Lions Drag Strip: 1955-1972 & Butch “The California Flash” Leal 2 Book Set

Hot rodders and the “drag” cars that they raced in unsanctioned
exhibitions had become a nuisance with law enforcement
in Los Angeles, California. So, in an effort to make racing
safer, C. J. “Pappy” Hart (founder of the Santa Ana Drag Strip),
Norris Poulson (mayor of Los Angeles), John Chadwick (member
of the Wilmington Lions Club), and others collaborated to
create the world-famous Lions Associated Drag Strip. With an
approved proposal, shovels sunk into the sand in August 1955
in Wilmington, California, christening the birth of the world’s
greatest drag strip.
Mickey Thompson was hired to operate Lions Drag Strip
(also known as “the Beach”), quickly turning it into Southern
California’s wildest venue to watch drag racing. Innovations,
including staging lights, track lighting for night racing, and concession
stands, made Lions Drag Strip the place to be.
The world’s greatest drag racers, such as Jack Chrisman,
Tom McEwen, Art Chrisman, Don Prudhomme, Chris Karamesines,
Connie Kalitta, and Don Garlits, as well as a cast of
thousands of others, descended upon Lions Drag Strip for exhibition
and match racing. Fabled East-West showdowns, Fuel
Altereds, Funny Cars, and Jet cars broke attendance records
and set national records throughout the 1960s. In addition,
thrill-seeker Evel Knievel leaped over 13 cars at Lions Drag
Strip to the excitement of 14,000 fans in December 1970.
Sadly, Lions Drag Strip closed on December 3, 1972, due
to the location being valued as industrial real estate and the
approaching urban sprawl.
Lions Automobilia Foundation Museum volunteer Lou Hart
brings forth this year-by-year illustrated history of Lions Drag
Strip’s most memorable events with never-before-seen images
in Lions Drag Strip: 1955–1972!

• This is the first book ever that chronicles the entire
history of Lions Drag Strip.
• Lions Drag Strip was Los Angeles’s most famous drag
strip.
• Over the years, millions of fans visited Lions Drag
Strip.

Born and raised in central California, Larry “Butch” Leal
was obsessed with cars from a very early age. What began
with field cars turned into hard work and new Chevrolets.
This took place when the golden era of drag racing was in
its infancy, and Leal joined with enthusiasm. He performed
well at the track with his early Chevys and had an impressive
number of wins before he was out of high school. His
success brought him plenty of attention and collaboration
with other big names in the sport.

In 1963, GM pulled out of the sport on an official basis.
As a result, Butch (at age 19) teamed up with Mickey
Thompson and joined the Ford camp, securing a ride with
the factory team and its new Thunderbolts for 1964. After
his success that season, including winning the Super Stock
(S/S) class at the 1964 NHRA US Nationals in Indianapolis,
Chrysler came calling, and Butch signed on to race the new
altered-wheelbase cars in match races for 1965, as the
NHRA did not have a class for these new “funny” looking
cars. While Leal dabbled again with Ford and Chevrolet
later, his relationship with Chrysler lasted well into the
following decades, running both Funny Cars and Super
Stockers.

Penned by talented automotive historian Bob McClurg,
who was there for it all, and featuring full collaboration with
the book’s subject, Butch “The California Flash” Leal covers
the span of his fascinating career during arguably the
most interesting era in drag racing history. Butch was an
11-time NHRA champion and 4-time recipient of Car Craft
magazine’s All-Star Driver of the Year award in a career
that spanned the 1960s through the 1990s. It’s all here, the
events, great vintage photography, and the stories from one
of the best storytellers the NHRA has ever known. Add this
entertaining volume to your drag racing library today.

• This is the first ever biography on Butch “The California
Flash” Leal.
• It is filled with never-before-seen vintage drag racing
photography.
• Leal is a great storyteller; he shared many stories for
this book.