History Finding the Road Rebels...

[Ricci32]

Wow Doreen what an amazing story. Growing up on the east coast in that era must have been fantastic. I lost my father to pancreatic cancer 3 years ago but i grew up on a almost identical story my father and his friends started a car club called the beast builders in rosendale ny 12 original members my dad was the president in 1955 i still have his car club plaque from a company called speed gems. About a years and a half ago there was a article in a issue of car culture deluxe of a guy who collecter car club plaques in calf and there in the artical i spotted a beast builders plaque from rosendale ny .sent him an email to find out where he got one because i could account for all of the plaqes from the club. he bought out the old stock from this speed gems co and they had produced a few extras in case new members joined and were in storage for like 50 years. The story and the cars are so simular my fathers 37 ford roadster my uncle still has his 40 coupe from 54 and drives it to this day the modela a with a blown flatty. greta artical and good luck inyour quest.

[Thelost40]

Originally Posted by sololobo

Doreen, best wishes for running down some info, sure great to have another female hotrodder among us, and a cute one I may ad, and I bet those nicely toned arms can twist a wrench. The jackets are super fine, the Silvas are really on the game. I have a chain stitch gal here but she does limited work these days, not many chain stitchers left. Keep on keepin on! ~sololobo~

Aww shucks, thanks. I'm a newbie.. don't know if I would call myself a hotrodder yet but its in the blood for sure.

[Thelost40]

Originally Posted by Ricci32

Wow Doreen what an amazing story. Growing up on the east coast in that era must have been fantastic. I lost my father to pancreatic cancer 3 years ago but i grew up on a almost identical story my father and his friends started a car club called the beast builders in rosendale ny 12 original members my dad was the president in 1955 i still have his car club plaque from a company called speed gems. About a years and a half ago there was a article in a issue of car culture deluxe of a guy who collecter car club plaques in calf and there in the artical i spotted a beast builders plaque from rosendale ny .sent him an email to find out where he got one because i could account for all of the plaqes from the club. he bought out the old stock from this speed gems co and they had produced a few extras in case new members joined and were in storage for like 50 years. The story and the cars are so simular my fathers 37 ford roadster my uncle still has his 40 coupe from 54 and drives it to this day the modela a with a blown flatty. greta artical and good luck inyour quest.

Thanks for sharing your story.. hearing stuff like that gives me hope that I can find some of the original memorabilia that is out there. My avatar picture is of my dads 40 that was stolen from him back in 64.. Wouldn't I love to find that..but that's another story for another day.

[Thelost40]

Originally Posted by MUNCIE

Pretty cool story,very well written. I can tell from it you have a great desire.
Best of luck in finding everything about your Dad's club and maybe even reviving it!!
By the way really nice jacket.

Muncie

Thank you... I would love to revive the club hoping to get all the members together that I have found for a group picture someday. It's pretty amazing that so many of them are still around.

[general gow]

neat story. and from my neck of the woods. very cool.

[59BuickWagon]

Originally Posted by Ricci32

Wow Doreen what an amazing story. Growing up on the east coast in that era must have been fantastic. I lost my father to pancreatic cancer 3 years ago but i grew up on a almost identical story my father and his friends started a car club called the beast builders in Rosenthal NY 12 original members my dad was the president in 1955 i still have his car club plaque from a company called speed gems. About a years and a half ago there was a article in a issue of car culture deluxe of a guy who collecter car club plaques in calf and there in the article i spotted a beast builders plaque from rosendale ny .sent him an email to find out where he got one because i could account for all of the plaques from the club. he bought out the old stock from this speed gems co and they had produced a few extras in case new members joined and were in storage for like 50 years. The story and the cars are so similar my fathers 37 ford roadster my uncle still has his 40 coupe from 54 and drives it to this day the model a with a blown flatty. greta article and good luck in your quest.

Side note:

Ricci32 - Here is a picture of the original Masonite/linoleum pattern used to make your father's plaque by Speed Gems. It is one of the 4100 patterns from Speed Gems that we have, o if you find any of your father's old buddies who need a plaque to relive their childhood, let us know.


Dennis

[59BuickWagon]

Originally Posted by djtwigsta

Thanks TWig

[Jay Yuskaitis]

Nice article, that was my era, too. I grew up in Brockton, about 30 miles from Medford. Jay

[hotrd32]

Very cool story.....and your interest and respect for history and you Dad are to be commended.....and yes great work Kevin and Jillian!

[59BuickWagon]

Originally Posted by Thelost40

Thank you. I had never heard of the Defenders. I will have to ask a few of the guys I know who around back in the day if they knew them.

Doreen, you can show folks this picture and see if they remember any cars hanging this plaque:



Dennis

[56KUSTOM]

I love this local to me history!Thanks for sharing!

[RoadFarmer]

Great story, The Silva's do great work. I love my jacket, it's got to be one of my best fitting pieces of clothing.

[slick39]

Kool story thanks

[1929rats]

This is an excellent story. I am going to shop this link around to a few of the original members in my club, "Pushrods, Waltham, MA". There maybe a good chance some of the guys may know your dad and some history (especially since our club colors are also purple and white and Waltham is very close). Also, a fellow in the Ty-rods, Paul Aldrich, is very well versed on the history of new england clubs of the 50's and 60's.
Look for a PM from me on a few other items as well.

All the best,
Pete
www.pushrodswaltham.com

[MUNDSTER]

What a great story! Nice work on the jacket. Maybe she could do some more entries on what else she found on the Road Rebels!

[2many projects]

Like 1929rats said, Paul Aldrich should be your next contact.
Paul initially grew into hotrods while growing up in Wellsley and knows a lot of club history in the Boston to Worcester area.
Cousin Vinny is also the closest to your father and uncle of all the people I know.
Your story Doreen left me with a lump in my throat.

Jimmy

[Thelost40]

Thanks Jimmy... means a lot to know you liked the story.
I know who Paul Aldrich is.. but I have never talked to him about this stuff.. so I guess I should!

Originally Posted by 2many projects

Like 1929rats said, Paul Aldrich should be your next contact.
Paul initially grew into hotrods while growing up in Wellsley and knows a lot of club history in the Boston to Worcester area.
Cousin Vinny is also the closest to your father and uncle of all the people I know.
Your story Doreen left me with a lump in my throat.

Jimmy

[safariknut]

Originally Posted by Thelost40

Thanks Jimmy... means a lot to know you liked the story.
I know who Paul Aldrich is.. but I have never talked to him about this stuff.. so I guess I should!

Paul would definitely be the one to talk with;I don't know why I didn't think of it.The last time I saw Paul was at a Ty-Rods Reunion at the Elks Club(probably 10 years ago)and he told me he was compiling information on New England car clubs in the hope of writing a book about it.I think he is still an active member of the Ty-Rods so you could probably get in touch with him through them.

Hope you can find out more about the club;I would be interested as well.

[2many projects]

Paul is very approachable.
I met up with him in Rhinebeck last month.
He is a fountain of knowledge that I hope will help you Doreen.
Next time I see Paul I'll plant a seed in his memory bank for you.

[59BuickWagon]

Doreen,

I e-mailed you Paul's contact info.

Dennis