|
Traditional Sprint Car FanSite |
See You At The Races!!! |
| Buzz's
Backyard by Norm Bogan |
|
|
|
How many times have you questioned, what ever happened to that old Edmunds
car that so and so drove? Well,
there is a good chance that it may have ended up in Buzz’ backyard. For several years now, Buzz Shoemaker has brought some beautifully restored
old racecars out to the track for the fans to reminisce over.
Most of Buzz’ cars are not the extremely vintage cars, but those which
many of us have seen in competition. To
once again see these cars in pristine condition as they were, when wheeled by
our heroes, is a pleasurable trip down memory lane. Being the friendly sort that he is, Buzz, a lifelong resident of La Verne, had invited me over to the spacious home he shares with his wife Karen, to see his handiwork up close and view some of his future endeavors. He said, “just come around back, cause that’s where I’ll be”. Upon arrival, as I walked around back, I could hear a hammer pounding, as Buzz was working on a new creation, not a restoration, but a large workshop. He said he was going as big as the city would allow him. His new shop would be the equivalent of about a four-car garage. The shop will be well insulated, well lighted and have a complete sprinkler system. There in amongst the construction sat a seventies era Edmunds dirt champ car, which had only run about eight times and looked as if it could go on the track now with a minimum of preparation. He had just sold the car and was going to complete restoration for the new owner. Also visible were his two latest entries, the #27 King of Lawn black beauty and the #4 Tamale Wagon, with the unique Moser engine. In another nook of the shop, there stood about ten old speedway motorcycles, memories of his first racing experience with his dad. They are on the back burner now, but are intended for restoration. On an engine stand is a 270 c.i. GMC six cylinder engine, just waiting to be slipped into a track roadster in process. The car was picked up from some friends of longtime roadster ace, Rosie Rouselle. The frame was so bad that Buzz had to fabricate a new one and is now collecting additional pieces to complete the car. In the yard sat three sprint car chassis. There is the Grant King car that Mike Sweeney drove early in his career, an old Edmunds, which Buzz is going to fit with a special Chevy engine sporting a 180-degree crank and the #35 Harper car that Carl Shockley drove in the early eighties. Buzz was never a race driver or car owner, just a fan, whose dad took him to
speedway motorcycle races at Lincoln Park about fifty years ago and moved later
to the open wheel cars. Being
brought up in southern California, with its automobile sub-culture, he was
naturally attracted to hotrods. About
thirty years ago, he acquired a 1932 Ford roadster and it became his first
project. While working during the day in a leather goods business, fussing with
cars became a great escape. He
took pride in his work and relished the idea that he could make a car look
better than the original. Over the
years, one thing has lead to another and he has completed many restoration
projects. Among those were several
trucks, including vintage and more current, that were both showpieces and
working rigs in Buzz’ hay hauling business.
He has had some good-looking racecars, but none that he couldn’t part
with. Horse-trading has allowed him
to use a car to amass some property, other vintage cars and precious parts.
Tucked away in a
corner garage is a 1947 Ford Coupe, in it’s original condition.
For those of you that have visited the pits and seen Buzz’ hauler, you
see a truck and trailer as beautiful as his cars.
At home is his workhorse, an old Ford pickup, which looks like a work
truck. Several
of his cars have borne the logo of “Shoemaker and Sons”.
Jeff and Doug have worked with their dad on these restorations.
Driver for the past couple of years has been Buster Venard, who has also
helped to make the cars ready to perform.
Walt Kennedy painted several of the cars and morning coffee buddy, Gale
Forrester, has done much of the chrome work. Buzz
names Bob Hogle and Billy Wilkerson from the past and J.J. Yeley and Richard
Griffin as his current favorite drivers.
Favorite tracks named were Calistoga, Ascot and Perris.
He loves to get away to do some trout fishing. The
search for parts for these vintage racecars takes Buzz to many out of the way
locations. While
on the Indiana Sprint Week tour last year, he scored some hard to find wheels
and other parts.
He was also at the Racers Swap Meet at the Lake Perris Fairgrounds
earlier this year, doing what he likes to do—Horse-trading.
If you are aware of any secret hiding places, give old Buzz a call.
This is one of the neatest backyards, I have ever visited!! |
