Draggin’ at Lions Circa 1965…

Check out this color film shot at Lions Drag Strip in Wilmington, Ca (near Long Beach) right around 1965. Established in 1955 by the local Lions Club chapters, the iconic 1/4 mile grew to be one of the preeminent dragways of Southern California under Mickey Thompson’s  management. Lions was also one of the first to feature innovations like electronic timing and cement starting pads.

By the mid-1960s, Lions Drag Strip had become the sanctioned hub for for organizations like the NHRA, AHRA, and the U.S. Professional Dragster Championships—and introduced popular grudge races, drawing top-tier racers and producing record-setting runs. The era saw a surge in the popularity of funny cars and altered-wheelbase machines, with notable performances such as Gary Dyer’s 8.63-second pass at 163 mph in 1965 on this very track. Lions’ influence extended beyond racing, appearing in television episodes like Hot Rod Herman from The Munsters (also in 1965) and Adam‑12.

So what cars do you recognize?