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Getting Ready to Shake Rattle and Run… Again
By Mike Alberts
Photos by Mike Alberts, Eric Schmidt, The "Messino Gang," and Pete Gemar
It all started 50 years ago, when Chevrolet came out with the car that would become one of the most popular cars ever. The Bel Air ended up being the only car Chevy ever made that had fins on the back that resembled the Chevy sign. This story is about one of the most popular 1957 Bel Airs in the world -- that’s Shake Rattle and Run.
Back in 1959, Dick Messino and Eric Schmidt were hanging around a guy named Paul Cline, or (cb) as he was known to his friends. Cline had gotten a 1957 Chevy Bel Air for a graduation present. It was white with red and white interior, a power pack combo of a 220hp 283, and a 3 speed trans. It wasn’t long after hanging out with Dick and Eric that the car was doing a lot of street racing. The guys won a lot of races, and wanted to do more. In 1960, when Paul wanted to sell the car, the first two guys in line were Dick and Eric. The pair painted the car red, and with a couple of motors, were running pretty good.
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| The early years... |
In 1962, the amphitheater in Chicago had an indoor drag racing event that started it all. By 1964, the Shake was running really good. With its injected small block, four speed trans, and Eric’s great driving ability, they were a half second faster than the next car in C/Gas, and they were even faster than most B/Gassers. In 1965, they took the car to Deland, Florida, in the middle of the winter and they won the whole event. That was the team’s first real big event win and after that, they decided it was time to travel. From 1965 to 1967, the team was unbeatable. They went everywhere in the Midwest and on the East Coast.
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| Indoor drag racing! |
By 1968, it was time for a big block. Now the team was really fast. With times in the low 10s, this car once again was unbeatable. Not only was it fast, it looked great. The Shake Rattle and Run won car shows in the winter, and match races in the summer.
In 1977, Dick retired the car to race a brand new Monza pro stocker. The pro stock gig lasted a couple of years until the car was wrecked. Dick decided to sell the Monza and redo the Shake. He did a total resto, including a new chassis, new motor, Lenco trans, new paint, and more chrome. The car was a hit all over again with its great look and fast ETs. The fans went crazy for the high 7 second, 3000 lb beauty.
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| Only one year for this style lettering... |
By 1992, Dick said again put the original 57 in the mothballs and went pro mod racing with a pro mod 57 Chevy powered by big Ted Borowski motor. Ted also drove the beast, and the car fell off the trailer with a 7:20 at 198 mph. Unfortunately, the new car also was wrecked and sold. Dick had had enough, and said “I’m done!”
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| Let's start again... |
Well, never say never… Here we are in 2007 and it just happens to be the 50th anniversary of the 57 Chevy. With some strong convincing from Dick’s sons Chris and Paul, and a message from Blaise up above, Dick decided to redo the Shake once again. The first thing needed was a new chassis, so off the car went to Gene Pudlo's shop in Hammond, Indiana, to get a 25c1 pro stock style chassis.
Next, it was off to Vince Rollberg's Modern Carriage Werks in Bridgeview, Illinois, to get a beautiful DuPont paint job of candy red with psycho silver base coat. Believe it or not, the car has all the original body panels on it, plus the 1961 era fiberglass front end and truck lid! The car also features all new Danchuk rubber strips, chrome clips, head lights, tail lights, sill plates, and chrome pieces. The ’57 looks better now than it ever did, which are some pretty big shoes to fill.
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| Almost ready... |
Dick next called engine builder and pro stock racer Steve Schmidt to construct a 635 cubic inch bullet that will make 1700 hp with a little spray. That should be enough power to put the car into the six second zone! Pro stock racer Kevin Lawrence will shoe this complete piece of race car wickedness. Look for the Shake, Rattle, and Run to be tearing up a track near you one day soon!
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| Lookin' good! |
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