LIONS DRAG STRIP "OPEN"

[Rick Voegelin]

Wow, Rick, that is one sweet ride!!! What color was she and any more details you'd like to share?

TimP

Tim,

Well, at the risk of too much information, here is the back story on my "Lions Open" entry. I'm certain there is a similar tale behind every one of the hundreds of doorslammers that raced at Lions in the '60s.

My stepfather found the '55 on a vacant lot in Santa Barbara. Fifty dollars sealed the deal, and he flat-towed it home to Pasadena with a U-Haul tow bar behind my mother's '65 GTO. I pulled the original inline 6 and three-speed and bolted in a 327 with mail-order FI heads and a Man-A-Fre intake (four two-barrel Rochester 2GC's -- can you say overcarbureted?). Installed a '58 Oldsmobile rearend (open differential) and Muncie 4-speed, 16" American mags with M&H slicks off the Horsepower Engineering Top Fuel dragster (you can't make this stuff up), Kellison one-piece fiberglass front end (chopper gun fiberglass, probably heavier than the original sheetmetal <g>) and fiberglass bucket seats -- no rear seat, utility sedan style.

I radiused the rear wheel wells with a saber saw and a piece of twine. Mike Hoag at Blair's Speed Shop in Pasadena (later of M&S Welding fame, where he and Sherm Gunn built Don Nicholson's Pro Stocks) welded in a four-point roll bar and made a Gasser-style tubular rear bumper and front nerf bars. I drove the '55 on the street for a couple of years before deciding to make it a full-on race car in '68. Ported the heads and slick-shifted the 4-speed in a one-car garage following instructions in Hot Rod articles, and Santa Ana Speed Center did the machining on the block. My big-time sponsorship from Santa Ana Speed was parts at their cost -- a heck of a deal for an 18-year wannabe racer. Al Martinez Body Shop sprayed the car dark metallic blue for $35. I'm not sure that was such a good advertisement for Al, because I did all of the prep myself (removing chrome spear, filling holes, fiberglassing hood scoop, etc.), and I wasn't exactly the best body man on the block. It didn't look too bad from the grandstand seats, though.

Eventually it ran a best of 11.40-something at OCIR with an Erson 990C solid lifter cam, Edelbrock TR1 box manifold and a single Holley 950 cfm three-barrel carburetor (anybody remember those?). Our arch-rival at the County was Hollins Auto Machine's turquoise '55 Chevy, and our nemesis at Lions was the Nobu's Automotive '67 Camaro SS. We flat-towed to the races on the San Diego Freeway with my '64 El Camino (200,000+ miles and 5 psi oil pressure) or my partner's '56 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery (straight front axle, 389 tri-power Pontiac, Olds rear end -- the perfect tow car for a Gasser-style '55). Sometimes we could borrow a friend's Ford stake bed truck for a tow vehicle, and we felt like full-time pros when we'd pull into the gate at Lions with that rig.

I sold the car for $1200 in 1971 when I went off to grad school. I never saw it again, but heard that the new owner put it into the guardrail at Lions. Man, I sure miss that car. I guess that's why I want to build a 1/25 version so badly.

That's the way it was at Lions. I've dug up some old photos out of the scrapbook as reference for my Lions Open entry. Apologies for the long-winded post, but thanks for asking.

Cheers,

Rick V.

P.S. Here are some WIP photos taken in our driveway (circa 1965-66) and a shot of my partner, Joe Chapman (the best mutton-chop sideburns ever grown in the '60s) with his '56 Chevy sedan delivery tow car in the tech line at OCIR. I just found that Modelhaus offers a '56 sedan delivery resin body, so there's yet another project <g>.

[Foxer]

Thanks for the story, Rick. ..not long winded at all and enjoyed it. This car is what it's all about. .both drags and model building. I never raced, but still am hooked building cars I've owned or imaginary low-budget dream machines. I'll be waiting impatiently to see your Chevy in color!

[Dyno Dave]

This sounds great to me! I've just signed in and am brand new at this site, but had built drag models for some time. Have been out of it for some years now, but just might jump back in to join this 'lil challenge. Have had some ideas for some time now, and have collected some great oldies to build. Stay tuned for more.

[Tim Pentecost]

Tim,

Well, at the risk of too much information, here is the back story on my "Lions Open" entry. I'm certain there is a similar tale behind every one of the hundreds of doorslammers that raced at Lions in the '60s.

My stepfather found the '55 on a vacant lot in Santa Barbara. Fifty dollars sealed the deal, and he flat-towed it home to Pasadena with a U-Haul tow bar behind my mother's '65 GTO. I pulled the original inline 6 and three-speed and bolted in a 327 with mail-order FI heads and a Man-A-Fre intake (four two-barrel Rochester 2GC's -- can you say overcarbureted?). Installed a '58 Oldsmobile rearend (open differential) and Muncie 4-speed, 16" American mags with M&H slicks off the Horsepower Engineering Top Fuel dragster (you can't make this stuff up), Kellison one-piece fiberglass front end (chopper gun fiberglass, probably heavier than the original sheetmetal <g>) and fiberglass bucket seats -- no rear seat, utility sedan style.

I radiused the rear wheel wells with a saber saw and a piece of twine. Mike Hoag at Blair's Speed Shop in Pasadena (later of M&S Welding fame, where he and Sherm Gunn built Don Nicholson's Pro Stocks) welded in a four-point roll bar and made a Gasser-style tubular rear bumper and front nerf bars. I drove the '55 on the street for a couple of years before deciding to make it a full-on race car in '68. Ported the heads and slick-shifted the 4-speed in a one-car garage following instructions in Hot Rod articles, and Santa Ana Speed Center did the machining on the block. My big-time sponsorship from Santa Ana Speed was parts at their cost -- a heck of a deal for an 18-year wannabe racer. Al Martinez Body Shop sprayed the car dark metallic blue for $35. I'm not sure that was such a good advertisement for Al, because I did all of the prep myself (removing chrome spear, filling holes, fiberglassing hood scoop, etc.), and I wasn't exactly the best body man on the block. It didn't look too bad from the grandstand seats, though.

Eventually it ran a best of 11.40-something at OCIR with an Erson 990C solid lifter cam, Edelbrock TR1 box manifold and a single Holley 950 cfm three-barrel carburetor (anybody remember those?). Our arch-rival at the County was Hollins Auto Machine's turquoise '55 Chevy, and our nemesis at Lions was the Nobu's Automotive '67 Camaro SS. We flat-towed to the races on the San Diego Freeway with my '64 El Camino (200,000+ miles and 5 psi oil pressure) or my partner's '56 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery (straight front axle, 389 tri-power Pontiac, Olds rear end -- the perfect tow car for a Gasser-style '55). Sometimes we could borrow a friend's Ford stake bed truck for a tow vehicle, and we felt like full-time pros when we'd pull into the gate at Lions with that rig.

I sold the car for $1200 in 1971 when I went off to grad school. I never saw it again, but heard that the new owner put it into the guardrail at Lions. Man, I sure miss that car. I guess that's why I want to build a 1/25 version so badly.

That's the way it was at Lions. I've dug up some old photos out of the scrapbook as reference for my Lions Open entry. Apologies for the long-winded post, but thanks for asking.

Cheers,

Rick V.

P.S. Here are some WIP photos taken in our driveway (circa 1965-66) and a shot of my partner, Joe Chapman (the best mutton-chop sideburns ever grown in the '60s) with his '56 Chevy sedan delivery tow car in the tech line at OCIR. I just found that Modelhaus offers a '56 sedan delivery resin body, so there's yet another project <g>.

Man O Man, Rick, ya just don't know how close your story matches up to the '56 I had when I was a kid!!! I raced at Beeline in Mesa, AZ in the '66-'67 time frame. I also had a '56 Nomad Wagon when I was in South Carolina serving in Uncle Sam's Canoe Club. It was a rust bucket, but it was a NOMAD and set up GASSER style I have no pics of my first '56 cuz my High School sweety has 'em. I have one pic of the Nomad and it's in the background of a pic of my ex brother-in-law. Sucks, huh?

Thanks for taking me back to a fantastic time of my life!!! Enjoyed the trip

TimP

[nascarfan]

My father had a 57 with an olds rear end, 327 punched .030 with Duntov 30/30 cam and a z28 cross ram backed with a 4spd and I think 4.56's in the rear. No solid axle but it was sprung up in the front a bit and big slicks in the rear and such with torque thrusts. One of the pics I've seen of it has me as a small child sitting on the hood with my father. no front bumper grill assy on the car. just the upper trim on the fender and hood. (car sat in the garage while I grew up. Sold it when I was around 16 or so, along with the 29 2 dr sedan model a he hadn't finished) SOme day I'll build the model of it. May do it with the new 57 but his was a Belair, not a 150. I think he bought it for a cople hundred bucks back then. Mom's got some good stories of him street racing it lol! Funny, he used to drive it around ON SLICKS! (something common back then!)

Sure bringing back some memories!

Thanks for the story and such

paul

I have a .030 over 327 with domed pistons and world heads in the garage and the engine is out of a vette.

[70elcamino]

I just finished this car last night, I posted in the underglass section before I saw this thread, but I thought I would post it here for fun.

thanks for looking.

Russell

[Bernard Kron]

Thanx 3men2s for thinking of this massively cool idea. I've got several builds in the queue before I can get to this one but I absolutely must participate. I've never built a replica model - I usually build "in the style of" but haven't gone the extra step towards the self-discipline of an accurate scale reproduction of a car. I love this period and the whole SoCal weekend dragstrip scene. Don't know if I'll build a FED, Altered or Gasser but I will build something! Dec 31st is plenty of time! It will be loads of fun.

Here's a "bare bones" FED from the LADS era I built last year ( http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.p...;hl=bare+bones) :

Edited June 14, 2009 by gbk1

[Foxer]

It's 1963 and Lion's Dragway out West has been operating for 8 years now. Connecticut Dragway has been open a few years and all the local shops are stripping wrecks for parts to get in on the fun!

Vin's Sunoco in Hartford has decided to sideline their Modified for awhile and go drag racing! A customer paid for a recent valve job with a long rail frame and got the sparks flying. It looks way too long for what Vin had in mind, but will serve as a good model for the weld boys to fab something up. (Thanks gbk1 for the frame leads! <img src="http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> ) A recent wreck brought in the untouched 283 and Vin's brother Vito out in Vegas somehow came into a front mounted blower with all the fixings. No one asked anything about this.

Aunt Stella's old Vicky has been sitting in the barn just waiting for somewhere to go after losing her fenders to salt and this is it. The body shop has wanted to cut into this shell for years. Go to it boys!

Edited December 27, 2009 by Foxer

[Custom Hearse]

Eventually it ran a best of 11.40-something at OCIR with an Erson 990C solid lifter cam, Edelbrock TR1 box manifold and a single Holley 950 cfm three-barrel carburetor (anybody remember those?). Our arch-rival at the County was Hollins Auto Machine's turquoise '55 Chevy.

I remember seeing you at O.C.I.R. My step-dad took me to the races there. Your car was what makes me want to put tilt front ends on everything!

We used to drive to the races in a silver tow truck that said S & S Exxon, San Clemente Ca. on the doors.

I miss those days....

Thanks for sharing the pics, they brought back a lot of great memories....

[Rick Voegelin]

Thanks, Marshall. I think I do vaguely recall seeing an S&S Exxon truck back in the day at OCIR (Of course while I can remember what Bill Jenkins ran in the final round of Pro Stock at the '70 Winternationals, I now have touble remembering my own telephone number <g>).

Those one-piece flip front ends were mighty handy. You could sit on the front tires and work on the engine without bending over (like an 18-year-old wannabe knew anything about tuning an engine, but at least we looked like we knew what we were doing). Unplug the headlight wires, remove two bolts, and the whole thing came off in about 30 seconds. Two guys could change a short-block with a piece of chain wrapped around a 2x4 -- no engine hoist required!

I've bought a couple of '55 Chevy two-door sedan kits to start work on my Lions Build-Off entry. The irony is that with postage and tax, I've spent nearly as much on the kits as I did on the 1:1 car in 1966 -- and that's without adjusting for inflation <g>.

Cheers,

Rick V.

I remember seeing you at O.C.I.R. My step-dad took me to the races there. Your car was what makes me want to put tilt front ends on everything!

We used to drive to the races in a silver tow truck that said S & S Exxon, San Clemente Ca. on the doors.

I miss those days....

Thanks for sharing the pics, they brought back a lot of great memories....

[remingtonbox]

First off, here is a like to about 300 pages worth of pictures from that era. EDIT: It looks like it is close to 700 pages now, an absolute goldmine

http://remingtonbox.blogspot.com/2008/07/o...ead-of-old.html

Second, HELL YES!!!! I can't wait! I am going to be entering with a competition coupe, just not sure of the livery at the moment.

Also, to make sure I understand, it can be a interpretation of a car from that area correct? As long as we have proof that kind of car raced at Lions?

Edited June 27, 2009 by remingtonbox

[Foxer]

First off, here is a like to about 300 pages worth of pictures from that era. EDIT: It looks like it is close to 700 pages now, an absolute goldmine

http://remingtonbox.blogspot.com/2008/07/o...ead-of-old.html

Second, HELL YES!!!! I can't wait! I am going to be entering with a competition coupe, just not sure of the livery at the moment.

Also, to make sure I understand, it can be a interpretation of a car from that area correct? As long as we have proof that kind of car raced at Lions?

This is an amazing collection of photos in this thread!!!! Will be December before I through it ..! I been looking for competition coupe photos too so this may yield some hits.

I'm pretty sure your interpretation of the rules is correct ... that's what I'm doing anyway. A period correct car from around 1962 that could have been at Lions.

And a few more tidbits from that link:

Edited June 27, 2009 by Foxer

[old-hermit]

Here's my entry. Took longer than I thought because some other projects got done first.

Started with this.

Ended with this.

.

[3men2s]

great job, A private entrie to run against the BIG GUYS

no sponsors, no big names, just home made horspower.

congratz, you r the second, thankz for sharing...time for me to get moving.

also the firs was The stud f/c ....looks wicket man....sweet ride.

thanks for posting here.

Edited July 1, 2009 by 3men2s

[nitrojunkie]

I need to get in on this one my self.Here is another good link for research. www.wdifl.com a good site lots of pics on the free side and I imagine way way lots of pics in the pay side.Good history on all of dragracing too.

[Drag Monster]

This is my first post here, I thought this would be a good place to start. My build for the Lions Drag Strip "Open" will be something a little diffrent. I will be building a 1963 Dodge Wagon that ran in the B/Stock Automatic class. The car had a Stage 1 426 Max wedge. This car won the class at the 1966 U.S. Nationals running 12.59 at110.83 MPH. Below is the only photo of the car I have been able to track down but it was all I needed to get me inspired. I would be greatful if anyone out there has any more photos or information on this car. I am using a R&R resin 1963 Dodge wagon kit and a lindberg 64 dodge 330 super sport as the major doners. Parts box and scratch building should finnish it off. Decals will be printed on my PC.

[noname]

I love these old drag wagons. This should be pretty cool. If you look at the pic, you'll notice it's not perfectly clean. That is the way I would build it.

[Mike54]

Rick, apply for special dispensation and do a build of the Camaro. Amazing what the SM cars have become since those days, isn't it?

Drag Monster, I once owned a '74 Dart that was a Button Motors car. You brought back some memories with that pic.

[Foxer]

The body shop boys have been working late on the Vicky body and have it stripped, chopped and ready to receive the wheel wells. Took pics too fast and not much depth-of-field, but close enough enough to see where the body is going...

[Rick Voegelin]

I'm gathering up parts to model the '67 Camaro Super Mod, but that's taking a back seat to the Lions Open '55 Chevy project. The Camaro never ran at Lions, but if there's an OCIR or Irwindale Open in the future, I'll be all over it with the Camaro.

Yes, the performance of current Super Mods is simply astounding. Of course, the investment in our entire racing operation, including spare parts and C-30 ramp truck, was probably less than the cost of a clutchless 5-speed today <g>. The original Super Modifieds were virtually street cars in comparison. I still own the 1:1 Super Mod Camaro, and have plans to take it to the Hot Rod Reunion in 2010 in celebration of the 35th anniversary of the first Super Mod race at '75 Winternationals. Here's a pic in its current state:

The car last ran at the '81 World Finals at OCIR -- the final Modified Eliminator race -- in K/Gas with a Chevy V-6. I'll have to remove all of the Gasser stuff (Porsche seats, motor plate, etc.) to return it to Super Mod trim. I'll probably restore it 1976 period with 292ci small-block V-8, 4-speed, and stock Lucerne blue paint -- of all the combinations we ran, I liked that one the best. The car was runner-up at Winternationals and won the Division VII title in '76, so there's some history there.

There are some great builds already underway for the Lions Open . . . can't wait to see where this goes.

Cheers,

Rick V.

Rick, apply for special dispensation and do a build of the Camaro. Amazing what the SM cars have become since those days, isn't it?

Drag Monster, I once owned a '74 Dart that was a Button Motors car. You brought back some memories with that pic.

Edited July 6, 2009 by Rick Voegelin

[ajulia]

Yikes!! I only heard of this high speed; high octane place through pics and memories from my uncle who passed in 95' come to think of it he was only happy at the tracks and spoke a great deal of this place... Looks like the build-ups are coming along steady.. keep on wit the keepin on!!

peace

ajulia

[E St. Kruiser50]

Saw this, and it brought back many happy memories of many week-ends with buddies at Lions, Irwindale Raceway, Orange County Raceway, Riverside Raceway Winternationals, and a few others, back in the late 50's and the 60's.

This'll be fun to see what everyone comes up with - dave

Edited July 14, 2009 by Treehugger Dave

[nitrojunkie]

HELLO, DRAG FANS...I AM READY TO START A NEW PROJECT SOON

AND DOING SOME RESERCH, I STARTED READING ABOUT

THIS FAMOUS TRACK AND STARTED TO FILLED NOSTALGIC.

FUNNY I WAS WATCHING THE MOVIE CARS FROM PIXAR

WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND STARTED TO WONDER

HOW MUCH WE HAVE LOST TRYING TO GAIN...AND MONDAY

I HEARD ABOUT PONTIAC.

I GUESS I AM A CONSERVATIVE, WELL EVERY HOT RODDER IS.

THANK YOU!!!!

I CAME UP WITH AN IDEA THAT WILL KEEP US REMEMBERING

THE GOOD YEARS....A BUILDOFF REMEMBERING LIONS.

THE TRACK OPENED IN 1955 AND CLOSED IN DECEMBER OF 1972.

LETS RE OPEN THE TRACK IN OUR HEADS.

BUILD A DRAG CAR.

RULES:

1. MUST BE A 1955 TO 1972 MODEL.

2. MUST BE A DRAG CAR.

3. MUST HAVE PHOTO OF THE 1:1 OF THE ERA.

4. ANY SCALE ACEPTED.

5. ENGINES,TIRES,PAINT SCHEME MUST BE OF THE SAME ERA( NO MODERN EQUIPMENT).

6. MUST BE PLASTICK OR RESIN.

7. PROGRESS POST FROM BOX TO FINISH A MUST.

8. STARTS TODAY AND ENDS IN DECEMBER 31 2009.

9. ALL CLASSES WELCOME.

10. WILL POST ALL ENTRES IN THIS FORUM FOR FINAL JUDGING FROM THE MEMBERS.

LET'S DRAG

THE LAST RACE 1972.

I know rule 6 states "must be plastic or resin". I have started a what I feel is a rather unique build of the Pure Hell Bantam roadster,it will have Competition resins body Front wheels and tires and the gas tank. Engine will be sourced from another kit.The chassis is being made from scratch from brass rod.I am referencing the chassis of the Winged express of Wild Willy Borsch.Will you allow it here?I can provide pictures of progress as I have only formed the upper and lower frame rails and the rear roll bar support and roll bar hoop. No big deal if the answer is no. Just asking; thanks.

Edited July 13, 2009 by nitrojunkie

[Reliable Resin]

I hope these pic's load

[nitrojunkie]

Those are great thanks for posting.I also looked up TxRat's Pure Hell build it is awesome too alot of super detailing and scratchbuilding.I don't know if I'll go that far yet or not.Might be time to knock the dust off the lathe and mill and get busy for a change.