Joe Szabo
 

Does anyone know or Recall the name "Joe Szabo"? He drag raced here in the Chicago/Midwest area at least till 1970.

Re: Joe Szabo
 

I went to Ardmore School in Villa Park,Il. in 1972-73 with a new transplanted student named Carl Szabo.
His mother was also our Lead Den Mother for Cub Scouts in 1973.
I think he had a car racing uncle or relative,but don't recall his name.I never met him,but thought Carl said he was into racing cars or building engines bigtime.
I really can't remember what his forte was.
Carl would be the same age as me today,42,and worked/co-owned Villa Park Auto Body off of Villa Ave. across the Street from the Original Ovaltine Factory,up to at least 1982-3 the last I saw of him & his Father,as we lost touch soon there after.
Thought maybe this could help you. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif

Re: Joe Szabo
 

I knew Joe Szabo......he and Ralph Richter had a 62-64 Nova called PSYCHO.....it had a Injected 500" big block with a clutch turbo......he also owned a T.V. and Radio repair business on Irving Park just a little east of Nickey Chev.....

Ken https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/flag.gif

Re: Joe Szabo
 

Yahtzee...!

Re: Joe Szabo
 

Ken,
Talk about a needle in a haystack?? How did you get to know Joe? Did you ever see the car Run? What years?

Re: Joe Szabo
 

I lived in the same neighborhood as Ralph and Joe....we sort'a hung out together....When the car was finished they were in the UDRA gasser circuit and I went to a few races with them, the car had a 500" Injected big block......It was one of the first "Large" motors that was built in the area....they put a ton of money in the car but weren't the best when it came to dialing the car in......remember, this was with early 60's suspension technology , and gob's of horsepower......when the car was finished.....it had blue tinted plexiglass windows all around (including the windshield).......when Joe drove it for the first time , he realized that the blue tint didn't allow him to see the christmas tree lights at all....the blue tint cancelled out the lights......back to the drawing board.......the car ran 10 flat which was crazy for the time.......they ended up breaking a valve and did quite a bit of damage to the big motor and backed off the racing....Ralph got married and everyone sort of went their seperate ways .......I hear the car is still around somewhere......they ran the car as I remember 66-68 timeframe......

Ken

Re: Joe Szabo
 

Ken,
Thanks for sharing. What a small world we live in! I have been researching some old race cars with Local/Chicago History and came up with this cool story and car.

It is a 1963 Chevy II, which I have been told was a race car from virtually day one. It is still set up very much as you remember it. The engine I was told is an L88 with open chamber heads and was rebuilt in 1970 and prepped for another race season , but for some reason, never again run. The car sat in "barn" storage for 35 years until just recently.

Joe's name was on the 1/4 panels and door as driver. Car was last painted by "Scully". A " Hanzel" Studio had something to do with the car. C&T engineering out of Evergreen Park was a sponsor as well as Midwest Muffler.

The car he been through at least a few paint schemes. It seems to have originally been Gold ,then White, then a light metallic blue and a robins egg blue and finally in the configuration it was left in 1970.

Please fill in any gaps that you can. I still can't believe you were right there as it happened.

Great talking with you.

Re: Joe Szabo
 

Picture

https://www.yenko.net/attachments/173761-sb-1.JPG

Re: Joe Szabo
 

Another

https://www.yenko.net/attachments/173764-sb-2.JPG

Re: Joe Szabo
 

Another

https://www.yenko.net/attachments/173766-sb-3.JPG

Re: Joe Szabo
 

That is so cool...Ken and Stefano...thanks for sharing...AWESOME! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Joe Szabo
 

Ken,
Now that you provided the name I can see the old outline on the 1/4 panel "owners Joe Szabo & Ralph Richter".

There is a note on the aluminum dash panel, it says; "Think, is this trip absolutely necessary?"

Re: Joe Szabo
 

That's hilarious, Stefano! Looks like old S/W guages? And was the bead rolled tin-work common back in the day? Is that something haning in the vacinity of where the rear view mirror used to be? Cool stuff...WAY out there for my tastes, but never a better time to learn!

Re: Joe Szabo
 

I'm not that up on these old race cars, but based on many that I have seen this one seems very advanced, IMO for the time. The bead rolled tin/aluminum is cutting edge. You caught the "Yenko" style SW gages. That pull handle where the rear view mirror would have been is for the parachute.

There is an aluminum water tank and electric pump in the trunk for its cooling system.

Re: Joe Szabo
 

Wow.......Talk about memories.......Like I told Steve earlier......Ralph's family owned a machine shop around Southport and Addison and they bought one of the first Lakewood Scattershields that were made,when it was assembled to the block we found that the bore that located the trans was not concentric with the crankshaft......the assembled engine was set up on a boring mill and we bored the hole oversize and made a sleeve to center everything up........I also remember helping mount the fuel tank....we were also color co-ordinated at the track with pin striped Bell Bottoms and matching shirts https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif......I think the car survived better than the rest of the guy's........Danny Rush did most of the mechanical work on the car and the last time we were together was a year ago....the rest of the guy's I last had contact with in the early 70's...............I could go on and on......
Ken https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ouguysrock.gif

Re: Joe Szabo
 

Also ....Joe was friends with Austin Coil.....Austin at the time was a Chrysler mechanic and raced a gold Plymouth Hemi car......when he got involved with Farkonis and Minnick(that's another story)while they were building their first funny car we went over to Austins 2 car garage and watched him put the Chassis together....I remember they had the spindles chromed and when he tried to put them on they wouldn't fit because of the chrome buildup....And the rest is History.......

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

Re: Joe Szabo
 

Ken,
Do you remember what year Joe and Ralph bought the car, from the speed shop and what color it was before they had it painted?

Re: Joe Szabo
 

Just from memory I'd say they bought it in 65......don't know about the color........

Ken https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/hmmm.gif

Re: Joe Szabo
 

Who was the speed shop and was it set up for a big block when they got it? Still 993 questions left to go.

Re: Joe Szabo
 

GREAT stuff guys !!! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Joe Szabo
 

I'm pretty sure the contact came thru Von Essers Speed Shop which was about a half mile east of Nickey on Irving Park rd......

Ken

Re: Joe Szabo
 

Or Speed Service that was in the same area......??????? That all happened B4 I got involved

Ken

Re: Joe Szabo
 

Part of the story I got said that Joe was buddies with Austin Coil?

Re: Joe Szabo
 

[ QUOTE ]
Wow.......Talk about memories.......Like I told Steve earlier......Ralph's family owned a machine shop around Southport and Addison and they bought one of the first Lakewood Scattershields that were made,when it was assembled to the block we found that the bore that located the trans was not concentric with the crankshaft......the assembled engine was set up on a boring mill and we bored the hole oversize and made a sleeve to center everything up........I also remember helping mount the fuel tank....we were also color co-ordinated at the track with pin striped Bell Bottoms and matching shirts https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif......I think the car survived better than the rest of the guy's........Danny Rush did most of the mechanical work on the car and the last time we were together was a year ago....the rest of the guy's I last had contact with in the early 70's...............I could go on and on......
Ken https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ouguysrock.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ouguysrock.gif You better keep going...this is very cool! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/headbang.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif

Re: Joe Szabo
 

Bruce......Time to Empty your P.M. Box..........

Ken

Re: Joe Szabo
 

Sorry Ken...It's emptied a bit!

Re: Joe Szabo
 

In honor of Ken's knowledge and recollection on this topic I feel like I should change my name to G whizz, because this guy is amazing to listen to. I mean we asked Helen Gibb to write a book, How about kwhizz writing some memoirs?

I also had an auto shop teacher at Triton College in River Grove named Frank Szabo in the early 80's.

Re: Joe Szabo
 

When this car was finished, like I said in an earlier post......the first time out we had the Blue windshield problem......the first run was a mid 11 second run......that was it, then the windshield was changed from Blue to clear.....there might have been another weekend where a run or two were made.......then we went to Minnesota for a UDRA Gasser meet.....it rained all weekend and the car never came off the trailer.....next time out we went to another Gasser meet at the Edgewater Dragstrip in Cincinatti......the first run down the track, the car went like a 10.00 flat.....that was with like 5 or 6 runs on the car since completion......the next run down the track, the car didn't make it to half track before breaking, when we got to the car and saw water coming out of one of the header pipes....we knew there was a major problem with the engine.......loaded it up and took it home.....when we got home we found a broken valve that took out the piston, cyl wall, head, etc.....After that interest was lost by Joe and Ralph and eventually a new motor was built......but the car never went down the track again....due to Joe's Tax problems with the Government....the car was hidden in Northern Wisconsin until it popped up here......a virtual time capsule.......

Ken https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/flag.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ouguysrock.gif

Re: Joe Szabo
 

[ QUOTE ]
In honor of Ken's knowledge and recollection on this topic I feel like I should change my name to G whizz, because this guy is amazing to listen to. I mean we asked Helen Gibb to write a book, How about kwhizz writing some memoirs?

I also had an auto shop teacher at Triton College in River Grove named Frank Szabo in the early 80's.

[/ QUOTE ]

I feel the same way...Ken, are you listening? We should have "Ken's Corner" where anyone who has cool drag racing/street racing and musclecar stories could post (this should/would/could include Ken, Joe G, Belair Bob, the Clary's and on and on...)

I live for this stuff...and eat it up!! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: Joe Szabo
 

Bruce,
This is the forum for such things! Did Ken share where he spent most Saturday Mornings, back in the day?

I can't wait to open the Engine up and see what's inside.

Ken,
There are signs of body filler on top of the original paint around the wheel openings. Which would lead me to believe the car had some fabricated wheel openings at one time early in its life. Were they that hogged out when you guys ran the car? The Vintage M&Hs are 13 inches wide and it had '16 steel wheels on the back.

Think you can dig up an old pic or two?

Re: Joe Szabo
 

Steve...I guess that why I'm on here so much then...I think I'm addicted...someone help! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Re: Joe Szabo
 

[ QUOTE ]
Bruce,
This is the forum for such things! Did Ken share where he spent most Saturday Mornings, back in the day?

I can't wait to open the Engine up and see what's inside.

Ken,
There are signs of body filler on top of the original paint around the wheel openings. Which would lead me to believe the car had some fabricated wheel openings at one time early in its life. Were they that hogged out when you guys ran the car? The Vintage M&Hs are 13 inches wide and it had '16 steel wheels on the back.

Think you can dig up an old pic or two?

[/ QUOTE ]

The car looks exactly as I remember it, cut out wheelwells and all.......Sorry....No Pic's....... Steve.......How about a story about how you found the car and who you bought it from......etc.....

Ken

Re: Joe Szabo
 

Yo Ken...where did you spend Saturday mornings...back in the day....? https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif

Re: Joe Szabo
 

Very cool stuff Ken ...I am thinking you knew/know Larry Swiatek and the Gray Ghost Pontiac FX and Funny cars ...Mike Garfinkle too ????

Re: Joe Szabo
 

Funny...reading this cool thread and listening to Jack Bruce,Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton banging away on WTTW public TV...damn cool.

Re: Joe Szabo
 

[ QUOTE ]
Funny...reading this cool thread and listening to Jack Bruce,Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton banging away on WTTW public TV...damn cool.

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
...please put down the hashish now..

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Joe Szabo
 

It was a ritual, every Saturday morning we would go to Nickey and see what was going on , what new cars came in during the week, and hang out in the Parts dept......one of the Part Guy's was named Mike and Mr. Cusser was the Manager .....we used to get some side work from Mike.....if someone would come in and buy some speed stuff and didn't know how to put it on and the shop was busy.....Mike would turn us on to this and we made some extra money.....Also one Saturday we were there , the car carrier pulled up and we went outside to see what was new.....
There was a Nassau Blue 65 Vette on the trailer, we freaked out cause it had Knock Off wheels,Side Pipes, Gold Line Tires. and
"Oh my God"........Big Block Flags on the fenders......this was the first 396-425 Vette to arrive at Nickey....we had to wait around to hear this thing run and to look at it closer......this thing had a crowd around it all day.....while it was being cleaned and prepped, we noticed that a receipt was taped on the windshied and that the car had been bought from someone that was there......the rest of the story I'm not proud of but after seeing what was going on I kept my distance........my friend that I was there with sat in the car.....got the Key #'s, got the guy's address of the receipt and went in the parts dept and got a set of keys made......you see where this is going.......The guy that bought the car lived in Lake Forest
......any how they went out there that night and took the car and brought it back to the city and stripped it....my friend put the knock-offs on his 64 Impala...(talk about advertising) he was stopped by the Police and asked about the wheels and ended up turning in the guy's that helped him........The end result was that one person went to Jail for a year....my friend got off (because he didn't actually steal the car)......what goes around comes around because they rented a little "U-Haul" trailer and put the engine and trans in it, and someone stole the trailer.......Glad I didn't get involved in that deal.....
Bob, I watched the Grey Ghost run all the time....there was another Pontiac that ran in the same time frame called the "White Warrior" that was Ray Bisig

Ken https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ouguysrock.gif

Re: Joe Szabo
 

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.gifWay Friggin cool! (as Frank Magallon would say)

Midnight auto supply, huh? The closest I ever got to Nickeywhenwe lived in Palatine was driving by on the highway... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/frown.gif

Keep it coming , Ken! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: Joe Szabo
 

Talk about a scary race/Funny car. The Grey Ghost lives!

Re: Joe Szabo
 

I Know it does Stavros ! just barely though...did he/will he do anything with it.