Street Racing in Detroit, Michigan 1964.

Detroit, Michigan 1964. Stecker...a 0.7 mile flat and straight slab of pavement between Michigan Avenue and John Kronk attracted local street racers every Sunday afternoon. This rare 8mm film footage captures some of the typical activities.

[@bmw540dinan]

When racing was real! No turbo, no supercharger, no nitrous ,no electronics. Naturally aspirated, My mom actually traded our 1955 Buick special 4 door for a 62 409 4 speed. My responsibility in 1964 was to keep the rear seat speaker grille clean. I was 7. ❤

[@jhenryvideo]

Great story!

[@Doug-mc3dd]

In 64 We had a 55' Rocket 88 Olds 2 door H/T before we traded it in. I too was 7.

[@davebuckshaw509]

Much safer because they weren't 9 second cars getting greasy on 10" tires. Those drum brakes stopped good enough for those slower speeds. My Dad used to race on Stecker street in Detroit. Definitely a simpler time. My wife's BMW X3 will give my Corvette a hard time. 😀

[@jeremyoetker4431]

The police wagon at the end was cool. I never saw one like that before. And the racing looked like all had fun. No arguing or fighting. We used to race like that. No betting,just people lining up and racing for fun, because it was FUN!

[@jhenryvideo]

Since Stecker was the border between Detroit and Dearborn, usually cops from both cities would respond.

[@steveh9436]

Just found this vid. Man brings back memory's. Use to go there when I was a kid. I lived right around the corner. Seems like yesterday that was the good ole days. Great vid.

[@UberLummox]

The two '64 Buicks are the Wildcat model which had the lighter LeSabre body with the big 425 Nailhead from the Electra 225. (I think). Really something to see that '58 Pontiac Bonneville Custom Sport Coupe too.This film is a National Treasure, thanks for showing!!!

[@funrunner1277]

We would street race on french road by city airport in the 80's. Good times, crazy dangerous but fun

[@joshuaking5672]

Rt buy east Gratiot behind the Airport

[@wood4278]

All Day those was the days...then always get a special treat a Buick Grand National would show up and run love those cars

[@alecfleming3213]

Just change "street race" and replace it with the F word xD

[@damon9408]

Ditto that. French was long & straight. Never seemed to have much traffic. Tailor made for it

[@XLR82TheMAX]

I enjoyed your clip. Great post.

[@9tube135]

I started street racing in 1966 with a '65 Dodge Dart GT (273 ci 2 barrel, 180 HP) on Telegraph between Grand River on the North and roughly Ford Road on the South. In '68 I had a British Racing Green Dodge Charger RT (440 ci, 4 barrel, 375 HP), my friend had a '68 Super Bee (383 ci, 4 barrel, 335 HP) and another had a '68 Dodge Dart GTS (340 ci, 4 barrel, 275 HP) which we raced 3-4 nights a week during the summer on Telegraph, and also spent a lot of time on Woodward, between Maple (15 Mile Rd) and Teds Drive-In to the North. We also raced these cars at Detroit Dragway. I have a lot of great memories of those carefree racing days of the late 60s. Although I left Detroit in 1977, I often wonder if street racing is still alive on those two Detroit roads, some 50 years later.

[@jhenryvideo]

Great memories! Thanks for watching and sharing.

[@johnpicano7571]

Hi I have a lot of memories back in those days in the same area of Detroit. we hung out at Big boys on Grand River & Greenfield (our meeting place) I started in around 1965 that i built 1961 ford galaxy light blue( 390 tri-power 401 hp) in 1969 bought new 1969 Mustang red Mach ! 428 super cobra-jet ,my friend Dave had a 66 chevy malibu 396 375hp, John 64 ford 427, 425hp , fat fab 63 impala 409,425hp, Ron 66 old 442 red, another 63 plymouth ? belvedere 426 stage 3 , etc we also raced on Telegraph good 3-4 night, also Woodward up to Teds Drive in . Raced at Detroit Dragway . Lot of good memories & fun. also mcdonalds grand river & southfield . thursday nights 696 & 10 mile .

[@GnarshredProductions]

Its still alive maybe not exact same road but street racing never died, different generation and different cars but same thing kzbin.info/www/bejne/raHWeaRmocp0h9k

[@coryturner8425]

Hey man they still run from time to time on grand river

[@hs400]

Great video! Thanks for sharing.

[@mrdilligaf0001]

It was good times back then. A great year as well. Thanks for posting.

[@jhenryvideo]

Glad ya liked it, thanks!

[@jhenryvideo]

Yer welcome, glad you liked it.

[@matrox]

Yep...I was a kid in elementary school. I remember looking at the calendar on our kitchen wall and it saying 1964. Not sure why I keep remembering that.

[@matrox]

I was a young kid in 64 no where near old enough to drive but was still are car fanatic. See how some of those cars sit low in the rear? That was a common trend back then to lower the rear for the lead sled look. The nice ones would sit low with side pipes and be sporting baby moon hubcaps. The 64 Ford Galaxies were some of the coolest to lower like that. The just had that perfect body style for that effect. As the mid 60s headed toward the late 60s the trend change to raising the rear up high which looked cool and also allowed for wide tires to fit under the fenders. Funny how that trend kind of reversed itself in a few short years. Either way that was a cool time for car lovers.

[@RA-dc5qp]

My dad had a 64 Galaxy with a 352 4 barrel and it would bury the speedo. I was just a kid in the back seat but I was surprised. Someone in a late 60's Chevelle took off squealing tires or something and dad put the hammer down on the family car. Stayed on the chevelle's bumper until dad let off. Me and my brother had smiles for awhile. A memory that will always be there. Memories 😊😊😊

[@matrox]

@@RA-dc5qpMy older brother bought a 65' Galaxie 500 with 352 around 73' right out of High school. He put on air shocks and had the rear jacked up and put cragars all the way around. The 352 wasn't that fast, it was nice engine though. My 69 383 Road Runner would lay wasted to it easily. That galaxie was a smooth riding nice car though.

[@RA-dc5qp]

@@matrox I remember my dad always wanted a Roadrunner. He really liked the look. He stayed with Fords and big blocks until the late 90's and bought a Ford Ranger. If he would have had the money in 60's he would have bought a Roadrunner. I had a 69 Roadrunner in the late 70's. It had a 383 4 speed with the pistol grip Hurst shifter. It had top end speed. I also had a 68 Javelin during that time, it was a rocket.

[@matrox]

@@RA-dc5qp My RR was also a 383. I could stomp it and leave a 15' patch of rubber. How did the RR stack up against the Javelin?

[@RA-dc5qp]

@@matrox The Javelin was quick and had top end. 343ci auto and positrac from the factory. It was a lot lighter than the Roadrunner. It would squeal both tires, shift into 2nd at about 60mph, then from 2nd to 3rd around 95mph. It would do all that in less than a quarter mile. 3rd was pretty much for everything after that. It had been clocked by a Trooper in the upper 140's. I never drove it top end. That was my mom's ex that did that. That's how I ended up with the car. I've had a lot of cars during my early years. Lots of Mustangs. Most would be worth a fortune now.

[@marvinhindman1790]

this vid brings a tear to my eye,I love it make me think back to my vega with a vette motor back in highschool 1991 miss them dayzzz!!!! now its all about my s-10 and 800hp with 250shot of laughing gas! thanks for the cool vid!

[@jhenryvideo]

+marvin hindman Wow! Thanks for watching.

[@cudaus1]

This is great to see. I raced down Stecker many times myself in the late 60's I lived in the Ford Rd. Schaefer area of Dearborn. It wasn't very far away.

[@jhenryvideo]

One Sunday the cops flooded the street, so a couple guys went out to Hines Drive and "borrowed" a couple detour signs. Diverted the traffic off Michigan Ave down Stecker to Lonyo and dried the street out in about an hour...then back to racing again!

[@handymatt1970]

how about Telegraph rd?

[@cudaus1]

Oh yes, Did that even more.@@handymatt1970

[@paulashton2441]

Great vid MADE MY DAY, THANKS.

[@jhenryvideo]

Thanks for watching.

[@novawagon1965]

Cool thanks for sharing 👍

[@1951RKP]

That’s great ! Cars were so slow back then but it was still fun.

[@jhenryvideo]

Thanks for watching!

[@Jake-ty4bs]

those were the good old day's thank's for the the good time's

[@jhenryvideo]

Agreed!

[@timdafler3223]

Good clean fun ,like the return lane ,,no showoffs to ruin things like today

[@jhenryvideo]

Yeah, it was. Thanks for watching.

[@vladmsb]

I love old school cars, i hope buy one soon.

[@frankbenanti7729]

Running your Daily Driver is super cool!

[@jameshorton7496]

I know where that is. Never been there itself, but I certainly know Michigan Ave and I've been on John Kronk too.

[@toddbob55]

Love the old Fords

[@Doug-mc3dd]

At the end but not on film the police got in on the action and raced the top winner in his interceptor squad car.✊🤤

[@robertstocks235]

Agh the good old days!!!

[@jhenryvideo]

Yep...fun!

[@jhenryvideo]

That's cool, hope ya enjoyed it.

[@RiverBanks38]

GOOD OLE DAYS! The BEST!

[@jhenryvideo]

Yep, lots of fun! Thanks for watching.

[@pauldashwood2897]

Good days back then. Terrific stuff

[@jhenryvideo]

Agreed! Thanks for watching.

[@wastedrubber]

Great video!

[@jhenryvideo]

Glad ya enjoyed it.

[@russtheracer]

Cool video thanks for it

[@jhenryvideo]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@VG-iq8xq]

The 80’s sitcom soundtrack was a little goofy. Something like Green Onions would’ve been cool. Some cool footage though!

[@jhenryvideo]

Yeh, came from a production library - "Motown Sound" is the track title. Can always mute...thanks for watching.

[@thefoxdoctor1072]

I really wish I could go back to a simpler time....

[@Bigskyguy56]

The GOOD OLD DAYS. I was a young boy, 9 yrs old back then & recall watching the street racers in my town, with my older brother, who was 17 at that time. I too am a fan of simple cars and basic mechanics of them. i do not care for anything past 1970. Call me old school.

[@jimmyers8114]

you can tell which ones are the fords, blue smoke.

[@jhenryvideo]

Thanks for watching, Jim.

[@donalderdbrink647]

Rebel's Repair and the WIN LIGHT!!

[@thejay8963]

Oof

[@wood4278]

Or the one that beats the slow ass chevy

[@Boss429..]

Great video! I love watching those BIG ‘ol FORD’s whoopin’ the Chevy’s!

[@jhenryvideo]

Glad ya liked it, thanks for watching.

[@KCFindsDesign]

You got it all wrong it was the chevy boys Beatin on the fords

[@donalderdbrink647]

Matt C hahaha you need to go back and WATCH AGAIN,the Fords been KICK ASS for a long time !!

[@wood4278]

@@donalderdbrink647 a VERY LONG TIME

[@devastator226]

Only thing they whipped Chevy in was repair bills for all the oil burning from trashed rings and busted valve seats lol

[@garybrinker4522]

Good to see so many Fords compete..

[@Toysourboy]

Nice to know American street culture hasn't changed.

[@bobashlock7531]

Stecker races were a little dangerous. Seven tenths of a mile emptying into a very busy Michigan Ave to the north, and Southern street to the south which ran along side a railroad.

[@jhenryvideo]

Nobody was concerned about danger at that time in our lives. Never an accident that I know of. Thanks for watching.

[@frankbenanti7729]

I hope they finally realized that one person in the car is better than two, less weight! Also, always run with the windows rolled up, less air resistance!

[@bobashlock7531]

Stecker was actually a little later than my time. Don't believe it was even paved until early 60's. We did most of our racing on Southern ( in my opinion it'll never be John Kronk). Somewhat hazardous there to with all the spurs from the railroad crossing.

[@Flight_Mike]

Know that area well, railroader 42yrs. Never new where Mulky Ave was though.

[@lw216316]

1:24 Dodge Polara - my Dad had one, our family car - 318 cu in 2 bbl -

[@jhenryvideo]

Strong runners! Thanks for watching.

[@mlm3165]

"Run what you brung" even the brand new cars right off the showroom floor was in on the action,but no Vettes or GTOS.Maybe they was too busy racing on Woodward Av.!

[@jhenryvideo]

Thanks for watching.

[@Doug-mc3dd]

Almost 60 years ago.

[@PopGetbizi]

!964 Dodge Coronet, My first Car. Whopped that Galaxie 500 ass. whooooooooh. Loved them baby Moons. I had the same ones on my Dodge. It was All White with Black Interior. Shift on the Dash.

[@SVT390]

The Coronet didn't beat the Galaxie. They were neck and neck the entire length! I have nothing against Coronets but Galaxies are awesome.

[@jhenryvideo]

SVT390 Some things are meant to be remembered...glad you were there.

[@milkmaun]

Good Stuff!

[@jhenryvideo]

Thanks, glad ya liked it.

[@davecoyle6717]

ok the 5th race in the 62 chevy drop top white on gold on white was my dad its was 62 CHEVY DROP TOP 327 4 SPD WITH DUEL 4 BARREL AFTER HE WAS DO WITH IT

[@perfectfan2006]

cool real cool vid...

[@jhenryvideo]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching.

[@gmain1977]

Pure muscle , shows that only Muscle cars are real stop light street racers , no Audi or BMWs in sight

[@danielyruby8696]

Stecker is the border between Detroit and Dearborn.

[@jhenryvideo]

Yep, neither police departments knew what to do with us. You can see in the video that squad cars from both departments showed up to watch us watch them till they went away. Thanks for watching.

[@edwardking1324]

Yep those were the days Drag to the next tariff light. For Beer.

[@jhenryvideo]

We did it for fun...Ford Road mostly.

[@pizzapingvin]

Interesting, would be brilliant to see with a few sports cars of the era competing also and someone narrating all of it or some info somewhere whats what, times and various specs. To think of it, it would make a great dragging documentary about old cars. Who wouldnt want to see an old vette, maybe even sth european versus a slightly modified mustang or your dads powerful estate (some had ridiculous power).

[@jhenryvideo]

Yeah.

[@HagertyDriversFoundation]

We’re interested in using some of the content from this video for a documentary we’re putting together on MOPAR, the HEMI engine, and more! Could we have your permission to use parts of this video with credit given to you? Please let us know ASAP and feel free to email us at [e-mail] if you have any questions!

[@FGSP5]

Hi Hank, I am a filmmaker working on a story about drag racing in the 1950-1960's and love your video. I would love to use some of it with your permission. Are you the owner of the video?

[@jhenryvideo]

Yes, I am.

[@FGSP5]

Would you allow me to use some clips for a local drag racing documentary? Please contact me at: [e-mail] THank you! Pat

[@Aquarius.Essence313]

Wow

[@Greaseland]

Looks like back then if you had no front bumper you were looking for a race.

[@jhenryvideo]

That, and some thought a lighter front end would transfer weight/traction to the rear tires quicker. Thanks for watching.

[@davidconde1521]

I wish i lived them does years :(

[@jhenryvideo]

Ya would have enjoyed it for sure.

[@matrox]

Man it was a ball and I wasn't even old enough to drive, but just being around and in those cars was a blast. A much simpler time from my perspective.

[@reginalddentry7338]

You would have been in Vietnam!

[@donalderdbrink647]

FORDS been whoopin ass for a long time!!

[@bobbybeaver5029]

Real street racing . Not like the 405.

[@jhenryvideo]

Yep.

[@SamieyraS]

John kronk could run from livernois to Wyoming

[@177ellwood]

To bad the actual audio wasn't avail , instead of the 70's sitcom theme .

[@jhenryvideo]

Can always mute the volume and try to remember what horsepower sounded like....thanks for watching.

[@stevevoisinet]

We are lucky to have this footage. Video equipment was expensive back then. Thanks for sharing it Hank.

[@davinleatherwood5185]

was this music made in the 1960s and what is it called!

[@jhenryvideo]

It's licensed production music. The cut is titled "Motown". Thanks for watching.

[@johnnygross4415]

our cars werent all that fast, but damn, iy was fun.

[@jhenryvideo]

It sure was!

[@josephkulak]

Johnny do you remember the name of the restaurant at the corner of Stecker and Mich ave. It was White "?"

[@jhenryvideo]

@@josephkulak Oh wow, I forgot about that...great cheeseburgers! Seems like you have the right name...the remember building was white.

[@reginalddentry7338]

Nice filming did you do it Hank ?

[@jhenryvideo]

Thanks, and yes, I filmed it as a 16 year old kid, just for fun.

[@neticz7]

this music is screwing up the film

[@jhenryvideo]

Can always mute, thanks for watching.

[@jfsssp]

neticz7 sounds like 1970's game show music. Mute like a Boss! Great clip though! looks like run what you brung night at the drags only they are on some sort of a public street.

[@scottross617]

This is so cool. Got any more? Thx, Mr. Adkins!

[@chevyone5512]

alot of guys would lower the rear for traction they figured if the rear was low it put more weight on the rear tires all though i dont think most of the cars on the street prob wouldnt spend the tires anyway funny though

[@chevyone5512]

remember guys telling how they put a 100 on the dash and if you cou l d reach and get it while he was hammered down you could keep it what a crock t hose cars back then never had enough power to pen someone in the seat like that story tellers and bull shitters is what they were my brother inlaw told me he did that with his charger the guy couldnt change a set of plugs let alone beaf his car up i new he was a bull shitter before he finished the first sentence so if your told that story dont beleive it its bull

[@dendens8188]

That is kinda dangerous for the cars coming back on the return road when they are still racing.

[@jhenryvideo]

Yeah, it sure was!

[@handymatt1970]

i remember nighttime racing turning off my headlights ( just parking lps ) coming back up a return lane so they wouldn't lose a minute over me

[@mattfarahsmillionmilelexus]

Did anyone have a fast car then? Looked like traffic taking off from a red light.

[@jhenryvideo]

They were going plenty fast and the other end of the road (laugh).

[@gmain1977]

Loads of fast cars then ,cars ran 12s from factory

[@stelthy100]

Woodward ave

[@rogermetzger7335]

So when the drivers got fined for racing on public streets, did the "starter" guy get fined too?

[@jhenryvideo]

Laugh...cops were there a lot, but never caught anyone actually racing that I know of. Not sure about all the starter guys, but i was a fast runner - good at hide 'n seek.

[@rogermetzger7335]

@@jhenryvideo Thanks for the response. If you are old enough to remember that, maybe you will remember Detroit General Hospital. My wife was born there and later worked as an emergency room technician there.

[@jhenryvideo]

@@rogermetzger7335 I was born there, too.

[@rogermetzger7335]

@@jhenryvideo It's a small world. We live in Maine now.

[@SirBran]

Dearborn.

[@jhenryvideo]

Both Detroit and Dearborn. Stecker was the dividing line between them. As shown in the video, cops from both cities would show up and try to stop us. We just waited till they left. Thanks for watching.

[@devastator226]

409 chevys destroying the rest !!!

[@jhenryvideo]

Thanks for watching.

[@jhenryvideo]

Thanks for watching.

[@Doug-mc3dd]

Why TF is no one at the other end to show who won???🤬

[@djumps2455]

Because it is a home film from 1964(60 years ago).Not a professionally shot video with multiple cameramen.😂Calm down 🤪.

[@waynemanor8357]

those cars need some parachutes to stop

[@truthweallknow]

Call French Road

[@yeahok115sure]

No wonder why the cops let them drag race on the streets. They where about as fast a Vespa scooter.. now days streets cars are in the 4 sec 1/8 at almost 200mph

[@jhenryvideo]

Guess ya hadda been there to appreciate it...thanks for watching.

[@yeahok115sure]

Hank Adkins it’s a super cool video! Thanks for posting. Must have been awesome to be that free. My generation can’t even rev our cars with being arrested

[@dragracegurl1]

Great video, but ughhhhh that music!!!!

[@jhenryvideo]

Can always mute...thanks for watching.

[@davecoyle6717]

JUST SAYING

[@matrox]

I like how the cops be watching and also enjoying the show. These were the days when America was still sane and not a coast to coast border to border sh!thole.

[@jhenryvideo]

Well, the show stopped when the cops arrived. Since Stecker Street was the dividing line between Detroit and Dearborn, both Detroit and Dearborn cops showed up. They were cool as long as there was no racing, but they couldn't sit there all day. They did flood the street once. Thanks for watching.

[@MrDjh66]

My god they look so slow

[@daexpediter]

YESTERDAY I SAW A COUPLE(2) OF OLD "GOATS" ON A CAR HAULER AT THE ONE OF THE PORTS IN PHILLY. I BELIEVE THEY WERE FIXIN TA BE EXPORTED shame

[@jhenryvideo]

Yep.

[@chuckdeezy_313]

When the same thing is done today, it's frowned upon, criminalized,and criticized, like it's a danger to society and its values.

[@jhenryvideo]

Well, it kinda was back then, too...thanks for watching.

[@mattkurtz8549]

Cool bid bad music

[@jhenryvideo]

Feel free to mute...thanks for watching.

[@FGSP5]

Hank I would love to use some of this footage for a drag racing documentary I'm working. Please contact me at: [e-mail] Thank you!

[@user-bm5gs2tb2f]

日本で言わせれば“ゼロヨン族”

[@jhenryvideo]

Huh?

[@SuzanneKowalski]

gay music alert!!!

[@jhenryvideo]

From a production music library, titled "Motown"

[@GTVAlfaMan]

That awful music!

[@jhenryvideo]

Licensed production cut titled "Motown Music". Thanks for watching.

[@thomasm8699]

Night racing there was also very cool. I remember guys bring out a trailer with a 40 Ford with B/Gasser markings. Things really got out of control. Very Cool !!!! The party went on until the cops broke things up. The racers planted a couple of cars at the end (north) of the strip near Michigan Ave. When the cops showed up, they would blink their headlights down to the starting line and everyone would scatter and get to heck out of there. Thems was the Days !!! Racing moved to Evergreen near the Henry Ford Community College and the U of M Dearborn. The crack down was severe and the racing eventually stopped in such an organize fashion. Miss those cars made to go fast in a straigt line and no electronics !!! You didn't need a computer to work on them !!!

[@jhenryvideo]

Never saw any night races there, that's a new one on me. Did get a ticket on Evergreen for speeding but was not racing anyone at the time. Motorcycle cop said he was going 90 and I was pulling away...which I think was just something he made up to make me feel good about getting a ticket. Nice to hear when you're 16 though.

[@sparkyguitar0058]

Did some racing on 75 service Dr near Hamtramck. No very long though. Attracted a lot of attention too quick. Also cruising Woodward going to the oil slick lot 13 mile. If you know you know.