Brooklyn Heavy

[Mike]

Looking for contact information for either Levi Holmes or Rufus Boyd. Anyone know if either one of these two gentlemen are still with us or their whereabouts? From what I'm told Levi was a big street racer in the NY, NJ area in the 70's and they both raced the Brooklyn Heavy car(s).

Any info is appreciated.

Mike

[Steven J]

Maybe try the names here ?
http://www.docs.state.ny.us/

[whitetop]

Mike
You probably know about this but there is a nice article about Heavy in Cars mag June 1971. His 70 1/2 Camaro was a ex Dick Harrell car. Also said his '68 Camaro P/S, the "Unknown Car" was a very famous ex race car but would not say by whom. Heavy ran about 5-6 cars at a time. These guys were hard core street racers and were known to run for 5-10K back then. Lots of ex Pro Stock cars made their ways to Brooklyn Streets. Dyno Don/Ronnie Sox cars were very popular.

An article in one of the Mustang mags several years ago was about a factory 65 Mustang AF/X (ex-Les Ritchey/Hubert Platt)car was in a Brooklyn garage. Can't remember the exact story but it took something like 15 years for the guy to find the car. It was in one of the very roughest parts of town and the owner "hired" the local black gang for "protection" to bring the guy into look at the car. I'm going too have to dig it out and reread it.

[whitetop]

Mike
Levi or Rufus also ran a black 69-70 Nova with 427 tunnel ram. I remember the engine from the article had Motion VC's with Motion emblems. Did you happen to get lucky?

[Mike]

whitetop,

Thanks for the info. I've found limited information about Brooklyn Heavy, (at least on the Web). Do you have copies of those articles you could scan and post? I'd appreciate it. No luck yet but I'm on the hunt. Was this AF/X Mustang one of Heavies cars?

Mike

[Salvatore]

Rufus Boyd alias Brooklyn Heavy was-is a famous street racer and drag racer. His first legal race car was a 66 or 67 chevelle. I saw him run many times at Cecil County and Englishtown. The 1968 camaro he owned did belong to The Grump. that is why it ran so good. He had many race cars and sponsored a few of his friends. Probably the most popular racer he sponsored was Carmen Rotonda. I don't know if he owned the Vega Pro Stocker or if Heavy did, but they ran it together. After that I think Boyd bought a Hemi Cuda or Challenger with Sox and Martin power. I even think Herb McCandless drove a super stock Hemi for Heavy. He actually was a nice person to talk to in the pits. Him and his people loved to bet on race cars, especially at Englishtown. These guys were fun to watch. I think Heavy went to jail for a while, and Rotonda moved to Florida. That was a good drag racing era. His cars were painted orange and I think the chevelle was called Heavy's Super Pumpkin. I probably have some pictures in my old Dragster papers with him in them. His cars ran good because he always had a lot of money! Sam

[Stitch]

Two of the cars were imported to England to run in Pro Stock , you can see a couple of period pics here.........

http://www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk/alan_currans/doorslammers.html

and here...........

http://www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk/alan_currans/doorslammers4.html

Also a current pic here of the duster undergoing restoration in Sweden........

http://www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk/readers/gallery_01.html

There are two tel #'s listed for a Rufus Boyd in Brooklyn..

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q="rufus+boyd"brooklyn&meta= (http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=)

[Salvatore]

Hey Stitch Great pictures. Where is the Vega and Grumps old 1968 camaro? Thanks for sharing! Sam /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Norm reynolds]

Brookln-Heavy used to race down at atco nj a lot found these old pictures dated dec of 72 http://www.yenko.net/attachments/55610-Save.JPG [image]

[Norm reynolds]

#2 http://www.yenko.net/attachments/55613-Save0001.JPG

[Norm reynolds]

another of Brookln Heavy This was the first time I saw a 16 spark plug Heim
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/55614-Save0002.JPG

[hvychev]

Cool Pics! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

That just sounds like a cool a$$ kicking name....Brooklyn Heavy! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Salvatore]

Good Work Reynolds! I was at a few of those cold days at the drags myself. Especially at Cecil County. Sam /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[COPO]

Didn't Joel R. and Marty S. talk about Brooklyn Heavy at SCR6?

[Born30YrsLate]

Yes - I believe they did.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Fhakya]

Well...what was said? (for all of us who weren't there). I remember the "Heavy" write ups....now where's my dewey decimal system when I need it!?

-Mark Holman

[JRSully]

Nice to see a post on this, I grew up about 15 miles east of Brooklyn, and I remember in late 79 early 80 when I was in junior high seeing a 69 Camaro that was at one of the local Amoca stations, it was a SS/RS Big Block (remember blacked out rear panel)Hugger orange with a black hockey stick stripe. It had painted on the side "Brooklyn Heavy", it was set up for drag racing (gutted interior)but was pretty stock, no engine or tranny. I continually asked if it was for sale,owner of the station said the owner was in jail.!! It sat there for about 2 years before the owner sold the station and cleaned house, but I remember that car vividely, wonder if it was a COPO

[Mike]

Anybody have a copy of the June '71 Cars Mag. article on "Brooklyn Heavy" they could either scan and post or e-mail me?

Thanks,
Mike

[jannes_z-28]

This is a very old thread that I found.

Broklyn Heavy ended up in Sweden after a few years in England in 1976. It had the Hemi for the first years and ran in the Swedish Pro Stock class for a couple of years. It then changed owners and here is a picture of it (more on my car really) when it ran as a Pro Stocker with a 340 engine. My car was a Toyota Celica with a destroked Pat Musi Big Block at 366 Cu in

http://www.protouring.se/old/racing/images/large/Toyota_start1.jpg

Here is another picture of it racing in Sweden

http://race68.com/cederbergs.jpg


Jan

[tsq396]

What did Brooklyn Heavy go to jail for?

[Mr70]

.."So he could beat the wrap!" http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[bowtie3168]

I just had a visit from Levi Holmes at the Raceway Park tower during the Shakedown at E-town he always comes upstairs to be interviewed. Prepare a list of questions and I will get them to him Andrew

[cammer427]

I think the A/FX Mustang they're talking about is an ex-Dyno Don Nicholson 1965 427 SOHC Cammer that had been raced by Len Richter, then Jerry Harvey and Hubert Platt, then sold to Nicholson. There's a very interesting story about it's "rediscovery" in a real bad neighborhood in Brooklyn in a recent book called "The Hemi in the Barn" by Tom Cotter. Apparently, the last time Nicholson drove the car he was at Englishtown, NJ where "he popped the clutch at 9,000 rpms and made it through the traps at 9.89 seconds, setting a new NHRA track record and winning the class for the season." By the time he made it back to the paddock after the run there were already a group of men with bags of money ready to buy the car. Apparently the guy was a famous street racer (and numbers runner/drug dealer) Tab Talmadge. I've attached an image of the Mustang. So no it wasn't owned by Heavy, but an interesting story none-the-less http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[cammer427]

tsq396, Heavy was also a known drug dealer. I read that he spent 25 years at the Attica Correctional Facility in Attica, New York because he got busted.

[COPO_Anders]

Here is a pic from my collection. "Brooklyn Heavy" at Mantorp Park Sweden. I think this pic is from 1975, but I´m not 100% sure.

http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq85/COPO_Anders/BrooklynHeavyatMantorpPark1975.jpg

[69z28302]

This is really weird. I just viewed a copy of some old 8mm film from Bluegrass Dragway in Nicholasville, KY that had Brooklyn Heavy on it. He was dress in a three piece suit and was there to buy the "Billy the Kid" Hemi Challenger.
Several people I talked to clearly remember that day. Here's a link to some pictures of the car I believe after Heavy bought it from Stepp
http://www.prostockhemi.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=248
Mike

[musclecarjohn]

Born & raised in Brooklyn,remember Heavy very well...tough crowd.

[Dog427435]

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t114/dog427435/sfha/154.jpg

[Dog427435]

[b] Same car??
-
-
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t114/dog427435/sfha/202.jpg
-
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t114/dog427435/sfha/201.jpg
-

[Z28fan]

Here's another car that Herb drove for Brooklyn Heavy.

http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/24323/2952533550100932375S600x600Q85.jpg

[69z28302]

Bottom picture is the car Heavy bought at Bluegrass Dragway from Billy Stepp I believe. The hood scoop is the same. In the old video it was pullin the wheels 2 foot of the ground and in 2 gear also.

MM

[Verne_Frantz]

Glenn,
I've finally come to the conclusion that you can't possibly have any furniture in your house. You and the family are sitting on, and eating on boxes full of photographs!.....................There can't be any room for anything else............... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/drool.gif

Verne....... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[69z28302]

[ QUOTE ]
This is really weird. I just viewed a copy of some old 8mm film from Bluegrass Dragway in Nicholasville, KY that had Brooklyn Heavy on it. He was dress in a three piece suit and was there to buy the "Billy the Kid" Hemi Challenger.
Several people I talked to clearly remember that day. Here's a link to some pictures of the car I believe after Heavy bought it from Stepp
http://www.prostockhemi.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=248
Mike

[/ QUOTE ]
I forgot to mention the reason the "Billy the Kid" Challenger was there was to match race with Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins in his Pro Stock Vega.

Mike

[owners2]

Any clues as to where the Dick Harrell & Motion Camaro's are????

[C1SS396]

Here a link to my posy awhile back with some pictures of the camaro ....

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/178008/page/2/fpart/1/vc/1

[Mike]

I talked ot Rufus on a couple occasions. The 70 Camaro in the article went to a guy on Long Island, he wasn't sure who. The 70 Camaro with the wild pumpkin paint scheme was the old Butch Leal Camaro. I didn't realize he ran so many race cars. He also told me Grumpy's 68 was sold to a named Sylvester Rogers from the area and was wrecked in a trailer accident. Other people seem to think that car is still alive? Who knows?? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[ANDY M]

[ QUOTE ]
Here's a couple photos of a second generation Brooklyn Heavy Camaro.
Not sure if it's the Dick Harrell car or not!

http://inlinethumb13.webshots.com/25164/2739259810100932375S600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb60.webshots.com/41275/2691398890100932375S600x600Q85.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]

This was posted on the Harrell forum.

[Salvatore]

The pro Stock vega in the pictures was very competitive also. Heavy won the DIV-1 points meet with that car. Also I don't believe Billy "the kid" Stepp was an angel either. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif Rumor has it! Both campaigned fast, competitive cars though.

[Peter426]

[ QUOTE ]
Looking for contact information for either Levi Holmes or Rufus Boyd. Anyone know if either one of these two gentlemen are still with us or their whereabouts? From what I'm told Levi was a big street racer in the NY, NJ area in the 70's and they both raced the Brooklyn Heavy car(s).

Any info is appreciated.

Mike

[/ QUOTE ]

Mike,

Hi. Contact Eugene Coard of Mutt Brothers fame. There's a good chance he knows. Here's a link to his web site:

http://ronaldlyles.com/

Pete

[Peter426]

[ QUOTE ]
Nice to see a post on this, I grew up about 15 miles east of Brooklyn, and I remember in late 79 early 80 when I was in junior high seeing a 69 Camaro that was at one of the local Amoca stations, it was a SS/RS Big Block (remember blacked out rear panel)Hugger orange with a black hockey stick stripe. It had painted on the side "Brooklyn Heavy", it was set up for drag racing (gutted interior)but was pretty stock, no engine or tranny. I continually asked if it was for sale,owner of the station said the owner was in jail.!! It sat there for about 2 years before the owner sold the station and cleaned house, but I remember that car vividely, wonder if it was a COPO

[/ QUOTE ]

Here's a photo of the car in its better days.

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/121/file0092.jpg (http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=file0092.jpg)


Pete

[Peter426]

[ QUOTE ]
Brookln-Heavy used to race down at atco nj a lot found these old pictures dated dec of 72 http://www.yenko.net/attachments/55610-Save.JPG [image]

[/ QUOTE ]

Presumably, Heavy's car is the ex-Rotonda's Speed Shop Duster.

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/2389/rotondasduster.jpg (http://img16.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rotondasduster.jpg)

Pete

[Peter426]

[ QUOTE ]
I just had a visit from Levi Holmes at the Raceway Park tower during the Shakedown at E-town he always comes upstairs to be interviewed. Prepare a list of questions and I will get them to him Andrew

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey, Andrew...is that you? If it is, it's me, Pete, formerly of Half Scale Dragsters, Inc. Long time no see! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Anyway, here are some old pix of Levi's cars from some ancient issues of Raceway News.

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/1934/racewaynews0771.th.jpg (http://img27.imageshack.us/my.php?image=racewaynews0771.jpg) http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/3298/racewaynews1391.th.jpg (http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=racewaynews1391.jpg) http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/4115/racewaynews142.th.jpg (http://img9.imageshack.us/my.php?image=racewaynews142.jpg)

Pete

[Peter426]

[ QUOTE ]
Rufus Boyd alias Brooklyn Heavy was-is a famous street racer and drag racer. His first legal race car was a 66 or 67 chevelle. I saw him run many times at Cecil County and Englishtown. The 1968 camaro he owned did belong to The Grump. that is why it ran so good. He had many race cars and sponsored a few of his friends. Probably the most popular racer he sponsored was Carmen Rotonda. I don't know if he owned the Vega Pro Stocker or if Heavy did, but they ran it together. After that I think Boyd bought a Hemi Cuda or Challenger with Sox and Martin power. I even think Herb McCandless drove a super stock Hemi for Heavy. He actually was a nice person to talk to in the pits. Him and his people loved to bet on race cars, especially at Englishtown. These guys were fun to watch. I think Heavy went to jail for a while, and Rotonda moved to Florida. That was a good drag racing era. His cars were painted orange and I think the chevelle was called Heavy's Super Pumpkin. I probably have some pictures in my old Dragster papers with him in them. His cars ran good because he always had a lot of money! Sam

[/ QUOTE ]

"That was a good drag racing era."

To me, it was the BEST era.

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/4143/heavysracerspotlight1.jpg (http://img17.imageshack.us/my.php?image=heavysracerspotlight1.jpg)

Is this the same car as in the above ad?

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/2859/rotondascamaro.jpg (http://img5.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rotondascamaro.jpg)

http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/5793/heavysracerspotlight2.jpg (http://img106.imageshack.us/my.php?image=heavysracerspotlight2.jpg)

And speaking of Ron Lyles...

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/5743/rotwronlyles.jpg (http://img10.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rotwronlyles.jpg)

...and when you're talkin' about Heavy, Ron Lyles, and Levi Holmes, the discussion would not be complete without mentioning "Fast Earl" Mitchell. With a Booth-Arons big-block Chevy under the hood, his cars always ran mighty strong.

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/4476/fastearlmitchell2.jpg (http://img18.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fastearlmitchell2.jpg)

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/817/fastearlmitchell1.jpg (http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fastearlmitchell1.jpg)

Pete

[1970Bluel78]

For those that raced at E Town. Do you remember a guy named ( I think ) Henry Jackson. Ran a 66/67 Chevelle. Nicest sounding car ever.

[Peter426]

[ QUOTE ]
For those that raced at E Town. Do you remember a guy named ( I think ) Henry Jackson. Ran a 66/67 Chevelle. Nicest sounding car ever.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I remember him and his cars; green 1970 Chevelle SS, blue 1969 Camaro SS and the black 1967 Chevelle SS you mention. Henry's cars were/are immaculate--atypical.

I've known of him since the early 1980s when I first ran into him on the street while cruising with my buddy in his 1970 440-powered, 4-speed Road Runner in Asbury Park, NJ. Over the years, I've seen him from time to time at Raceway Park, with increasingly faster machinery.

Last I saw Henry was at Raceway Park sometime in the mid-1990s. I was on top end, a good bit past the finish line, and Henry just finished making a pass in his mid-7 second, black, white-striped 1969 Camaro.

While talking to a fellow I met at a buddy's shop about four or five years ago, his name came up. I was told Henry is still racing and also builds racing engines (now).

Pete

[Salvatore]

Hey Pete, remember those Sunday afternoon Pro Stock shows at E-Town? Circe 1971-72. They had some fast cars from the locals there. Like you said, fast Earl M., Patty Marchitto, Levi Holmes, Tony Feil and alot of other A/MP cars that turned PS for the weekly Eliminator show at Raceway Park. We even saw Paul Blevins there on Sundays when he got into PS. How about Carmen Rotunda's dad taking bets in the pits. I loved those days! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[jtower1969]

I just talked to my Dad. The Dart was owned by the Mutt Brothers before it was owned by Heavy. The Two camaros are Diffrent Cars...one was Green..one was Orange. The Green one was put together by Carmen..The Orange one was Grumps car. The Green one was lost in the Trailer Accident. My dad says that the Grump 68 is still out there (who knows). He also told me about the Challenger..It was owned by Billy Stepp...and the doors said "wanted" or "Billy The Kid" in flip flop paint.

[Mike]

Do you happen to have anymore photos of Mitchells 69 Camaro?

Thanks,
Mike

[1970Bluel78]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
For those that raced at E Town. Do you remember a guy named ( I think ) Henry Jackson. Ran a 66/67 Chevelle. Nicest sounding car ever.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I remember him and his cars; green 1970 Chevelle SS, blue 1969 Camaro SS and the black 1967 Chevelle SS you mention. Henry's cars were/are immaculate--atypical.

I've known of him since the early 1980s when I first ran into him on the street while cruising with my buddy in his 1970 440-powered, 4-speed Road Runner in Asbury Park, NJ. Over the years, I've seen him from time to time at Raceway Park, with increasingly faster machinery.

Last I saw Henry was at Raceway Park sometime in the mid-1990s. I was on top end, a good bit past the finish line, and Henry just finished making a pass in his mid-7 second, black, white-striped 1969 Camaro.

While talking to a fellow I met at a buddy's shop about four or five years ago, his name came up. I was told Henry is still racing and also builds racing engines (now).

Pete

[/ QUOTE ]

The first time I saw that 67 leave the line I was impressed. My buds and I all said the same thing. It just squatted down and left. Hardly any front end lift. Just grabbed and went. mImpressive http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[markjohnson]

Super Stock magazine did a feature on Henry Jackson's '67 Chevelle back in the Nineties. Great car and a very talented racer/builder, so much so, that I remember the article. That black Chevelle ran high-9's on a small tire and NO bottle and looked like just a regular, nice street machine!

[motionwannabe]

these pics are awesome!!! i really like the orange and black second gen.

[cammer427]

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/8695/heavycamaro.jpg

http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/7049/heavy70camaro.jpg

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/8434/heavy71challenger.jpg

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/3333/heavy71challenger2.jpg

Thanks to Sam for the copies of RWN.

[Salvatore]

Carmen Rotunda's Pro Stock Vega was a "Heavy" car also. I remember when he won the points meet in 72 or 73??? No matter what Carmen's people thought/said Heavy made sure HE got the credit! Was his car! We used to see alot of moola change hands in the pits back in those days with Carmens dad the ring leader. Was tough to beat that group on the bet because they went with whoever won the race. Didn't care about red lites, big or small engines etc! I loved those Sunday afternoons at Raaaaceway Park! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[cammer427]

From an old issue of Camaro Performers (Winter 2004):

http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu262/cammer427/East-Coast%20Racers/Brooklyn%20Heavy/Heavy-Edited.jpg

[cammer427]

[ QUOTE ]
Nice to see a post on this, I grew up about 15 miles east of Brooklyn, and I remember in late 79 early 80 when I was in junior high seeing a 69 Camaro that was at one of the local Amoca stations, it was a SS/RS Big Block (remember blacked out rear panel)Hugger orange with a black hockey stick stripe. It had painted on the side "Brooklyn Heavy", it was set up for drag racing (gutted interior)but was pretty stock, no engine or tranny. I continually asked if it was for sale,owner of the station said the owner was in jail.!! It sat there for about 2 years before the owner sold the station and cleaned house, but I remember that car vividely, wonder if it was a COPO

[/ QUOTE ]

I was speaking with a fellow from Long Island today who mentioned the Leyte Brothers, Freddie and Eddie, who owned a shop and... had Brooklyn Heavy's '69 Camaro sitting outside to rot after Heavy went away. Does "Leyte Brothers" sound right, JRSully?

[Salvatore]

I personally never heard of them. Maybe Dan Palchanious may have. Sully, I bet is to young! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[JRSully]

Don't recall anybody by the name of Leyte.? although I don't recall asking for a name. They (mechanic at at the station)just told me that the car was not for sale

[flyingn]

I saw the Brooklyn heavy 68 Camaro(67??) at atco a few weeks ago running at the Ford vs. Buick showdown. It was not all the fast (maybe low 11/mid 11's??) and I got to see it close up in the pits. It was totally 1970's original.. Th epaint was faded as was the lettering and the interior was 'well worn'. Still neat to see .. It was the same older AA gentleman pictured in the ad with the Camaro I believe too

[Dog427435]

[ QUOTE ]


I was speaking with a fellow from Long Island today who mentioned the Leyte Brothers, Freddie and Eddie, who owned a shop and... had Brooklyn Heavy's '69 Camaro sitting outside to rot after Heavy went away. Does "Leyte Brothers" sound right, JRSully?

[/ QUOTE ]


Might you be thinking of Ronnie & John Lyles – the “Mutt Bros”?

[cammer427]

Oh no, definitely not.

[hang10]

Just read on another board that Brooklyn has passed away ??

[cammer427]

I certainly hope not http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif He's getting up there in age, but it would still come as a shock for many of us.

[cammer427]

Is this the posting you're speaking of: http://www.nitromater.com/nhra/24505-rufus-boyd-aka-brooklyn-heavy.html (http://www.nitromater.com/nhra/24505-rufus-boyd-aka-brooklyn-heavy.html?)?

[C1SS396]

Found this in one of the old National Dragster papers

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii128/c1ss396/IMAG0473.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii128/c1ss396/IMAG0474.jpg

[resto4u]

Has this car been found, ex jenkins grumpy's toy?

[Pro Stock John]

Didn't see this pic posted on the site:

[EZ Nova]

John, it was posted back in 2016, #2nd post by Carleen

https://www.yenko.net/forum/showthread.php?t=135926

[Pro Stock John]

Ah yeah.

Any good threads on Brooklyn Heavy on the web? Seems like he had 3+ first gens, 2+ second gens, and the Dodge cars.

[EZ Nova]

There was some info in another site with Mutt brothers and NY street racing, but it is gone now.

[carnut4life]

Here's a Brooklyn Heavy article from the June 1971 issue of Hi Performance Cars.

[luzl78]

I would love to have his international tow truck. Wondering if it survived.

[PeteLeathersac]

‘

First three pics below are some Heavy hardware I had posted a few years back in the Old Haulers thread.
Last three are ones I had saved that Carleen posted previously in the other Heavy thread.
:beers:
~ Pete

.

[COPO]

I know Heavy has passed, but wonder if anyone has spoken with his son who is shown in one of the pictures. He certainly had quite a large racing enterprise at one time. Love the wardrobe of the day. :-)

[JRSully]

That Caddy front end Bling is killer!

[TomP]

I checked out those addresses on Google Earth. 794 Dekalb is now a newer apartment building and 171 Lexington is a new building with Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Seniors Residence at the 171 doorway. Rotonda's Speed Shop is gone too.

[Pro Stock John]

Any good articles out there about him and the cars he campaigned and sponsored?

[Lee Stewart]

https://images2.imgbox.com/5f/b7/drcC14hQ_o.jpg (https://imgbox.com/drcC14hQ)

[Carleen]

I know Heavy has passed, but wonder if anyone has spoken with his son who is shown in one of the pictures. He certainly had quite a large racing enterprise at one time. Love the wardrobe of the day. :-)

I believe Heavys son is no longer with us but Heavys brother is alive and is on Facebook. Johnny Boyd

[carnut4life]

Here's another article on Heavy that I found in the February 1974 issue of Speed and Supercar.

[PeteLeathersac]

‘

A few more Heavy pics….:3gears:
:beers:
~ Pete

.

[Carleen]

https://www.nytimes.com/1973/12/21/archives/11-seized-in-raids-on-drug-charges-gold-estimates-the-profit-of.html?fbclid=IwAR09tGMgD3Q0ptlrsnjAyoXln_NTZkAk8 LRQbkja8VmCHPz6Ti-kV04ii_c

[Carleen]

They say the story is that Bill Stepp planted bags of Heroin in the rear Wheels of one of the Cars that Heavy bought from him. Some says Bill Stepp was informer and was working for FBI. I dont know.

[Carleen]

From HAMB

William Elias "Bill" Stepp was the most famous mobster, gangster and notorious hoodlum the Miami Valley has known.
"Bill's major call to fame is that he probably lived the most charmed life of any mobster in the history of the United States," said Wes Hills, a former Dayton Daily News staff writer who covered organized crime in the Miami Valley for about 20 years.

"He succeeded in avoiding prison for his entire adult life while being the most powerful gangster in the region," Hills said Thursday, Dec. 11. "Many in law enforcement believe the reason Bill evaded prosecution was because of his long-standing cooperation with the FBI and other law enforcement."

[Carleen]

June 18 1976

https://www.nytimes.com/1976/06/18/archives/a-dealer-guilty-in-sale-of-heroin-garage-transactian-brings.html

[PeteLeathersac]

‘

Here’s a few I had saved but wasn’t planning to post, the sad truths of where Heavy’s $ came from.
There’s another on my old confuser I'll post later, Heavy stuff…
:frown:

.

[njsteve]

How much time did Heavy serve?

[Carleen]

25 years

[Carleen]

There was a cool story I read years ago about the 69 Camaro that they brought to the painter.
Heavys guys parked in the middle of the road outside the Painter with the Ramp Truck blocked the road and unload the Camaro. Parked it on the side of the road. Went in to the Painter and told him that Heavys Camaro is parked on the side of the Road and the Keys are in it. Painter sayed that they cant leavit on the side of the Road with Keys in it. Heavys guys replied that ¨No one is messing with Heavys stuff¨.

[Carleen]

2.40 in this film. Delta Company 1967-68 Vietnam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H93aF2yaP04

[JRSully]

One of Heavy's 69 Camaro's was parked at gas station in Wantagh LI for a long time. Remember is distinctly- Hugger Orange, Blk top, RS option, lettered "Brookly Heavy". I was in Jr high and always asked the owner of the station if it was for sale, always got the same answer "No" why not, its just laying here.? "The owner is in jail and it has to stay here"

[Carleen]

This is how the 69 Camaro looked like in 1973-74.
No lettering saying Brooklyn Heavy on it.

[Carleen]

This is how it looked like in 1974-75

[Carleen]

When Heavy was sentenced to prison, the authorities would confiscate all of Heavy's assets such as cars, trucks, etc. Heavy's cars were sent to different garages to hide them and were repainted and so on so that the authorities would not confiscate them. Some were sold to England (Duster and Challenger).
If my memory is right one guy in Sweden bought a 69 L88 Corvette but it was confiscated at custom because it had belonged to New York's biggest drug dealer. Heavy had a black Baldwin Motion L88 Corvette.

[Pro Stock John]

How do you know the orange RS '69 became the white one? White one might have standard grille too?

[Salvatore]

Spoke with Heavy at some of the early Snowbirds at Cecil County in early 70's. Nice person to talk with. Was driving his B/MP 66-67 Chevelle those days. A nice guy!

[Carleen]

Someone should have interviewed those involved and made a movie about Heavy and his life before everyone is gone.

https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/519/629/1427199/

[JRSully]

The car in Wantagh, was definitely hugger orange, Blk top and RS (could have been the car shown above.?) BUT, at the time I was chasing it, was definitely lettered up "Brooklyn Heavy" in a semi circle, blk letters

[JoeC]

The black Motion Corvette
here is a photo of Brooklyn Heavy when he went to look at his old Motion Corvette in about 2008

[Carleen]

Im not taking any standpoints here, I am not involved and have no interests in pointing anyone out for anything.
Some told me that.
The 70s was not the best time to be an Afroamerican. Especially if you stood out from the crowd.
Heavy did.
He had 20 Race cars, not just any but the best. Sox & Martin, Grumpy's, Harrell's. He used to bring a Caravan of 15 Trucks with Racecars to the Races. They were betting and a lot of money in flow. Heavy had good drivers and won many Races.
People became jealous.
About Heavy. Heavy was die-hard Racer, the only thing on his mind.
On weeknights it was Street racing and on weekends Dragracing on the track.
Some say that it was on Street racing that he made money and it was a lot of money. Not only on the race but also on side betting.

Heavy got too big so they needed to Nail him down.

[EZ Nova]

Im not taking any standpoints here, I am not involved and have no interests in pointing anyone out for anything.
Some told me that.
The 70s was not the best time to be an Afroamerican. Especially if you stood out from the crowd.
Heavy did.
He had 20 Race cars, not just any but the best. Sox & Martin, Grumpy's, Harrell's. He used to bring a Caravan of 15 Trucks with Racecars to the Races. They were betting and a lot of money in flow. Heavy had good drivers and won many Races.
People became jealous.
About Heavy. Heavy was die-hard Racer, the only thing on his mind.
On weeknights it was Street racing and on weekends Dragracing on the track.
Some say that it was on Street racing that he made money and it was a lot of money. Not only on the race but also on side betting.

Heavy got too big so they needed to Nail him down.

Carleen, could very well be true. Stranger things have happened in life. Not saying it was a TRACK drag racer but could se another "street" racer guy getting pissy.

Sounds exactly like the Mike Tyson rape case??????

[Carleen]

How do you know the orange RS '69 became the white one? White one might have standard grille too?


Probably they tried to make it faster with Fiberglass front Fenders and Fiberglass front parts.
Best et 9.89
but could not compete with
Sox&Martin short stroke Hemi cars. Low 9s

[Carleen]

The car in Wantagh, was definitely hugger orange, Blk top and RS (could have been the car shown above.?) BUT, at the time I was chasing it, was definitely lettered up "Brooklyn Heavy" in a semi circle, blk letters

Me and some other guys have discussed that.
Im not saying that you are wrong.
Some are saying it it was Harrells 70 Camaro and it was damage in a Accident, sitting there and rotten away.
Some are saying it was Grumpys Toy IV that had been in a Accident and was sitting there and rotting away.
And some are saying it was the 69 Camaro that was Orange that was sitting there and was rotting away.
Some are saying that it was Chained to a Tree or a Pole.
Some are saying that it was crushed after Freddy and Eddie Lafayette (I belive that was there name) closed there Shop.

Harrells 70 Camaro was Orange
Grumpys Toy IV was Orange
BM 69 Camaro was ?

[Carleen]

Grumpys Toy IV

[Pro Stock John]

I've talked to Doug Boyce about Heavy's cars, and he as a fellow racer agrees with me that most people would not add a vinyl top to a car like IV.

I bet Heavy's brother or Carmen Rotunda would remember the history of each car, because I think there were 2-3 first gen Camaros raced with Heavy's name on the car, but maybe some of the cars were sponsored by him but owned by others.

I can also see where some old timers may have been reticent in the past to connect the dots because Heavy may have had assets seized, and well some of those cars maybe changed hands before that happened.

Just from looking around, I come up with this list:

68 Camaro, orange, vinyl top, grump lump, 427 numbers on the scoop
68 Camaro, former IV car (some say it's the orange one in many of Heavy's pics)
Green Camaro, Carmen's car
69 Camaro, White with orange or red stripes and snorkel hood scoop on SSTs
69 Camaro, orange, black vinyl top, Mopar or Grump lump hood scoop,
70 Camaro, tiger stripes, supposedly a former BM car, grump lump style scoop, no vinyl top
70ish Camaro, black vinyl top, #670 on the top

[Pro Stock John]

So did IV maybe evolve like this?

[Carleen]

I've talked to Doug Boyce about Heavy's cars, and he as a fellow racer agrees with me that most people would not add a vinyl top to a car like IV.

I bet Heavy's brother or Carmen Rotunda would remember the history of each car, because I think there were 2-3 first gen Camaros raced with Heavy's name on the car, but maybe some of the cars were sponsored by him but owned by others.

I can also see where some old timers may have been reticent in the past to connect the dots because Heavy may have had assets seized, and well some of those cars maybe changed hands before that happened.

Just from looking around, I come up with this list:

68 Camaro, orange, vinyl top, grump lump, 427 numbers on the scoop
68 Camaro, former IV car (some say it's the orange one in many of Heavy's pics)
Green Camaro, Carmen's car
69 Camaro, White with orange or red stripes and snorkel hood scoop on SSTs
69 Camaro, orange, black vinyl top, Mopar or Grump lump hood scoop,
70 Camaro, tiger stripes, supposedly a former BM car, grump lump style scoop, no vinyl top
70ish Camaro, black vinyl top, #670 on the top

Cars with Heavys name or had J&L Racing Enterprice on them was own by Rufus Boyd.
Johnny Boyd made that clear when some guys were saying that their dad (that was Drivers) own some Cars.
68 Camaro orange ex Grumpys
68 Camaro Green Rotondas (Heavys)
69 Camaro (only one) Orange, White
70 Camaro Tiger Stripe ex Dipalma
70 Camaro orange ex Harrell

[Carleen]

No pictures of the 69

[Pro Stock John]

That's the first pic I've seen of the green Camaro thanks for sharing.

If one of you guys are friends with Heavy's brother ask him if they added a vinyl to the Grump IV car or not.

[Carleen]

No need to ask.
Read the text under the picture and look at the picture

[Carleen]

Here you have more pictures of the green Camaro

[Pro Stock John]

Great to see more pics of the green Camaro.

As for the Pumpkin picture, have seen that one many times. As a drag racer maybe you get some of our skepticism it's the same car just because it's a rare person who would add a vinyl top to a an early pro stock car.

Anyway is the green Camaro lost to history?

[EZ Nova]

No need to ask.
Read the text under the picture and look at the picture

I was thinking that too, before you posted. When was that statement made about it being an EX-Grumpy car? So here we are speculating the Toy IV info, along with the other Toy IV that is being presented, but here is an account that Brooklyn got Toy IV from back in the day.

Maybe that's exactly why they added the roof, so to confuse people that it wasn't Toy IV??

[Carleen]

That was Heavys trademark.
Orange car with Black Roof.
For a while all the Heavys Cars were Orange with Black Roof except for the Green Camaro (and some Street Racers).
Heavys Pumpkins.
It all started with the 69 Camaro Baldwin Motion SS427 Phase III with the 430 Can Am engine (Heavys Darling).
That was the starting point for Heavys career and his fleet

[Carleen]

Pumpkins

[Carleen]

I was thinking that too, before you posted. When was that statement made about it being an EX-Grumpy car? So here we are speculating the Toy IV info, along with the other Toy IV that is being presented, but here is an account that Brooklyn got Toy IV from back in the day.

Maybe that's exactly why they added the roof, so to confuse people that it wasn't Toy IV??

Both Bill Jenkins and Rufus Boyd have said it is Toy IV (Heavys Orange 68 Camaro)

[Carleen]

Pumpkins Harrell 70 Camaro

[lbnaz]

This has been one of the most interesting stories I've read and followed on this site in a long time. Keep it going. The guy definitely knew what cars to buy and he was a veteran. Cheers

[Steve Shauger]

This has been one of the most interesting stories I've read and followed on this site in a long time. Keep it going. The guy definitely knew what cars to buy and he was a veteran. Cheers
Ditto, what an amazing racer and character. Great research and information shared!

[Pro Stock John]

Thanks Carleen. Doug Boyce (wrote the Grumpy's Cars book) also said IV was sold to Heavy, he interviewed Jenkins a bunch for the book.

I was just curious about the orange/black top 'trademark' but sounds like it's something he would do.

What ever happened to the green Camaro?

[Carleen]

I dont know what happend to it.
I have tryed to contact Carmen Rotonda for years (he is on Facebook) but he dosent respond and he dosent want to be friend with me.
What I heard is that it was given to Carmen Rotonda for his good service and he was allways a good and a loyal friend to Heavy.
Some says it was in a accident and got scrapped.
I dont know.
Maybe Carmen Rotonda still have it, sitting in a barn.
As far as I know it hasint been found

[Carleen]

Vinyl roofs on race cars were something that Smokey Yunick tested on his 67 Camaro.
It went faster with Vinyl roof, Golf ball effect

[njsteve]

I don't think Smokey was testing the Bernoulli effect....more like testing the Band-Aid effect of hiding body modifications with a vinyl top with padding. :naughty:

[Carleen]

Heavys Dart
Heavy bought it from the Mutt Brothers.
It was the one that won the quarter million quarter mile race against Super John 69 Camaro

[jer]

Ditto, what an amazing racer and character. Great research and information shared!

He was a lot of things, but the cars and their history were indeed spectacular. ... very consistent in the types of race cars he commissioned.

[Carleen]

Heavys Challenger
Ex Billy the Kid
Was sold to England and went back to Long Island

[Carleen]

Heavys Duster
Was sold to England and ended up in Sweden

[Carleen]

Heavys Cuda

[EZ Nova]

Notice on Heavy Challenger, first picture show 1971 tail lights, and the next 2 pictures shows a 73/74 grill style??

[Carleen]

Challenger started as 1970 model and ended up as a 1972 model

[PeteLeathersac]

‘

A few more Heavy hitters including one Vega but first, a couple B&W shots of Carmen Rotonda’s ‘68.
:beers:
~ Pete

.

[luzl78]

How many are these cars around and spoken for? Was the challenger and cuda hemi cars?

[Carleen]

The ones I know of is
Heavys Duster its in Sweden and is restord
Heavys Challenger on Long Island in pieces
Grumpys Toy IV only the shell remains (I been told)
Heavys 69 Camaro (Im not going to talk about it)

Heavys Challenger was a Sox&Martin built (body in white?)
Heavys Cuda had a Hemi but dont know if it was Original Hemi Cuda. (I dont think so)

[EZ Nova]

Carleen, strange that the Challenger was S&M built body in white as they we PLYMOUTH guys and Landy was the DODGR guys. I have the mag at home with the 1970 Cuda build i think. I do for Grumpys 1970.

[markinnaples]

Thanks for all of the amazing information and pictures. Such an interesting story.
Anyone have any color pics of Rotonda's Camaro?

[Carleen]

Okay now I understand the discussion they had about S&M and Landy. Thank you

[Carleen]

Some are building Clones and when they are done it is the real one.

[Carleen]

Heavys Sport Dart

[Carleen]

Heavys Vega

[Carleen]

Heavys 74 Camaro
Pat Musi started to build Engins for Heavy and was one of his Drivers
Pat is still building Engines but his Daughters is probably more famous today
Especially Lizzy

[Carleen]

Unknown

[Carleen]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKCRoJK-wNw

[EZ Nova]

Heavys Vega

That would make a fun streetcar today!

[Carleen]

I dont know anything about the Cuda
And I dont know much about the Challenger
Challenger as it sits now

[EZ Nova]

Strange, from that angle of the as it sits now shoots, the wheel wells don't seem to be as flared and missing gas cap.

[Carleen]

Here you have where Sox&Martin rumor came from

[PeteLeathersac]

‘

The Duster is in Sweden as link below also note pic Anders had posted of an old Windshield piece w/ Heavy Racing Decal one of the past owners had saved back in this thread…
https://www.yenko.net/forum/showthread.php?t=100096
:beers:
~ Pete

.

[PeteLeathersac]

‘

Looks like the Heavy Decal in the Duster W’shld. as pic Carleen posted a few pages back?:hmmm:
:beers:
~ Pete

.

[Pro Stock John]

Brookly Heavy car?

[Carleen]

Sox&Martin Challenger

[Carleen]

Heavy Sticker

[Carleen]

Heavys Race Cars had this License Plate

[Carleen]

Brookly Heavy car?

No dont think so
Dosent have J&L or Heavy on it
Heavy only had 2 68 Camaro and that is not Grumpys or Green Camaro

[GotGrunt]

I’m not sure if this has been posted yet or not…

[JRSully]

Was that car in the pic Hugger Orange.? If so, I believe that was the car that was stored at a gas station in Wantagh Long Island in the very early 80's. I remember it distinctly, Hugger Orange SS/RS, Hockey stick stripe, Vinyl and the cut rear quarters

[GotGrunt]

Was that car in the pic Hugger Orange.? If so, I believe that was the car that was stored at a gas station in Wantagh Long Island in the very early 80's. I remember it distinctly, Hugger Orange SS/RS, Hockey stick stripe, Vinyl and the cut rear quarters

Yes, that’s the car, and I believe it was an amoco station.

[COPO]

Is that the same car that was a BM car that they took to the track in a HP Cars magazine article in 1969? Seem to recall the magazine car had corvette side exhaust, but was RS/SS, hugger orange and black vinyl top, so very likely same car.

[GotGrunt]

Is that the same car that was a BM car that they took to the track in a HP Cars magazine article in 1969? Seem to recall the magazine car had corvette side exhaust, but was RS/SS, hugger orange and black vinyl top, so very likely same car.

Yes, Heavy bought it from Joel, it was the shop demo and also the car displayed at the NY auto show.

[JRSully]

For months I asked the owner of the Amoco station if it was for sale, he consistently told me "no, owner is in jail and getting it when he gets out.." the late Dan Palchanes chased this car to the ends of the earth

[Carleen]

And Dan Palchanes found it

[GotGrunt]

And Dan Palchanes found it

I don’t want to start another debate about your car but Martyn Schorr said he was there when Motion put this car together and it was hugger orange from the factory. Your car is originally glacier blue. Joel sourced this car through Baldwin Chevrolet. Your car came from Brahms Chevrolet in Palisades Park, NJ. There are other inconsistencies such as the deluxe interior in the Motion article & auto show pics, yet your trim tag is coded for a standard interior. The article says the Motion car is a factory automatic, but your car is a factory manual. The article states the Motion car as having a factory optioned ZL2 hood. The firewall on your car shows it not having the ZL2 piercing, etc.

I’m not trying to attack you, just pointing out the facts that have already been covered in multiple other threads…

[Mr70]

So did Dan P. really not find it then?

[FTC]

So did Dan P. really not find it then?

The way post #160 reads,.....it doesn't sound like he did.

[JRSully]

After the car was gone, I know Dan hounded me to search the property data base/find the owner of that Amoco station, just didn't have the time. I do not personally know if he ever found it.

[Carleen]

Here

[Carleen]

a

[GotGrunt]

The car was ordered as an L78 so it would have come with 396 fender emblems. Joel must have wanted them deleted after the 427 swap and since the holes would have to be filled, the stripes were repainted. Martyn Schorr said the car was always hugger orange. Who would know better than someone who was there during the build. You're implying that since the stripes are different than what the factory applied, the whole car must have been repainted… and from glacier blue to hugger orange. It doesn’t make any sense for a savvy businessman like Joel to order a car from a NJ dealership and then do a full color change, interior swap from standard to deluxe, and a transmission swap from manual to auto. Also, the car eventually got a stinger hood for the auto show but came with a factory ZL2. From what I’ve read and heard about this car, it was loaded with options, most likely ordered that way knowing it will be a shop demo and eventual auto show display car.

[Carleen]

s

[JoeC]

The 69 Motion Camaro on display at the show has a Stinger hood and 427 emblems on the hood , fender, and grill. Could be the same car with some mods for the show.

[GotGrunt]

The 69 Motion Camaro on display at the show has a Stinger hood and 427 emblems on the hood , fender, and grill. Could be the same car with some mods for the show.

The Motion demo (from the article) & the one from the Motion auto show display are the same car. The hood & emblems were changed for the auto show.