Dan the Sign Man - Shop News

January 13, 2010 - Congratulations to Joe Franco on being awarded Best Appearing Car during the 2009 Dutch Classic at Maple Grove Raceway. Joe's Super Stock Cavalier paint scheme was designed by Scott Brown; paint was applied by Lou Altieri; lettering and striping by Dan the Sign Man.

Another Dutch Classic award recipient was Bill Kraft's SS/AH Cuda which brought home the Best Engineered trophy. Kraft's paint scheme is also a Scott Brown design and lettering by Dan the Sign Man.

November 12, 2009- Building model cars has been a lifelong hobby for me. This assortment of cars, built between 1971 and 1972, was shot by a childhood friend who used a Brownie camera and developed all of his own photos in his basement.

I set up a picnic table 'pit area' to display a variety of Jo-Han, AMT, Revell, and MPC manufactured models. Featured are the Motown Missile Cuda, Grumpy's Toy Vega, and the Sox & Martin Cuda. I still have the cars with the exception of the hauler and Eddie Schartman's Comet.

August 6, 2009-Time to revisit the 'way back machine' with this installment featuring Dan's first drag cars.

In 1978, Dan, along with a couple of partners, ran a SBC-powered '70 Nova in the Heavy class at Lancaster Dragway. Sponsorship came from Parts Marts (a Big A Auto Parts) of Blasdell, NY, (where Dan held a job for nearly four years while he perfected his sign painting craft), as well as YORK Steak House. The Nova was sold after one season.

In 1979, Dan debuted and drove the Double Vision '69 Camaro, which also maintained backing from Parts Marts and Brighton Auto Parts. The Camaro paint scheme was a twin to a '68 Camaro that competed in the area thus the Double Vision name. Running a SBC the Camaro ran low 11s in the 1/4 mile and low 7s in the 1/8th.

From 1980 to 1982, Dan ran the Camaro with Eddie Sczcepanski under the REVISION banner and in the PRO class. The Camaro was sold near the end of the '82 season to make way for the Super Comp roadster that Dan would compete with until 1996.

May 27, 2009 -Congratulations to longtime friend and Super Gas racer Duane LaFleur on winning his first 'Wally" during the recent NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Norwalk Raceway Park in Norwalk, Ohio.

For additional event details, please visit K&N Filters.com.

Photo courtesy of Steve Cole.

1976-Thompson Drag Raceway

May 19, 2009 -The 'way back machine' has been churning away here at the shop. This group shot is from what was a regular Pro Stock event (Independence Eve) at Thompson Drag Raceway in Thompson, Ohio.

I presented drawings of the Pro Stock cars to each driver. From left to right; Bill 'Grumpy' Jenkins, Larry Lombardo, Ronnie Sox, Bob Glidden, Wayne Gapp, and me. I can still hear those screaming small blocks winding through each gear!

May 4, 2009 -Congratulations to Super Stock racer Wendell Howes on winning the Best Appearing Car award at the 2009 NHRA Southern Nationals with his 1968 Cuda SS/AH entry.

Design and lettering by Dan the Sign Man, and paint by Scott Jahren.

Photo by Roger Richards/CompetitionPlus.com

Dan and Dan - 2007 Las Vegas

October 30, 2008 -I'd like to congratulate my friend and fellow New Yorker, Dan Fletcher, on earning his first NHRA World Championship in Competition Eliminator as a hired driver in Rick Braun's C/EA.

"Fletch" had a phenomenal year competing in Super Stock, Stock and Competition Eliminator, adding a Division 7 title in Comp to his already impressive resume.

Fletcher, a former two-time World Champion in Super Stock eliminator, won his first Comp title during the 2008 Fram Autolite Nationals at Infineon Raceway back in July.

October 9, 2008 - I was invited to attend the infamous Artie's Party Charity Panel Jam, which was held in conjunction with the Right Coast Syracuse Nationals Car Show in mid-July. It's a huge 3-day event that packs in nearly 7,000 show cars.

I was honored to participate and share shop tales with legendary and talented artists such as Rich Dombey, "Mr. J", and Nat Quick. There were countless other stripers and sign painters in attendance doing their thing.

I created my own rendition of the famed Blue Max logo for the panel jam charity auction, while Rich Dombey put his spin on the Rat Trap paint scheme in honor of Artie's Party. It was a huge hit!

L-to-R: Artie, Rich Dombey, Nat Quick, "Mr. J", and me

The charity auction raised over $48,000.00 and 100% of it was donated to the MacMahon/Ryan House, for the benefit of abused children.

Several celebrities were in attendance as well, including Cindy Williams and Henry Winkler.

I had a great time and plan on attending this event again. If you'd like to view photos or find out more about this event, please visit Artie's Party.

July 2, 2008 - My dear friends and family,

Thank you so very much for your generous donations and support of my participation in The Ride For Roswell this past weekend. With your help, I exceeded my goal of $1,000 raising over $1,700.00 in less than a month's time.

My goal was to be able to ride in the Extra Mile Club/Pelton Ride, which is reserved for those who raise a minimum of $1,000 and limited to just 400 riders. The ride was 13-miles, moderately paced, police-escorted from the downtown Roswell Park campus to the University at Buffalo – Baird Point. With over 6,200 cyclists participating overall in this event, you can imagine how thrilled I was to earn a spot in this exclusive group in just my first ride for the event.

Following the ride, most everyone gathered for closing festivities where I stopped for a photo-op with the Buffalo Sabres mascot.

Again, thank you all. It meant so much to me to have your support. Looking forward to doing this again next year.

Dan

May 31, 2008-This June, I will be cycling in The Ride For Roswell to raise funds for critical research and patient care at one of the nation's top comprehensive cancer centers - Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

The money I raise will help researchers and physicians better understand the causes of cancer and discover new methods of prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Please support me as generously as possible, as I ride on behalf of cancer patients. Follow this link Ride For Roswell, which is my own personal page to make a donation.

If you prefer to donate by check, please include my name in the memo area and send to:
The Ride For Roswell
PO Box 644
Buffalo, NY 14240-0644

For more information about Roswell Park Cancer Institute, please visit www.roswellpark.org.

In loving memory of Stock Eliminator racers, Brett and Penny Riethmiller. They were a truly dedicated and passionate couple, and will be sorely missed.

Site design by Drag Strip Girl Designs

All logos and images are reserved.