No problem Don. I'm always hoping someone who still lives in the general area will stop by the National Archives on Adelphi Rd and dig up some hot rodding history of the area. I know there were events reported in local papers that would be of interest.
I should add that those pics (I think) came to me from Patti Dugan who liked to cruise the area in fast cars and on fast motorcycles back in the day.
.........................Like the loss of an old friend. I wasted countless hours there, usually in this.
Sorry for that loss, Don. Progress, you know. But, progress can't bulldoze our memories. Hearing this makes me want to do a road trip... drive by some of the old haunts, even if they are no longer there. We aren't getting any younger and the longer time goes by, the more progress takes over, whether it's worthwhile or not. It's funny, but I reconnected with this thread late last nite out of pure coincidence. I had subscribed long ago, but unbeknownst to me the subscription was deleted somehow at some point, although not by me. I just thot it was one of those threads that fall dormant over time. Lucky for me that I just happened to look at "new posts" late last nite and saw the title. Although I wasn't a regular "MO Rat," going to the Queenstown MO occurred fairly often. It was a lot of fun and a lasting memory. Definitely a highlight of my youth.
They say you can never go back. The memories will be tarnished. I have not been there for a few years but if the area is the same as I saw then they ought to Nuke it.
No disrespect to anyone who might live there but, I try to stay out of PG County as much as possible.
To quote Smokey Robinson of the Miracles, "I second that emotion!" When I went to the car show at the American Legion last Saturday, that was the most that I've been there in many years.
............................I stand corrected. Looks like the American Legion is just a hair over the line into PG, but if you tripped and fell you might wind up in either Howard or Anne Arundel.
Every now and then I have to bump this thread back up in hopes some newbies see it and might share some memories.
I'm with ya. I Google Earthed some of the old haunts today. It looks like the people there now who might hang out and talk Hot Rods would be discussing fast camels, donkey carts and elephants.
I wonder who these guys were? O'Brien Trucking has two plaques from Hyattsville that are considered not the property of existing clubs, at least the way I read it. http://www.obrientruckers.com/plaques/20627.jpg
Maybe they are from the BARA (Black American Racers Assoc.). It was formed in NJ but had chapters and off shoot clubs in MD and Va. Malcolm Durham was honored at one of their conventions, could be the Hyattsville connection.
I remember the Moe back in the 60's. Get a mighty moe and hot fudge icream cake and go to the drive in thru the exit and park real fast and enjoy, did that for many years.
And if I remember right there was a Burger Chef right down the road. If you couldn't afford a moe you bought a couple burgers from there and a coke at the moe and sit and watch the cars go by.
We also hung out at the Bethesda Hot Shoppes for the rich girls. Ended up dating one for about half a year but the dances every week at her school was killing my budget so I had to go. Worked at the A&P in Chillum making 2.75 hr only good thing gas was .25 gal. holy crap.
The Jalopy Journal
