downsizingnow48
Elite Member
American Graffiti was filmed in Petaluma but only because Howard's home town Modesto over in the Central Valley, had changed too much and no longer displayed the culture he wanted to illustrate. I grew up in another Valley town which Modesto is a clone of. In fact expeditions up and down the valley to cruise in the alternatives and maybe challenge a race there, weren't unusual.
I recall one night we were out on a wide, nicely paved rural road similar to where the Graffiti race/crash was filmed (I think that was filmed at Patterson) and some guy from out of town with a built 58 Chevy, presumably a 348, was insistent that I race him for pink slips. Oh H-- no. My 37 Chev coupe (found a stock photo) with a small-block 265 built to mostly Corvette specs (Duntov cam!) was light and quick but no thanks. Howard's autobiographical movie exactly matches my memories of growing up in the pre-VN era. Seeing that movie, filmed years later, was amazing.
Anyhow lets get back on topic.![]()
Well if others can talk about penny candy we can talk about street racing. San Fernando Valley is where I grew up. First fast car was a 1958 Corvette with the 283 hp 283. Not fast enough. Traded it for a 1968 Camaro with Corvette 427 engine. That was seriously fast. We used to race with just a glance at the other car.