Gone But Not Forgotten in San Antonio! - Part II (Mission: living in, cars)

[outafocus]

The photo is of the "NEW" San Pedro at Bitters and 281. That picture was taken between 1970-80 because there are three screens. The third screen was added in 1970, and two of the screens were split in 1980.

I closed the San Pedro in august 1984, it was razed immediately. The Embassy opened about a year later.

[Willsatx]

Thanks out for the info, so what was out there when the embassy opened? I am very curious to know.

[Boss Rider]

Originally Posted by RGJ

That probably was Charlo's Sinclair, I'm presuming. He moved to the corner of New Branfels and Fair and changed to Phillips 66. Cool Million, which is now called, The Other Woman, is where the Sinclair used to be(if my memory serves me right). There was also a Phillips 66 at Clark and Fair, owned and run by an old, nice guy everyone called, "Sarge". I think he originally worked for Charlo.

Nope, it was Oran Evans' station while I was there ('59 & '60) on the corner of Fair and Nopal, directly across from the old St. Margret Mary's. He moved after I left to the corner of Gevers and Waleetka. We did have a guy they called Sarge come in once in a while to help with the more complex repairs, and an elderly Mexican I knew only as Joe who was a tune-up magician. I pumped gas, did grease jobs, washed cars, and learned a LOT from passing tools and asking "Can I do that ?"

[RGJ]

Originally Posted by Boss Rider

Nope, it was Oran Evans' station while I was there ('59 & '60) on the corner of Fair and Nopal, directly across from the old St. Margret Mary's. He moved after I left to the corner of Gevers and Waleetka. We did have a guy they called Sarge come in once in a while to help with the more complex repairs, and an elderly Mexican I knew only as Joe who was a tune-up magician. I pumped gas, did grease jobs, washed cars, and learned a LOT from passing tools and asking "Can I do that ?"

I was thinking more in the early to mid and late sixties...Maybe it became Charlo's after Evans' moved. Anyways........

[Boss Rider]

Originally Posted by RGJ

I was thinking more in the early to mid and late sixties...Maybe it became Charlo's after Evans' moved. Anyways........

Could be likely. Mr. Evans had bought some land in Helotes and was talking about retiring. Between the McCreeless expansion, the housing boom, and the I-37 projects that whole area was changed beyond recognition in the 60's. I enlisted in the Navy in 61 and didn't make it back until all that was finished. I missed the I-37/I-10 exit, and thought I'd just get off at Military; no problem. Problem was it had changed so much I got headed the wrong direction and didn't notice until I got to WW White. Turned around and stopped at a gas station to find out which way it was to Goliad. Embarassing! Then the drive down Goliad was amazing. Nothing was left of the 'old' neighborhood. Only took a day or two to get oriented, but it was a shock.

[940]

Originally Posted by tcs

OK I have not been on here in a while and stumbled across a site the other day that blew me away. If it has already been discussed on the forum excuse me bringing it up again. historicaerials.com

Saw an image of the old San Pedro Outdoor.

I am hooked on this site you referenced...

HistoricAerials.com

Very interesting to see all the changes in San Antonio from 1955, 1973, 1986 and 2004...especially in 1955 when Loop 410 wasn't around and the entire west and northwest sides of town consisted mostly of ranches or single homes scattered about. It's great to find your current neighborhood and then click on each year to see all the changes.

[BudB]

Originally Posted by satx56

I think Boss rider and Bud B were both from that area. I spent a lot of time over there too. Went to McCreless a lot over the years. If you are speaking of 50's era it was a different world then.

Just looked in after a while away and saw my name so will chime in with a question. Since there was talk of old-time SE area gas stations/mechanics I was reminded of a place down on Hackberry just off Highland kinda behind the old Highland Park State Bank. The place in mind was actually a garage where car repairs were done but my main memory of it was more exciting. It was also home to a drag racing team that built rail jobs for the race track out at the long gone drag-strip off Eisenhower or Rittiman Roads. Recall tells me the race team's name was Chris-Tex or something similar so does this jog anyones memory a bit? They built some hot dragsters in that place thru the 1960s and there was always something going on the few times I visited with a high school buddy who knew one of the mechanics there. Firing up those big bore engines with little or less pipe on the exhaust manifold was a sound unlike any other.
VVRROOOOOOMMM!!!
Aloha, BudB

[*mud*]

Originally Posted by BudB

Just looked in after a while away and saw my name so will chime in with a question. Since there was talk of old-time SE area gas stations/mechanics I was reminded of a place down on Hackberry just off Highland kinda behind the old Highland Park State Bank. The place in mind was actually a garage where car repairs were done but my main memory of it was more exciting. It was also home to a drag racing team that built rail jobs for the race track out at the long gone drag-strip off Eisenhower or Rittiman Roads. Recall tells me the race team's name was Chris-Tex or something similar so does this jog anyones memory a bit? They built some hot dragsters in that place thru the 1960s and there was always something going on the few times I visited with a high school buddy who knew one of the mechanics there. Firing up those big bore engines with little or less pipe on the exhaust manifold was a sound unlike any other.
VVRROOOOOOMMM!!!
Aloha, BudB

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CKC Racing.....
Fritz Callier (driver) J.E. Kristek (wrench) Buddy Cortinez (money)...
if I remember correctly.

they're still around.

I'll post some more pictures from my archives, if interested.
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edit to add,
the CKC shop you mention here is a few blocks north of the Norman Ploch location you asked about a while back.
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[BudB]

Yep, that's them and I should have guessed that ol' Mud P would be the guy to ask. Glad to learn they are still racing. They got into funny cars later I heard so that explains the one in the great foto. My brother ran his '56 Chevy on amateur nights out at San Antonio Drag Raceway about 1966-'67 before getting drafted and that place drew big crowds. We saw an early jet car there once that scared the beans out of a lot of folks one night but I never heard of anyone getting hurt out there ... seriously. It must all be subdivisions by now and I know another strip was built south of town but that was after I left for greener pastures. Thanx Mud, you're the man.

[RGJ]

I knew about the garage over by the Highland Park Bank, but I guess those guys were a older. I didn't realize they were known nationally.
What's weird is that I bought a 62 Nova around 1968-69 that I installed a brand new out of the crate 327-365hp Corvette motor with 202 heads, edelbrock alum manifold, holley 3 barrel(huge sucker) and fenderwell headers. I did it by trial and error. It was a beast! If I'd known about them having a nova, I could have possibly gotten some help.