History Drag cars in motion.......picture thread.

Hello,
I was recently looking for some information on a certain Midwest drag racer. As I was reading several news events, this interesting article popped up. September 20, 1962.

Jnaki

The local Drag News weekly paper always had challenges from one racer to another. The ads for the several So Cal dragstrips that had record breaking races always published comments and photos about how this racer won the class, set a record and now awaits challenges from all takers... that sort of thing...

Yes, we all wonder how those rankings played out in the public drag race venues back in the 1962 era.
a Herbert Cam advertisement vs Vance Hunt...etc. Chet Herbert Cams was instrumental in interesting advertisements and challenges...

So, who bought one back in 1962 from the Westcoast for their drag racing builds? Any old Grandpa stories?

 

Third shot, Uyehara, "Wait a minute, what happens to me if this pinion blows up?"

 

I spotted this flyer framed on the wall in a restaurant in Sanford, thought it was pretty cool:

 

What ever happen to that air port/drag strip?

 

I was there in 66 and there were stands along the left lane. ? I think it was...... west side ??
Spectator stands.

 

Airport is still there.Drag strip ended in middle 1960.

 

Nor-Cal has a strip at a small airport in town of Lodi with lots of history: KINGDON. last races of the year this weekend - NOVEMBER 15th & 16th.
also, Swap & Show Sat Nov 15 - GALT MARKET GROUNDS

 

KINGDON, Lodi, CA

 

1964

 

Another Sanford reference. Completely different restaurant had this framed on the wall. Green Monster looks like?

 

I was mentioned on that record. I was racing the day it was recorded.

 

Hello,

Kingdon Dragstrip in Lodi, CA is an important place in early drag race history.

It was Don Garlits' first time traveling out West as the biggest drag meet took place at the Bakersfield Smokers meet in 1959. But, within a couple of weeks, the group was supposed to be at Kingdon for another race in California.

When Don Garlits came out West to race in the 1st March Meet in 1959, it was a big thing. He was scheduled for two events, the Smokers 1959 March Meet in Bakersfield and Kingdon in Lodi.

The impression at the March Meet was not so hot. He went out in the first round. But, with the help of several top So Cal drag race folks and a few manufacturers, he got a new look and was ready for the unveiling of the FED at Kingdon in Lodi. This was the result of the new improved look and build of the Garlits FED.

Jnaki

Needless to say, he left with a new beginning and proved to the Westcoast racers that he was "for real" with his East coast record times. Now, the new 671 Hemi motor put him back in the top group of drag racing. YRMV

NOTE:

Today, most of California is under a weather front watch with rain for 80 % of the state. Be prepared…
There are two more large storms coming across the Pacific Ocean towards the whole West coast of the USA.

As of this AM writing, Lodi is under a weather watch with 60 % chance of rain for Saturday. (cloudy and threatening... ) In So Cal, it has been raining for a couple of days.