Dec. 2008/Jan. 2009 Performance in Motion

Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #40609642

The REDISsUe

1967 Ford Fairlane

The economy’s heading into the red & so are the cars in this magazine!

1949 Meteor Club Coupe

1937 Ford Coupe

1932 Ford Five Window

Stratford Cruise & Summer Music

Old Cootson the Loose!

What we saw in Las Vegas at the SEMA ShowPlus

:

December 2008/January 2009 • Vol. 9 #1 • $3.95 Canadian

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� December 2008/January 2009 • P|M

December / January

See more of Harvey LeBlanc’s 1949 Meteor Club Coupe on page 10.

The ReD ISsUe

Table of ContentsEditorial ..............................51967 Ford Fairlane ...............6Meteor Man .......................10A Legend Returns ...............13Two’Fer to Go .................... 14 What we saw in Vegas ......... 18Stratford Summer Music ....23Old Coots on the Run .........26Book Review ......................30Norwell’s Diamond Deuce ...30Night before Christmas ....... 31 Business Directory .............32Reluctant Passenger ............34

P|M • December 2008/January 2009 �

December / January

PERFORMANCEin

P|M • December 2008/January 2009 �

Performance in Motion Publications 1100 The QueenswayToronto, ON M8Z 1P7Phone: 416-259-3678 • Fax: 416-259-6433

EDITOR/PUBLISHERBob [email protected]: 416-259-3678

U.S. ADVERTISINGDick Van Cleve

PRODUCTION DESIGNRob [email protected]

CONTRIBUTORS Phil AdamsThomas AndersonBernie MaclivesonNick DunnBob McJannettRobert MichaelsonJeff NorwellLeonard F. SlyeCatherine Turnerwith Bonnie Staring as the Reluctant Passenger

ILLUSTRATIONSKayvene

PROOFREADERSpike “The Machine” LaVigne

MOVING? Please let us know! E-mail both your old & new address to: [email protected]

Return undeliverables to: 1100 The Queensway Toronto, ON M8Z 1P7

PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40609642PERFORMANCE IN MOTION is published six times a year: February, April, June, August, October and December. Circulation is 30,000+ (ISSN 1703-8421)

Copyright ©2009 All rights reserved by Performance In Motion Publishing. The fine print: We respect your privacy, and do NOT sell our mailing list. All opinions are those of our writers, most of whom have dropped heavy objects on their heads. The informa-tion presented is via said head bangers from which there can be no responsibility by the Publishers as to legality, completeness and accuracy. Be good to the environment, recycle this magazine - give it to your friends. If you enjoy our magazine, be sure to let us know! This magazine may not be reprinted without express permission of Performance In Motion Publishing. (We’re nice guys, just ask!) • Support your local Speed Shop! • 45 Years of High Performance

Performance Improvements • 1964-2009 •

As I write this in early November the Canadian election is over,

and we are saddled with another minority government that could fall any time the opposition gets a burr under its saddle. The U.S. election is over and they are trying to come to grips with a most amazing feat. A handsome, well spoken, intelligent young man has been elected on the promise he will turn the country’s fortunes around. The rhetoric is over, and we will all hope he can deliver.

If you listen to talk radio or television news, you are being bombarded with “The economy is in the tank” �4/7; now I am not naïve, but not everyone is suffering as badly as these newsmakers say they are. If you are working for the “big three” or some of the financial institutions who have used poor judgment in their investment strategies, or you are heavily invested in the stock market, you have every reason to be worried. But that’s not everyone.

We have just returned from a week in Las Vegas where we took in the second last NHRA national event of ‘08 and the SEMA show. On the Sunday at the strip in Las Vegas, the stands were filled to capac-ity; they announced a sell out crowd. All those people had found the money to come to the race, not a cheap adventure anymore. They were rewarded with three of the clos-est final races this year.

Meanwhile at SEMA, the show floor was covered with display booths and the aisles filled with potential buyers. SEMA is the annual get-together of the manufacturers of virtually all of the things the car enthu-siast is interested in.

The SEMA Show attracts more than 1�0,000 industry leaders from over 100 countries to see the profit opportunities in the automotive, truck and SUV, and RV markets. There were over 1,600 new products entered, in hopes of winning one of their coveted new product awards. People were cautiously optimistic about the future.

My feeling is that the world is not com-ing to an end. I suspect the economy will make things difficult for a while, but it is not the first time, remember 9/11, the stock market downturn in the late 80s or the fuel crisis of the 70s. A steady foot on the throttle will go a long way to helping us all survive these interesting times.

Your garage is a great place to get away from it all. The feeling of accomplishment you get from completing a project. The joy you get from tinkering with your pride and joy goes a long way to get the stresses out of your life. Now is not the time to be gripped with fear. Get out in the shop or out on the road. Burn some rubber and have some fun, that’s what I’m planning.

Editorial

6 December 2008/January 2009 • P|M

Mel Trevochka is a true h i g h-per for ma nce

Ford fan. How many people would build a duplicate of the car he ordered new in 1967? Mel did just that. You see, after wait-ing eight months for his order, Mel cancelled, then waited almost four decades to finally get his dream car.

Over the years since he tried to buy this Fairlane, Mel made his living as both an auto mechanic

and a high performance boat builder. He credits his Dad, who was in the automotive industry, with encouraging his interest in all things automotive.

Ford in 66-67 was building the Fairlane as a competitor to the mighty Pontiac GTOs of the day. A Fairlane coupe with the 390 four-barrel option would have cost under $3,000 at your friendly neighbourhood Ford dealer. The Fairlane was designed as a down-

sized version of the larger Galaxie 500 and 500XL vehicles. Built with a 116” wheelbase and a 58” tread width, they were designed for competition at the drag strips and oval tracks throughout the country. In fact in 1967, the 427 wedge-powered Fairlane was the car of choice for the Ford contin-gent at NASCAR.

In 2006, thirty-nine years after his first attempt at a Ford Fairlane, Mel began to work on its replace-

ment. Starting with a southern donor car brought up from Bir-mingham, Alabama, Mel went through everything, bringing it up to the condition you see in the pictures.

Very little body work was need-ed, since the car was a rust-free southern piece; Mel did the bulk of the bodywork himself, call-ing on John Poole to do the final straightening. Once satisfied that everything was arrow-straight,

The ReD ISsUe

Storyand Photos by: Bob McJannett

Refurbished stock interior features an Autometer tachometer and a pair of Autometer auxiliary gauges. The Hurst shifter moves the Tremec five-speed smoothly through the gears.

Here’s an old drag racing trick, moving the Optima battery to the trunk gets the weight where it will do the most good.

Mel’s great looking 1967 Ford Fairlane certainly looks like it means business. Without a Galaxie 500 parked beside it, it’s hard to realize that the Fairlane was Ford’s miniaturized version of the big car.

P|M • December 2008/January 2009 7

Fred Collins in Bolton, Ontario, applied the Coca Cola red paint.

The frame was updated under-neath with a set of connectors to beef up the chassis. For a rear-end, Mel installed a 3:55 ratio, Nine Plus, with a Detroit locker and disk brakes, attached to a pair of new rear springs and KYB shocks.

Out front, sus-pension remained basically stock with the addition

of dropped front springs, KYB shocks and a 1” sway bar. Granada spindles carry a pair of GM disk brakes. With the chassis complet-ed, Racing Z wheels and General tires, 225 front and 265 rear were installed.

The interior was redone to stock spec in black, by Tack Upholstery.

The only change was the instal-lation of Dyna Mat under the carpets to deaden the sound and insulate from excessive heat.

Finally, Mel moved to the en-gine compartment. Starting with a 390 cubic inch 365 hp Ford big-block, he installed a set of Keith Black pistons, Iskenderian cam-shaft, lifters and springs, a Can-ton eight quart oil pan and a Blue Thunder medium riser intake with a 750 Holley carb.

Ignition is handled by an MSD distributor, coil and ignition box plus a set of MSD plug wires. An Edelbrock aluminum water pump plus an All Star aluminum radia-tor with two Flex-a-Lite electric fans handle the cooling.

To get the power to the rear end, a complete McLeod clutch assembly, flywheel and scatter-shield was installed, attached to a Tremec five speed transmission, shifted by a Hurst shifter.

A complete MSD ignition system plus a Blue Thunder medium-riser intake with a big Holley on top should provide a clue about just how serious this engine is.

Hood scoop and hood pins provide a little clue of what could be lurking under the hood.

This angle from the rear, square trunk and upright Split-design taillights, shows the Galaxie 500 influences clearly.


The ReD ISsUe The master cylinder and hydraulic clutch linkage assembly is by Wilwood. To keep everything flowing smoothly, a set of custom-built Crites headers flow into a pair of Flowmaster mufflers. Once everything was buttoned up, Mel started to enjoy the car he had wanted for over four decades.

Today, you can see this Fairlane al-most every night at local cruise nights. The car, well, it’s just like the license plate says, a NICE 67!

Visit the SEMA enthusiast Web site:

www.enjoyth

edrive.com



One of the tales that go round, is the story of the bus driver

who takes long bus trips for his va-cation. The idea being that he just doesn’t get enough travel time in his job to suit himself.

While Harvey LeBlanc doesn’t drive a bus, he spent his working career as a mechanic. After spend-ing every day under the hood of a vehicle, you would expect him to

have a hobby that did not involve cars. Well, not Harvey. You see he’s a dyed-in-the-wool enthusiast who has spent his spare time be-ing a prolific car builder. Over the years, Harvey has built a number of milestone vehicles. Currently, he is driving a big-block powered 1928 Ford touring, and his latest project, a chopped 1949 Meteor Club Coupe.

Harvey comes by his interest in hot rods honestly; his dad was a car nut and always supported his son’s interest. As well, Harvey has a nucleus of friends in the Cen-tennial Street Rods car club who are always willing to help on any of their members projects. In fact, when asked who did much of the work on his car, Harvey is quick to answer “me and the boys.”

Harvey’s Meteor was unique be-fore he even started. You see 1949 was the first year for the Meteor name. It was built, only in Cana-da as a low-priced vehicle that the Lincoln Mercury dealers could of-fer to compete with, not only the Chevrolet and Dodge/Plymouth offerings, but Ford cars as well. Those were the heady days when you could sell almost anything on four wheels. My how times have changed!

Starting with a stock 1949 Me-teor, Harvey and “the boys” added a 1970 Nova front clip fitted with a pair of 2” lowered Fatman spin-dles and tubular upper and lower A arms. They also added a home-fabricated front sway bar. Moving to the rear, the leaf springs were moved inboard and mounted two inches up into the frame, a ‘59 Edsel 9” rear end was attached to those rear springs and another sway bar was fabricated and in-stalled.

Once it was time to do the body, Harvey, with help from Tim Zelasko, chopped the top 2½”. To get the look just right,

METEOR MAN

The ReD ISsUe

Story & Photos by: Bob McJannett

Spotlights like these were seen on virtually all 60s customs. From the rear, you get a nice view of the frenched taillights, bubble skirts and one-piece chrome bumper.

No matter what angle you look from, this Meteor is a winner. Frenched headlights, parking lights, chrome grille surround all combine to create a great look.


METEOR MANthey leaned the “B” pillars forward. In addi-tion, the headlights, taillights and turn signals were frenched. Doors, hood and trunk lid were shaved of all the handles, and trim pieces and all the corners where appropriate, were round-ed. The hood was punched with six rows of louvers. In keeping with the clean motif, the antenna was flush mounted.

To create the early custom look that Harvey desired, a set of bubble skirts and a pair of side pipes were installed. The side pipes fit into cus-

tom built housings added to the bottom of the front fenders. Once he had the body looking the way he wanted, Harvey turned his Meteor over to 4 Ways Auto Body to apply the base/clear Viper Red paint.

Under the hood lurks an Edelbrock-equipped 454 Chevrolet big-block engine with a pair of Patriot headers feeding the exhaust into traditional duals.

Inside, there are a couple of bucket seats tak-en from a Dodge Coronet, mounted around a

custom built centre console that has an engine -turned panel carrying a full complement of Autometer gauges to help Harvey keep tabs on what is happening under the hood. The con-sole also carries the switches for power win-dows and trunk plus the Lokar shifter. Steer-ing is handled with a Grant steering wheel. With the interior fabrication completed “Sam” took over the upholstery. The interior was fit-ted with red and white tuck and roll done in the 60s style.

454 cubic inches of Chevrolet big-block power gets this Meteor down the highway in fine style.

Sixties-style tuck and roll upholstery works well with the theme of Harvey’s Meteor.

Original dash is complemented by the hand-made centre console with Autometer gauges and a Lokar shifter. A Grant custom wheel makes steering easy.

1� December 2008/January 2009 • P|M

As final touches, Harvey removed the bumper guards filled the holes and fitted re-chromed bumpers front and rear. The grille surround has been chrome-plated. In keep-ing with the early custom look, there are a pair of Ap-pleton spotlights fitted at the

base of the front windshield. Now that his Meteor is

done, Harvey enjoys using it to attend outdoor car shows, cruise nights, and just plain pleasure driving. When asked what was the best thing he has done, he was quick to tell us about his trip to Moncton

New Brunswick to attend the Atlantic Nationals.

No matter what angle you look from, you have to admit that this Meteor looks just right. It’s the stance man, the stance.

P|M • December 2008/January 2009 1�

In the mid-60s the Hurst Corporation, led by

George Hurst, designed and built two of the most legendary drag racing vehicles then or now.

First came the Hurst “Hemi under Glass” a wheel-standing Plymouth Barracuda with a rear-mounted hemi engine. Seen at drag strips throughout North America, it created an amazing amount of publicity for Hurst and his products. In fact, the bookings at drag strips were just too many to cover.

The legendary Doc Watson, known as the Shifty Doctor, convinced George they needed another attraction to help fill those bookings. Rather than build a “Hemi Under Glass” clone, Doc suggested a blown Oldsmobile-powered, twin-engined exhibition car with an Olds 442 two-door body, known as the “Hurst Hairy Oldsmobile.” Driven by Gentleman Joe Schubeck, Hairy would smoke all four tires down track. By the late 60s, Hairy had drawn so much attention that

Hurst decided to build a limited number of special Hurst Perfor-mance Vehicles for street use.

In 1968, the Hurst/Olds 442s were born. For the next few years, these were very successful products for Hurst.

Well, here it is, 2008 and the legend returns. At this year’s SEMA show, Hurst Performance Vehicles unveiled its latest, the 2009 Hurst/Hemi Challenger. These will be produced in limited quantities at the Hurst Perfor-mance Center in Orange County

California. Starting with a Dodge Challenger, the latest Hurst offering will feature new versions of the famous Hurst gold and aluminum wheels, their pistol grip shifter, plus numerous exterior and interior trim changes along with high-performance chassis and powertrain improvements.

The Hurst/Hemi Challenger will be the first in a series of amazing Hurst Performance Vehicles to debut during 2009. We will keep you posted.

A LEGEND RETURNSStory: Thomas Anderson • Photos by Robert Michaelson and Hurst

Here are photos of the real thing – it looks even better than the concept drawings.

Acceptance of this latest Hurst vehicle was immediate; cars will start being allotted to dealers in January ‘09.

The 2008 version of the Hurst Wheels that were included with the original Hurst Oldsmobile’s.


If you are a real Canadian, you will recognize the expression “twofer.” Usually, it describes a case of 24

of your favourite brew. In this case, Gary Hamilton’s “twofer” describes a pair of great hot rods that he is the proud owner of.

As a young man, Gary spent time in his Dad’s gas station. This was in the 60s when muscle cars were the ride of choice and there were very few real hot rods. The ones that were around, however, really caught Gary’s eye. He lusted after one for his very own.

Well, like all things, marriage, career and children stood in the way. Now during that time, there were other cars: a 1958 Chev pickup from Arizona, and a 2004 Corvette all had a place in Gary’s driveway, but these just weren’t the right car. After a career with Air Canada, Gary finally came across this Minotti-bodied 37 Ford coupe. Tony Mi-notti was one of the first craftsmen to build a chopped three-window style body. This is a phantom, a style that Henry never built. When Gary saw it, he knew this could be the

hot rod he remembered. Since the 60s, times have changed; today’s cars feature far better creature comforts, more safety equipment and a much greater attention to detail. This is where the fun began.

Gary’s 37 arrived with a TCI chassis, featuring a Kugel-polished stainless tubular front end, with a four-bar system and coil-over strut front suspension.

At the back is an 8” Ford rear end, equipped with 4:11 gears and an Auburn posi unit. Brakes are disk front and drums rear.

Story and Photos by: Bob McJannett

The ReD ISsUe

2Two’fer

P|M • December 2008/January 2009 1�

The whole thing rolls on Boyd Coddington wheels: 17” front and 18” in the rear.

The bucket seats came from Griffey, and the interior was done by Wayne Edwards in a grey tweed material. The dash features a billet alu-minum bezel with Autometer gauges. Vintage Air, Clarion, Ididit and Lokar parts were all combined to ensure this 37 has modern-day creature comforts.

The rest of the driveline is another story. When Gary first got this car, it had a very mild 350 Chev engine, well that’s not enough

for a real hot rodder. Today, the power plant has been exchanged for more radical 350 with an Edelbrock Victor Jr. intake, a 750 Holley carburetor, a high-performance valve train assembly that features solid lifters and roller rockers. Exhaust exits through a set of block hugger headers and true dual exhaust. Horsepower is estimated to be 400 plus. Tying this all together is a Tremec five-speed transmission.

The second half of Gary’s “twofer” is an even more traditional hot rod. Starting with

a fiberglass 32 Ford five-window coupe body, Gary commissioned Duke and Tony Brown to build him a car. The brothers spent a great amount of time getting the body into perfect shape before sending it out for paint. Mean-while, Duke boxed a set of American Stamp-ing 32 side rails and installed a Horton center section, Since the side rails are visible on a traditional no fendered car, Tony Brown spent an inordinate amount of time ensuring the visible parts were perfect. Front suspension is a very traditional chromed 3” dropped I-beam

This is what the interior of a daily driver should look like! Stomping on the throttle has worn a hole in the carpet, and Sirius Satellite Radio fills the cabin with tunes.


axle with disk brakes and a cross spring. Steer-ing is with a Unisteer rack In the rear is an 8” Ford rear-end mounted with coilover shock assemblies, the ratio is 3:55.

Again, Wayne Edwards did the interior, while Autometer supplied the gauges, steering wheel is from Grant. The air conditioning was supplied by Vintage Air, Ididit supplied the tilt column, pedals and cables etc. were Lokar. For maximum tunes, Gary has installed a Sirius satellite radio.

For power, the coupe has a GM ZZ4 crate engine with aluminum heads, Hooker headers, an Edelbrock aluminum intake and

650 carb all combine to put out about 355 horsepower. A March serpentine belt system cleans up the front of the engine, and a 700R transmission directs the power to the rear end.

Now, Gary has the best of both worlds. For long haul rides he likes the 37, its longer wheel base and more sophisticated suspen-sion makes for a pleasant ride. In fact, Gary has driven his 37 to street rod meets in both Moncton, N.B. and Columbus, Ohio. All with no problems.

His 32 on the other hand is his favourite for short trips. The shiny Viper Red paint,

polished aluminum and traditional look at-tracts plenty of attention whereever he goes, and drive these cars he does, with over 32,000 miles on the coupe in less than three years. It’s great to have the best of both worlds.

So what’s next? There is another project on the go. Gary is building a 1937 Ford Tudor humpback sedan for his son; they have a new baby in the family, and a coupe or roadster just won’t be appropriate. Something may have to go, so if either of these two cars catch your eye give Gary a call, who knows what might be for sale.

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Before the show, NHRA held its second-to-last 2008 race at the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Check out those stands! What economic turndown? This race was a total sell-out.

The annual SEMA Show was again held in Las Vegas during the first week of

November. The SEMA Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world and draws the industry’s brightest minds and hottest products into one place,

the Las Vegas Convention Center. This year’s show had been looked forward to, with some trepidation, the U.S economy was tanking and the big three automotive manufacturers are reporting record losses. Many expected they would be faced with empty booths and aisles. As it turned out, that just wasn’t true. Check our editorial this issue for complete details.

The attached photos are only a small portion of the things that were to be seen. There were literally thousands of new products, hundreds of vehicles etc. These are just a small sampling of what caught our eye.

Tony Schumacher, “The Sarge,” clinched the top fuel title with another win at the Las Vegas strip. Tony, Alan Johnson his crew chief and their team have dominated the top fuel class in ‘08.

What We Saw in VEGASStory by: Thomas Anderson • Photos by: Robert Michaelson & SEMA


The parking lot in front of the convention center is home to hundreds of specialty vehicles looking for exposure at the show. This “faux” 37 Ford Woody was one of the many phantom cars (Cars never built by the OEM’s) on display.

Auto Loc will be offering these “Billet Buttons” in ‘09. Both on/off and momentary buttons are available in a number of sizes and colours.

What We Saw in VEGAS

With the high cost of fuel and the downturn in the economy, we thought we might be looking at a line of dinosaurs here.

�0 December 2008/January 2009 • P|M

Take one block of aluminum, remove all the ugly parts and you end up with a great looking wheel like this.

Claimed to be the worlds fastest Rolls Royc, the huge GMC-style blower and Kinsler injection system seems to back up the claim.

When this car was running, it sounded really strong.

Smart cars are finally being released in the U.S. It doesn’t take the enthusiast manufacturers long to get parts on the shelves to update these little cars. Custom wheels, body kits and specialty grilles were all being shown.

Stainless Steel Brakes announced its “Performance at the Wheel” drum to disk conversion kits. Designed to let you buy only the parts you need to complete the job.

Taylor cable is bringing out a full line of “Street Thunder” 8mm low-priced high quality wire sets. Priced to help the car enthusiast get thru the recession without compromising the quality they demand, because they can’t afford the best.

P|M • December 2008/January 2009 �1

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Why? Because he could, licence plate may tell the whole story “USELEZZ.”

Edelbrock had this great display promoting their “Power Package Top End Kits.” You get a complete complement of dyno tested compo-nents that will create the power level you desire. No guess work or mis-matched parts.

Saddle up for a little excitement. This Yamaha Wave Runner is powered by a G.E. T85 1,400 HP Turbine Engine. Yahoo!!

�� December 2008/January 2009 • P|M

This unique custom Thunderbird had a huge amount of work in it. The twin, moulded-top bubbles were fabricated by the folks at Flex-a-lite.

Surf City Garage made a big splash promoting its “Enthusiast Grade” car care products with their big rig displaying all their products. Inside the building was a huge and very active booth also promoting the Surf City product.

The Hawk entered the park with a police escort in this purple Lincoln convertible.

P|M • December 2008/January 2009 ��

If you live in Southern Ontario, you think of the city of Stratford as the home to the

Stratford Shakespearean Festival. However, Perth County offers far more. Home to nu-merous fine dining establishments, great B&B accommodations, a multitude of galleries and museums plus the world-class Stratford Chefs School. There is something to suit nearly every taste.

Stratford is also home to a large car enthu-siast population–everything from hot rods to all-out race cars come from this city. They even hold a Stratford day at the local drag strip, each year.

Throughout the summer months Stratford Summer Music offers concerts of every style and type in a number of venues. This year on August 4th, they held a momentous combina-tion car show and concert situated along Lake-side Drive along the riverfront near the festival building.

Cars started to arrive for the 3 pm concert at 9 am. By early morning, space was at a premi-um, all the asphalt was covered with cars and the surrounding fields were filling quickly.

You see this was not just another car show and concert. This was to be a tribute to the Revols, a Stratford-based rock and roll band from the 50s. The surviving members would all be there plus a number of other bands that they were currently playing in.

In all, there would be concerts from the Spoon River Band, B.W. Pawley and Plum Loco, and Reload. Headlining the event would be the legendary Rompin’ Ronnie Hawkins. Ronnie had “discovered” the Revols, took them under his wing and introduced them to a much larger audience. Over the years, Revol members have played with The Band, Janis Jo-plin, Ian and Sylvia, and others.

Hawkins was due to start at 7:30. Ronnie no longer tours, and a chance to see him live

again was a huge draw to his legion of fans. The question was, could the 73-year-old singer still do his thing? At the appointed time, a buzz went thru the crowd, Ronnie was being driven through the crowd in a purple Lincoln con-vertible; the atmosphere was electric. Shaking hands, cracking jokes and waving, Ronnie ac-cepted the good wishes of the crowd. This was his audience.

Any questions about his ability were an-swered with the first number. He hit every note clear as a bell. For the next hour and a half, Ronnie and his band did all the songs. His efforts were enthusiastically applauded, and the concert ended far too soon. Car own-ers returned to their cars and the day was over. What a day it was! I don’t know how they can top it next year, but I guarantee I’ll be there to find out. “Hail, hail Rock and Roll.”

Stratford Summer Music• Pa rty i n the pa rk d raws thousa n d s •

Story & Photos by: Bob McJannett

A tastefully customized, chopped 1946 Chevy Coupe. The drag racers desired this lightweight Falcon Convertible as a base to start a drag car.

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One of the early arrivals was Larry Dale with this immaculate Chevelle.

I mpeccable 1954 Chevrolet Convertible attracted a lot of attention.

Ralph Nader’s hated Corvair – note the licence plate.

i For more info contact: www.stratfordsummermusic.ca


Will it come to this? An electric people mover…

Gord Overbaugh’s Chevy Coupe certainly had the look.

Ronnie in concert with the current crop of Hawks. The girl on the far right is his daughter, Leah.

The master on stage.


OLD COOTSHitting the highwayTo drive it like they stole it


with my dad being

an old car enthusiast, much of my youth was spent on relaxing Sunday afternoon rod runs. Whether organized into a grand caravan of antique cars chugging down the highway or a simple family outing, my folks and I saw a great deal of Ontario countryside back then.

Even today, my folks remain involved with a group laughingly calling themselves the “Old Coots.” These car enthusiasts meet once a month, on a Sunday during the good weather, to have a drive in the country, always ending with a leisurely lunch in some interest-

ing eating establishment, usually in a small town. Ably led by Ronn and Cathy Hughes who plan the routes and arrange the restau-rants, the group will show up with no idea of their final destination. Simply knowing that they will have a good time and use their specialty cars for what they should be used for, “Driving.” There are no trailer queens in this crowd. Some of these people have been friends for more than four decades. It seems the car hobby makes long lasting relationships.

So, when my parents recently invited my husband and I on another of these rides, we simply couldn’t help but say yes.

There we were on a lovely Sunday morning gathered together with a little over a dozen classic cars in a tiny parking lot in Milton awaiting directions on our journey. An efficiently organized affair, our fearless leaders love to plan out routes that end in a secret location. We set off in our group down the highway, we soon discovered, towards a lovely village just north of Brantford called St. George. Leaving mid-morning from Milton, we were due to arrive at the St. George Arms pub for a bite to eat for lunch. If ever you are looking for a scenic drive to explore a section of the Niagara escarpment, I would highly recommend our little journey.

We began in Milton, heading south on Highway 25 where we crossed the 401 and turned west onto Steeles Avenue. Arriving at Appleby Line, we headed south to Derry Road. What a picturesque little area this is for driving enthusiasts – a meandering little stretch of road filled with million-dollar views of the escarpment and homes to match!

Turning west on Derry Road, we continued along to Twiss Road and headed north to Campbellville Road. Feels like backtracking a little bit I know, but necessary to skirt around Crawford Lake Conservation Area. Once we met Campbellville Road, we turned west and continued to the First Line Nassaqewa, managed the little jog in the road and met up again with Steeles Avenue where we headed west to the Millborough Line.

Turn south again on this country road, and it will take you to Carlisle Road, where again lies a lovely residential area of well kept homes.

STREET RODDINGThrough the Countryside

Growing up

Story & Photos by: Meredith Dennie

Gerry Cox’s 1932 Ford Coach has been in his possession for years. Bought as an origi-nal car, it has been updated with a later model Chev V8 engine, transmission and rear end and brakes. Gerry has driven his car everywhere.

OLD COOTSHitting the highwayTo drive it like they stole it


1941 Mercury Coupe’s Route 66 emblem is a souvenir from one of its many cross-country journeys.

This Phantom 1937 Ford convertible is the work of Joe Leone of Dream Driven Street Machines fame. Joe built this car for his dad Nick. Nick and his wife Mira have been enjoying it ever since it was completed.

I imagine we will be repeating this drive in the fall to soak up the fabulous autumn colours as the greenery that surrounded us held promises of fiery reds and yellows one day soon. Once you reach Highway 6, turn north for a short ways until you come across Regional Road 97.

Turning west, it will lead you through farmland and tiny downtown Valens, and finally past the Valens Reservoir. If you don’t stop for a picnic there, you simply must make an exception for Dee’s General Store and their famous butter tarts… Over one million sold! What a treat!

Once you’re loaded up on sugar, continue on and Road 97, it will take you straight into the south end of Cambridge, where we eventually turned south onto Franklin Blvd. A slight jog in the road means a right turn onto Myers Road and then your final navigation, a left onto Cheese Factory Road. This quaint stretch will lead you right into the hamlet of St. George.

The fabulous St. George Arms is on Main Street on the east side, where you can partake in delicious traditional pub fare and try one of several brews on tap. Free parking is available in a lot on the west side. I could tell right away this was a popular meeting place. Full of traditional ambience, this pub is always busy with locals and tourists alike famished for a good bite to eat.

Making up our group that day were the owners of several beautiful old cars. Amongst them was a gorgeous robin’s egg blue 1951

Chevy, a lovely black 1932 Ford and a 1941 Mercury Coupe finished in a deep clear red. Needless to say, all of the cars come loaded with history, so I couldn’t resist question-ing the Mercury Coupe’s interesting Route 66 emblem. I discovered that the car was originally purchased in California and driven home to Ontario by the owner and his two sons, a trip they still speak of fondly 15 years later. One of several memorable road trips for the family was yet another journey through the States along the famous Route 66 roadway.

Also in our caravan that day was a gorgeous 1932 Ford Coupe decked out in a deep blue and silver paint job, taking its inaugural trip after an extensive rebuild. Teased mercilessly for updating it with several modern conve-niences, for instance the underhood mounted windshield washer spouts, the owner has simply done a fabulous job restoring this old girl.

Another old beauty had to be the 1937 Ford Cabriolet convertible, built for the owner by his son. What a slick looking machine done up in tones of silver and bronze!

Other gems in the group were a fine looking red 1956 Ford panel truck, a classic Ford Torino, a Model A Ford, a 1939 midnight blue Pontiac, a classic Chevrolet El Camino and, of course, my Dad’s navy blue 1940 Chevrolet sedan. All of these cars are modified to include late model powerplants, safety equipment and creature comforts.

These modifications make for great driving.One grand aspect of a rod run are the

stories that circulate about past adventures, the camaraderie in the group is palpable as they tease each other about previous break-downs or congratulate glorious stories of complicated rebuilds.

Most street rodders that I know are only too happy to share some of their past adven-tures, if just given the opportunity. What a great day we had not only in touring a beauti-ful section of the Niagara escarpment, but in the company of these fantastic street rods and their proud owners.

Somehow they didn’t seem like a bunch of “Old Coots” to us.

Meredith Dennieis a daughter of a lifelong car enthusiast. She is enjoying her new-found career of freelance writing and has contributed to a number of small publications. Meredith lives in Oran-geville, Ontario with her husband, and they are expecting their first child in December.

She can be reached at: [email protected]

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Our leader, Ronn Hughes, drives this V8-powered 1952 Chevrolet coupe on every tour, always followed by Frank Malfara in his Pontiac LeMans convertible.

George and Lorraine Smith built this great Model A Sedan and try to attend every run. Try to figure out their personal plate.

Book Review:


How to Drag RaceIn 144 pages, filled with colour photos,

Kevin takes us through the complete drag racing experience. Starting with a brief history of the sport, he takes us through an explanation of the basics involved in drag racing.

Then it is on to a chapter on getting started, he explains what you will need to bring to the track, what the track person-nel do and provides some hints on basic vehicle prep.

Next up is a chapter on how to drive. This portion includes tips on how to get the most from your vehicle no matter if it is stock or modified. His explanation of the workings of the Christmas tree starting system should be read by even experienced racers.

Moving through the book you will find sections on safety gear, tires, improving engine performance and driving skills. There are twenty two pages explaining bracket racing and its theories, including an explanation of bracket strategy. He includes a section of racer math that will help even the novice improve his or her performance.

Kevin has �0 years experience first working at tracks throughout Florida then directly for NHRA. To-day he is a senior editor for NHRA’s National Dragster.

No matter if you want to race or just understand what you are seeing from the spectator stands you will find “How to Drag Race” an excellent read.

How to Drag Race by Kevin McKenna• SA136 • Suggested price $32.99 •

In The Garage

When automotive artist Jeff Norwell manages a few moments away from

the shackles of his drawing board, he sneaks out to the garage to spend a few minutes wrenchin’ on his “Diamond Deuce.” It’s taken eight long years for his truck to get to the state you see here. Jeff had Ken Stewart at Linken Engineering build the chassis, to ensure he started with a strong foundation. A few false starts were driving Jeff to drink (more than usual) until Neil Candy rescued his dream rod. Neil turned Jeff’s diamond in the rough into a true cut and polished jewel!

The exterior colour is a factory Ford Coral Red. The painted 1957 Ford 9” rear end features drum brakes, with So-Cal brakes up front. “I will be running my steelies and Champs most of the time, the Americans and Hurst slicks are just for kicks.”

“The interior is flaked in orange and silver, now coined the ‘Stardust room’,” said Jeff. “I am planning some tasteful striping, a real early 60s feel. Creme on the red and vice versa. I have 2 stripers I really admire, and both have not gotten back to me, freakin’ wierdo artists!” (Tramp, give Jeff a call! -Ed.)

The headers use flathead truck oil canisters for the collectors, just like the old timers did in the 50s. The rad supports were bent the old fashioned way, over a log!

Custom front nerf bumper compliments the original rear bumper, roll pans flow under the box. Jeff’s best friend, Cameron Watters, is a cabinet maker who created the Tiger Maple inlay wood boards for the bed.

Finishing his 1932 Ford Pickup is getting down to the wire. “It’s tough to find time to drop the mighty pen and pick up the mighty crimping tool to finish wiring!” laughed Jeff, “Influences include Shine, the Rolling Bones fellas, Littleman, Mike Zenor’s coupe and every unknown hero building hotrods out there. A big thanks to Neil Candy of Candy’s Hot Rod Supply, Ken Stewart, Kevin Howe, Flat Top Bob, Von Franco and his lovely wife Katie for being true friends, I’m proud to say.”

We’ll have more on Jeff’s Deuce when it’s finally done. We don’t even have room to mention the big Hemi engine that gives the truck it’s “TyrFryr” licence plate!

Diamond DeuceStory: Rob McJannett • Photos by Jeff Norwell

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‘Twas the night before Christmas and in the garage,There wasn’t a trace of a Chevy or Dodge.The presents were wrapped and the lights were all lit,So I figured I’d mess with the Snake for a bit.

I popped the release and I lifted the hood,When a deep voice behind me said “Looks pretty good.”Well, as you can imagine, I turned mighty quick,And there, by the workbench, stood good ol’ Saint Nick!

We stood there a bit, not too sure what to say,Then he said “Don’t suppose that you’d trade for my sleigh?I said “No way, Santa” and started to grin,“But if you’ve got the time, we could go for a spin!”

His round little mouth, all tied up like a bow,Turned into a smile, and he said “Hey! Let’s go!”So as not to disturb all the neighbours’ retreat,We pushed the Snake quietly into the street,

Then, taking our places to drift down the hill,I turned on the key and I let the clutch spill.The sound that erupted took him by surprise,But he liked it a lot, by the look in his eyes.

With Goodyears a’crying and side pipes aglow,We headed on out where the hot rodders go.And Santa’s grin widened, approaching his ears,With every shift up as I went through the gears.

Then he yelled “Can’t recall when I’ve felt so alive!”So I backed off the gas and asked “You wanna drive?”Ol’ Santa was stunned when I gave him the keys,When he walked past the headlights, he shook at the knees!

Then the big block exploded with side exhaust sound,Santa let out the clutch and the tires shook the ground!Power shift into second, again into third,I sat there just watching, at a loss for words.

Then I heard him exclaim as we blasted from sight,“Merry Christmas to all, it’s a hell of a night!”

Author UnknownReprinted courtesy of Midway Industries - Centerforce ClutchIllustration courtesy of Jeff “Norton” Norwell - www.jeffnorwell.com

‘Twas the night before Christmas

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�� December 2008/January 2009 • P|M

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About the Author: Bonnie Staring is a comedian, advertising copywriter and one of those people who enters all kinds of contests. To see what else she’s been ranting about, visit her website: www.bonniestaring.com

Despite what you might think, this isn’t going to be a rant about Red Skelton or

Carrot Top sightings. While that’s enough to make one’s blood boil (or curdle), this passenger has more important fish to fry.

The economy sucks, we know. The road ahead has potholes the size of Montana, got that memo. And, for those who keep on forgetting, winter happens here every year. When it’s time to stretch a dollar until it squeals like an Aerosmith song, drivers and passengers alike have to make tough choices. (For example, I limited myself to only two pairs of shoes last month. I’ll get over it one day.)

But why are some drivers moving in the wrong direction and labelling it as being “cost-effective?” Here are cockamamie schemes that some tools are attempting.

Hanging by a treadTrying to ride those tires out for yet

another season? Don’t be a nimrod; this act of “saving” actually sabotages the safety of everyone on the road around you. Unless you want us to hook you up with vanity plates that read “STYBCK” or “SLDRMAN” to warn others, it’s time to shed some greenbacks. Get a grip and put new tires on your ride – or put the vehicle in dry dock for the season.

D. I. Why?Hiring yourself (for free) to do complex

repairs that a qualified technician should be doing can be an exercise in economics gone horribly wrong. There are some things best left to the professionals. Savings tip: You probably know this already, but there’s a long list of maintenance procedures that even blondes can do. Ask your car-crazed buddies for help if you need it.

Riding under the radarIf it’s warm and dry in the winter, some

automotive enthusiasts may partake in touring around town in their summer driver, simply because there’s more gas in that ride than the regular wheels. Trouble is, a lot of these rods are only insured up until Halloween. So if something runs off the rails, you’re stuck on the curb without coverage... or good excuses.

Putting off essential repairsThere are always exceptions to this rule,

like with the clunker that’s worth less than the cost of the needed repair, but when safety is an issue, cough up the cash. Don’t stop and wait for brakes, please. And holding off until

the end of winter to get that “wee patch” of rust fixed can leave you without a driver’s side door come spring – or frozen puddles on the floorboard under the gas pedal. This passenger is speaking from experience.

Yes, this may come across as hard-boiled, but just because we need to economize shouldn’t mean that common sense gets locked in the trunk. The best thing drivers and passengers can do right now is to take good care of their babies. And yes, if that means tightening the proverbial fan belt, so be it. We’ll get through this.

Our vehicular creed is made of stronger stuff than what others may think. Enjoy the ride.

Seeing RED

Dec. 2008/Jan. 2009 Performance in Motion

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