Joe Makara's Garage

Growing up in the Valley during the 1970s and early 1980s was perhaps the best way to learn about the good and the bad in the world. Hanging out at Joe Makara's auto repair shop, or "the Garage" as we called it. The Mingo Boys; Mike Duska, Bill Kendrach, Rick Makara, Jim Longo, Anthony Mattiolli, Kevin Nicholas, Tim Clifton, Jimbo Marcinko, Steve Sferra, Martin Madden, Rich Canestraro, John Treglia, Steve Petrella, Anthony Antinone, Doug Lease and me, Nial Pashke.

We spent days arguing about which cars were the fastest and the best. "The Cuda", "The Torino", "The Monte", "The Caddies - Yellow and Blue", "The Nova", "The LTD", "The James Von T/A eater", "The Bass-o-matic", "The '67 Goat", "The 429 Cobra Jet", "The '69 Satellite", "The '68 XL", "The 'Stang", "The '67 GTX", "The Merc'", "The No-no", and "The Wagon".

We spent nights drag racing our cars on the "Strip". We painted a starting line and a checkered flagged finish line on the street in front of the "Garage". We even had a sign that said "Raceway". We would race anything including family station wagons. Cars, cars, and more cars. Innocent fun for the most part.

Most of the Mingo Boys have grown up and left the Valley, but when we get together we can talk for hours about the fun times growing up in our hometown. As we approach the 21st century, I'm sure that there will be another generation of kids drag racing on the "Strip".
One last thought... rules!