1958 Hello, Actually being there in the middle of the action in 1958-59 at Lion’s Dragstrip was a pretty good thing. We were teenagers and it was just something we enjoyed doing. Our garb was Levis, blue nylon jackets for the afternoon foggy dew that usually showed up, white t shirts and of course, desert boots. It was the outfit of our local teenagers and it fit into the drag racing scene. During those early days, my brother raced all sorts of opponents. This one bronze 58 Impala was a consistent winner and when my brother won several trophies, he was just learned to be that much quicker off of the line, than the bronze Impala. But, in those early days, that bronze 58 Impala had it over the other competitors. My brother learned to judge the starting line procedure much faster and the equal power 348 motors were pretty even all down the strip. But, look at the variety of competitors in all of the classes at Lion’s Dragstrip in the early days. A white Ford Ranchero, a 50 Ford Coupe and of all things, a 46 Ford Convertible. Jnaki From the looks of the old photo, the 46 Ford convertible could have been a push car for the 50 Ford coupe, which meant the 50 Ford coupe was in the Gas Coupe/Sedan Class with the look of a mild custom including chrome wheels. But, in those days, anything was done for a good time, all day and night, every Saturday of the month. Pop off those hubcaps and go racing was the local theme as those numerous So Cal race tracks. 58 Impala racing in the A/Stock class CHECK OUT THE SPEED SHIFT AT :45 Out of nowhere, the right arm comes slamming into 2nd gear.
Looks like a young Wild Willie Borch sp. and the other is a young Don Garlets. Nice early photo's. Pat
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, wheelie showdown at Island Dragway. Spectator side, had to be 18 to get in the pits in NJ back then. LA Dart versus the Bardahl Bug. Bug had problems so the Dart with Wild Bill made his runs Around 1966 did not develop the film until 1967 View attachment 5013484
The Jalopy Journal
