Hi, my name is Fred Sudlow, and I’d like to thank you for your interest in my web site. I was born in Aurora, Il. In 1951 and to my knowledge my fascination for race cars started at about the age of two or three. My father and uncle had a stockcar that they raced at Raceway Park in Blue Island Il somewhere about that time. There was just something about that right front tire all kicked out at the bottom, and big numbers on the sides, torched out fender wells, and man, the smell of that rubber burning on the track, it was almost too much for a little kid to stand. Even though it was my father and uncle that was racing, my heroes were Bud Koehler and a fella that was team captain for demo teams, Johnny Schipper. I remember I used to ride my tricycle like a maniac and wave a track bought checkered flag around pretending to be “Fast” Freddy Sudlow, and I’d beat all those guys, even Bud Koehler. Even at that early age I just knew I had to drive a racecar. Later in life, I guess I was around 23 or so and a fairly newlywed, I can still remember the look on the face of my wife at that time when I drug this old 1964 Ford Galaxie home. Heck I think I even ripped the bumper off of it when we were towing it home. One ironic thing about it, was that when I found it in back of some guys garage all covered with weeds, I had no idea that it was actually one of Johnny Schippers old stockcars. I worked on that thing forever, took advise from John, got all my cousins together and took off to Raceway Park, for my racing debut. I remember I had stomach cramps all the way until that green flag dropped. I started on the inside poll. That’s pretty good if this was NASCAR, but it wasn’t. The slowest guy started on the inside poll to give him a chance on short track 10 lap races. Man I’ll tell you now, all I could hear was the sides of my car getting ripped off every time someone would get there nose under me and lift me out of there way, but it was a time I’ll never forget. But it’s not over yet. My right front bearing caught fire, I’m really fuzzy here on whether it was before or after I hit the wall, but I swear I could here my relatives both laughing and yelling at me to get out of the car. Well even with all the embarrassment it still was a blast. I’ve raced since, but let me say that my desire far exceeds my talent.
With this web site, and some of my products, I hope to keep memories alive for as many of you out there that I can help. I hope to do modified bodies, and some 60’s and 70’s short track bodies. I’m not as much into the tiniest degree of accurate scale as I am in to the pleasing to the eye, I remember those days type details. Some of the bodies I intend to do, I’m sure will be fantasy type cars that may or may not have been run in real life. In all fairness, some of the bodies I hope to do will be very similar to a guy that really came up with the idea of resin modified bodies, and that is Karl Stark of Early Racing Classics. As I will not make copies of his cars, I can only come close to some of his unique designs. I have talked to Karl over the phone on several occasions and I found him to be both very likeable and knowledgeable of racing history. I hope some day I have an opportunity to meet him. I have several of his resin cars and I save them for inspiration. I will not attempt to remold his vehicles so please do not ask. The masters that I’m making on my own have turned out to be a difficult task, however I will do the best of my ability to show my respect and admiration of Karl’s work. I hope to inspire as I have been inspired. Thank you Karl Stark.
Finally, I’d like to thank my wife Gail, for not only tolerating me, but for instilling confidence and support in me, and giving me that little extra push to get me started in this venture. Thanks also to my good friend Norm Sjodin and to my modeling buddies Mike Pendergrast, Tony Dye, and Brent Dover for their full support of this project.