Cruisers Classics - About Cruiser

Cruiser's 38 Special

"New Flame"
1938 Buick Special
picture circa 1999

Hello, I'm Ron, A.K.A. Cruiser. I am born and raised in the Chicago area and I AM an "Old Car Nut".
There I said it! Now can we forget the other 11 steps?

But Mom I wanna drive!

Click to enlarge
If the area in the picture on the left looks familiar, you must be from the old Italian neighborhood around Taylor Street.
This picture was actually taken on the 2700 block of Polk Street between California and Washtenaw circa 1956.
Have a Taylor street area story or Pictures? Think you remember me?   PLEASE SEND ME EMAIL
Picture on right is Cruiser with his "New Flame" 1938 Buick Special circa 1999, More about the 38 later.

The 53 Buick Special is 3 years old here and my dad's first new car. Powered by a Straight 8 with a "3 on the tree" manual transmission.
I am just a few years older than the car and like some of the kids of my generation, I got to sit on dads lap and steer, then shift before I was 6.
By the time I was 7, I could either steer and shift or work the gas, clutch and brake, I was just a little short of doing both.
Around the summer of my 8th year I got tall enough to do both but at the cost of not being able to see over the hood!
Dad to the rescue, he cut blocks out of 2x4's added hardware and bolts and mounted "peddle extenders" to all 3 pedals so I could drive.
Since we lived in the city, I could only drive on Sunday mornings, inside the cemetery in Hillside, IL.
What a wait, first we had to drive to the burbs to pick up grandma, and then all the way out to Hillside,
BUT - I got to DRIVE this HUGH BUICK to all 9 family grave sites, just like a chauffeur, getting out to open the door for grandma and dad.
AH, Sunday mornings MY favorite time of the week, I'm a pro driver at 10!

OK, enough, you get it, I like Cars, I like to Drive, and I started young.
Then I noticed motorcycles and added another want to my gotta have list.
Too young to buy one, I was just 10, I convert my 3 speed "English Racer" bike to a motor bike using the family lawn mover engine salvaged parts and a few real motorcycle parts.
My interest in old cars got a boost when a neighbor asks, 10 year old, me to help her get her 37 Buick started.
She rewards me with a ride in the FRONT seat of this BEAUTIFUL STREAMLINE ART DECO BUICK as we head for ice cream.
I'M HOOKED"

I kept the home made motorbike until around age 12 when I got a basket case Whizzer and put it together.
Around the age of 12 I traded it for a late 50's tired but road worthy BSA Victor.
Got my first Harley (49 Hummer) at age 14, then; a 49 Moto Guzzi 500cc Single around age 16.
About the same time I found another basket case, this time an early 49 HD FL Pan head which I made into a Chopper,
the kind we call "old School" now.
Also bought a 57 Ford Fairlane 2 dr HT 312 automatic before I turned 16 or even had a license.
Right I had all of these but NO drivers license!

Oh, the list doesn't end here, not even close - BUT like when you visit with friends and they pull out their vacation and baby pictures,
Uh, I'll stop here, for now, But, Ah, Well, since you insist, just 1 or 2 more then.

Then the next "gotta have" SPEED, Drag racing, street or strip. Skips Fiesta, Tops, Dukes, Bus's anywhere the hot cars and babe's hung out.
Built my 60 Dodge Phoenix 2 door hard top fast back, 361 D500 option dual quad, built torqueflight, etc, etc so next up was a real drag strip,
my first way out in Oswego, Illinois.

No pics of the 60 Dodge but here I am in the Chevy powered bucket T


Picture Credit goes to my friend "Bondo" Billy Raichart

who passed away way too young, more about Billy later.

Another of my creations
No pictures of the finished car, but here it is in my then rude and crude garage
This mess would soon be a 1932 3 window 392 dual quad 375 HP (from a 57 Chrysler C)
and my first CHOP TOP project, from Nov 1968. (old Polaroid's)

This project taught me how to NEVER chop a top this way again.
Done in the style we today call "Rat Rod".

Speaking of Oswego Drag Strip -- I'm looking for pictures for this website. Any and all pictures, info and personal stories will be greatly appreciated.
If the pictures are yours I'll photo credit you, if they were published just send where you got them so I can give photo credit to the publication or photographer.
If unknown just state that.

Picture wish list;
Any Oswego or US 30 Drag strip or area hot spots. I am especially interested in pictures stamped
"track photographer" or "Bill (Billy) Raichart" as for a few years he was both official and unofficial track photographer.

Any pictures of Billy Raichart and/or his cars.

Any pictures of these area Drag Cars from US 30 - Oswego - Union Grove
Chi-town Shaker (pro street Vega) owner Billy "bondo" Raichart
Vitamin C (61 Chevy ) owner Gene Rosen
Grim-Reaper ( Mopar "the Worlds Fastest Wedge" ) owner Sonny Stephels
or of me in the "T" or my 60 Dodge above circa 60's.

Interesting stories get a "by" line credit with or without contact info, up to you.

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