Arlen Vanke

[olredalert]

-------Craig,,,In the summer of 1965 Arlen worked the counter of a speed shop in Medina Ohio owned by a guy named Russ Ciefert(sp). Russ had some money burning a hole in his pocket and had developed a blow-proof bellhousing. The company name was R.C.Industries and the bellhousings sold fairly well. Arlen was still racing Pontiacs, I believe, and used to come into my Dads hardware store in Medina for nuts and bolts all the time. In return I would stop at the speed shop every chance I got and drool over all the stuff that was laying around. Russ was always kind of full of himself but Arlen was just a regular good guy. He would always take the time to talk to the snot-nosed kids (me) and I never saw him utter a harsh word. We all know what Arlen did later but Im not sure what Russ ended up doing. Someone at SEMA a couple of years ago told me Russ got into the wheel business, maybe American Racing, but Im not sure of that. Just a little backround for you........Bill S