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great lakes drag way union grove wi. pics

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by racer-x, Jan 7, 2012.

  1. Craven Moorhead
    Joined: May 4, 2005
    Posts: 141

    Craven Moorhead
    Member
    from New Berlin

    Gods speed Broadway Bob
     
  2. billys54
    Joined: Apr 16, 2006
    Posts: 1,295

    billys54
    Member

  3. it will be sad to be going out to da grove today for mopar day knowing bob wont be there. he will be missed.
     
  4. ETwagon
    Joined: Apr 6, 2007
    Posts: 97

    ETwagon
    Member
    from Arizona

    [​IMG]

    It would be interesting how many of those 'Ideal' brand trailers were sold back then in the Chicago area. If you showed up with your car on one you were big time.
     
  5. Just an update from the very knowledgeable Dennis Doubleday regarding that Chevy II funny car above: "That's John DeCausemaker's Chevy II. UDRA car out of IL." Mystery solved!
     
  6. Hey Curt, I heard there is video of my Fiat running at the Grove. How do I get a copy?
     
  7. bobwop
    Joined: Jan 13, 2008
    Posts: 6,115

    bobwop
    Member
    from Arley, AL

    use the PM feature!
     
  8. SonofOldUgly
    Joined: Mar 9, 2012
    Posts: 3

    SonofOldUgly
    Member

    OU B&W Back_Page_1.jpg

    OU B&W Back_Page_2.jpg

    OU Color_Page_1.jpg

    OU Color Back_Page_1.jpg

    I'd like to put my 2 cents in here. My dad drove this car at the Grove for at least 10 yrs. These are the only pics I have of it, but I believe there are a couple more floating around somewhere in the house of one of my family members. When I get my hands on it, I will post it. While I was looking at all the great pics others have posted, I noticed the lack of photos of Chapman sponsored cars. I remember a Black Opel GT Funny car they had that was driven by John Blaesing. Does anyone know where John is these days. He was a family friend and would love to see him and catch up with him. Also, does anyone know what happened to Tony Christian. He's another old friend that I miss.
     
  9. models916
    Joined: Apr 19, 2012
    Posts: 379

    models916
    Member

    I used to race that 55 every Sunday (maybe 69-71). We ran Unit Stock. I think it was a 292 2bl with a very big gear. I ran a 69 Nova 302 2bl. That car was hard to beat. Seem to remember an ugly face on the trunk lid. Great to see a pic. Mike in Addison
     
  10. SonofOldUgly
    Joined: Mar 9, 2012
    Posts: 3

    SonofOldUgly
    Member

    WOW Mike!!! You nailed it. It wasn't just an ugly face, but a blobby lookin character on the trunk. It does my heart good to know that there is someone who remembers the car. And yeah, while my dad was driving, that car was hard for the competition to beat. I was only about 5-7 yrs. old when you raced my dad, but the times we had growing up at the Grove were awesome.
    My dad passed away in 1998 and I was going through some old photo albums and found these pics. He passed his love of cars and drag racing on to me and I even ran at the Grove for 2 summers in a 1987 Chevy S-10 Pickup. Won a crap load of trophies and had a blast. Thanks for replying!!!
     
    Last edited: Aug 17, 2012
  11. models916
    Joined: Apr 19, 2012
    Posts: 379

    models916
    Member

    I showed the picture to all my old racer friends last night at the Rod Fathers car meet. They all remember that car because you just couldn't beat it.
     
  12. biscaynes
    Joined: Mar 16, 2008
    Posts: 1,647

    biscaynes
    Member

    great '55, thks for posting it :cool:
     
  13. SonofOldUgly
    Joined: Mar 9, 2012
    Posts: 3

    SonofOldUgly
    Member

    Thanks for showing it around, Mike. I know that my dad would have enjoyed your reply. I know I did! As I find more pics of the car, I will post them. There is one that I really want to find and post. It is a picture of the "old girl" coming off the launch pad at GLD with daylight between the front rubber and the asphalt. There is a really funny story that goes with it. I'll explain when I find the pic. Also, I know where and when you guys have your meets. Was kickin around the idea of stopping out for the next one.
     
    Last edited: Aug 17, 2012
  14. ETwagon
    Joined: Apr 6, 2007
    Posts: 97

    ETwagon
    Member
    from Arizona

    Wow, the old Unit Stock days (along with Combo Eliminator that was S/S, modified, and comp combined)) at Da' Grove.
    Ray Bisig, Todd Acklam, Wally Jacobson to drop a few names back then who raced in Unit stock. I remember well your Dad's 55, 'Old Ulgy'. Shops like Motor Sport Reasearch, Chapman, Engines by Gary Brown.
    Unit Stock was the hottest class going, and if I recall it was only run at Great Lakes, Rockford (Byron) and Cordova. For those who are not familiar, Unit Stock was an NHRA Modified Eliminator Body/chassis with a weight to cubic inch engine using a choice of 2bbl, 4bbl, or multiple carbs. High costs, dwindling car counts and the then unreal $1,000 to win bracket racing payout started by Ron Leek was the death of Unit Stock and class racing at the local level.

    Tony Christian did well at the NHRA national level in the mid 70's in the old Reher-Morrison Corvette, moved on to Pro Stock, then was a pioneer in the fastested street car classes so popular today. Last I heard he was racing until about 2010 and has lived in Florida for several years.
     
  15. #1 Kawboy
    Joined: Aug 4, 2009
    Posts: 188

    #1 Kawboy
    Member
    from Fl

    That Black coupe is N A S T Y !! !

    Who is that ? Don't ever remember seeing this anywhere...LOOKS AWFUL FAST !!
     
  16. #1 Kawboy
    Joined: Aug 4, 2009
    Posts: 188

    #1 Kawboy
    Member
    from Fl

    Gabby... on the side ?
     
  17. BigNick1959
    Joined: Oct 23, 2006
    Posts: 638

    BigNick1959
    Member

    The picture I posted of my brother, sister and me was taken in 1970 not '72 as I thought. I was able to play with the photo on my computer and the car has the name DeCausmaker lettered under the side window. Hope this helps you ID this very cool Nova. The lettering on the car below the graf-X looks like Dexter's brush work, I can tell his style.
     
  18. Top_Notch
    Joined: Nov 29, 2009
    Posts: 14

    Top_Notch
    Member
    from schaumburg

    I wonder if anyone recognizes this car from GLD?

    I realize this picture is not from GLD. My FIL grew up in Niles and raced this '55 Chevy and later '62 white Impala. He went by "Jack the Ripper". He has a ton of stories about racing back then. I have a veritable treasure trove of old racing stuff (pack rat) of pictures, flyers, Hurst racing gloves, Hurst shifter, GLD stickers and hard parts in my basement. I'll try to get them scanned in, but for now this is all I have.

    [​IMG]
     
  19. Phillips
    Joined: Oct 26, 2010
    Posts: 1,496

    Phillips
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Correct it is Gabby Bleeker. Think this is the one with the Powers and Riley chassis.
     
  20. dontlifttoshift
    Joined: Sep 17, 2005
    Posts: 652

    dontlifttoshift
    Member

    The orange crate 32 5 window is being "restored" right now. Jeff Williams just lettered the doors a couple of weeks ago.

    Elverne Pfiefer did have a kick ass willys. My boss was drag racing at LakeGeneva back in the day and they announced that Pfeifer had flipped the car over.....at the start line. One of them new fangled clutchflites was just installed.....so the story goes.

    Most of these old codgers are still around and have great stories and really bitchin pictures. I will start hittin em up to dig through the archives. I have some GLD newsletters laying around the shop here somewhere.

    Brian, cool thread!
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2012
  21. dontlifttoshift
    Joined: Sep 17, 2005
    Posts: 652

    dontlifttoshift
    Member


    Last time I saw him he still had the car. He was at that cruise night in Mundelein.
     
  22. dontlifttoshift
    Joined: Sep 17, 2005
    Posts: 652

    dontlifttoshift
    Member


    Frank Bell was in the shop not that long ago buying shocks for his 55 chevy......once its in your blood it never leaves.
     
  23. Yeah, already done...see post #126.
     
  24. BigDrag
    Joined: Sep 23, 2009
    Posts: 297

    BigDrag
    Member
    from Milwaukee

    Here are some picts. from tonight. Labor Day 2012 Sunday night.

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    DSC_1228.jpg

    DSC_1274.jpg

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    DSC_1333.jpg
     
  25. deadgearhead
    Joined: Mar 14, 2009
    Posts: 315

    deadgearhead
    Member
    from Washington

     
  26. awelchman
    Joined: May 8, 2013
    Posts: 2

    awelchman
    Member

    I realize this is an old thread but does anybody have knowledge to where I can get my hands on the footage from Curt, mentioned below? My dad was a AA/FD driver in the mid-late 60's and was a regular at Great Lakes.

    I have put 900 35mm slides pics to disc. All drag racing pics from Great Lakes Dragaway 1963-69, Rockford 1965-66, Indy Nationals 1964, Detroit Dragway 1965. About 1 1/2 hour view time.

    Just finished 8mm and 16mm film to disc of the construction and opening day of Great Lakes
    Dragaway 1956, Oswego-Cordova-Great Lakes Dragaway-1957, Oswego-GLD 1956-59, Lightning Rods and Cruisin Angels racing at GLD 1960, GLD Labor Day 1961. About 1 1/2 hour of film. Loads of race cars from Wis and Illinois, not much of the west coast cars but, if your interested in Wis and Illinois drag history, this disc has a lot.

    No sound track. If, there is enough interested buyers. I can have more discs made. Great historical stuff for Wis and Illinois early hot rod and drag race fans
     
  27. bobwop
    Joined: Jan 13, 2008
    Posts: 6,115

    bobwop
    Member
    from Arley, AL

    send him a PM
     
  28. pm received and I have pm'd in return
    Curt R
     
  29. MoonLoon
    Joined: Jun 22, 2012
    Posts: 5

    MoonLoon
    Member

    Holy Cow ! That sure is a rare picture of Stardust #1.
    Man, Thanks for posting that !
    My Uncles fav car. I try to find ANY images I can of her.
     

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