[elefantrider]

I'm looking for a Pontiac enthusiast who street-raced '62-'63 big cars in the late 80s around the San Fernando Valley. He was often referred to as the "birdman" because one of his cars, a faded dark blue '62, looked like a chicken had walked all over the rear decklid with with paint on its feet. His cars were always stock appearing underhood with manual transmissions and some had hidden nitrous systems. He ran stock size tires on 8 lug wheels and always gave the ford crowd a run for their money. He lived in Pasadena and raced on Osborne street in North Hollywood/ Sunland. I would like to get back in touch with this guy but have since lost his number and forgot where he lives (somewhere in Pasadena). Any info would be appreciated. thanks. chris

[Art P.]

I believe the person you're thinking of was my buddy Joe Moreau. He street
raced a nocturne blue factory four speed 64 GP with a hidden nitrous system
in the early 90's, Quite often in the valley. He called his car "the Beast"
because of those chicken scratch marks on every edge of his car (a result of
previous owner, an artist that cleaned his paintstripper covered brushes on
the car) His car ran eight lugs with 15" rims, the hidden nitrous system you mentioned, hurst 4 speed shifter and a beach towel covered parchment interior. Total sleeper. He knew his cars, alright...He knew how to beat fords because he raced one too (an '89, I believe, also a sleeper) Used his winnings to build more cars. (63 Bonnie, 3 64 GP's, 69 GP)

Unfortunately, Joe passed away in January of '94 (days after the Northridge quake) and is still missed by his friends and their cars..

Art.

[vidguy]

Damn if this thread aint a neat one..

Sorry to hear of the passing of your friend Joe, but it's great that you two were able to put the memory and the man together from out of nowhere..
Art, thanks for logging on and posting. How did you find that post asking about Joe?

[elefantrider]

Just saw your posting Art and I must say, I'm a bit shaken to learn of Joe's passing. I had been to his house a couple times then lost contact when i moved up north for school. For years, I couldn't remember his name or where i had his phone number and address. He was one of the reasons why i stayed with Pontiacs. I remember his car well, even went on a few errands with him in Glendale just to test the nitrous system.... Can still smell the car's worn interior in the hot California sun. He was a real pontiac enthusiast and one of the nicest this hobby or i have met. I was looking forward to getting back in touch with him. Very sorry to hear he's no longer with us. Chris

PM/Email also sent.

[Art P.]

Joe is pretty much the reason I got into Pontiacs as well. I'd met him just after I bought my first Pontiac, a 27,000 mile, sitting since 1967, 64 Grand Prix 389 4 speed that a coworker begged me to take off his hands for $400. My mailman (also a car guy) told me about a guy restoring the same car a few blocks away. When I got to his house I saw the Beast parked on the street and the body of the Grand Prix he was restoring about a foot over the 5 foot fence ( a real body-off restoration!) I introduced myself and asked him a thousand Pontiac questions and he answered all of them. When it got to the "where do I find these parts" question, he took my list and gave me just about every part on it. He then followed me home (because he just couldn't believe I also had a factory 4 speed) and spent a lot of time inspecting my car and giving me advice. From that moment on we became good friends. I actually quit my job and started working on cars with him. He taught me almost everything I know about engines and "junkyard carousing" an almost daily activity. He went out of his way to be helpful and honest in all of his car dealings (well, except for the street racing with a sleeper and taking some poor import driver's money...but I sure don't fault him for that)

Joe's family sold all of his cars to cover his medical expenses and I couldn't afford to pay anything at the time so I had to watch them be sold. He had given me several items before he died that I still cherish today...his "thinking t-shirt" to be worn only when really stumped (practically in rags right now) and his old, digital wristwatch that I still wear often.

Five years after Joe's death, I was in the market for another Pontiac project, I answered an ad for an engineless 64 Bonnie convertible in Hemmings. The car was local (Pomona) and as I got to talking and talking about Pontiacs and Joe and all of Joe's cars, the seller, Jon Fiedler, said the descriptions sounded familiar and opened up a garage where he was parting out Joe's race car (the Beast) and also had the restored frame of the restoration Joe was doing. It turns out that Jon had bought every one of Joe's cars from different owners in the years since Joe's death and had no idea of their history. Jon was moved by my reaction to Joe's car and threw in Joe's old motor with the purchase of my Bonneville. (Some of it was unusable-too much nitrous, I'd say, but I am running as much of Joe's parts as I could) The first call I made when I got home was to Joe's mother...She was very happy to hear the news!

Jon and I also became friends over these Pontiacs. It was as if Joe wanted me to meet Jon and get back into Pontiacs. Well, things happen, break-ups, mortgages, life's ups and downs and I've been away from the Pontiac world for 3 or 4 years now. I parked my projects and even lost touch with Jon over this time. Well, life is on an upswing for me and the urge to finish my convertible started building up so as a re-starting point I logged onto the PY website and, wouldn't you know, one of the first things I see is Chris' post about Joe. It's as if Joe wants me to finish these cars....

All I can say is thanks, Joe....I'm baaack!

Now, speaking of losing touch with old friends, does anyone know if Jon Fiedler is on this board or TATODD who gave me great engine advice years ago or Old Man Taylor who helped me through my first tri-power rebuild???

[60man]

Art P: OMT still is active on this board.
I have saw Jon Fiedler's name before also. I think it was on this board or selling parts on another site....

Very cool story.
I had a simular experience which also involved the passing of a "old Pontiac"
racing buddy...........and here I am...........back into Pontiac's & racing. The car I am racing is a clone but I do own the original also..
It's good for the soul..

[vidguy]

I logged onto the PY website and, wouldn't you know, one of the first things I see is Chris' post about Joe. It's as if Joe wants me to finish these cars....

Art, that's a great story..
You sound like a great friend and that sounds like a true friendship..
This is what the hobby is REALLY about..