Has anyone done a book on abandonded Drag Strips?

With then and now pics. I'd buy one

 

Groucho, I believe Pat Ganahl did an article in an early Rodders Journal that covered famous dragstrips then and now. He also did a similar article on speed shops and customizing shops.
Surprisingly, many of the structures and open land are still around. As far as a book, I don't believe there is one.
D.
Paso Maria one week countdown-BE THERE!!!

 

Bob Gibson was working on one several years ago, don't know if he got it done. Bob restored the Chi Town Hustler & Tom & Jerry funnycars.

 

I've seen bits and pieces in various magzines and National Dragster. But, I'd love some sort of a compilation. If i knew better, i would've started saving the ones I saw and made a scrap book. But, with the 1st, who knew there'd be a 2nd, 3rd and so on. Paso Maria. YES, I'm leaving Thursday AM. Penny says almost 800 cars pre registered. So, this one's pretty much a wrap. Where you guys staying?

 

If you do something, Tucson Dragway had a great history, being an AHRA stronghold. It hosted the Winter Nationals, and Fuel Altered Nationals for many years.

 

When I moved to TN. in 1993 you were still able to see an anbanded 1/4 mile track running right along I 40 Just West of Nashville. It was listed in the 1993 Racers Pages and I talked to the owners a few times about if they were going to reopen it or not ... they would never say for sure either way.

 

Back last year I drove out there and the gate was open, so I drove on out and parked on the starting line ...well, as close as I could get anyway...with all those rocks and concrete blocks piled up everywhere. That's the FIRST drag strip I ever went to, back in the mid 60s. I'd bet money it'll never open again. Cool that the "Coca-Cola" sign is still up on the pole.

 

Pat Ganahl did a two part series about two years ago in Hot Rod,on the "lost" dragstrips. it was really good (as is all his stuff) I'd love to see more about Inyokern.

 

Someone should do a website like Paul Freeman's on Lost and Abandoned Airfields.

http://www.airfields-freeman.com/index.htm

Some of the old airfields were dragstrips anyway.

 

http://www.motorsportscentral.com/old-tracks.asp

some old canadian dragstrips in the mix.

 

Any New Finds here ? somebody must have saved something ? looking for material for our site Too. Too bad some much stuff gets trashed. We almost lost a 1400 + photo collection of Dover Drag Strip . Rescued from dumpster just in time and put on CD's

 

These are photos I took while driving by what used to be Fontana Drag Strip. I took these in 1980 and the strip had been closed for several years by that time. It was being used by the radio control airplane hobbyists on the weekends.





This was the entrance off of Foothill Blvd. Part asphalt, part dirt, very rural. It was a dirty, windy, hot track, very primitive, but lots of fun. It was a bare-bones track, just the way they were back in the 60's. No frills, crappy wooden bleachers, no permanent restrooms, just rac'in...just right.

 

Sad stuff. Here's one that you may remember from Steve Reyes famous pics
of Big Daddy doing fire burnouts. This was auction day in the late 80's. It survives now as an outlaw 1/8th mile track Lakeland Motorsports Park.

 

It was Bob, and Todd silvey from Drag News magazine (rip, again) that were doing it. Some of the stories were printed in the magazine, I'll ask Bob what became of it.

 

This thread from another forum might be of interest.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=lounge&Number=345330&page=2&fpart=all

 

RIP
http://www.carlsbadraceway.org/

 

...I've got a paperback book a few years ago on all racetracks in the US, either still in use or not...this includes dragstrips and circle tracks. Great book with some cool old photos too; I'll see if I can dig it up and fill you in on it.

 

...here's the info on the book I have:
title is: History of AMERICA'S SPEEDWAYS-Past and Present.
author is Allen E. Brown ISBN no. 0-931105-42-0
copyright 1984 &1994

...also this contact address is given: AMERICA'S SPEEDWAYS P.O. Box 448
Comstock Park, Michigan 49321 ph. 616-361-6229

...hope this helps you locate a book. It's 596 pages and it's a hardback book about 6x9 inches. Very interesting, includes a list of over 6400 tracks with info on the towns they were in, sizes of the tracks and the years they operated.It lists oval tracks, dragstrips and road coarses. Over 400 pictures.

Good luck.

 

Here's the one in my 'hood.
http://www.lostindiana.net/html/us_30_drag_strip.html
"Were the great one's run, run, run"

 

yes,

the Winter Water WonderLand web site has Old drive-ins, Race tracks, Lots of pics,,,

http://www.waterwinterwonderland.com/johng.asp

http://www.waterwinterwonderland.com/

http://www.waterwinterwonderland.com/dragstrips.asp

http://www.waterwinterwonderland.com/speedway.asp

 

Cool!

 

Aquasco Speedway, 1955 - 1979:

http://atomicpinup.com/Aquasco_Speedway.html

-Lee
Atomic Radio
www.atomicpinup.com

 

There is a local strip that hasn't been opened for years. (decades actualy) This track started back in the 50's. I know a few local guys that ran there. It wasn't a big national destination. My dad went out there a few years ago and said you could still tell where it was. The road up to it is still called "Drag Strip Road".

I've been meaning to go get pics but I imagine I will have to wait until the fall when all the weeds are died down.

As an aside Groucho, when did you get the Pontiac? Did I miss a thread?

 

I scored it yesterday at Pomona Swap Meet. I did post a thread on it, that didn't get veiwed much. It's a pretty nice car. I'm deciding on what wheel/tire combo for it

 

Thanks, I'll go look and surely chime in.

 

btt

 

Mazooma, thanks for the Fontana strip pix. I drive past that spot to/from work five days a week. Although I had heard of it "forever" I never knew exactly where it was but now I do, thanks to you.

 

Oswego dragstrip is still there but not for long. It will be high$ houses soon. We are haveing a section at our car show this year with old memorabilia and cars that raced there and in the area. all gassers, alterds and FEDs that show up get in free. if anyone knows of any old cars or racers from the area we would love the info. It's a shame all this local hot rod and racing history is getting lost. I've been gathering every picture, artical, and film i can get my hands on.

 

I don't know if anyone could do a book on all the dragstrips that have come and gone over the years across the country. It would be cool though.

We lost all three Dragstrips on Long Island. Islip, National and West Hampton. We also put up quite a fight for a racing complex that didn't pass.

 

Emil is that your bad ass getting a racing award ?