In late May, 1973, I sat squirming in Stella's English class.  Just before lunch.  11:30 AM. 

The windows were open, despite the air conditioning.  The sun shown in this 2nd-floor, south side classroom.

Without warning, the loudest roar of the most awesome 440 Magnum-Hemi blasted through the window.  The roar got louder and more high-pitched for a second, followed by the squealing of tires. 

This continued for about 30-seconds.   A window-rattling, tire-squealing, smoke-belching, power-brake, Clorox bleach burnout!  

The smell of burning rubber wafted through the open windows, along with the white smoke.  Maybe even a smattering of applause from the class. 

 Those of us who were not on crutches ran to the window for a better look.   "Who did it?...Who did it?" It was Ron Kruk ('74)

09-09-2002

I spoke with Ron yesterday.  I identified myself and mentioned that we both attended Jackson and ran cross-country together.

 He knew who I was.  

 I mentioned the Jackson Web-page and the Parking Lot-Muscle Car article.  I mentioned that I remember him doing a bleach burnout at Jackson.

He said he remembers it like it was yesterday.  

Ron's car in high school was a blue Plymouth Roadrunner with large tires and chrome mags. 

Ron told me that is was a 1968 Roadrunner and he wishes he had it back.

  Ron has been the owner/manager of the Town & Country Goodyear Tire store at the corner of Logan St. & McKinley Ave in Mishawaka for years.  

 These pictures are from the internet and are a close match, but I remember that Ron's car eventually sported a hood scoop.

Submitted by Dave Stout '73