It's never a drag to own a racing legend
"Dad loved cars," says Pat Sweeney of Batavia, thinking back to his youth. "Particularly the fast ones."
His father, Jim Sweeney, was a service writer at the well-known Chicago dealership, Grand Spaulding Dodge. He hoped to pass his love of speed to his son. When Pat was 15, Jim got him a worn-out and disassembled 1970 Buick GS Stage 1.
"It showed up in the driveway one day and Dad said, 'Here's your car'," said Sweeney. "I didn't know the first thing about Buicks."
Pat learned quickly and soon he had the street bruiser together. He used it to get to his classes at Glenbard North High School in Carol Stream. Craving more, the young man headed to Great Lakes Dragaway in Union Grove, Wisconsin. There, he put the pedal to the metal, loving every second.
After a few years of all out fun, he sold the car to a friend in 1985. Since that time, the leadfoot has owned many other muscle machines of all makes but Buicks always have a special place in his heart. They also have a special place in his garage, too. Sweeney always has owned at least one of them.
Because of Pat's die-hard brand devotion, he paid attention to one special 1970 Buick GS Stage 2 long before he came to own it. His first sighting of the racer was in 1987 at the Buick Nationals in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He watched it blaze down Beech Bend Raceway.
"It was unbelievably fast," remembers Sweeney. Reading more and more magazine features about the car only fueled his interest.
This speed demon was purchased new by Bobby Joe Thetford, a racer based in Fort Worth, Texas. He ordered it from Dunn Buick in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
After a few years of professional racing, Thetford passed away in 1973. His widow sold the classic to his best friend, David Holman. Holman's intention was to let his teenage son race. After one pass in it himself, he changed his mind.
"The car could pull some massive wheelies," explains Sweeney. "Holman's first time at the track, he came down hard - real hard." Holman gave strict orders to his son to never take it racing. However, the youngster couldn't resist. He sneaked in a pass but blew out the engine. Holman was furious; he pulled out the engine and shoved the race car into a corner of the family's garage.
A fourth owner, Jim Turner, bought it in 1980. He repaired the car and went on to set five national drag racing records. In 2000, Turner sold it to Sweeney.
"The odometer showed just 1,350 miles," said Sweeney. "Each one was put on one-quarter mile at time."
It took about a decade before Sweeney was able to complete a full and proper restoration. He returned the retro racer to the look Thetford had on the car. The enthusiast returned it to a familiar location, too, blasting down area drag strips.
They're short bursts but they have no trouble taking Sweeney back to his teen dream. "When I'm behind the wheel I'm 16 all over again," he says.
Just like his dad, Pat's passing on the passion, too. Sweeney helped his son, Quinn, get a 1968 Buick project car. Life in the fast lane is fun but way more fun when shared with family.
• Share your car's story with Matt at auto@dailyherald.com.