Racetrack-then Pizza

Cool crisp day at the track and a best time ever for the Routine Patrol Coffee car.

Raceway Park routinepatrol.com

Nothing better than a day at track with the smell of racing gas burning your eyes and the smell of burning rubber filling your nose.

Valiant Raceway Park routinepatrol.com

The line lock gets to see some action at the water burn out. Thank goodness the extinguisher didn't get any use.

Line lock and ratchet shifter routinepatrol.com 

Plymouth routinepatrol.com

staging lanes routinepatrol.com

Smokin Burnout routinepatrol.com

Marc Cosentino routinepatrol.com

Ready for the tree. Then off to great pizza at World Famous Goodfella's Hylan Blvd. Staten Island NY. 

Original Goodfellas Hylan Blvd. SINY

Redneck Lawn Art or Beauty?

Lawn Art 

Recently while cruising through NJ for my son's travel baseball game I came upon this weathered, beaten up old pick up truck just parked in front of someone's house. At first, I thought it might be for sale.

Leave it where it lies

 Then as I looked at its placement and position I realized it was on display. Some people like paintings, some like sculpture, and some of us like cars.

routinepatrol.com

Fortunately, there was a place to park for refreshment for the kids while  I took the opportunity to cross the street and snap a few pictures of this beast slowly returning to the earth.

Shots fired

This was much more common sight back in the day and brought back memories of road trips when I was a kid. Put a smile on my face and I would like to thank the man or woman responsible-well done!

World's Hottest Brick oven Pizza!

Jackie Hollywood Staten Island, "Light Em Up!"

The Heyday of Drag Racing 

Recently while driving "Relentless" down Hylan Blvd. in Staten Island on my to the Original Goodfella's Pizza I heard screams of approval and "light em up!" coming from the front of Shoprite. Too bad I was paying attention to traffic and a pressing appointment or I would have noticed it my friend Jackie from Hollywood Garage yelling at me. He hadn't seen the most recent Goodfella's hot rod but when I stopped by later he let me know he was happy to see it. He actually thanked me for designing it after the 70's race cars we used to watch on TV and at the local tracks. He said "it brings back such memories" and began telling me of his first Hot Rod and showed me a photo of the beautiful flame job he did on it. He told me about running the 4.11's on the street and using his line lock to "light em up" at the red lights.

The 1981 Camaro sponsored by the Original Goodfella's Pizza Hylan Blvd. 

Goodfella's Pizza co-founder Marc Cosentino and Jackie Gaziano of Hollywood Garage

Hollywood Garage with the American Pickers 

We spoke of the old days, Hylan Blvd. The Big Blocks and the different clubs that roamed the streets in search of the next race. Jackie has incredible stories and the photos and magazines to back it up. We philosophized a bit and were both in shock that a college kid came in with his Honda and couldn't figure out how to change a bulb. Times have changed and hot rodding is never gonna die but it takes a special breed to field and old car. You have to be stubborn and determined to keep it going aside from the obvious cost and difficulty finding parts. Not many of us are willing to put up with the inconvenient breakdowns, terrible gas mileage, loud exhaust, high revving.  limited use due to slicks or big cams. However, those of you out there who can tolerate all the above and love the smell of raw gas, the sound of loud exhaust, the grip of big tires, high winding motors, shifting gears at the limits and live to "light em Up" will surely keep hot rodding going and inspire the future generations.

66 CHEVELLE vs GT vs GTO Muscle

Gotta love the 60's commercials!

Adding Pizza To The Pub?

Cruising the Rat Rod for a Pizza

Routine Patrol Coffee AMC Spirit Rat Rod Parking lot Old Glory Keyport NJ

Pizza is the ultimate excuse to fire up your hot rod and make a few passes on your way to the local pizza joint. There just happens to be a great place called Old Glory not too far from me. It is an old church converted into a bar and pizza place and it actually features the American Flag painted across the entire ceiling by Staten Islands Favorite painter Scott Labaido.  It also features the original Uncle Sam outfit prominently displayed on the wall. They cook in a wood-fired brick oven and serve favorites like ribs and wings right from the oven.

God Bless America Routine Patrol Coffee A

The car is a 1981 AMC Spirit with a 383 Chevy helping down the quarter mile into the 12's.  The highway gears and drag radials are forgiving enough to allow it to be driven from NY to Philly with no complaints. That is a functional handmade cold air hood scoop with hand painted coffee sign. A tremendous amount of fun in a little package that lets you know it's coming with its glass packs dumping out the sides in front of the rear wheels. The engine is built and maintained by Mikes Auto on Canal Street  Staten Island NY. 

All Knowing Pizza

Chevy Powered AMC Routine Patrol

Welcome to Hot Rods and Pizza

Hot Rods and Pizza 

hot rod

ˈhät ˌräd/

noun

1. 1.

   a motor vehicle that has been specially modified to give it extra power and speed.

verb

1. 1.

   drive a hot rod.
2. 2.

   modify (a vehicle or other device) to make it faster or more powerful.

This is a blog by a car guy that just can't ignore  Hot Rods. Most of it goes back to the streets of Brooklyn NY and the outrageous street racers driving the 70's muscle cars, street rods and even blown gassers through the neighborhood. The chrome wheels, high revving engines, thumping cams, pounding exhaust and tire smoke got me! Driving a hot rod is a matter of pride and pleasure demanding infinite patience and determination so respect to all you guys and girls that put a modified car on the road and keep it running. It can't be overestimated how many smiles you put on the faces of young and old throughout our great country. My other passion is pizza and having been in and around the industry for years I still can't pass up a good slice! Although I grew up with a great pizza on every corner I can't get enough of it, I f you like cars and pizza,  I dedicate this blog to you!