Interested in some history, stories, pics of the old O.C.I.R Dragstrip in Santa Ana, Ca. I would run on Wednesday Night "Run Wut Ya Brung" Night from 79-mid 80"s when they closed it down. Any info or memories shared would be Kool!
I went down to OCIR a halfdozen times while I was stationed at Ft. Ord. I was really into the BB/GS and Fuel Altered shows and the funnycars deals were outrageous. I loved that place. I still have a couple of unused keychains and a jacket from that place. Shame it closed up. There was a guy that had a website devoted to OCIR. I don't remember what it was but a Google search will probably turn it up. Mike
I raced there a couple times. Used to LOVE going to the "64 Funny Car" races. Still have a couple shirts from those.
DOING!!!!!!!! The "Fox Hunt" ment that chicks got in free, later they had to be warin' a "FoxHunt" tee shirt! We're talkin' the 70s here (bras were optional). We're talkin O.C. women, not orca betty tusk sportin' creatures! Swankey Devils C.C.
I went to that track many times in the early 80's. Off sand canyon road. There were VW drags that were cool. I remember a few rocket engine cars that blew flames 50 feet at night. You could also bring in your own beer! ahh those were the daze
How frickin cool was THAT...! I am guess'n 1972 Note to currant NHRA managment - ( Look AT the STANDS )
that was a great track, I wondered if it got shut down ? my dad and I use to go to the nostalgia drags every year, late 70`s early 80`s, they had a cool little swap meet we sold some part`s at , and dean moon would stop by with three cameras around his neck ? and laugh and joke and drink beer with us .
When I first arrived in SoCal me and two buddies would go there whenever fuel cars were running. Did that for four or five years starting in 1970. Here are some of my photos from those days: You can see lots more of my photos from OCIR back then at the link: http://public.fotki.com/2002p51/racin/orange-county-inter/ OCIR was just off the I-5 at Sand Canyon. There is a huge commercial/office park there now.
that`s a shame I moved away in 83, man that was out in the country back then ! is that neat little wooden grocery store on the way still there I hope they saved it ? that`s were we filled the coolers and bought grub before going to the track, I think it was built in the 20`s ?
"You can see lots more of my photos from OCIR back then at the link:" Those pictures bring back lots of good memories. That was a pretty special place. A friend of mine bought the Cerny,Moody and Lins fueler in 1971. We drove from Virginia to SoCal to pick it up and stayed with Leon Fitzgerald (Pure Heaven) at his house in Anaheim. Went to all the shops and were treated very well. I still have stuff from SPE, Don Hampton and others. Everybody loaded us up with T-shirts, keyrings and products.That was really cool to see all the shops and meet racers I'd only heard about. I don't care what anybody says, Real Fuel Altered's were the cat's ass. They were and always will be the baddest mo-fo's ever to hit a drag strip. Thanks for the look back. Mike
Hey, For years, the story of the cause of death for O.C.I.R. was the running of Fuelie Cars, and the noise they created. That's an interesting story, given that the track was under the U.S.M.C. air base (EL Toro) flight path and the Orange Country Airport flight path! It would be years before land developer's would build on that land. Does anyone know the real cause of death, not the one fed to the sheep? Swankey Devils C.C.
my dad was the crew chief on the gas house car. thats the great Walt Rhoads in the fire suit on the fence and probably the old man standin next to him.
Lived just down the road (literally, 2 miles from the end of the shutdown area) from 1969 to 1995. Had my Chevelle over a few times in '71-'73. Used to sit on the patio at night and listen to the runs, especially the fuelers - they were the loudest, and you could almost see them run in your minds eye, and when the air was just right, you could hear the announcer calling out the runs. Of course, I was the odd man out, as far as not being bothered by the noise; my neighbors complained incessantly - they complained about my cars and trucks, and the Marine's (Marine Corps Air Station - El Toro) airplanes, too. Today, Muirlands Blvd./Barranca Pkwy, and Alton Pkwy. run where the strip was, and the land is all covered in comm./indust. buildings. The Marine Base is shut down and basically gone, and everybody has found something else to complain about. I still have flashbacks every time I drive through the area.
I know I'm old 'cuz every time someone asks about the County, my eyes kinda glaze over and I go back to a better time. I'm been collecting all things OCIR for a couple years now from the original posters I have in the office to the OCIR T-shirt, bumper sticker, etc. I spent every Wednesday (grudge night) and Saturday (brackets) there for years in the '70s. It's something I want my boys to experience, but it's a different world nowadays, and won't happen. Probably the most comprehensive website for the County's history is http://silverstone.fortunecity.com/bonneville/218/ocir01/ I've got 320 acres in Utah and have an urge to build a track on it just to shred my own tires. Guess what the tower would look like....
I was at the LAST 64 funny cars and that is what hooked me. Does any one know what year that was? My memory sucks.
I was at The Last Drag Race at OCIR when I was a kid, but dont remember the exact location. Was the raceway north or south of the 5? I currently work in one of the hideous industrial complexes on Sand Canyon.
I remember that grocery store always try an scope the area as I drive by on the 5 when ever I,m there!........didn't it run along the side of the 405 just before they joined
The track was just to the right of the Northbound (east) side of I-5. The pits were seperated from the freeway by a line of trees. The property filled the triangle formed by the freeway on the west, the Santa Fe railroad tracks on the East, and Sand Canyon on the South. On the North end, the freeway still curves up and over the railroad tracks. At the time, the entire area surrounding the track was orange groves and lettuce fields. Today it's almost all developed.
It was just north of that, off to the right of the 5. If you go by there today you'll see nothing but big office buildings.
I lived at that track! Was there every wed night with my Camaro. That place is what hooked me on cars but also showed me I could not work on them as a job, and play with them at night. (sorry mom, a degree down the drain). I have some pit passes and time slips somewhere and the LAST DRAG RACE poster framed over my desk, I,m looking at it right now! Fox night, 64 Funny Cars and all that fun stuff..................man I miss it!
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