After World War II a
restless nation sought out new ways to provide much
needed recreation. Many of the G.I.'s returning from
active duty explored many ways to entertain. Those
inclined to mechanical interests turned to motorcycles,
some to midget car racing and others to street racing.
Some of these Hot Rodders found themselves on the other
side of the law. Some formed clubs, perhaps similar
motorcycle clubs seen in the movies of the day. Many of
these clubs were started around the Milwaukee area.
Street Racing was seen on many streets of then semi
rural and/or industrial areas of Milwaukee's far North
side or the West corridor of West Allis near
Harnischfeger Rd. Bob Metzler then in his twenties a
local stock car driver was recommended by his brother
in-law Dick Paul, to get involved in several of the Hot
Rod groups starting in the Milwaukee area.
"My act
(shtick) was that of a spoiled millionare playboy who
raced for a hobby," Ivo remembers. "But that image had
its drawbacks. No one took me seriously or gave me
credit for the 36 cars I build and drove, and all the
blown, unblown, gas and fuel engines I tuned and
maintained during my 30-year drag racing career." So he
got their attention by playing practical jokes.
"Broadway Bob Metzler booked a bunch of us into Union
Grove (Wisconsin). It was a two-day show that rained out
the first day. All the guys went back to their motels
and went to sleep except me. I'm a night owl, a practice
I acquired early in my touring career. I would borrow a
guy's speed shop or garage to work on my car after they
closed up and went home for dinner. There I was,
wide-eyed in the rain-soaked parking lot with nothing to
do, so I came up with the great hood switcheroo. Almost
all the racers had crew cab dualies at the time, so
while they slept, my helper and I went from truck to
truck exchanging hoods-a red hood for a black one or a
green hood for a yellow one. It took us all night, but
it was well worth it. My only mistake was that my prank
had "Ivo" written all over it, so Metzler got pissed at
me because all the racers were putting their hoods back
on their trucks and not preparing their race cars.
Excerpt from the Life and Times of Tommy Ivo from
HotRod.com
