Some pics I acquired recently. Lions August of 1963..if you recognize a car please share.Thank you View attachment 6379105
I enlarged the pics, always select "full image" when posting pics, especially when they are this cool....
Found this original poster from what I could find it was from 1967..was in my grandpa's garage he went to the event and had been in his garage since 67 or what was left of it. I gathered the pieces left and framed it .my relatives thought I was crazy...lol
Hello, Thanks for the note. It was 1963. We were already off into the deep So Cal desert motorcycle racing scene and did not film any races from 1960 to 64. We did not go to Lions Dragstrip until 1964, when our close friend, Atts Ono made the debut racing with his immaculate SBC powered 1940 Willys Coupe. (See other Lion's Dragstrip threads and posts. ) Some of the latest FED race cars were now on the scene. But, in one photo the dual SBC motors + distinct headers of Lefty Mudersbach was evident. versus The dual SBC FED was successful with Strombergs, then went quicker/faster with Hilborn Injectors and continued into the later 63-64 years. He no longer raced after 1966. Jnaki Back in 1959, we recorded his runs at Lions Dragstrip, Riverside Raceway. Then in 1960, we traveled to the 2nd annual Bakersfield Smokers March Meet where he did well. But, let it be known that there were results of all of the individual cl***es of drag racing in So Cal weekly until 1965. Then the popularity of all cl*** drag racing became less important and the Top Fuel racers were the spotlight. So, the cl***es for all of the everyday racers faded into the memories. YRMV
Thank you for all the knowledge. My grandfather who just p***ed a few months ago at 87 was friends with lefty I heard him mention him just got these pictures online from someone had no idea one of the pictures was his car..my grandfather was at Bakersfield in 1960 as well .I have trophies of his from colton.pomona .he was born and raised in Santa ana ..
Hello, In looking at a redefined photo, I recognize the Sidewinder version two. It is nice that there are other Lion’s Dragstrip photos from the early 60s. There were a lot of race car photographers at almost every Saturday we were there. here is one from 1964… showing the “privileged few” that were inside of the chain link fence. The rear-engine race car was called “Me Too” It was still fast and won a lot of races. Jack Chrisman was still the driver and had a knack to win, driving this rear engine race car. Jnaki But, let’s go back an earlier time period. When it first came out, no one could handle the original version. Then Joe Mailliard took over at his shop in the Westside of Long Beach and did his magic. The combination of Joe Mailliard and Jack Chrisman led to many wins and records being set along the way. The first inkling of this potential record setting race car was January 1959. As any first time racing with such an unusual built, they had problems right off of the trailer. But, eventually was fast enough to win all of the marbles on this beginning of victories at Lion’s Dragstrip. Note: This film was taken in 1959 at Lion’s Dragstrip (Joe Mailliard pushing on the rear tire) during the early summer. I was able to get into the staging area and stand across the open space. I stayed there as long as no one was going to ask me to leave. So, a lot of the films I took and posted on the J NAKI You Tube channel were from this “secret” spot. The sound came from September 1959 at the Detroit Nationals one month later… Turn it up !!! Note 2: Jack Gillette currently owns The Sidewinder and has this version It resides in the new Lion's Dragstrip Museum main display area.
No doubt “The Beach” was the place to be….always amazed when I see the crowds at the tracks back then…even the “biggest” events at our local track still attract a small crowd..and we’re in the “motor city”
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