Jive-Bomber submitted a new blog post: Film of the Week: Santa Ana Races in Summer 1950 Continue reading the Original Blog Post
Wow that's some great footage. Gotta love the guy racing in the Crosley Hotshot seen around the 6:35 minute mark.
@Jive-Bomber Jay - Great stuff! ... Thanks for sharing! On a side-note, a Drag Race was also held at MCAF Santa Ana in 1950 ... as documented in my 1950 Drag Race at MCAF - Santa Ana (Tustin) ... PICS!!! thread from September of 2017. - @HEMI32 Todd
Thanks for that post, I went to a Johnny Otis concert in 1956 in that hanger . It had two blimps in there with room for more. Plus there were clouds at the top.
This was part of a 3 DVD set that Al Moss sold. Just some amazing stuff on those dvds. They are well worth checking out. At the beginning of the film (1min 14sec mark) you can see the Cannon Special in the background. Hot rodder Ted Cannon of the Throttlers built that car and was raced by Jim Seeley. Roger Barlow filmed this segment of the dvds, he was the one that got in the back and forth with Ak Miller about hot rods vs sportscar in the magazines. Lots of good stuff in that film.
A 1942 U.S. Navy photo of Tustin's Hangar 1 under construction Hello, The film captures the time period,that was wide open space surrounding the whole area, for miles. Orange groves, barren hillsides, the close up view of the Saddleback Mountain range with the Santiago Peak so prominent in Orange County photos. As it is, today, but a little more development and less open space. Although there is stil open space heading closer to the mountain range and inland rancho Mission Viejo. In a span of only 37 years, the population of Orange County multiplied tenfold, from roughly 200,000 in 1950 to more than 2,000,000 in 1987. In the early 1950's, US Route 101 was upgraded to a four-lane freeway, providing quick and easy access from Santa Ana and Anaheim to Los Angeles. This allowed workers to be able to live farther away from the central city than was previously possible. After the Eisenhower Interstate Highways Act of 1956, US Route 101 was re-signed as Interstate 5, which stretched from San Diego to the Canadian Border. Hello, Nice part of so cal history... back when orange county was a bunch of farming/ranching areas beyond many old city limits. One of the amazing things is the remaining historic blimp hangers in the city of Tustin in So Cal. Locked in place by the surrounding Irvine California communities and historic Santa Ana communities, it will remain in place for eternity. If it ever comes to a vote, historians, with the support of the communities will win this round. A May 1945 view of 6 blimps fitting inside Tustin's Hangar 1 simultaneously. "In 1976 “Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, Lighter Than Air Facility, Santa Ana.” was the given name. But, not to be confused with the Marine Corps Air Station and airport landing facilities only a short distance Southeast." (currently the Orange County Great Park facilities…) Tustin was closed by the Marine Corps in 1999. Unless one does some researching on the topic, only the sight of these two huge hangars are what is left of the 40s-the present day culture that once happened here. But back then, it was orange groves and farming as far as the eye can see, not encroaching home/business/industrial complex construction that is part of the whole area. History in its greatness for all to remember and enjoy. Jnaki Hangar 1 still hanging around “…PUN INTENDED” waiting for the next round of development. Hanger 2 just down the way, closer to a new road in place for the public to drive by the historic location. But, also leading into the latest industrial/commercial/living complexes for the next level of development. These two are considered the two largest wooden structures in the world, today. One day, I was on a road trip to several So Cal locations for some history and photos not already in our file folders. We have lived through the 60s to the present day in Orange County and have been affected by the goings on of both airbases. During the helicopter versions, we could hear them flying out and over the canyons toward the ocean and then south to Camp Pendleton and Miramar Marine Bases. The valleys were relatively empty and made a physical route simple and straight to the ocean. These days, the Tustin base is not in the military helicopter mode as before. So all we hear is a sometime troop transport helicopter or an attack Huey Helicopter making a wide loop overhead to go out to the ocean and make a run at the helicopter base, just South in Camp Pendleton. At least the noise is now coming from the South and not from the middle of civilization... ha! Note: In the 70s, the fighter jets and larger supply massive jet transports flew over the same canyons which now had plenty of homes and communities. Someone may say the Newport Beach folks have the same situation with the commercial jets at the Santa Ana Airport. We were in a community that had close encounters with the low flying jets coming in for their straight line landing to the El Toro Landing strips. They were so close that we could read the numbers on the fighter jets and larger transport jets. That was not the best place to live, under the flight path, but the angle of the landing strip was parallel to the I-5 freeway. It just seemed like those military jets preferred a better angle down Crown Valley Parkway from the ocean. The helicopter groups flying together make as much if not more noise, heading inland to the Tustin Base, when it was open. Then, as a commercial international airport talks grew, the whole surrounding communities got together and voted the whole suggestion down/out. Communities stick together in times of need. Now, it is supposed to be Orange County’s version of the huge “Central Park” style of area for all to enjoy. Currently, this is the obvious identity factor for the Great Park. One big orange balloon used for high up photography and rides for the general public. Stationary of course, tethered to the ground. Flying at an altitude up to 400 feet, it is always tethered to the ground by a steel cable with the strength of 99,000 pounds, making it a safe and fun experience for everyone. 360 degree views from the ocean to the mountains… Los Angeles to San Diego areas. The Great Park is a few miles Southeast of the Tustin Blimp Hangers. So, now, with no helicopters or giant jets flying into either of the base landing sites, it is relatively quiet, except for the road noise. The current 405 and I-5 give off plenty of noise for everyone to last for centuries. YRMV
The Jalopy Journal
