Post by johnbalich on Feb 5, 2009 15:36:35 GMT -7
Lions Drag Strip
October 9th 1955 was a day that has never been forgotten. It was the opening day at Lions Drag Strip in Wilmington, California. With Mickey Thompson as the track manager which happened to be the only paid staff that the track had. All other help was on a volunteer basis. With the facility being accommodated to entertain 2500 people and the likes of 50 cars they were greatly overwhelmed when 10,000 people swarmed the grounds. Over 400 cars showed which a large amount had to be turned away due to unsafe conditions found during tech inspection
Foundation for the track was based on a long struggle to bring legalized drag racing to the Los Angeles area. Local officials were concerned about the amount of street racing.
Mickey Thompson and members of a chapter of the Lions Club raised the money along with leasing an unused railroad yard.
With Thompson’s ingenious ideas and promoting skills the track became the standard for all others to follow with even having lights installed in and a “Christmas Tree” starting system. The track always had great tractions and air conditions were some of the most sought after in the country.
Some of drag racing’s legendary people got there start right there at Lions. With the likes of Tom McEwen, Stone, Woods & Cook and Tommy Ivo became the regular draw at Lions on Saturday night. The legend of Lions continued to grow throughout the sixties with C.J. “Pappy” Hart taking over for Mickey Thompson in 1965 who moved on to concentrate on his business. Hart presented the first eight car fields in Top Fuel, Top Gas, Fuel Altered and Competition every Saturday night. In it’s prime there was one day where 72 Top Fuel dragsters showed up to do battle on the 1320. Hart was a innovator of his time introducing bracket and grudge racing along with the ever popular Junior Fuel. Traction technology continued to grow with several different compounds being researched along with a racing surface that was copied from San Gabriel dragstrip when it closed in 1963.
The Harbor Commission and Lions Board cited for action at the strip to be limited do to increasing population. In December of 1972 the era came to an end when the permit in which the track was operated under was revoked after constant noise complaints. It was rumoured the complaints were exagerrated so that the City of Long Beach could sell the land for development
IMG]http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg119/johnbalich/POSTERS%20ETC/lions_drag_strip_18x12_small.jpg[/IMG]
b]OPENING DAY, 1955[/b]
October 9th 1955 was a day that has never been forgotten. It was the opening day at Lions Drag Strip in Wilmington, California. With Mickey Thompson as the track manager which happened to be the only paid staff that the track had. All other help was on a volunteer basis. With the facility being accommodated to entertain 2500 people and the likes of 50 cars they were greatly overwhelmed when 10,000 people swarmed the grounds. Over 400 cars showed which a large amount had to be turned away due to unsafe conditions found during tech inspection
Foundation for the track was based on a long struggle to bring legalized drag racing to the Los Angeles area. Local officials were concerned about the amount of street racing.
Mickey Thompson and members of a chapter of the Lions Club raised the money along with leasing an unused railroad yard.
With Thompson’s ingenious ideas and promoting skills the track became the standard for all others to follow with even having lights installed in and a “Christmas Tree” starting system. The track always had great tractions and air conditions were some of the most sought after in the country.
Some of drag racing’s legendary people got there start right there at Lions. With the likes of Tom McEwen, Stone, Woods & Cook and Tommy Ivo became the regular draw at Lions on Saturday night. The legend of Lions continued to grow throughout the sixties with C.J. “Pappy” Hart taking over for Mickey Thompson in 1965 who moved on to concentrate on his business. Hart presented the first eight car fields in Top Fuel, Top Gas, Fuel Altered and Competition every Saturday night. In it’s prime there was one day where 72 Top Fuel dragsters showed up to do battle on the 1320. Hart was a innovator of his time introducing bracket and grudge racing along with the ever popular Junior Fuel. Traction technology continued to grow with several different compounds being researched along with a racing surface that was copied from San Gabriel dragstrip when it closed in 1963.
The Harbor Commission and Lions Board cited for action at the strip to be limited do to increasing population. In December of 1972 the era came to an end when the permit in which the track was operated under was revoked after constant noise complaints. It was rumoured the complaints were exagerrated so that the City of Long Beach could sell the land for development
IMG]http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg119/johnbalich/POSTERS%20ETC/lions_drag_strip_18x12_small.jpg[/IMG]
b]OPENING DAY, 1955[/b]
