I am wondering if anyone might have a photo of my brother's race car. He drove a dark blue with black vinyl top 1969 GTO. The dealership Citadel Motors of Halifax NS hired Mike to sell performance Pontiacs and Buicks and  run a car for them in 1969 at Drag City in Middle Sackville NS (Win races on Sunday, sell cars on Monday). The car was lettered with white paint over the dark blue body with Citadel written along the body sides through the doors. Mike McGrath was painted on the top of the door below the glass and Challenger was wriiten over the rear wheel wells.  The Challenger lettering was a tribute to Mickey Thompson's world speed record Pontiac powered car. I recall Mike's GTO was a 400ci 265 hp automatic. It ran L/PS. 

Keith, the guy who lettered the car ran a 69 GTO. It was green and bore the sponsors name Beacon Pontic of Dartmouth on the side. It ran F/PS.

I am new to Canadian Poncho. I have a 1964 Parrisienne with 30,000 miles. My uncle bought in 64 and it has been in the family ever sincce. It is a 2 door 283 ci  2 spd auto.

In 1994 I had a 72 GTO 455 HO. Automatic, dark green.

My first car was a 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix model J I bought it in 1971. It was brown on brown. It was a 428 CI 375 hp if I remember correctly. I turned down a chance to buy a 69  Camaro Indy Pace Car with a 396 CI auto tranny and opted for the Grand Prix.

I was lucky in my youth that mamy of my family were in the car bussiness. My oldest brother Doud sold cars for Bob MacDonald. I remember his demo in 1968. A 427 ci 4 spd Impala SS. My uncles were in the used car bussinerss and through these connections I was in just about ever muscle car GM sold in the 60's and 70's as well as the odd Ford and Mopar. 

I knew the late John Shaw. John was "The" performance mechanic in Halifax. John told me he and Ralph Maclair in the fall of 1966 put a 427 in a  new 1967 Camaro which preceeded an article that appeared in Hot Rod Magazine where Hot Rod also dropped in a 427 which may have started the COPO ball rolling.

Any leeds to a photo of that Citadel Motors dark blue 1969 GTO even if it is in the background of the photo would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Paul McGrath. Halifax NS. 

-- Edited by jpaulmcgrath on Friday 24th of August 2012 08:46:25 PM

-- Edited by jpaulmcgrath on Thursday 6th of September 2012 09:24:32 PM

-- Edited by jpaulmcgrath on Thursday 6th of September 2012 09:26:23 PM

Good luck with your search & welcome! Please post some pictures of your '64 Parisienne!

Welcome, Paul.

I'm from the Halifax area as well and can remember going to Drag City, but alas I was only 4 or 5 yrs old at the time, so I don't have any clear memories of your brother's car.  I remember more about when they briefly reopened the track in the early 1980s (including turning around in the bleachers to watch a brawl in the parking lot ) as I was old enough to go on my own by then.  

I can remember driving down Sackville St by Citadel Hill towards the harbour and seeing the big neon Cadillac crest lit up on Citadel Motors.  I'm wishing I had taken a picture of it back then.  I've been wanting to compile a list and collect photos of the many old dealerships in the Halifax area, but haven't had any time to devote towards it.   Maybe someday when I retire... 

Back to topic.  I'll ask around to see if anybody remembers your brother's car - you never know what might come up.

Also, have you tried posting a question here:

http://maritimeracers.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general

I would imagine somebody there remembers Drag City and may have some photos.

Best Regards,

Mark

Citadel Motors had an ad that ran on the local TV (CJCH 5 and CBC 3) A jingle was sung in the back ground:" No one rings the bell like Citadel". A ships bell was mounted near the showroom doors and my brother Mike McGrath is show walking up to the bell and ringing it.

I posted some photos of the 72 GTO 455 HO I had in 1994 and the 1964 Parisienne which I still have.

Thanks for the tips.

Paul

-- Edited by jpaulmcgrath on Friday 24th of August 2012 08:55:29 PM

Here is Drag City Raceway, "yesterday"and "today" Looked like a busy place for the short time it was open, the last pic is a "Google eath" shot.