Event Coverage MOONEYES NEW YEAR'S PARTY 2024

remember that people could not get into show because did not buy tickets before show. Drag Tech Card look sold out.

 

Metal Show Sign & T- shirts available online at mooneyesusa.com

 

I don't think I'll go this year as it's turned into a low rider show.

 

I've heard that from some of my friends who live down there. I hope someone goes and posts pictures.
I tried to go to last year's Mooneyes event there and I couldn't get near the place, as a spectator. Register early and get there real early.

 

Been going to this show since at least 2012. Last year was my last time going. No traffic control. No crowd control. No enforcing the “no colors” rule. I sat at the intersection of Arrow Hwy and Live Oak for an hour and a half just to get through the intersection. And while waiting in the line through the gate (just ONE!) to park, I was lane-splitted by at least a dozen Harleys cutting in front of everyone who just idled away a ½ tank of gas at that intersection. And no one there – Irwindale Raceway personnel or Mooneyes personnel gave a single, solitary shit. It’s obvious they oversold the spectator tickets, because that placed was packed in like sardines. Never again. It USED to be a great show. Now it’s a complete clusterf*ck. And wheeltramp brian is exactly right!

 

It truthfully seems like most Southern California Events are turning into low rider events.

 

Yeah, I went the first two or three years, and it was ok.
A LONG line to get in. I got lucky one year though.

But as these shows went on, it became more and more of a "lead sled" show. Fewer and fewer cars on the drag strip that had a difficult time getting out of their own way !

Not for me.

Mike

 

The focus seems to have drifted from a performance/race orientation to a "lifestyle" event. Oh well.

 

I have not been to this event. but, from pics I found online there were a lot of Cool rides there. Lots of people too
yep, like any big event best buy tickets online and get there VERY early. if you do not have a good experience need to contact Mooneyes later and let them know. if people stop supporting events they will go away, like so many have
especially so early in the year. just saying.

 

Stormy Byrd is relentless, he’s at every cool event with his red A/MR. And I see our own Drumyn29 with his Willys and old ramp truck. I’m wondering if he’ll bring his latest creation, the nailhead powered Bantam.
I had the same experience as Jimmy959. No traffic control, no signs telling where to go and what lane to be in. After an hour, we took the first opportunity to get out of the traffic and went home.
I really hope that they reorganize this event, maybe they should do a grand Low Rider event on day and Hot Rod Races another day. I see all these great pictures and I really want to be there but from here it’s a 5-6 hour drive with a chance we won’t get in.

 

From above -
Don't know where this picture is from...but it's not Irwindale Raceway.

Mike

 

I remember when the Christmas event was in front of the Moon store and it was free abd very informal with cars parking in the center median on Norwalk blvd, then it moved to the sheriffs station/training thing where it out grew that too, then it went to Irwindale speedway...the first year was good then it got stupid big, right around the time the traditional hot rod scene blew up probably 2010ish)
I have went off and on since the mid 1990s it was a really fun event back then maybe because I was a teen / 20 something back then but I do miss the smaller event...
When it went to Irwindale I kind of lost interest in it. Yeah the drags were cool but it lost something for me so I started missing it.
So a couple of years ago (pre covid lockdown BS) I tried to go to the irwindale show again and I just couldn't get in just like everyone else. Luckily I only live about 40 minutes away so instead of going to the show I bobbed and weaved city streets from the foot of the mountain (where irwindale is) all the way down to Huntington Beach (probably 40ish miles) and cruised PCH a bit in the OC area, I ate at Johns Philly grill (the best cheese steak in so Cal) and probably tacked on 200ish miles of city driving that day in my Valiant that I had). It definitely ended up being a fun day although it would have been better to have a few other cars cruising around with me all in all it was fun and I know I didn't miss anything at Mooneyes.

The mooneyes event grew up fortunately or unfortunately it is now a winter destination One Day car show for So Cal residents and because moon is all things classic car (focusing on the car culture and not the smaller sub culture scene like rockabilly/traditional hotrods and customs) it will always be a big show from this point out.
I am and will not complain about the lowriders because that is what is in California these days heck I even like the split manifold 6 banger chev's with the wide white bias plys low lows even if I don't want one.
Moon and the staff at Irwindale could have prevented them and the Motorcycle 1% crowd but they didn't and I get it they are all potential customers and I would imagine they sell a lot of shirts but For me it's a simple solution. I just won't go as it's to mainstream for my tastes.
For the "Christmas show" (that they moved to after the new year) of moon eyes it tells me it is probably time for them to move to the Pomona fairgrounds so they have the room for that many participants, I would imagine that show is almost as big as the LA roadster show now and it's definitely to big for Irwindale. Unfortunately this year I don't have an old car to drive so I would have just took the late-ish model "skittle" wagon but normally I would just say f the event lets meet up and do a slow cruise.

 

Gene Winfield plans to be there

 

I went a few years ago with a friend, went around and talked to a bunch of people in the pits with him (met Pat Ganahl), stood at the Christmas tree area to watch the cars launch (felt like a dumbass since I didn't have a job to do). Was pretty fun, but didn't get the chance to look at the cars. The others times I went was once to Mooneys and the last was at the Stars station. I have heard from people at work that are really into lowriders (and the lifestyle) that it's the show to go to now.

 

Yeah just checked it out and the shipping for a shirt was $15 I don’t think so. When I get out that way this coming summer I will just drop by and pick one up there.

 

^^ yep, as has been discussed many times, shipping can be very expensive for most items. possibly take a look at their online store and see if there is something else that you need then call and to place order and have items combined.

 

BTT

 

The 1/8 mile drags and the pits are cool . Get to see friends ? I’m in !

 

get your tickets now

 

BTT

 

Anyone get a pic with Gene Winfield? Online video shows him with several ladies at his booth.

 

Sounds about right.

 

Here he is with my Friend Holly

 

I heard from a friend that went it was a zoo

 

More pics?

 

My friend said though it was packed there wasn't really much to take pictures of except the race cars. Maybe somebody else will chime in and give us some pictures.

 

Hope they don't mind but I borrowed their pics from IG. I enjoyed watching the guys drag this dragster west. Very Kool setup!! Ya gotta dig the ripple pipes on the dragster.

 

This particular dragster was featured in either CKD or OSR magazine a few years back. That I-6 is nothing to sneeze at.