Yenko Deuce accident

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I have been trying for a few years to document the accident that James Spencer had while driving his Demo Deuce in '70. I have run into dead ends. Does anyone know of a website that specializes in old periodicals? I'm basically looking for any coverage that the local Canonsburg newspaper would have given this event.

Donna mae told me that she believed James had a mild stroke while driving the car one day, and that he struck a bridge abuttment - flipping the car over. I know which Yenko Deuce it was, and have done a title search on it - the owner is still Yenko Leasing, Canonsburg, PA. I have visited the junk yards surrounding Canonsburg, none of them have any old Novas left laying around, so the car is technically a 'wreck'.

Any ideas or suggestions are welcome as to how to document this further.

[JoeC]

Some libraries have the old newspapers on microfilm. You would have to do a search on it so the approximate date would help. You may find it if the news paper did an article on it. This is also a way to look for old dealership ads.

[elcamino72]

I am from western Pa, but I wasn't born yet in 1970. The local papers around Canonsburg would have been the Washington Observer-Reporter and the papers in Pittsburgh would have been the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Pittsburgh Press. These are all the papers that I know of from that time period. Canonsburg themselves may have had a small paper, but it would have been just that a small paper. The dealership is/was not actually in Canonsburg itself, but rather over on route 19. Chances of finding the car in the junkyards would be slim to none, the yards around here crush 'em quick if there are no usuable parts, this especially goes for the older cars to make room for the newer cars with parts that make more money. This accident happened while this was still a relatively new car and around here, best I can tell from talking with my father and other local car guys that were around, Yenko's were not really a big deal. It seems everyone knew someone with a Yenko and sure they were fast, but no one ever thought much about them. It wasn't until later when everyone seems to have noticed exactly what they were seeing back in the later 1960's, early 1970's.

The Observer-Reporter is still in business and so is the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The Pittsburgh Press went on strike and merged with the Post-Gazette in the early 1990's.

I hope this helps some, sorry I couldn't be of much more help. BTW, where are you from? I live in Burgettstown and go to school in Indiana, Pa.

[JoeC]

Marlin,
Was there more then one Yenko Deuce crashed? I spoke with an ex-Yenko employee who remembers another Yenko salesman who wrecked a Deuce.

[bauer]

James Spencer's accident happened in Chicago. Wreck was brought back to Canonsburg and was behind garage for a couple of years then sent to salvage yard.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Bauer;
I have heard that as well. Donna Mae told me it was on Rt. 19 in Canonsburg, John Durago (sp?) told me it was in Chicago. I show two Deuces wrecked, maybe both stories are true?? I'll keep searching!

[JoeC]

Welcome to the site Bauer.
I have Bill Bauer in my notes as service manager at Yenko?
any relation?

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

JoeC;
Same here, but my notes say parts manager - same thing?

[MotownMadman]

Marlin, I personally saw a Deuce dropped into a crusher in San Ysidro Ca in 1982, just north of the Mexican border were that guy shot up the McDonalds. The car was smacked and stripped, I had thought about saving it but figured it wouldnt be worth the cost of fixing it. Am I kicking myself? Yes, everytime I hear the word Deuce. Sorry Guys.
Motown [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]