Lions Drag Strip: 1955-1972 & Slingshot Dragsters of the 1960s 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.

In the early 1960s, front-engine dragsters, or slingshots, featured tubular built chassis powered by a variety of power plants, consisting of small-block Chevrolets, Chrysler Hemis, Ford, Pontiac, Cadillac, Oldsmobile, and Lincoln motors either fueled on Nitro Methane or pump gas. Wheelbases varied from 110 inches in 1962 to over 200 inches in 1969. During the early sixties, racing legend Big Daddys Don Garlits ran a series of Swamp Rats dragsters which not only dominated the quarter-mile, but many of his creations were made by using experimental aerodynamic parts to give better traction and faster speeds. During a fuel ban from the late 50s to the early 60s, many chassis builders utilized a two-engine power plant to gain more power that was lost due to running pump gas instead of fuel. One of the most popular twin-engine dragsters was the Fright Train, powered by twin small-block Chevrolets. The dragster was driven by 16-year-old Bob Muraviez who used the alias name of Floyd Lippencott, Jr. to fool his parents who did not approve of his racing. Near the end of the 60s, the Chrysler Hemi came to dominate Top-fuel racing, as it produced tremendous torque and horsepower. These dragsters were the quickest accelerating vehicles in motorsports. Elapsed times in the quarter-mile were ranging from the 8-second bracket in the early 60s to the low 7®s late in the decade with speeds over 200 mph.In 1970 at the AHRA Nationals at Lion®s Dragstrip (Long Beach, CA), Don Garlits experienced a violent clutch explosion that cut his dragster in two and severed a portion of Don®s right foot. After being sidelined for several months, Don returned to racing with an innovative rear-engine, top-fuel dragster, which would eventually spell demise for the front-engine dragsters. Relive the 1960s era of the front-engine dragster, nicknamed the slingshot for its aerodynamic design in crisp high quality color and black and white photos. Enjoy memorable moments from some of the famed drivers that are highlighted throughout this book.