History Anyone have any pics from Bee Line Dragway

I am looking for some photos from Bee Line Dragway before it closed. More than just the racing, pit shots would be cool too, My Dad and Mom use to take me there every year for the winter nationals. Drag racing doesnt seem to be the same any more. Its still cool, just not the same.

Mike

 

I went to Beeline too. Have a few trophies from there. I have some old pics and some 8mm movie film I took a age 12 in '72 winternationals.
Here is a picture of me at age 11, already a Pontiac diehard and a dragster lover. This pic was taken near the top end of the pits at the '71 Winternationals. Slingshot has an injected Pontiac Tempest 4cyl motor.

As for other pics, it is a good thing that the season opener was at Beeline. All the new cars were there and many magazines printed pics from there so there are many.

I also have the '65 Beeline Winternationals on VHS. It is quite good with sound and narration. Bought a copy years back at one of the California Hot Rod Reunions.

Steve Barcak

 

Man I would love to see that. I was born in 65 and I bet I was at the 72 nats with you.

Mike

 

Still looking for any nostalgic pics of Bee Line before it was closed.

Mike

 

http://arizonaracinghistory.com/drags

 

http://arizonaracinghistory.com/beelinedrags

 

http://arizonaracinghistory.com/64winternats.htm

 

This is from my site....I believe this was Beeline
(my Uncle's Chevy)
http://jimmyshotroddesign.com/unclecar.html
(may be Mel Larson's, not many landmarks to note)
Hey, I was born in '65 too, we may have crossed paths as little tikes!

 

-Lee
Atomic Radio
www.atomicpinup.com

 

cool neat old pics, thanks for posting!!!

 

Thanks guys these are really drumming up some great memories. Hey Jeem are you Jim Smith? I am Mike the airbrusher that comes to all the brush bashes with Ron and Tony. When do you want to start your airbrush lessons...LOL I am ready to learn the way you draw cars....lol

Keep them coming please my dad is going to have surgury tommorrow and I am worried, I would like to try to make a scrap book with this info in it. Bee Line was were he took me every year. He raced his motorcycle alot to.

Mike

 

I know you!
Hey man, best wishes for your Dad! Good vibes from Glendale....

 

Gawd I need to proof read before I submit. I got to be the goodest speller here. Thanks Jeem we need to get together soon.

Mike

 

Bee Line, man that was a long time ago! I moved to Phoenix in '67 from So. Cal. ( Fontana, old Irwindale & Pomona ). Used to go to Bee Line alot up until the early 70's. Never had the opportunity to race there, though. Seems like there is or was a sand and gravel company there the last time I was out Bee Line Hwy ( '84 or '85 ), you could still see the old timing tower but I am sure it's gone by now. Sorry, I don't have any of my old pictures to share with you, the ex got 'em all! The link for Arizona racing history have the only pic's that I have ever been able to find. Good luck in your search..........

 

The old timing tower is still standing and can be seen from the hwy.

 

-Lee
Atomic Radio
www.atomicpinup.com

 

Thanks Lee that is cool.

Mike

 

ANyone else have any. I have been on Arizona Racing History and talked to them but not very many photos there.

Mike

 

65 Winter Nationals at BeeLine.

 

^^^^^^^Great pics^^^^^^^^^^

Sad to see inner-city PUKE scrawled over the tower.....

 

Keep them coming guys. I want to make a big scrap book for my Dad.

Mike

 

Thanks for the Tower pic's, glad to see she's still standing after all these years!

 

That is actually not the 'old' timing tower.... it is te 'new' timing tower. the original or 'old' one was on the other side of the track, square shaped, much smaller and shorter and was painted yellow.

What you see is the 'new' timing tower. Was built either late '70 or '71. In the AHRA days was not painted. Was grey block color.
Not nit picking, just providing more Beeline facts.
I also have many great memories of that track.
Steve Barcak
www.pontiacheaven.org
7th annual Nostalgia Drags, show and swap Sunday April 5, 2009 at Speedworld Dragstrip (formally Mel Larsons). Make plans to attend!

 

Here'a a couple of pictures taken by George Curreton.

 

Come on guys, MORE PICS. I was stationed at Williams AFB in '63 and '64. Went to the Bee Line often. I was there for the Winter Nats in '64. Still have my pit pass.

 

Keep them coming guys I know there is more out there.

Mike

 

Any one else have any photos from The Bee Line Dragway era. I heard there was some one that wanted to RE-Open the track but out at Williams AFB (Retired). Any new information about that?

Mike

 

The Williams AFB deal fell through. I saw the blueprints and talked to the guys who wanted to do it. Not the best economic idea with 3 other active tracks within 100 miles or so.
anyway, I found this of interest. I also have a Beeline T shirt. there are a few guys to found the original artwork years back and make shirts and sell them at local swap meets.
The one pic here ( also on the first page of this thread) show the 'old' or original timing tower on the right side of the track.

Steve Barcak
Host of 7th annual Nostalgia drags, show and swap coming Sunday April 5, 2009 to Speedworld.

 

those are great Steve thanks. Keeep em comin guys.

Mike

 

I grew up in Mesa and a bunch of us would ride are motorcycles out there after Beeline shut down.
One day we found a huge "Dr. Pepper welcomes racefans to Beeline" sign.
It was to big for us to haul back on are motorcycles so we hid it under some brush.
One of my buddies Dad was good friends with Butch Tucker and we wanted to give it to him to hang in his shop.
Well we went back a few months later (when we could swip one are parents cars) but it was gone.
There is a guy selling Bee Line clocks on E-Bay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=370105623058&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=024