancer, and I don't think he finished it before he passed away.
If you ever hear of, or see the '54 I described, please post it here.
Jeff, I I don't know if you follow drag racing, but I thought I would mention the exploits of Danville drag racer Keith Stark.
He has run many cars, but switched to injected nitro dragsters over the years. In the 90s he held big records in NHRA.
I don't know if he is currently racing, as his car was rebuilt to fit new IHRA rules changes, and then rendered non-competitive by other changes in their organization.
His name seems familar,I try to catch IHRA whenever they are on Speed TV especially the Pro-Mods.A few months ago there was a post on the HAMB about 52-54 Fords and a lot of pics were posted also a 54 customized glasstop was on ebay from CA within the last 30 days looked like it had the packard tailights.Jeff
Jeff, Keith Stark was on TV a lot about 3-5 years ago. If you see his car on TV, It's an injected fueler that says "Stark Raving Mad", I think on the injector scoop. I attached a picture of a recent car. He uses a Spitzer chassis and a Fontana motor. He has been competitive for many seasons, under both NHRA and IHRA, was teamed up with former Pro Stock racer, Albert Clark from Cayuga, Indiana (Clark Chevrolet), and won the Indy Nationals. Here is a link to an in-depth article about him:
http://www.risesales.com/pages/Dragr...ith_stark.html
It's possible that the '54 Ford glasstop went to the coast, since that is where his truck went.
Apparently Danville isn't an "uncool" place to be after all. Of the friends I stay in touch with, three have rods, two race, another is building a Wildrod 'glass '37 coupe, and the rest have at least an interest in cars and racing. Maybe I should move back...........Naaaah! :-)
That was a great article on Keith,He's been blessed with a will of iron to face what happened and come back.No moving back to Illinois for me,snow,ice storms,humidity,No thanks! At least I can get PBR in Phoenix! Check this out on Google 1963 AHRA Nationals.These guys were 2 years ahead of me in High School. Farnsworth,Hepler&Chinn they ran a A/fuel Dragster called "The Fugitive" after you read up on it let me know,I'll tell you a neat story! Jeff
Jay is that you? Terry Nourie
Terry, I didn't know you were on here! I'll send you my email address so we can stay in touch. Jay
Jay: Just happened to run in to this forum while goofing off.Was pretty sure that was you.Not much going on here.Just waiting for the car shows to start.Still have a lot of nice cars in this town.Quit drag racing last year,just to much trouble and cost way to much.Put plates and mufflers on the car and driving it on the street.The mustang boys sure dont like to see it.HEE HEE.Address (tncn2@insightbb.com) Later. TERRY
Terry, Good to hear from you. From this message, I assume you're still a Chevy guy! I didn't know you'd gone racing.......on a race track that is! :-) I'll send you an email.
Jeff, Can you give me a address for that article, I couldn't find it. I do remember a Fugitive dragster from Champaign, Illinois. It was red, full bodied, and I think had early hemi power.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff B
Yeah,thats the one.Candy Apple Red 392 blown Hemi,anyway Chuck Hepler lived about a block south of Champaign High School he was 2 years ahead of me in school,University ave. was a one way in front of the school,a lot of us would cruise around the school then nail it down University.Well,they sent a cop down to keep an eye on us,"Bunker" Jones was usually on patrol with a Harley 3 wheeler but in '63 the city got him a '63 Bel Air 230 6 W/powerglide and a radar gun.Chuck and the gang decided to scare the crap out of him,so we blocked off the streets the around sides of the school and Chuck made a full-bore pass down University right past him and made the first turn and back into his garage.Between the sound of that Hemi and his gun going off the peg it had him shaking in his boots! Ol' Bunker worked for my ex-father in-law at Western Bowl and he never forgot that day!:LOL:
Jeff, After high school we spent a lot of weekends at the local 1/8th mile tracks, like Charleston and Paris, Illinois, and of course we went to Indy for the points meet and the US Nationals. You?
Friends included Wayne Danner and John Carey, both who ran Austins in B/Gas.
I never made it to any of the 1/8 mile tracks,when I got out of the Army in 67 I got into Stock car racing, my home track was Farmer City 1/4 mile dirt also ran at Champaign on the 1/2 mile during the Fair.Went thru divorce#1 in '69 and headed to Phoenix in early '70.I did make it up to US 30 a few times,a buddy ran B/SA 413 Dodge w/ Longrams held a track record there,he sold it and bought a '66 427 Comet he was a regular at Steak& Shake the car was powder blue.You may have seen it there,he loved the chili & burgers too!:)
If you went to US30......"drag racing capitol of Chicagolaaaaand!".... do you remember the starter who rode a motorcycle the length of the track....doing a wheelie....standing on the seat?
...or how about the local legend, "Shake Rattle and Run"?
I googled US 30 Dragstrip and there is a site with 100 pics,one of them is Shake,Rattle&Roll .Also check this out:(www.wpsracing.com/dvd2dvdseus3.html) now all you need is a big screen,surround sound,a Chicago Dog and some Old Style buried in ice and you could almost go back in time. Jeff:D :3dSMILE:
Thanks, JeffB. Here is a page I found on the net about the restoration of the car:
http://www.hotrodhotline.com/feature/garage/0657chev/
The shots they showed on a couple of the US30 sites reminded me of our own Tucson Dragway. The last time I checked it out, it was just the asphalt and weeds left. A lot of history there too.
I went to the website for Danville, and found they have redone the site. If you are interested, look around for links to the "old allarounddanville archives". A lot of pictures of the buildings and area, even going back to the early part of the last century.
Jay, I lived in Lodi,California for several years and managed a Uniroyal tire store there, they shut down the Lodi strip too and it layed empty for over 30 years and the weeds took over,last year it came back to life.They had an event last year that drew a huge crowd and it will be back very soon this year.A lot of the cars are built the old school way,might be a good site for West Coast H.A.M.B. Drags,there are some good pics on the net,check it out!:cool:
1981 AHRA Winternationals. I thought you night wanna stroll a bit thru memory lane.
THERE I AM!!!!.....IN THE GRANDSTANDS!!!
Just kidding....though I probably was there somewhere.....No doubt I was taking my kids to the bathroom, since they always had to go when all of the cool stuff was happening. :-)
Thanks for the pics.
Still have more from the same meet. Just wanted to give you a bit of a teaser.
Recognize the curly headed guy?
Looks like Prudhomme.
Very good! I guess the kids didn't have to "GO" at that point....:LOL:
That, and the fact I have been a diehard drag fan since '58, and started going to the nationals (90 miles from Danville) in '62. :-) I've seen him a couple times. LOL!
It was nice to be able to attend NHRA events at this end and go to AHRA events down there. Every straight line addict got their fill back then.
Fuel Altereds are in Tucson on June 16th!!! :-)~