Duke's Drive In
 

Anyone in the Chicago area know if Duke's drive in on Harlem Ave in Bridegeview is still around??

Back in the 80's this was one of the great musclecar hang outs with some pretty neat and unusual stuff that showed up regularly. I understand it went to the subwoofer/crotch rocket biker crowd in the 90's and have not heard any updates since then.

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

From 1981-1985....the summer weekends we were there almost every weekend. It was the place to be! Lots of great memories, street drag racing and I294 racing. I`m lucky to be alive when I think back at all the crazy things we did! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif

Dan.

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

I was by there about six months ago and it was still there.
Don't think too much is happening there anymore.
I went there a few too many times in between 1978 and 1983.
Didn't know Dan (postsedan) back then but probably would have beat him in a race if challenged!

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

------Used to go to Dukes all the time when we lived in Hinsdale. Actually stayed up late (3 or 4 in the morning) a couple of times and followed the action waaaaaaaay down on the south side out in nowhere and caught the racing. You are right,,,those were great times!!! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif......Bill S

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

Were you there the night of the famous 409 vs. LS6 corvette race - I think it was on the way home?

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

Bill, we used to go down by the canals off of 83 (Kingery Hwy) and raced back in the forest preserves on 107th, were you ever there??

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

Duke's is indeed still around. I think its mostly imports now though. Back in 85 - 87 my wife (then "date") would go with my Z. Crank up Peter Dean's oldies show and we were good to go! Those were good times.

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

------Hey Jake!!! Yup, I was definetly there for that one. Actually I was in the drivers seat of the LS6. That car now resides down in Texas and is still in beautiful shape. Remember the gear in that thing??? The year I took it to B-G I passed Stretch with the needle pointing straight down. That baby was one top end machine. Stretch bought it from me shortly after. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/wink.gif........Bill S

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

Any old pics Bill???????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

Didn't know Dan (postsedan) back then but probably would have beat him in a race if challenged!

Jim, I say... Hell no!

The only 2 cars that I would often race.... and lose. Was a 1972 Buick Skylark GS455, it was Dark Green, automatic, plates read.... "LastGS". Probably the reason I am now building a Buick Skylark 455. Funny how everything goes full circle?

The Buick owner was a loaner, he was always by himself. He never had a passenger. We all made fun of him because he wore black racing gloves. Off the line I had him everytime...but then right around 70mph, here he comes. His car was fast. I`d love to know where this car is today?

The second car I would always lose to was my buddies 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A..... Automatic, 3:90 gears.

My other buddies car was a Day 2 1973 Vega with a 350, It was scary. The back tail panel read...."Suicide is Painless"

Those were the days.

Dan.

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

My first ever trip to Bloomington was in that LS6 with Marty Levine driving

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

Carl - the 409 I am referencing is the same car you owned after my dad did.

If I recall correctly that 409 beat the LS6 Corvette - Bill S. can verify (I forgot that Bill owned it prior to Stretch)???

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

-----I bet Marty and you had ear to ear grins the entire trip. Was that the year that your Dad and Stretch stole the fuel injection unit off the front seat of Jack Douglass's white 61 Vette and hid it??? The year I almost had my heart attack. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/eek.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/eek.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/eek.gif ......Bill S

------And Carl,,,Didnt we figure out that the 64 in your bio was the car that Bob Sindelar owned at one point prior to your ownership??? That was one sweet 09er.......

------That race was a short one, Jake, but your Dad did wax me. Say hi for me. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif.......

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

Pretty sure Carl had an angry blue '62, too ... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

He did - I am currently looking for that car as it belonged to my Dad back in the late 70's, early 80's. My Dad's cousin ordered the car brand new in 62 and sold to my Dad in 1979, Carl bought it from the guy my dad sold to around 1981. VIN #21847J181843. Nassau Blue/Blue interior standard Impala, 409/409.

Car was at Duke's frequently when my Dad owned it.

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

All right, that's enough teasin'! Let's hear this 409 vs. LS-6 story from one of you guys!

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

-----Mark,,,Jakes Dad is a one-in-a-million type guy. I met him shortly after I moved to Chicago in 1976 to take a job at Classic Motors in Hinsdale at the original "Jack Douglas Chevrolet" building. Jake (senior) was a route salesman with Nabisco and hes six foot four or five, so we called him the "Cookie Monster". He was a very welcome regular around C/Motors all the time I worked there as he brought all the out of date cookies and crackers to the dealership and kept us well fed for years. There is no way you could meet Jake and not become instant friends with him. I really do treasure his (and his families) friendship. He owned an absolutely beautiful 67 red/black 327/350 67 Vette roadster with A/C forever. He drove that car everywhere (and I do mean everywhere) and yet it always looked pristine. He used to tell us stories about his cousin and the Nassau Blue 62 409. His cousin, you see, was a wild, wild kid. He talked his old man into ordering the 62 409 Impala as an everyday family driver. After the car was home, cousin Eddie started going to Wisconsin and a certain quarter of a mile just about every weekend and almost always took his younger cousin Jake. That car got modified way past everyday driver status but was apparently still used by his Dad during the week. I think Jake told me that after the 73 gas crisis his cousin popped a 283 in the hole when he hurt the 409 and kept on driving the car. Eventually he parked it and it sat until he gave it to his cousin, Jake, who then restored it back to near new. Jake and his wonderful wife, Birdie went to the very 1st Car Craft Nationals in Indy with Jan and I. I took a 69 El Camino I had done a resto on with a tri-powered fairly mild 454. We had a ball, and I still have pictures of that weekend somewhere.
-------This is all a smokescreen to get out of telling you how he smoked my butt with that 409 against a very good running LS6 71 Corvette one night on the way back home from Dukes. Other than him beating me it wasnt that memorable a race (FOR ME!!!) https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/mad.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/frown.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/smirk.gif.......Bill S

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

I asked my dad about that race again after starting this thread and he thought he remembered that Stretch and Emo were in the LS6 (Stretch Driving) and you and Marty Levine were following behind in a 63(??) fuelie. That was probably almost 30 years ago and I wasn't there for that one so it's anyones guess at this point. If I remember - it was probably when the 409 had the 4:56 gears in it too???

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

-----Jake,,,You are so right!!! I had a red 63 fuelie. I think I had sold the LS6 to Stretch by that time. Geez,,,I remember it like it was yesterday, but instead of it being me behind the wheel it was me watching from right behind. At least now I dont feel quite so bad about loosing https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/tongue.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif. Senility setting in early.......Bill S

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

Jim, I say... Hell no!

The only 2 cars that I would often race.... and lose. Was a 1972 Buick Skylark GS455, it was Dark Green, automatic, plates read.... "LastGS". Probably the reason I am now building a Buick Skylark 455.

The Buick owner was a loaner, he was always by himself. He never had a passenger.

If you continue talking about buicks, you are going to be a loner by yourself too!!

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

Heres the latest photo I found of the old "09" thats my sisters wildcat in the back. I'd say in the early 80's

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...SZ28/62409.jpg

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Bill heres a photo of the black 64 I recently found. That car was remarkable. You can see Tenny's vette in the back!!!!

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...8/scan0002.jpg

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

FYI- I drove past Duke's last night at about 10pm and it was closed. I would have thought that some cars would have still been there.. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

Wadda you know? Another Nassau Blue '62. And I thought that was a fairly rare color https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/blush.gif
It beat an LS-6? Boy oh Boy oh Boy, I can't wait to get mine back on the road....... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif

So where is that '62 now????

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

Carl - those are great shots, thank you. I'll keep everyone posted on status of the blue 62. I now know where it is................thanks to an sYc member by the way..........

Jake https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

Bill S. - I asked Emo this weekend (while out in your old Donzi) if that was his old Black 64 that Carl owned - he did not know for sure, evidently Emo's had a white and red interior???? Is this the same car?

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

------Hi Jake,,,Im pretty sure this 64 pictured had white -on-red interior when we talked about the car on this sight a couple of years ago so it made a lot of sense that it was Emos old car. How many black/white gut 409/340 64 SSs could there be, especially in the Chicago area. Look up COPOs profile and you can see the white interior clearly!!!
------Im really happy that you are close to the Nassau Blue car. That would be super cool to have back in the family again........Mr.Bill,,,,Oh Nooooooo

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

I was by Duke's last night, apparently too late cause everything was closed up at 10pm and not a car in sight.

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

[ QUOTE ]
Bill S. - I asked Emo this weekend (while out in your old Donzi) if that was his old Black 64 that Carl owned - he did not know for sure, evidently Emo's had a white and red interior???? Is this the same car?

[/ QUOTE ]

The black car had a white interior with red accents.

Jake, that blue car is one I kick myself every time I think about it. If you ever get it back I NEED to have a spin in it. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/drool.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/drool.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/drool.gif

Maybe we should all hit dukes some night, I have never been there but it sounds like fun!!!!

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif

By the way I still have a NOS headlight bezel that your dad gave me..

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

[ QUOTE ]
I was by Duke's last night, apparently too late cause everything was closed up at 10pm and not a car in sight.

[/ QUOTE ]

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif What a dork, I posted this twice. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/rolleyes.gif

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

Has to be the same car then.

I'm all for putting together a Duke's night - any other interest? Is it even a place where people with cool cars hang out anymore or just another hot dog stand ??

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I was by Duke's last night, apparently too late cause everything was closed up at 10pm and not a car in sight.

[/ QUOTE ]

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif What a dork, I posted this twice. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/rolleyes.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

That's okay D...it's all good! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

I just assumed he was there two different nights! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/crazy.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

Thanks for posting the 409 photos! I like the Nassau Blue '62 409. I've always admired that particular color on a '62! I'll always have a soft spot for 409's, having grown up around them and having owned four '62's. Two different Bel Air Sedan cars, a white Bel Air Sport Coupe (my bubble!), and my current black '62 Biscayne.

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

Haven't been past there in a while but I think it belonged to the pineapple launcher and winged warrior crowd now.Sorry to dredge up an old post but...there is a bit of catching up to do.

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

Pineapple launcher - now there's one I haven't heard before. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

Winged ricers with 4 inch fart cans!!

Re: Duke's Drive In
 

Excellent !