Lions Drag Strip, the Norwalk of yesteryear. Here are some early funny cars from my favorite place (Disneyland for adults).

"Jungle Jim" Liberman and his first ride, Lew Arrington's GTO.

Dandy Dick Landy at Carlsbad.

Plenty of top fuelers ran at Carlsbad, before the shut down area was cut back to build houses.

 

Speaking of Lions Drag Strip. The two narrow roads to the left in this photo, running alongside the grand stands were the "push down roads". The diggers would be lined up on these roads and then turn out on the track at about the 1000 foot mark, and push down to fire up going towards the starting line. They would make their U-turns behind the starting line and stage.

They ran fuel bikes at Lions.

Tucker & Stoll, AA/SR.

John "The Zookeeper" getting ready. That's the starter, Larry, in the black and white striped jacket.

Ever see "Yellow Fang" before?

Ugh, I think something broke.

Don Gay shows the Lions crowed what a Texas funny car can do.

Lions on a typical Saturday night.

 

Ever see "Yellow Fang" before?

.

dick harrell's chevy II ....think it was called retribution or something....

as for the yellow fang.....ed roth's venture into drag racing with george "bushmaster" schieber (sp) ...had ed roth autograph a copy of a hot rod with the article on the car , before he died.

 

Don Garlits, this was not a planned part of his weight loss program.

 

Plenty of hook at Lions.

Bring on the dragsters.

The diggers lined up at the cool down hoses.

A 64-car top fuel show. And this is only the 2nd half of the field.

Yes, it's nitro.

 

Ok, no Teleflex Trick Truck! The b/w photo of CHEVOOM has the owner I knew in the pic. Dont know if he got the car from Rupp. It sat in a shop with the Bloody Red Baron for years. The shop was in Trotwood,Ohio on Wolf Creek Pike. Carlsbad sure changed. Dont remember any houses at the end of the track to lose shut down area. Basically shutdown went in to the canyon.

 

Hudsons mine a 47 and a 49 Dads big block Mopars both have run in the high 9's 1/4mile

 

Now you're talkin'.

Is this your tow vehicle?

I know that you will like this one.

 

Does anyone know who/where the RAT PATROL jeep belonged to or where it was from? As a teenager I used to see a jeep like this one[same name] run. The one I knew had a Slant-6 mopar in it. It was a pretty wild ride even in those days.

 

That shot was from Aquasco Raceway so I'm guessing that it lived in the Mid-Atlandic region.

Brian

 

This old Studebaker gasser just sold for over $26K, used to be driven by Junior Thompson.

1959.

Except for the bigger trans tunnel, Junior saved his money for the engine.

 

Wasnt that car used in the old Hydro-Motive ads?

 

Another '41 Stude. Lions in 1961.

It pays to be different. Anybody can build a SB Chevy in a Camaro.

OK, enough with the Studes, how about THIS? I think it's an Italian Fiat, BB Chevy powered.

Ughh, it's short.

 

that suicide king had a injected 427 chevy taken at our local track mokan race way in asbury,mo

 

Got an old Bug? Put a V-8 in it and sit in the back seat.

Well, this '61 (or '62) Buick is different.

Unfortunately, '37 and '38 Chevy's are not cheap anymore. They make great hot rods. This may not be a Chevy, could be an Olds or a Buick, etc.

An older guy standing next to his older car. For you younger kids, this is known as "a beater". Cheap to race and more fun than a hooker with no front teeth. Well, at least as much fun, maybe not more fun.

'37 Shevy sedan.

Powered by a GMC straight 6.

 

Thanks for the awesome photo's George.

 

Could be a '34 Ford, can't quite tell.

These were so homely that they were beautiful.

 

I saw this '29 A-Bone pick-up at Pomona. I spent an hour just looking at it, hoping that if I looked at it long enough that it might appear in my garage. I have a '29 Model-A pick-up myself, a closed cab street rod.

Go ahead, give me some shit about my Hawiian shiirt, everyone else does. I used to see trucks like mine in running condition for $300 to $400 bucks, usally flathead powered. Things have changed. I just turned down $25 large for my truck (although I did hesitate).

 

Ok George, where is a pic of the VINTAGE GTO???? Had a 37 Chevy coupe. Powered by a 292 in. GMC 6 cyl. You could bore it .060 over. It made it 310 inches. Port the head,roller cam,split intake with a header. Holley 4-bbl. If I remember once you bored the 292 there was a BBC piston you could use and make an open chambered 6. Had a 12-bolt and a BW 4-spd.

 

 

It's a Hillman coupe, raced at US 30 in Indiana most of the time, 427 Rat and a 4-gear.:-D

 

I see that Vespa and raise you a Honda with a blown 392 Hemi in it!

 

 

I've been looking at this car since George put the first pic up early in the thread trying to figure out what it is...

My best guess is Pontiac Banshee F/C?

 

 

Nice pic. I remember that car when it was new. However over the years I had forgot all about it. I wonder how many S/G rcers would have copied that topless car....lol

 

 

 

By far one of my favorite pics. Not because of the fact that its such a well built and designed vehicle. Its the fact that why the hell would you need a helmet to ride something that safe.? I am guessing a case of beer came into play momments before take off !

 

GOOD LORD!!!!:-Daw

 

 

I'd say guys like us that were around when the car was new care. Hope that the illness isnt a terminal one!!!