B & R was a speed shop in miniature, but what it lacked in size, it more than made up for with its surprisingly decent inventory. It was the kind of place where you could rummage and discover hidden gems for your latest automotive project. Later on, Small Wheels Foreign Car Parts arrived on the scene, conveniently located across from the theater, just around the corner. And still later, the B & R owner expanded, opening a new store closer to Brady-Standard.
This brings to mind Big Mike, a figure from my father’s automotive education. His shop was legendary, almost mythical, as the home of the “4-foot breaker-bar.” That behemoth was supposedly necessary to turn the crank after engine assembly, a testament to the warped V-way on their old Lemco crankshaft grinder. These were the kinds of quirks and characters that defined the automotive landscape back then.
And who could forget StateWide? Barry, “The Snake,” and countless other colorful personalities populated that establishment. I recall my father once acquiring a Fram Filter box there, only to find an aftermarket filter lurking inside – a classic tale from the parts-swapping days. Barry even tried to persuade my father to set up his shop in our back room or basement, proposing a deal: 50/50 on machine work and a tantalizing 80/20 split on parts. The allure of that 80% was certainly strong!
Speaking of parts and perhaps a little instigation… my father’s escapades sometimes involved my mother’s cars. With her 73rd birthday approaching on July 11th, the thought of a new exhaust system might just ignite her adventurous spirit once more. She’s still a spitfire, handling her 300D Mercedes with a zest that belies her age. “Cleaning out the injectors” is her playful excuse to put the pedal down, unleashing what feels like a HEMI in grandma’s clothing. I wouldn’t be surprised if she could clock a 13.90 quarter-mile in that car, air conditioning blasting, Rod Stewart serenading from the CD player, and a Sfogliatelle’ pastry in hand. She might even give my father a run for his money in his ’67 273 K/S Barracuda.
Happy 4th to all fellow enthusiasts!
Lil Scooch (The original)
