Long Island B-Gas 55 Chevy
SALVATORE FAZIO
Wednesday December 18 2013, 10:57 AM

I am looking for any information about a Long Island NY B-Gas car called the Brute. It was a 55 Chevy run by Lo Bianco Bros. That car was a constant winner at Islip Speedway and Westhampton Drag Strip. Any ionfo would be helpful. Thanks, Sal

Pat DiStefano
@pat-distefano   10 years ago
I remember the car vividly, it was one of my favorites. I went to Westhampton with the Willie the Welder MG that ran out of Jack Merkels shop. I don't have any pictures but do remember the car.Pat
SALVATORE FAZIO
@salvatore-fazio   10 years ago
Thanks for your comment Pat. Lobianco Bros 55 ran at Islip and Westhampton. I never actually saw that car lose a race. It was a thrill to watch.Didn't you also run the MG at Islip? I remember bothan MG and an Austin Healy that ran really well, both with I believe small block Chevy power. At the time it was rare to see foreign cars on the drag strip.
Pat DiStefano
@pat-distefano   10 years ago
Yes we ran at Islip, NY National, Dover, Englishtown (it just opened) York ,Indy, Cecil County, Flemington.I now own the car and still race it. I remember the Brute being quite a character and a big guy with a beard.Pat
SALVATORE FAZIO
@salvatore-fazio   10 years ago
Yes the Brute was a big guy with a beard.I run a 1965 Pontiac GTO with 670 hp 461ci Pontiac motor.Maybe one day we will run into each other at Englishtown.A friend claims that his brother bought the original Brute, however it does not look like the same car to me. It is thus far a mystery about what actually happened to the car.Take care, Sal
Al Clark
@al-clark   10 years ago
I loved the Brute. Ran well but I remember the it was match raced against "Coney Island Ralph" and got embarrassed by the C/G car
SALVATORE FAZIO
@salvatore-fazio   10 years ago
I remember Coney Island Ralph from my days hanging out at Mitchel's in Bklyn. We would drive in from Nassau County, race on First Ave. or Fort Hamilton pky and then hang out with the Brooklyn guys. Those were wonderful days and both Ralph and the Brute were two of my favorites along with Sal Acardi and Gary Stowe. I seem to recall a race between those two gassers with a different outcome, but that was many years ago. Thanks for your memories Al.