The Eliminators of West Rod Club

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The Eliminators was a car club established in West, Texas in 1960. Founded by a group of six passionate hot rodders, the club was dedicated to the world of rods and customs. With a motto of "Dedicated to Safety," the club played a significant role in the local car culture of the early 1960s. Photo from The George Jezek and Charles Andrle Collection.
An Eliminators club shot. In the heart of Central Texas during the 1950s, a vibrant culture of hot rodding thrived. Among its most enthusiastic participants were the members of the Eliminators of West Rod Club. Photo from The George Jezek and Charles Andrle Collection.
A photo of George Jezek with his 1949 Chevrolet 2-Door Sedan. The club's style and approach were heavily influenced by hot rod magazines and the cars seen at events like Caddo Mills, "both on the track, in the pits or in the parking lot," Jezek recalled. These publications were not just magazines; they were windows to a broader world of hot rodding, full of new ideas and possibilities. Several club members participated in regional indoor car shows organized by the International Show Car Association, which was in its early stages. Jezek's Chevrolet even gained recognition by being featured in multiple custom car magazines, marking a notable achievement for its time. Photo from The George Jezek and Charles Andrle Collection.
A photo of Charles Andrle next to his mildly customized Volvo PV. The club's activities revolved around the local drive-in hamburger joints in West and Waco. These places were more than just eateries; they were social hubs where bonds were formed and rivalries were friendly. The drive-ins of Waco, just a short 16-mile trip away, were particularly popular, buzzing with the energy of young hot rodders showing off their latest mods. Photo from The George Jezek and Charles Andrle Collection.
John Holland next to his 1950 Ford Convertible. John lived in West. Photo from The George Jezek and Charles Andrle Collection.
Jack Willenborg next to his 1956 Ford. Jack also lived in West. Photo from The George Jezek and Charles Andrle Collection.
A 1951 Chevrolet Convertible that belonged to a fellow named Dennis from Lacy Lakeview. Photo from The George Jezek and Charles Andrle Collection.
A 1951 Ford that belonged to a member from Clifton. Photo from The George Jezek and Charles Andrle Collection.
A photo of Danny Schonerstedt's 1955 Chevrolet. Danny was from Bellmead. Photo from The George Jezek and Charles Andrle Collection.
A Mercury belonging to a member named Mutt from Clifton. Photo from The George Jezek and Charles Andrle Collection.
Joe Smith's 1934 Ford Four-Door Sedan of Waco, Texas. Joe's C/A Four-Door was Oldsmobile-powered and competed at drag strips in Waco and Dallas. Known for his mastery over the flathead Ford engine, Joe's reputation extended far beyond West, making him a local legend and an inspiration within the Eliminators. The Four-Door Sedan featured striping by Jezek. Photo courtesy of Joe Smith.
Notice the custom grille, louvered hood, louvered package tray and the Jezek-striping on Charles' Volvo. According to Jezek, the louvers in the package tray aligned with the louvers in the hood. Photo from The George Jezek and Charles Andrle Collection.
In the same year of its formation, the club received sanctioning from the National Hot Rod Association. Photo from The George Jezek and Charles Andrle Collection.
Photo from The George Jezek and Charles Andrle Collection.
George Jezek's 1949 Chevrolet and Charles Andrle's Volvo PV parked in front of the club shop in 1961. The club's primary meeting and workshop space was located in a building in downtown West. Despite its rudimentary appearance, it was a haven for the members. Within its walls, numerous engine modifications, automotive improvements, and custom body and paint jobs were undertaken. Photo from The George Jezek Collection.
George Jezek and Charles Andrle's Corvettes parked in front of the old club shop in 2017. "We staged the cars to mimic the position of his Volvo and my 49 in the original photo," Jezek told Kustomrama. This structure, characterized by its corrugated metal walls and a unique concrete floor that sloped with the surrounding terrain, still stood in 2023. Photo from The George Jezek and Charles Andrle Collection.
Joe Smith's 1951 Ford of Waco, Texas. This was Joe's daily driver during the club days. His mother won it as a new car in 1951, and it still remained in the family in 2023. It is the only known surviving club car. Photo courtesy of Joe Smith.
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The Eliminators was a car club established in West, Texas in 1960. Founded by six passionate hot rodders, the club was dedicated to the world of rods and customs. With a motto of "Dedicated to Safety," the club played a significant role in the local car culture of the early 1960s.[1]


History

In the heart of Central Texas during the 1950s, a vibrant culture of hot rodding thrived. Among its most enthusiastic participants were the members of the Eliminators of West Rod Club. It all began in the small town of West where a shared passion for cars and speed brought together a group of young enthusiasts between the ages of 18 and 22. They formed the Eliminators, a club that quickly became known for its members' ingenuity and camaraderie. In a time when hot rodding was more than a hobby, it was a lifestyle, the Eliminators were at the forefront, setting trends and breaking barriers. In the same year of its formation, the club received sanctioning from the National Hot Rod Association.[1]


Cruising the Drive-Ins: The Heartbeat of the Scene

The club's activities revolved around the local drive-in hamburger joints in West and Waco. These places were more than just eateries; they were social hubs where bonds were formed and rivalries were friendly. The drive-ins of Waco, just a short 16-mile trip away, were particularly popular, buzzing with the energy of young hot rodders showing off their latest mods.[1]


Collaboration and Ingenuity: The Clubhouse as a Creative Hub

The club's primary meeting and workshop space was located in a building in downtown West. This structure, characterized by its corrugated metal walls and a unique concrete floor that sloped with the surrounding terrain, still stood in 2023. Despite its rudimentary appearance, it was a haven for the members. Within its walls, numerous engine modifications, automotive improvements, and custom body and paint jobs were undertaken.[1]


Racing and Rivalries: Tracks and Competition

Racing was a significant part of the club's identity. While some members raced at the local drag strip in Waco on Sunday afternoons, others, as George mentioned, ventured to the NHRA-sanctioned track in Caddo Mills. "It was operated by the Millwinders club out of Dallas. Serious racing there," Jezek told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama in December of 2023. Although they didn't race there, the seriousness and skill witnessed at Caddo Mills inspired the Eliminators. The club also had a connection with the Rebels, a Waco-based club consisting of like-aged guys, fostering a sense of community among the hot rodders of the region. "Understand we were in or just out of High School so funds and resources were limited. The older guys in Waco had some nice stuff but we didn't associate with them very much. Waco was a popular "dirt track" town and featured racing every summer weekend on a quarter mile dirt track."[1]


Joe Smith: The Local Flathead Guru

One member who stood out was Joe Smith. Known for his mastery over the flathead Ford engine, Joe raced a flathead-powered car with great success. His reputation extended far beyond West, making him a local legend and an inspiration within the Eliminators.[1]


Influences and Inspirations: Magazines and Beyond

The club's style and approach were heavily influenced by hot rod magazines and the cars seen at events like Caddo Mills, "both on the track, in the pits or in the parking lot," Jezek recalled. These publications were not just magazines; they were windows to a broader world of hot rodding, full of new ideas and possibilities. Several club members participated in regional indoor car shows organized by the International Show Car Association, which was in its early stages. One of the club's cars, George Jezek's 1949 Chevrolet, even gained recognition by being featured in multiple custom car magazines, marking a notable achievement for its time.[1]


The Challenge of Speed: Sourcing and Customizing

Acquiring parts was a challenge, as George pointed out. With limited options, members often turned to mail order or scavenged local wrecking yards. Trips to Custom Automotive in Dallas, a 70-mile journey, were adventures in themselves, underscoring the dedication and resourcefulness of these young hot rodders.[1]


Legacy and Memories

The Eliminators Rod Club had a relatively short lifespan, disbanding in 1962. The primary reason for its dissolution was the departure of its members for various reasons, including college, military service, and work commitments. As George Jezek reminisced, "It was a good time to be a hot rodder. We enjoyed this hobby, and a couple of us remain friends to this day." His testimonials offer a glimpse into the joy and excitement of that era, a time when cars were more than machines – they were a canvas for creativity and a means to forge lasting bonds.[1]


Members

The club boasted a full membership of 15 individuals from Central Texas, including West, Bellmead, Waco, and Clifton.



Club Cars


References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 George Jezek
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