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The Official Ascot Park Gardena Thread: 1957-1969

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by toml24, Mar 2, 2011.

  1. toml24
    Joined: Sep 23, 2009
    Posts: 1,620

    toml24
    Member

    I think it's time for a thread devoted to the early days of Ascot Park Gardena. The years will be from 1957 through 1969. Anything is cool. Sprints, Figure-8s, midgets, Stocks, jalopies, motorcycles. We all have our favorate type of racing from Ascot so lets see 'em all!!
    For starters I include the earliest photo of Ascot Park Gardena I've ever come across. From 1957 just as the track has finish its first stage of construction. Note in the beginning there was not very many grandstands. Enjoy!!
     

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    Indy87 likes this.
  2. sanfordsotherson
    Joined: Mar 21, 2005
    Posts: 962

    sanfordsotherson
    Member
    from So. Cal.

    That's a cool pic, Tom.

    When my brother and I were little, about 30+ years ago, we used to watch the stock car races at ASCOT in Gardena (California) on TV, on Saturday mornings. This was around '72-'74? If I remember right, they raced on more of a road course, instead of an oval. And I think it was dirt. It was also during the day, 'cause I don't remember any night racing. I think it ran on KTLA channel 5 in So. Cal.

    Where's all the old film footage?! I'd love to see it again! It was in color too.
     
  3. lanny haas
    Joined: Nov 1, 2008
    Posts: 560

    lanny haas
    Member
    from Phoenix AZ

    I remember those days. Dick Lane, around 1965, KTLA channel 5 I think. Sunday afternoon, jalopy races....
     
  4. lanny haas
    Joined: Nov 1, 2008
    Posts: 560

    lanny haas
    Member
    from Phoenix AZ

    Heres a model I built, from remembering those days
    [​IMG]
     

  5. BrerHair
    Joined: Jan 30, 2007
    Posts: 5,006

    BrerHair
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I posted this in the History of L.A. thread, but here you go:
    (Can't remember where I plucked this from, with caption. Probably LA Public Library files)

    [​IMG]
    A.J. Foyt, steering his midget car at Gardena's Ascot Park. The half-mile oval opened in 1957 on a 37-acre dump site, but it soon became the busiest dirt track in the nation (and a training ground for many Indianapol<WBR>is 500 drivers). Every type of motorized vehicle--f<WBR>rom motorcycle<WBR>s to ATV three-whee<WBR>lers to destructio<WBR>n derbies--r<WBR>aced at Ascot before it closed in 1990. Photo dated: December 4, 1961.
     
  6. BrerHair
    Joined: Jan 30, 2007
    Posts: 5,006

    BrerHair
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    [​IMG]


    But wait . . . there is ample confusion regarding some of these tracks. Mazooma1 straightened it all out in the History of L.A. thread.
    The poster above is not the track Tom is referring to. The poster refers to the track known as "Gardena" or "Western" Speedway, located at 139th & Western Ave., near Rowley Park.

    Tom's track, Ascot Park, was located at 18400 South Vermont, in Gardena, near Gardena H.S.
     
  7. Rootie Kazoootie
    Joined: Nov 27, 2006
    Posts: 8,134

    Rootie Kazoootie
    Member
    from Colorado

    When it first opened in 57 it was called L.A. Speedway and the first winner of a sprint car race on June 1st was Rip Erikson in a GMC powered rig.
     

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  8. PVTA Jay
    Joined: Dec 17, 2010
    Posts: 149

    PVTA Jay
    Member

    Yeah I remember the Jalopy races on KTLA channel 5 and "Whoa Nellie" Dick Lane. Must've been back in mid '50s, guys even ran in the rain
     
  9. waldo53
    Joined: Jan 26, 2010
    Posts: 863

    waldo53
    Member
    from ID

    Aaaahhhh yes, Good ol' Ascot. Friday night flattrack watching #7, Sammy Tanner (the flying flea) take the high groove around the track, and then the Sat. night TT races, and the Jalopies on Sunday.

    We used to get a carload and drive down from Barstow to see the races. Usually on Fri. night. This picture is from 1967, #22 Gene Romero looking like he's going to land on Dick Hammer, #16.
     

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  10. Indy87
    Joined: Apr 1, 2011
    Posts: 34

    Indy87
    Member
    from So. Cal.

    What a cool web site. My Father raced at ASCOT in the 60's. What a blast going to ASCOT every Sunday. boy I miss it.:( Thats my dad car number 68 Les Dixon. My uncle Robert drove car 67, and started a stock car track in Lake Elsinore cal. I think there were only a few races there. Since it was my uncles track my dad was able to give me a ride on the track, damn that was cool.:)
     

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  11. BERNIES WELDING
    Joined: Mar 31, 2011
    Posts: 216

    BERNIES WELDING
    Member

    WELL I LIVED IN GARDENA FOR SEVEN PLUS YRS FROM THE MID 70'S. I LIVED A COUPLE OF BLOCKS NORTH OF REOSCRANS AVE OFF OF FIGUEROA NEAR NEAR ROSECRANS PARK. ASCOT PARK RACEWAY WAS AT 190th STREET AND FIGUEROA. IT WAS AWSOME TO BE IN MY BACKYARD AND HEAR THE SPRINT CARS RACING AND I USED TO GO THERE TO THE MOTOCROSS RACES AS A PHOTOGRAPHER AND TO THE STOCKERS RACES WITH FRIENDS AND BE PART OF THE PIT CREW. ALSO DID RIDE ALONG WITH FRIENDS IN THE PUSCH TRUCKS FOR THE MIDGETS AND SPRINTERS. WOW THE MEMORIES.
    NOT TO BE DEPRESSING BUT THE LAND WAS SOLD OFF AND A DEVELOPER BUILT A MULTI FLOOR OFFICE BUILDING ON THE SITE.

    MAY ASCOT REST IN PEACE.
     
  12. Indy87
    Joined: Apr 1, 2011
    Posts: 34

    Indy87
    Member
    from So. Cal.

    I think this is ascot in 1963.:) That might be Larry Kennedy in the top right of the photo.
     

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  13. 296ardun
    Joined: Feb 11, 2009
    Posts: 4,673

    296ardun
    Member

    Very cool site.,..I think that there were actually several Ascot Park tracks in SoCal, maybe dating back to the late 30s? My old boss Don Blair raced his sprint car there in the early 60s, let me take a few laps and both of realized that I was not cut out to be sprint car driver.......sad that it closed when it did.
     
  14. Mazooma1
    Joined: Jun 5, 2007
    Posts: 13,598

    Mazooma1
    Member

    right you are...Ascot was not Western/Gardena Speedway...the jalopy races of our youth on TV was not at Ascot
     
  15. Indy87
    Joined: Apr 1, 2011
    Posts: 34

    Indy87
    Member
    from So. Cal.

    I definitely remember Dick Lane and KTLA channel 5 at Ascot Park in gardena around 1963.
     
    Last edited: Apr 2, 2011
  16. K-88 ghost
    Joined: Nov 5, 2009
    Posts: 214

    K-88 ghost
    Member
    from Nevada

    In the 50s the televised jalopy races with Dick Lane was broadcast from the Culver race way on Washington Blvd, in Culver City. Ascot was located on Vermont Ave. just north and across from the Vermont Drive in theater :cool:
     
  17. d2_willys
    Joined: Sep 8, 2007
    Posts: 4,285

    d2_willys
    Member
    from Kansas

    Ascot figure 8 races were broadcast on KTLA channel 5 in the mid 60's. My family and I would go to the figure 8 races on Sunday, then watch ourselves on TV later on that night. I still have one of the programs they handed out. Watching those old 50s cars running around the figure 8 was great. Remember a 56 Buick getting hung up on the power poles they used to form the Vees of the figure 8. I can remember one driver who did well, a guy by the name of Dorsey Steele. He and his wife raced there.
     
  18. Indy87
    Joined: Apr 1, 2011
    Posts: 34

    Indy87
    Member
    from So. Cal.

    This is car 50 and 52, Bob Hobbs and Ben Steele. At Ascot Park. You can see me behind the fence.:)
     

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  19. Tuff Tin
    Joined: May 23, 2004
    Posts: 921

    Tuff Tin
    Member

    Spent many weekends there in the early '60's and at one time watched George Duraid of San Diego go end over end down the back stretch in his Ford powered 32 Ford Sedan.

    Mike
     
  20. toml24
    Joined: Sep 23, 2009
    Posts: 1,620

    toml24
    Member

    In July of 1963 the weekly live television on KTLA with Dick Lane on Sunday afternoons shifted from Western Speedway to Ascot Park because the California Jalopy Association moved their operation to Ascot. The live broadcast from Ascot Park continued until April, 1965 when they suddenly stopped and other programming was shown instead of racing, which did continue in the afternoons.
     
  21. oldtom69
    Joined: Dec 6, 2009
    Posts: 583

    oldtom69
    Member
    from grandin nd

    Does anyone remember the 60's afternoon tv show"where the action is"?It was a rock music show and about once an episode it would have a band playing on the infield and the jalopys roaring around the track at the same time.How about a list of the tv shows and movies Ascot appeared in?Had to be the most filmed race track ever!
     
  22. Indy87
    Joined: Apr 1, 2011
    Posts: 34

    Indy87
    Member
    from So. Cal.

    They filmed the races for TV at both Ascot and western speedway.:) My Dad is #68 Les Dixon, My Uncles #67 Bob Dixon, #65 Fred Dixon and my #30 Uncle Jim Wahnon all so raced there.
     

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  23. jamesgr81
    Joined: Feb 3, 2008
    Posts: 283

    jamesgr81
    Member

    My buddies were big time Mike Bast fans. We all used to go down to Ascot Raceway and watch him tear up the Speedway. Always used to hear on the radio JC Agajanian presents.....

    Destruction derby and figure eights were best down at Western Speedway with fender slappin' Dick Lane on channel 5.

    "My wife won't let me sell these cars so cheap I'm giving them away."

    Rather have Ascot then that damn Home Depot that's there now.
     
  24. toml24
    Joined: Sep 23, 2009
    Posts: 1,620

    toml24
    Member

    The Western Speedway figure-8s was on television in 1963 as a Saturday taped 30 minute program. The racing association was the RDA headed by Rich Munz. If Munz or his family could be found today and they saved those broadcast it would be one of the greatest finds of So-Cal racing ever.

     
  25. Indy87
    Joined: Apr 1, 2011
    Posts: 34

    Indy87
    Member
    from So. Cal.

    Dorsey Steele one of the top drivers. On the bottom it mentions the lady leadfoots. My Mother LaVergne Dixon raced at western speedway. :)
     

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  26. Indy87
    Joined: Apr 1, 2011
    Posts: 34

    Indy87
    Member
    from So. Cal.

    Ascot park.The driver on the bottom right is my dad #68 Les Dixon. the driver on the far right is #67 my uncle Bob Dixon and the little girl is his daughter and my cousin Debbie Dixon. Can you name any one else?
     

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  27. toml24
    Joined: Sep 23, 2009
    Posts: 1,620

    toml24
    Member

    I copied the photo and sent it to Jim Penney, a Ascot Park Figure-8 driver from the 1960s and he did not recognize the drivers. I must say I've seen plenty of photos like this one but I too do not recognize anybody.

     
  28. Indy87
    Joined: Apr 1, 2011
    Posts: 34

    Indy87
    Member
    from So. Cal.

    I think this is the drivers meeting at Ascot, circa 63. Thats my dad on the far right.:) I think thats Dewey Wagers number 43. #67 Bob Dixon center.
     

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  29. He was also the voice of wrestling and roller derby. my pops took one time a month as a treat then Lions on sunday. 59-65.
     
  30. Dave Mc
    Joined: Mar 8, 2011
    Posts: 2,576

    Dave Mc
    Member

    This is a Shot of the First Corner Main Event on a Saturday Night in 1965, That is me on #130z, Loved that track, Decomposed Granite was fast,seemed they changed the jump every week.memories,I can smell the race gas and castor oil .
     

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