The Crittenden Automotive Library

The John Walczak Collection

The John Walczak Collection
Special Collection

Topic Navigation
Page Sections Biography Multimedia Article Index Photographs of John Walczak

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Resides: Woodstock, Illinois, USA

John Walczak is the father-in-law of Library creator Bill Crittenden and has been important in the creation of The Crittenden Automotive Library.

The logo for The John Walczak Collection is the number plate that went over the headlight on a 1950's Ford he used to race with lifelong friend and "Ford Guy" Chris Ducey.

Biography

Former short track stock car driver (including some USAC stock car series races) and Track Champion at Lake Geneva Speedway. Following his racing career he entered the model car business.

Formerly in the model kit decal business with JNJ Decals. His model building expertise can be seen on the boxes of Revell/Monogram's 1998 Johnny Benson Cheerios Ford Taurus and their 1998 Jeff Gordon Jurassic Park: The Ride model kits. His current involvement in the hobby is as an independent dealer in vintage model kits, an officer of IPMS/C.A.R.S. in Miniature, and a member of GTR Auto Modelers.

CarsAndRacingStuff.com

Father-in-law of site founder Bill Crittenden. He inspired the original name of the website, Cars And Racing Stuff, as he was looking for a business name that would use the word "cars" as an acronym. The business was intended to be online sales of model cars, die cast cars, and racing collectibles with a small news and information section contributed by Bill Crittenden, but after a delay in getting the online store up and running news and information became the sole purpose of the site. He remains an advisor and one of the top contributors to The Crittenden Automotive Library.

Tucker Convertible

John was involved in the debate over the Tucker convertible that Justin Cole of Benchmark Classics built. He was noted in The New York Times as having seen the vehicle in the early 1970's along with engineering drawings for a converible bearing the Tucker Corporation's stamp. His affidavit to this effect is one of the supporting documents for the vehicle's authenticity.

Positions held:
Product Development, Red Alert Racing Collectibles
2006 Newsletter Editor of IPMS/C.A.R.S. in Miniature
2010-2012 President of IPMS/C.A.R.S. in Miniature

Multimedia

On converting a model Dodge Charger into a Charger Daytona
Video ©2008 Bill Crittenden
From the February 2008 Meeting of C.A.R.S. in Miniature
Play video - 54.6MB

Date	Media or Collection Name & Details	Files
10 August 1985	IROC IX, Race 4 International Race of Champions (IROC) John Walczak	Race Page
11 August 1985	1985 Champion Spark Plug 400 NASCAR Winston Cup John Walczak	Photo Collection Page
18 August 1985	1985 Milwaukee Sentinel 200 NASCAR Busch Late Model Sportsman Series John Walczak	Topic Page
8 June 1986	American Racing Series: 1986 Milwaukee American Racing Series John Walczak	Photo Collection Page
8 June 1986	Miller American 200 PPG Indy Car World Series John Walczak	Photo Collection Page
17 August 1986	1986 Champion Spark Plug 400 NASCAR Winston Cup John Walczak	Photo Collection Page
September 1986	Driving Throuth Virginia John Walczak	Photo Collection Page
21 September 1986	1986 Goody's 500 NASCAR Winston Cup John Walczak	Photo Collection Page
21 September 1986	1986 Nationwise 150 NASCAR Busch Grand National John Walczak	Topic Page
16 August 1987	1987 Champion Spark Plug 400 NASCAR Winston Cup John Walczak	Photo Collection Page
21 August 1988	1988 Champion Spark Plug 400 NASCAR Winston Cup John Walczak	Photo Collection Page
16 July 1989	Pontiac Excitement 200 ASA Racing John Walczak	Photo Collection Page
20 August 1989	1989 Champion Spark Plug 400 NASCAR Winston Cup John Walczak	Photo Collection Page
23 June 1992	Indianapolis Motor Speedway NASCAR Tire Test NASCAR Winston Cup John Walczak	Photo Collection Page
11 July 2008	2008 Millers at Milwaukee Vintage Indy Car Event John Walczak and Anthony Mojica	Photo Collection Page

Article Index

Date	Article	Author/Source
1 June 2006	Milwaukee NNL	John Walczak
9 April 2010	Photographs from the 1985 NASCAR Sportsman Series Race at The Milwaukee Mile Now Online	Bill Crittenden
17 June 2010	Photographs from the 1986 Champion 400 Now Online	Bill Crittenden
5 July 2010	First Look: Revell's 1962 Chevrolet Impala Hardtop	John Walczak
17 August 2010	Photographs from the 1989 Champion 400 Now Online	Bill Crittenden
22 August 2010	Photographs from the 1986 Fall Martinsville NASCAR Events Now Online	Bill Crittenden
22 February 2023	John C. Walczak After battling many years of health issues, John Christopher Walczak passed away peacefully at the home he shared with Shelly, his wife of nearly fifty years, on February 22, 2023.	Obituary (text & photo) Publication: Byline: Laurie Barth Walczak Dateline: Woodstock, Illinois Topic: John Walczak

Photographs of John Walczak

	2J Number Plate for 1956 Ford Headlight used in Stock Car Racing View photo of John Walczak #2J - 1.9MB
	1986 Goody's 500 Pre-Race Event Photo courtesy of View photo of John Walczak at the 1986 Goody's 500 - 1,229KB
	Ned Jarrett (right) with John Walczak (left) August 1987 Photo courtesy of View photo of Ned Jarrett and John Walczak - 382KB
	Photo by Shelly Walczak Getting an autograph from Robby Gordon June 12, 2007 in Antioch, Illinois Photo courtesy of View photo of Robby Gordon and John Walczak - 1,468KB
	Photo by Shelly Walczak Sharing a joke with Matt Crafton June 12, 2007 in Antioch, Illinois Photo courtesy of View photo of Matt Crafton and John Walczak - 1,089KB
	Photo by Shelly Walczak Getting an autograph from Paul Menard June 12, 2007 in Antioch, Illinois Photo courtesy of View photo of Paul Menard and John Walczak - 1,231KB
	Photo by Shelly Walczak Shaking hands with Paul Menard June 12, 2007 in Antioch, Illinois Photo courtesy of View photo of Paul Menard and John Walczak - 1,177KB
	Photo by Shelly Walczak With Matt Crafton's show truck June 12, 2007 in Antioch, Illinois Photo courtesy of View photo of John Walczak with Matt Crafton Show Truck - 1,821KB
	With a NASCAR stock car model Photo ©2008 Bill Crittenden From the February 2008 Meeting of C.A.R.S. in Miniature View photo of John Walczak at a C.A.R.S. in Miniature Meeting - 4,077KB
	2002 Dale Earnhardt Intimitador Edition Chevrolet Monte Carlo John Walczak driving Photo ©2008 Bill Crittenden Johnsburg Car and Bike Show August 17, 2008 View photo of 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Dale Earnhardt Intimitador Edition - 4,822KB
	Rockford IceHogs Chevrolet HHR Photo ©2009 Bill Crittenden April 4, 2009 View photo of John Walczak with Rockford IceHogs Chevrolet HHR - 4,822KB
	2009 Copart 200 Photo courtesy of View photo of John Walczak at the 2009 Copart 200 - 1,834KB
	2009 Copart 200 Photo courtesy of View photo of John Walczak at the 2009 Copart 200 - 1,733KB
	2009 Copart 200 Photo courtesy of View photo of John Walczak at the 2009 Copart 200 - 1,570KB
	With Richard Petty Replica Car Photo by Anthony Mojica June 20, 2009 Photo courtesy of View photo of John Walczak with Richard Petty Replica Car - 1,980KB
	With Richard Petty Replica Car Photo by Anthony Mojica June 20, 2009 Photo courtesy of View photo of John Walczak with Richard Petty Replica Car - 2,141KB
	Photo ©2009 Bill Crittenden December 2009 Meeting of C.A.R.S. in Miniature View photo of John Walczak at an IPMS/C.A.R.S. in Miniature Meeting - 3,430KB
	John at his first meeting as President of C.A.R.S. in Miniature Photo ©2010 Heidi Walczak January 2010 Banquet of C.A.R.S. in Miniature View photo of John Walczak at an IPMS/C.A.R.S. in Miniature Meeting - 3,666KB
	John sets up his contest display Photo ©2010 Heidi Walczak January 2010 Banquet of C.A.R.S. in Miniature View photo of John Walczak at an IPMS/C.A.R.S. in Miniature Meeting - 3,666KB
	John opens the meeting Photo ©2010 Heidi Walczak January 2010 Banquet of C.A.R.S. in Miniature View photo of John Walczak at an IPMS/C.A.R.S. in Miniature Meeting - 3,221KB
	Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun Photo ©2010 Bill Crittenden March 2010 Meeting of C.A.R.S. in Miniature View photo of John Walczak - 3,406KB
	Club President John Walczak Photo ©2010 Bill Crittenden 2010 Indian Uprising Model Car Show Hosted by C.A.R.S. in Miniature August 1, 2010 View photo of John Walczak at the 2010 Indian Uprising Model Car Show - 3,251KB
	Photo ©2011 Bill Crittenden March 2011 Meeting of C.A.R.S. in Miniature View photo of the IPMS/C.A.R.S. in Miniature March 2011 Meeting - 2,136KB
	John Walczak with 1932 President Convertible Coupe Photo ©2016 Heidi Walczak View photo of 1932 Studebaker President Convertible Coupe at the Studebaker Museum - 2.0MB