{"product_id":"lions-drag-strip-1955-1972-ohio-george-montgomery-2-book-set","title":"Lions Drag Strip: 1955-1972 \u0026 Ohio George Montgomery 2 Book Set","description":"\u003cp\u003eHot rodders and the “drag” cars that they raced in unsanctioned\u003cbr\u003eexhibitions had become a nuisance with law enforcement\u003cbr\u003ein Los Angeles, California. So, in an effort to make racing\u003cbr\u003esafer, C. J. “Pappy” Hart (founder of the Santa Ana Drag Strip),\u003cbr\u003eNorris Poulson (mayor of Los Angeles), John Chadwick (member\u003cbr\u003eof the Wilmington Lions Club), and others collaborated to\u003cbr\u003ecreate the world-famous Lions Associated Drag Strip. With an\u003cbr\u003eapproved proposal, shovels sunk into the sand in August 1955\u003cbr\u003ein Wilmington, California, christening the birth of the world’s\u003cbr\u003egreatest drag strip.\u003cbr\u003eMickey Thompson was hired to operate Lions Drag Strip\u003cbr\u003e(also known as “the Beach”), quickly turning it into Southern\u003cbr\u003eCalifornia’s wildest venue to watch drag racing. Innovations,\u003cbr\u003eincluding staging lights, track lighting for night racing, and concession\u003cbr\u003estands, made Lions Drag Strip the place to be.\u003cbr\u003eThe world’s greatest drag racers, such as Jack Chrisman,\u003cbr\u003eTom McEwen, Art Chrisman, Don Prudhomme, Chris Karamesines,\u003cbr\u003eConnie Kalitta, and Don Garlits, as well as a cast of\u003cbr\u003ethousands of others, descended upon Lions Drag Strip for exhibition\u003cbr\u003eand match racing. Fabled East-West showdowns, Fuel\u003cbr\u003eAltereds, Funny Cars, and Jet cars broke attendance records\u003cbr\u003eand set national records throughout the 1960s. In addition,\u003cbr\u003ethrill-seeker Evel Knievel leaped over 13 cars at Lions Drag\u003cbr\u003eStrip to the excitement of 14,000 fans in December 1970.\u003cbr\u003eSadly, Lions Drag Strip closed on December 3, 1972, due\u003cbr\u003eto the location being valued as industrial real estate and the\u003cbr\u003eapproaching urban sprawl.\u003cbr\u003eLions Automobilia Foundation Museum volunteer Lou Hart\u003cbr\u003ebrings forth this year-by-year illustrated history of Lions Drag\u003cbr\u003eStrip’s most memorable events with never-before-seen images\u003cbr\u003ein Lions Drag Strip: 1955–1972!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e• This is the first book ever that chronicles the entire\u003cbr\u003ehistory of Lions Drag Strip.\u003cbr\u003e• Lions Drag Strip was Los Angeles’s most famous drag\u003cbr\u003estrip.\u003cbr\u003e• Over the years, millions of fans visited Lions Drag\u003cbr\u003eStrip.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a young man, \u003cstrong\u003eGeorge Montgomery\u003c\/strong\u003e lived for cars. He came of age in the classic era of the hot rod and fully immersed himself in the car culture. Montgomery took car building seriously and went on to become one of the pioneers of the sport of \u003cstrong\u003edrag racing\u003c\/strong\u003e. From a little shop in a suburb of \u003cstrong\u003eDayton, Ohio\u003c\/strong\u003e, he built and raced cars that led the world in innovation and craftsmanship. Montgomery was a leading participant in the famous \u003cstrong\u003e\"Gasser Wars\"\u003c\/strong\u003e match races of the 1960s where he earned the moniker \u003cstrong\u003e\"Ohio George,\"\u003c\/strong\u003e while driving his iconic \u003cstrong\u003e1933 Willys\u003c\/strong\u003e to victory after victory. The era of the Gasser Wars was one of the most colorful chapters in racing history and George was one of the most successful racers of the time. Always an innovator, Montgomery built the groundbreaking \u003cstrong\u003eMalco Gasser Mustang\u003c\/strong\u003e in 1967 and followed it with the revolutionary \u003cstrong\u003eMr. Gasket \u003c\/strong\u003eturbocharged Mustang a few years later. After retiring from racing in 1985, Montgomery became one of the most successful engine builders in the country. He is the recipient of the \u003cstrong\u003eNational Hot Rod Assoc.\u003c\/strong\u003e's most prestigious awards, including the \u003cstrong\u003eLifetime Achievement Award\u003c\/strong\u003e, and is listed as one of drag racing's top 50 all-time drivers.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Midlife Classic Cars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50514071322904,"sku":"KIT9781613258538\/9780692680438","price":56.87,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0057\/9813\/3831\/files\/kit97816132585389780692680438hard.jpg?v=1772256318","url":"https:\/\/www.midlifeclassiccars.com\/bs\/products\/lions-drag-strip-1955-1972-ohio-george-montgomery-2-book-set","provider":"MidlifeClassicCars.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}