ART JOHNSON'S -

[1BAD50]

How do I begin a story of illegal activity on the net?

Probably shouldn't...

Did you know that when racing was over at the end of the day at New England Dragway...the announcer would finish his day by saying..."Racing continues at ART JOHNSON'S rte 1 in Norwood"...

You know the quys stole the sign that said "NEW ENGLAND DRAGWAY - NEXT RIGHT"...and planted the thing on rte 1 further north in Westwood.

Somewhere I may still have the issue of Car Craft Magazine...where Art Johnson's was a feature article...

Imagine if you can...the next time your at the local cruise night at Burger King...with maybe a hundred cars present...round after round of street racing taking place right before your eyes...scores were settled...reputations were made and lost...broken cars limped home to be fixed and return later that night to get a second chance...mechanics with keys to local auto dealers would go open up and get parts and tools at night and then return...

And one night while I was standing at the window waiting for my fried clams, which were the best, the Norwood Cops pulled in...walked up to the window next to me and said..."Don't let us stop anything...were here to watch!"

In today's world this is hard to imagine...you'd be put away for a long time...and you'd be front page news...

But in the days of the Muscle Car...when SS396's, GTO's, Cobra Jets, 440 six packs roamed the streets and were as commonplace as honda's are today...

Guys with a point to prove...did it at Art Johnsons...

 

[Dan_Soprano]

ok?

 

[retro50]

My two uncle's grew up in Sharon Mass. They both told me about Art Johnson's. One of my uncle's had a 67 L-88 Vette. He used to race there all the time. He had one of the quicker cars out there. He said people used to trailer dragcars out there with open headers and slicks all the time. They both remember car craft magazine comming out there to do a story on it. One night they were out there and they left a little early and on there way out from Rte 1 They passed about 30 state troopers with there lights on heading in there to break up the action. They said after that the cops really started to come down on he illegal racing action. Don't forget the speed shack was also out there. Plus Norwod Arena With their 1/8 mile strip and their roundy round track.

 

[1BAD50]

Oh yes...

I know the attitude...

lots of guys with fast cars pulled in with an attitude...

and the regulars just looked at each other and decided whose turn it was...

the guy was kindly asked to "Bring it up to the lights..."

and after he was embarrassed before a standing crowd...

You'd see him and his car disappear into the night...

 

[Superskwrl]

I dont think you'll find many guys who were there, and are computer literate,lol

 

[1BAD50]

So now...where do we take this...

The first time I drove by and saw this crowd hanging out was probably late 1969 and I was in my senior year in high school. My ride was a 1964 Galaxie 500 XL convert. 390 4bbl. 4 speed, buckets, console, and one of the first AM/FM radio's ever factory installed. It was black with a white gut and all stock. No screamer, but I had different priorities then...like picking up the babes...the babes dug the converts man...what else really mattered?

So...I park my ride and here's some guys I know yellin "come on! it's a run ! come on!" And everyone is lining up along rte 1 like something is about to happen. I go running up to the corner to see a brand new SS454 Chevelle with all this spagetti hanging underneath and the things got Slicks in the back!!! In the other lane is a 6 pack Road Runner with the big scoop on the hood. All kinds of nasty sounds from open exhaust and big cams. The light turns green and the Chevelle picks the front tires right off the ground and slaps two lengths on the Mopar before he hits second. As the two cars race down rte 1 the entire crowd moves into the highway!!!!! Blocking oncoming traffic so everyone can see who's ahead. The cars behind them start blowing their horns but not a single head is turned as the Chevelle smokes the Mopar bad.

Wow...this could be fun...

Maybe I'll take Cindy home and come back!!!

 

[1BAD50]

So...me and the guys from Westwood High spent the nights cruisin Rte 1. Jim had the best looking car in the school parking lot, a 1966 Fairlane GTA, a rare copper/maroon color with "deep dish" cragar SS wheels. The 390 power was later replaced by a 428CJ. Dave had a new 1969 Cougar Eliminator, 351-W. Steve had a 64 327 Biscanne w/4.56 gears and would bang gears at 7500rpm, later replaced by a 65 Falcon 289. And me...well... I was planning for the future...dad's cellar was starting to fill with smallblock ford stuff. 351-W heads, Shelby intakes, cams and valvetrain parts. For graduation I knew I'd be getting a little extra cash and I was already keeping an eye out for "THE STANG"

So we'd give ART's the drive by and if the place was rockin, we'd pull-in...Me and the guys didn't have a killer car, but we learned to play it smart, we got to know some of the regulars, learned who to stay away from, which cars where faster than the others. There was a "pecking order" and if you didn't learn it...you were quickly made a fool of.

And if you were a FORD guy...that was another story...getting respect had to be done the hard way...you had to earn it...And the Chevys were tough to beat...there were some built smallblocks that were screamers and could beat an unsuspecting big block car...And then there was that red 454 Chevelle...god that thing was fast...he didn't hang out much...he'd pull in...see if there were any takers...and then leave...you might not see him again for weeks. You want to talk about attitude...he could back his up.

Next time...THE FORD GUYS TAKE ON THE CHEVELLE...

 

[PonyGrl420]

I love hearing these kinda stories. Its so depressing though, I wish I was around back then. Everything sux now a days....to many idiots

 

[cevtv]

Anyone remember the '80's in Brockton, at Westgate Mall and Burger King?? Same thing - god, I miss it!

 

[90Notchya!]

Cevtv I see your notch back all the time man Nice ride. I Used to go to burgerking and westgate in the early 90's to watch I was not old enough to drive then!

 

[cevtv]

Cevtv I see your notch back all the time man Nice ride. I Used to go to burgerking and westgate in the early 90's to watch I was not old enough to drive then!

Thank you very much! Wave, or something next time.... I had my '86 GT back in the early '90's. Had a blast up there - until they really started coming down on it.

 

[1BAD50]

The Ford quys needed a hero...bad...that Chevelle needed to get taken out. The only Ford guys at this time that had a chance were a couple of mechanics from a local Ford Dealer. They had a 68 Cobra-Jet Mustang Super Stock race car they helped wrench at the track, but it never got on the street. One of them, I'll call him the "bear" for good reason, had a 69 Torino Cobra with $5000.00 worth of Holman-Moody 428 power with a Dual Quad Cross-Ram Intake. I asked him why he didn't go for the Chevelle, "The cam, quads, and converter aren't matched right". So this Ford might have been the most powerful car at Art Johnson's, and it sounded it, but it would bog on the launch according to it's owner. Here comes the Chevelle...damm...

The bear and his buddy get in another car...and tell the guy in the Chevelle "don't leave"... Oh...Oh...

Thirty minutes later here they come pulling in with a brand new 1970 Torino Cobra 429 SCJ, Shaker Scoop, factory solid cam, factory Holley, C6, 4:30 gears and the sticker is still on the window. Hey man...where'd ya get that??? "DON'T ASK"

Up comes the hood, out comes the air filter, the power steering belt is now lying on the ground along with some hoses. You know it's time for take no prisoners.

The Chevelle and the Torino go around the back of the adjacent resturant, pull out onto rte 1 and sit in the breakdown lane and wait for the yellow. There's a crowd lined up 300 feet long and when the light turns green the Chevelle slaps it's customary 2 lengths on the launch as the Torino spins the tires. But that was it...........the Chevelle cannot pull any further. The cars come back and the Ford guys tell the guy in the Chevelle,"don't go anywhere". This time they took longer...in comes the Torino with slicks in the back seat. Right in the middle of the parking lot they got this brand new Torino Cobra jacked up and mounting slicks in front of a hundred people. Honest to God...

It only helped a little...it would have needed a converter...balls...

It's desperation time...so the bear's red 69 Torino Cobra gets fired up, sounding like a world beater and they pull out to try again.

Sure enough the dual quads bog the converter and the Chevelle jumps out at least 3 lengths........but.....Oh my god........look at that thing pull.....for only time I can remember that Chevelle was out powered....by the end of the quartermark the Torino was on his door handles....

Ford guys took a real hit that night...

 

[Marc2]

This is the greatest thread of all time. Its like the Stangnet History Channel. Please continue......

 

[5.0 HOtrain]

I agree, great story telling

 

[hotrodredneck]

more please!!!

 

[caveman6666]

Hah! Great stories man. Reminds me of DPA in the mid '70's, though the cops weren't at all cool, and the real action took place off the Ave.

 

[dark_cobra_01]

That is some great story tellin..

Reminds me of my dad talkin about that ERA as well.. but he was always down the road abit on RT1 at a place called "JOLLY CHOLLY's" in N.Attleboro.

They raced on the unfinished sections of RT 295 and the cops use to watch as well ..

Hey 1BAD50, Did the people in that day cruise between Art's in Norwood down to Jolly Chollys ?? ... Maybe you got some stories of Jollys as well..

-DC

 

[sheff2720]

you really know how to tell a story.. you should be an author

 

[1BAD50]

the only way to continue...is to speak of my own endevors...but ok...

so...you know it had to happen...right...

I'm sittin on one of the benches lovin those fried clams...you know the ones...thick and gooey...with the belly's...

and here comes my buddy dave with ken the drummer and they got this guy I don't know with them...now dave is a character...he is a joke waiting to happen...he looks just like an anti-vietnam hippy of the time...his clothes are completely dischevaled...he hasn't shaved...and his long hair is in his face...but he always wears this s##t eaten grin...and you just know...that whatever comes out of his mouth... is going to make you laugh...

Hey...this guy wants to run you....(ie...I just set you up...)
YA RIGHT...
No really...(laughs)...
WHAT... THE XL?...
Finally the guy chirps up "I gotta 383 Roadrunner..."

Now the 390 XL is definitely tired...and a load...but...those 383's can be had without too much trouble...the other thing is... this small gathering has sent back radio waves to everyone's radar searching for the next pair of cars to lineup...the other thing is...I don't want to look like chickens##t to a 383 Mopar...

YA...SURE...LET'S GO...

So...we bring the cars around the adjacent resturant and lineup in the brakedown lane...you got to keep one eye on the lights...waiting for the yellow...and the other in the rearview...because your about to cut-off traffic on a four lane interstate highway...it can be a little hairy...but...practice makes perfect...

Now... I'm holding the revs about 3500rpm when the light turns green and I let the clutch pedal fly...the worn clutch slips perfectly so the tires don't fry and I pull the MOPAR almost a length as he spins...I make the gear change at a mind blowing 5200rpm...it's all those springs can take...and I actually pull him a little more...I'm watching the console mounted factory tach...which does not let you watch the road...and I'm about to yell..."I'D RATHER HAVE NO CAR...THAN A MOPAR!!!...When the 390 just dies...just like you turned the key!!!...watching that little bird with the long neck go by, didn't make my night...

Back at ART's everyones yelling.."What Happened...You had him!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Fuel starvation probably...used up the fuel in the bowls...and then the pump wasn't up to it...

Oh...Well...it doesn't matter...

It's time to go buy "THE STANG"

 

[cold96snake]

I'm a little older than the rest, and I can rememeber those days sitting on my brother's lap. @8-10 at the time and in CT. Keep taking me back, brother!
BTW, my brother is now a floor mechanic for P&W, building/fixing the jets our flyboys depend on.