igniters street rods

One hot afternoon while I was working on the rewinders at the old
hard working paper mill and getting ready to shaft up a roll to run, Jack
Hoylman pulled up in the cutter truck with a load of wagons behind it,
jumped off, and had a magazine in his hand. "Jim", he said, "look at all
these nice cars; why can't we get a club together like these guys do,
and do things together?" Mind you, this was in 1955. We talked back
and forth all that evening and hashed it over for about a week. We
decided to get things rolling. We talked to Sonny Shoemaker and
Wayne O'Bryant who was pretty well into cars. We got with Curt Hines
and he said we could have a meeting at his car wash. So we passed
the word around town and ran an article in the Mead Bulletin and the
Gazette of the upcoming meeting and needless to say, we had a terrific
turnout. The Club was formed and meetings were held at the Car Wash
and we had a few in the basement of the O K Restaurant on Eastern
Avenue, which was owned by Amos Watson, a member of the Club.
Everyone was asked to submit their idea for a Club Name and Logo. I
am very proud that my suggestion was voted on and made the official
name and logo. We had jackets made and Roy Salt's, who most of you
members know, brother-in-law in Columbus made our aluminum
plaques for us. In those days we dangled them on the back of our cars
on chains so people could see we were "Igniters Hot Rod Club
Members". Yes, we were known as a Hot Rod Club. I don't know how
many plaques I broke in pieces while going into low driveways (at
least 4). Our first real club house was at a garage in the alley that ran
between 2nd and Water Streets from Rose St to the railroad tracks. I
can remember some good times in the garage. The Club's first project
was started here: A GMC 6 cylinder dragster with a Model-A roadster
pick-up body. The Club got the engine from Wayne McGuire of
Kentucky who was a stock car driver in those days, and he could
really make those old Jimmys run and run fast. I can remember on cold
winter nights, some of us would slip over to Water Street where the
N&W Railroad kept their switch engine, (those days they were steam)
and steal coal off of it for our stove. I would beat my kids butt if he
would pull some of the stunts I did. I even started a Model-A coupe in
this garage. It was going to be a typical 50's hot rod, channeled-juice
brakes-32 frame Zed. But like many cars I started, I had to sell it
because of money situation at home. A lot of members worked on their
cars here, because everyone shared their tools. Our next Club Garage
was about 3 blocks on down east right off of Water St. in an alley
between Fairview and Prospect Ave. Now this was a neat place, we
had room for about 3 cars and a room in the back for a meeting room.,
At this point, we had close to 100 members, but the only stipulation to
becoming a member was you had to have a car. Take a drive out to 43
Kelley Drive, that's out on Route 28 and peak into the garage behind
the house; you might recognize the gentleman working there, yep, its
our own Richy Brown. He working on one of the first hot rods of the
Igniters' Club. Only back then, it was powered by an olds engine and
owned by Don Kretzer, one of the grandpas of Ross County Hot
Rodding. Don owned this 1934 3 window all these years until ole slick
Brownie became the owner of it last year. Speaking of long ownership,
how about the other old-timer: Curt Hines. Now thats dedication. Hey
Brownie - no pun intended. I'm just jealous. We had a lot of nice
looking cars back then. Sonny Shoemaker had a beautiful roadster
framed Zed-Body-Channeled-V8 Chevy Engine and Buddy Clark had
one almost a twin to this one. Buddy is our own Dane Clark's father.
Mike Holdren had a beautiful 50 Ford with a Pontiac grill and overhead
Ford engine. I believe it was a 312 Cu. In. Amos Watson had a Henry J
set up for drag racing with a Chevy Engine. Sonny Shoemaker also
built a 34 Ford Sedan later on with a Buick engine and flammed. He
was a consistent winner at Raven Rock Drag Strip. Our Curt Hines
also ran his 34 Coupe at Raven Rock. About this time, I had a 55 Ford
Hardtop, shaved hood, boot, cruiser skirts and the wildest pin striping
on the hood and boot and also lake pipes. Gene Swenson had a 49 or
50 Chevy 2 door with a V8 in it; also a tt Chevy Belair hardtop. Charlie
Lee had the meanest 57 Chevy around. Kretzer bought a new
Studebaker Hawk complete with blower and I believe he still has it.
Back then, the clubs were male oriented and women weren't involved
much. About the only thing to do was drag race on Sat. nights or all
day Sunday at Hyde Park in Newark or Raven Rock at Portsmouth. I
guess drag racing got to be expensive so everybody started building
old cars and going on picnics -- that's when they started calling hot
rods "street rods" and the sport got family oriented. There are a lot of
things I have skipped over, but I hope I have touched on enough
things to show you basically how we got started and evolved into the
club we are today. I would like to take the time and tell you as I
stressed at the Christmas dinner and I have been through hot rodding
and street rodding and believe me the new world of street rodding is
far superior that the "good old days". I enjoyed the old days and I think
I had fun, but believe me, a man should set his priorities in life and his
family must be #1 on that list. What other hobby can you plan a
vacation, take your hot rod, family, all together and have a great time? I
have met some wonderful friends I will never forget. So remember
guys, keep your priorities in line and you will have a beautiful,
rewarding life.

Keep On Rodding,

Jim Bucy