Hi Joe,
I was born and raised in Modesto, home to American Graffiti. The movie was filmed in another town, Petaluma I believe. Modesto was a small town then, population 30,000. Now it's 300,000. My uncle always had fast cars, made more money street racing than working as a machinist, working for dad. He blew a few red lights racing on tenth street in his day, not the smartest thing. People knew to look both ways before crossing tenth street on Friday night, in fact, the older generation stayed home. They also tore up a few cars racing out in the country. The valley was full of almonds and peaches in those days, so if you left the road, ouch!
The movie is loosely based on facts. Another friend in town, now up in his sixties, said the featured car was not the fastest in town at the time. I believe someone had a big Oldsmobile, the car to beat. Also, the movie '55 Chevy, I believe was fitted with a 396, which wasn't built by Chevy until 1965.
As a youngster, I remember racing with my dad in our 348 six-pack auto shifting Chevy wagon. Don't know how mom let him do that! If I was 5, my dad was 25, my uncle 19. Dad lined up with my uncle out in the country, in front of a friend's place, on a Saturday afternoon. In those days, you could get 'out of town', out of everyone's way. Not anymore.
My uncle had a crate engine, 409, two fours, 4 speed, in his 61 or 62 Chevy. I remember we left my uncle off the line, as I was looking back from the back seat of our wagon. One of my earliest memories. Then, my uncle hooked up and went by us like we were tied to a post! Years later, my uncle told me that he ruined a set of tires that day, melted, all up in smoke. Dad probably got his younger brother a bit to pumped up, causing him to fry the tires a bit too much on launch.
American Graffiti, about the music, the cars, the times. All that's gone now, but Hot August Nights in Reno, Nevada brings it back every year with old bands, classic cars, etc.
I was born with a NeedForSpeed, it's genetic. Growing up in a automotive machine shop, building engines, etc. The first engine I built myself was a 428 Cobra Jet for my 69 shaker hood Mach 1. I was 16.
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Originally Posted by svxistentialist
Sorry to hear about that Larry.
I know the song, but don't know too much about the group. Thanks for bringing us up to date.
For all the nostalgia fans out there, your mention of Wolfman Jack brought it all back to me, courtesy of American Graffiti. Man, I have seen that movie so many times, and I never tire of it. 
A little gem, I reckon, it speaks to the heart.
Joe |