My Mother's GTO

My Mother’s GTO

Rick Sandine

Copyright © 2024

All Rights Reserved

Contents

Glossary

Cast of Players

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Glossary

GOAT: Street slang or nickname for a GTO...both are interchangeable

HOLE SHOT: An initial lead established by one car vs. the other in a drag race

OUT OF THE HOLE: From a dead stop, such as a red light

OUT OF THE CHUTE: Same as out of the hole (i.e.) from a dead stop

POWER SHIFT: A method of rapidly progressing through the gears of a 4-speed transmission, not using the clutch

TROMP: From a rolling start to start a street race

FROM A ROLL: A predetermined speed to begin a street race

PIG: A derogatory term: an insult toward a car that was uncommonly slow

442: A muscle car from Oldsmobile that could match a GTO in speed

327: A small-block Chevy engine that would often defeat cars with much more horsepower. A legend on the street in the ‘60s

HEMI: Chrysler’s powerful 426 cubic inch engine that was greatly feared on the street in the 60s - bearing 425 horsepower

396: Chevrolet’s powerful engine that was dominant in the later 1960s

RAT MOTOR: a street nickname for Chevrolet’s powerful 396 engine

SUPER COMMANDO 440: A powerful engine from Chrysler that dominated the streets in the late 1960s

MOPAR: Any car/engine/transmission or auto part made by Chrysler

MARKET/MARKET STREET: A long 10-mile commercial stretch of highway on the South side that was dotted by red lights and lightly patrolled by police at that time...

BELMONT: A busy, commercial highway on the North side that was dotted by red lights and lightly patrolled by police

ROUTE 304: A popular intersection - way out Belmont - where important street races would often occur

34O: A blazingly fast small car, usually a Dodge Dart, that was feared on the street in the late ‘60s to early ‘70s

RAM AIR: A Pontiac engine option, introduced in the late 60s, that was an absolute killer in the 1/4 mile

TRI-POWER: A Pontiac powered by a high-compression 389, with 3, two-barrel carbs -giving the car dazzling acceleration

L-78: A powerful engine option- available on a Chevelle, Camaro, or Impala - with a solid lifter camshaft, and was rated at 375 HP.

Cast of Players

A 69 Judge GTO

A 66 Oldsmobile 442

A 67 GTO

A ’62 Bonneville

A 65 Red Impala SS Convertable

A 65 Blue Catalina

A 65 GTO

A red 65 GTO

A 65 Impala SS

A 65 Corvette Stingray

A 64 GTO Convertible

A 66 396 Chevelle

A 67 GTO

A 68 SS Chevelle

A 67 Coronet RT

A 64 GTO

A 69 Superbee Dodge

A 68 Z28 Camaro

A 69 340 Dart Swinger

A 68 Charger RT

A 66 427 Corvette Convertible

A 1968 442 Convertible

A 1970 Buick GSX

A 1970 Buick GSX side view

A 1970 Ford Torino Cobra Jet

A gold 65 GTO

A 1981 Delorean Automobile

A 1970 SS 454 Chevelle

A 65 Catalina

A 69 Plymouth Roadrunner

A 68 SS Chevelle

A 69 GTO Convertible

A 69 Convertible

A 69 Plymouth GTX

A 68 GTO Convertible

A 70 Dodge Challenger

A 66 Oldsmobile 442

A 65 Bonneville

A 65 442

A 59 Plymouth Sport Fury

A 69 Dodge Dart Swinger 340

A 1970 Cutlass Rally

A 64 GTO

Chapter 1

SUMMER - 1952:

At the age of 4, I was a spoiled little brat. I always wanted Dad to take me everywhere he went: So I'd play cry-baby...Dad, lemme go with you...I promise to behave.

Success! It worked!

On summer Saturday nights, Dad would take me to the stock car races at Canfield Speedway; about a 25-minute ride from Youngstown's north side - where we lived.

Dad and I always had a BLAST driving to the races: radio blaring - laughing; and singing along to all the 50s hit parade tunes.

Whenever we passed theChew Mail Pouch Tobacco sign, the road ahead became wider and smoother...a long straightaway.

Then, I got an idea!... I decided I'd make a dare to Dad: "Dad, you think our car could go 100? It says 100 on the speedometer."

Dad - without hesitating - immediately FLOORED his 1949 V8 Mercury....

GR-RRRRRROOOOM!

Suddenly, it grew intense - watching the quivering speedometer needle...straining up to 90; then 95...and finally, 100!

Dad was cheering: YAY...we did it! I was jumping around the front seat like a crazed lunatic! We'd gone a hundred miles an hour...

WOW!

After that, on every outbound trip, we'd have the thrilling ‘run up to 100.’ Such fun! There was nothing else like it!

Occasionally, Dad's 49 Mercury would ‘have a bad day’- faltering at 97 or 98; so that added an element of suspense.

Nevertheless, I was ‘hooked’ on SPEED - especially the NOISE from the powerhouse Mercury V8 – the muscle car of its day.

Growing up, it became even more extreme: Going fast! A loudly-roaring V8! It became my obsession! It was so much FUN! I couldn't get enough! I always wanted MORE.

Eventually, winter driving would corrode Dad's beloved 49 Mercury: And so, a sporty red 56 Ford Sunliner convertible - witha 312 Thunderbird V8 - now occupied our garage.

***

5 YEARS LATER

It was a Saturday, in late February of 1960. CBS was telecasting the 1960 Daytona 500 NASCAR race – as part of their ‘Saturday CBS Sports Spectacular.’

Wow! I'd be able to watch the actual live telecast of the Daytona 500! How SPECTACULAR!

Plus, I'd be HOME ALONE:

Mom always got her hair done on Saturdays; and then would go shopping. Dad- a workaholic - always would be doing something job-related on Saturday.

The timing was perfect:

A week earlier, two brawny delivery men - struggling heavily – had installed a console Philco 32-inch TV - with two large stereo SPEAKERS - in our living room. It was PUMP up the VOLUME time!

When the race came on, I was in heaven! The thundering noise from all the stock cars was so LOUD, the nik-naks on Mom's coffee table were vibrating like Mexican jumping beans.

On the back straight away, I loved hearing the tremendously-loud GR-RRRRRR noise - coming from all the cars running flat-out.

But without realizing it - during the exciting, 3-hour race - I had gradually turned the volume ALL the WAY up.

Not real smart.

BANG. I heard the garage door slam shut...Uh-oh.

Mom was home!

She came charging into the living room like an angry hornet - shouting hysterically..."LOWER THAT! LOWER THAT, YOU CRAZY BOY! LOWER that TV!"

Needless to say - growing older - I would NOT become her ‘favorite son.’ Not by a country mile.

By summer, 1962, our 56 Ford convertible had ‘rusted out.’ Its white top was turning grey.

Then, a SURPRISE: Mom and Dad came home driving a splendid, new, burgundy 1962 Pontiac Bonneville with an all-white interior.

A ’62 Bonneville

Everyone looked stunned when they saw our new Bonneville. It was impossible NOT to notice this spectacular 2 door beauty! Lurking under the hood was the vaunted Pontiac 389 4-barrel (303 hp) engine; with power to spare. Mom- always with an eye for style - was the one who actually spotted it on the dealer's lot. Pinch me...was this a DREAM? A fast, beautiful Bonneville? The envy of all the neighbors? Yes!

Not much later - at a red light on Belmont Ave - a gold 62 Oldsmobile Starfire pulled alongside our car (right lane). I was riding shotgun: Dad had a surprise for me...the look on his face was the tip off. When the light changed, Dad and the Starfire were off!

VAR-R-R-OOOOOOOM....

A street race! WOW. Dad had the Bonneville floored... so incredibly LOUD. It was electrifying...shocking...mesmerizing:The Starfire- in the right lane - was staying DEAD even! The clamoring noise from two big V8 engines was almost deafening! I thought I was in heaven! During the harrowing race, I could plainly see the Olds driver's taut facial expression. He was actually clenching his teeth! He was out to WIN! But Dad acted cool and nonchalant - flashing me a big grin.

What an unbelievably close race! The big Bonny and the Starfire ended up in a tie. I couldn't believe it! It took me a while to catch my breath. What a life-changing experience!

I began thinking how much fun my life would be after turning 16: Then I'd get my DRIVER's LICENSE, and then head on over to Belmont! At 15, I could get an ‘Ohio learner's permit’ (i.e.) driving ONLY with a ‘licensed adult.’

Ohio learner's permit? Blah...what fun was that? Who needs a chaperone? I wanted to drag-race on Belmont! Blast the radio! Burn some RUBBER.

Impress all the lovely ladies... honking the horn – driving by their houses. Let all the girls think this gorgeous Bonneville was MINE.

Yeah, man!

I began imagining all the places I'd be going to after getting my license.

It was April '64 when I passed my driver's test. Tears of joy! I could now drive the Bonneville ALONE! It seemed too good to be true!

And it was:

Dad put on the brakes with his ‘restrictions’ (i.e.) no driving the car ALONE, until becoming more ‘experienced.’

For me, a bitter conundrum. My urge to race on Belmont was ‘put on hold.’ Not to be denied, I kept thinking of tangible reasons for driving the big Bonneville.

Ah, yes! The LIBRARY!

I tried asking Dad; but he wasn't falling for it - turning a deaf ear when I pleaded... I'll only be gone for an hour.

A few days later, Dad- looking a bit debilitated - sent me to Gray Drug Store, to buy Pepto Bismol.

Finally: My first time driving the Bonneville - ALONE. The next day, Mom came through BIGTIME - sending me to Aunt Mary's house - bringing her eggplant parmesan (Mom's specialty).

Aunt Mary - Mom's oldest sister - was absolutely delighted! She was so glad to see me....and the eggplant! YUMM!

After Aunt Mary devoured the eggplant, she forked over 5 dollars!

Then she held me spellbound for two hours- reminiscing about the good ol' days, when she was a first-grade school teacher in Youngstown's public school system.

It was a breakthrough. I was gone ALL afternoon - bringing the Bonneville home safe 'n sound.

The next day, Mom got a call from Aunt Mary; who enthusiastically spoke of me as her FAVORITE nephew.

This gave me an idea: To drive the Bonneville on a Friday night, I'd BROWNIE-UP Mom 'n Dad! Start by becoming the world's most helpful son - doing every home chore imaginable...without being asked.

How could it fail to win their approval? Mom was a clean freak. Dad was a neat freak. There were nearly enough cleaning agents around our house to open a Dollar store.

Now, I could imagine driving the Bonneville on a Friday night– wildly popular among my friends. No longer jealous of that wussy, Neil O'Malley; whose parents let him drive their car anytime he wanted.

I started with cutting the lawn. Clipping shrubs. Spreading peat moss. Planting geraniums. Weed-pulling. Cleaning cellar and garage. Climbing UP the ladder to do the window washing, etc.

To please Mom, I even cleaned out our dreaded kitchen junk drawer. Then I washed Dad's F-150 pickup...cleaning the cement dust from the interior.

He was shocked! It looked almost new!

That following Saturday, I helped Dad (a masonry contractor) move scaffold: a time-consuming, heavy-lifting job.

At the end of the tiring day, said Dad... "Well Rick, you worked hard. So, tomorrow afternoon, you can have the car. But don't do anything silly - joyriding around with your friends."

Joyriding around with my friends? NO WAY!

I had much BIGGER plans in mind:

After cleaning & polishing the BONNEVILLE into showroom condition, I would drive by Kathy Kowalski's house...hoping to see her on the front porch - listening to the radio and reading magazines.

Kathy lived on the other side of Belmont (not too far away); and man-o-man, what a knockout! She was totally UNIQUE: Drop-dead GORGEOUS: honey blonde hair, angelic blue eyes, perfect legs, perfect smile.... but NOT conceited.

At school, ALL the smokin' hot chicks had their noses stuck up high above the ozone layer; but NOT Kathy. She was friendly!

Every guy in school wanted to ask her out; but they were absolutely terrified about being shot down.

On a one- to- ten scale, Kathy was off the charts! She was Cinderella. Snow White. Goldie locks. Little Red Riding Hood - a fairy princess brought to life.

First week of my sophomore year, Kathy (a freshman) approached me as I was walking down the corridor. Suddenly, she winked 'n smiled at me - while walking in the opposite direction. Wow!