Success on the Drag Strip

Hot Rod.  The term first came about in the 1930’s in southern California, where car fanatics modified and raced their cars. Most of the first hot rods were old cars, and as time progressed, so too did its popularity.  Hot rod modification included replacing engines with more powerful ones, wheels and tires were improved for traction and handling and hot rodders took pride in the appearance of their cars as well.  Interest in racing grew tremendously and became “the thing to do” post World War II.
Enter hot rodder and Castaic resident, “Butch” to the scene.
Born in Jamestown, New York, Donald Cederquist, a.k.a. Butch, made his way to the west coast with his family at the age of 10.  “They all call me Butch…my sister gave me the nickname when I was knee high to a grasshopper and it just stuck.”
Butch and his brother Dave (who sadly passed away last year), entered the racing scene in 1955.  Together, the brothers ran the following classes for three years: the C Street Roadster, B Street Roadster and A Street Roadster.  While running these classes, the Cederquist Brothers racing team held records at the San Fernando, Pomona, Paradise Mesa, Bakersfield, Colton, Saugus and Inyokern drag strips.  “We started racing more and more cars, and got several records as time progressed.”
In 1958, they started running the B/G Roadster and the A/G Roadster.  That same year, Tim Ryan became a partner of the Cederquist Brothers racing team.  The team saw success on the drag strip as their A/G Roadster, #52, became the first A/G Roadster to run over 150 miles per hour at the Lions Drag Strip in January of 1962.  Number 52, built by Butch and Dave, along with the help Tim, broke track records everywhere and even graced the cover of the November 1960 issue of Hot Rod Magazine.
Just a few years later, #52 was sold and later recovered by Bill Yager.  “When Bill found it, it was a bucket of rust, but he’s had it for the last 40 years, and restored it to its former glory,” states Butch.  Bill asked if he could put the Cederquist name as well as the #52 back on the hot rod and Butch happily obliged.
The significance of the #52?  “Everyone asks me that,” states Butch, “but I don’t know why.  I like the #25, but there were too many of those, so I just flipped it.”
Bill, who now lives in Milford, Delaware, shipped the hot rod all the way to southern California and now, some 52 years later…#52 has reunited with Butch, temporarily.
This year, Hot Rod Magazine celebrated its 65th anniversary and held an event in Fairplex Pomona last month.  The past, present and future of Hot Rod Magazine came together for two days, displaying the historic Hot Rods that were featured on the covers of the magazine…including good ol’ #52.
“It’s an honor to be back with the hot rod,” states Butch.
Though the Castaic resident gave up racing many years ago, Butch continues his interest with cars and currently owns a 1940 Mercury Coupe that he drives around and displays at car shows.  “I’ve just always loved cars,” states Butch.  “My dad loved cars, my brother loved cars and so do I.”