History AL Oakes Iron Fireman

My 75-year-old memory may be wrong, but I thought that Al Oakes drag raced either a 63 or 64 Chevrolet with a 409 engine and I believe the car was a deep red color.

I understand he also raced other cars, but this car might have been one of them.

The guy who might remember Al Oakes is Dino the old tacker announcer for many years.
Jimbo

 

scroll to the beginning of the thread you'll see the pics of the cars AL raced

 

Jimbo here's the 39 Chevy coupe Iron fireman with a 409 chevy engine and the that's the car next to it that you mentioned the 64 Chevy impala also had a chevy 409 engine.

 

So when did Dickie Doyle start racing the Blown Hearse? I thought that was his car in the 60s? Greg in CT

 

And didn't Al have a 59 or 60 Corvette until the early 80s?

 

Connecticut Dragway Reunion Monday night June 20, 2022 North Haven Fairgrounds June 20 2022 it would be great to see Al's car there.

 

I'm going on a limb here, but, I think his '39 just sold in CT a little over a year ago --- I seem to think it had a 400 sbc in it with a coil over front end placed underneath it...the seller was a mopar man, but, of course I dont have his name...he may have some pics and data...car was for sale about a year ago in the Bristol, CT area. I'm from, MA and learned about the car while looking at another pre-war Chevy in New Britain, CT. Wish I could be of more help...

 

I currently own the 39 chevy iron fireman

 

i currently own the car

 

went to the show last year was a dust bowl hopefully it goes back to the mountain top resort someday, may try to go to the falls village show which in my opinion is the best show in CT. and the Dover reunion at Lebanon Valley dragstrip is always great.

 

I was 9 years old in 1960 and first saw the blown hearse at D&E that year. Owned by Doyle and Extrum (SP?)

 

cool story do you have any pics of the 39 chevy iron fireman or know anyone that does? i have a bunch but always trying to find more before they get lost forever

 

cool story do you have any pics of the 39 chevy iron fireman or know anyone that does? i have a bunch but always trying to find more before they get lost forever

 

Did Loehmann Chevrolet who sponsored the '64 Impala also sponsor/supply the 409 that was in the '39 Coupe?

 

AL worked at Loehmans i heard that it was a crate motor bought from loehmans parts department

 

Sorry no pictures.

 

Did not Jim Foote own the car when he passed away??
Paul in CT

 

Jim Foote was the previous owner and before Jim it was Dave Rubin and before Dave it was AL Oakes, the car has the same exact license plates as when AL owned and raced the car.
Paul do you have any pics or know anyone that might have some stored away? found a couple pics and videos recently that have never been scene hopefully there's more out there that can be saved before they get tossed in the garbage.

 

I don't have any of the 39 only the Hearse. Have you tried looking through these from dover there are a bunch of shots but I can't think of a way to find just the 39 you will have to manually look through them all.
https://doverdragstrip.com/galleries/

 

yeh i've already looked on dover site and those pics that show up on that site were in a binder that came with with the car, found some additional great pics by talking to car guys, hopefully someone out there can find some more before they get thrown out, any help finding more is greatly appreciated.

 

Sorry, I don't have any pics. I do remember seeing the car all the time in his driveway though (Al's).
Paul in CT

 

cool paul are you from the same town too?

 

I was, grew up in Forestville, had a 32 5W Olds powered coupe in high school ('61-'61).
Paul

 

wanted to thank NH-USA who sent me a great video of the car and also Paul M from Massachusetts sent a couple great pics i didn't already have, if anymore pics or video are out there of the car let me know come to CT. and i'll take you for a ride in the car.

 

bump

 

1941ChevyCoupe- Send me a PM with your # I have a line on a 409 close by. Your message box won't receive PMs.

 

Hey ! It's Ekstrom.
Doyle is my God father. I'm from Plymouth Connecticut.
Doyle ran "The Blown Hearse "

 

Yes sir he sure did. Spent many a late afternoon and Saturdays riding my bike there just to watch them work on it

 

Can you start posting all the pics you've found? That would be the best way to insure they're not lost forever. And we love pics!