Chilly Willy
 

I found some pics on the web of my old race car.The original car was built and raced by Bert Straus.When Bert raced the car he set the National Record in D/Altered with a SBC 4 Spd.To say the least it was a crowd pleaser.I stripped and painted the car silver for the street and installed a BBC.

https://www.kitchenerpost.ca/communi...-of-fame-drag/

Great story about Bert, and those photos of your car are awesome! Thanks for sharing

Really cool! I bet that was a handful with a BBC :)

Very cool! I like it in silver and the wheelie bars. :burnout:

Love the keystones!

/R

Thanks to all.

What a sweet ride! No mistaking it for anything else.

Thanks for sharing.

Always a fast man in any Class he ran. "Chief" Chilly Willy.

I LOVE the fish SCALES.... NICE paint WORK!!!

Or is that a diamond quilted pattern? Whatever it is it looks KILLER!

Fancy paint for sure but not what you want on a car that may (wink wink) be participating in the odd street race :smile:

If I am reading this correctly, Ziggy bought this as a retired drag car with the fancy paint job and had it repainted silver before repowering it with a BBC and using as a street/strip car.

I see the Performance Engineering Limited label on the rear quarters. If I am not mistaken, that business was owned/run by Dave Billes of the Canadian Tire family. Father of Al Billes, former Pro Mod racer and present day engine builder.

Agreed it would not be stealthy on the street... I just love the custom paint on the drag cars from the period.

You're correct Tony.

You posted a pic a while back of Bert Strauss and his Astre. The rear quarters were really opened up to fit the large tires. Tommy Mangov ran an Astre with very similar quarters.

I can't imagine there were two Pontiac Astre drag cars, both in southern Ontario with virtually identical rear quarter modifications ... any chance they are the same car?

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:beers:

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Didn't Louie Mangov also run the Astre? Looks like the same, with a few updated changes like hood and grill opening?

Zig, whp around Toronto at that time was building cars? Was Eddy Bryk or whatever the spelling, doing chassis yet?

According to the Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame website, Eddy Bryck opened the Chassis Shop in 1975. He is still in operation (last I heard anyway) in Pickering, behind Karbelt.

My favorite era of Pro Stock racing. Multiple brands and models of cars in the class. Heads up door slammer racing at its best! Notice the Mopar Missile in the background.

same car louis mangov

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A few more of Bert Straus’ Astre, all w/ original style nose so earlier than above pics.
Note Astre only Split Grille + T’Light surrounds.
:beers:
~ Pete

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So is the Gremlin still around?

What does it look like today?

Thanks to all who posted.