@jeepster Hello, The sign at Lion’s Dragstrip is from an newer time period in its 17 year history . Here is the original one created in 1957 or earlier. No, that is not “The Toad” from A.G. movie that came out 16 years later. It was not the start of hot rodding in California. It was one of the 58 Impalas that was usually entered in the A/Stock class running a 348 with 280 hp from the factory. We all had to have the same factory specs for the A/Stock class. The 315 hp Impalas were in the S/S class. If one notices, the film was taken facing West and from the other side, it looked exactly the same. The large yellow Lion’s Dragstrip sign was facing East on 223rd street or as we called it Wardlow Road. From our house or anywhere in Long Beach, it was Wardlow Road. Right at the sign or within a few steps Wardlow Road officially ends and is now 223rd Street in Wilmington, CA Facing East toward the L.A. River and the L.B. Freeway. The view is from 223rd St. A few steps beyond the yellow sign in now on Wardlow Road in the City of Long Beach. Jnaki Currently, the property is full of shipping containers and truck/trailers moving them in and out daily. WEST EAST RED is the current, old Lion’s Dragstrip location. Between two major E-W streets. The Blue is our old junior high school and the Green is where our last old Westside of Long Beach house was located. The Yellow arrow is the location of the first Westside of Long Beach house was from 1947 to 1953, next to the Terminal Island Freeway. Time changes everything...
The Jalopy Journal
