Shop owner has seen it all in 55-year career
Ira Murdick has spent a fair share of his 75 years either in front of a wheel or under the hood of a car.
These days, he usually stands behind a counter at Murdick's Auto Parts & Racing Supplies, making sure his customers do more of the former and less of the latter.
Murdick's 55-year career in the trade started at Murphy Auto Parts, a Butler shop that has long since closed. He planned on buying the store and taking it over, but the owner passed away before Murdick could carry through with it.
It was then, in December 1968, that he decided to try his hand at running his own brick-and-mortar business in Connoquenessing Township.
It started solely as a speed shop. Murdick and his brother had stock cars, but couldn't buy the parts for them. With money he had set aside, he purchased carburetors and other equipment needed for the race cars. He got into selling drag racing parts and even entire engines, at one point.
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