Today I checked out Blackie Gejian's Fresno Autorama and got a little nostalgic. I have been meaning to go out and get some current photos of the old strip for some time and decided today was the day. The strip is in decent shape I've been told although I see more trees have been planted since I last saw the old girl. You can do the Google Earth thing and see satelite pic's, the address is 7545 W. Manning ave. Fresno, (Raisan City ?SPL) CA. Man I wish .............oh well. Rocky
thats awesome....it would be nice to save that old booth and use it for something. it would look cool "restored" and "rebuilt".
I can still hear Bernie Mather annoucing from that tower, pumpin up the cars coming out of lower build up.
It sure would be cool to re-open that place, then there would actually be something to do around this hole. If I ever get out that way I'm taking the Comet down the strip.
I hear ya' Muttley! Be warned there is a residence accross the track from the tower Here is a photo from 1963 I borrowed from the We Did It For Love website.
Wow Rocky, Thanks for posting that, It just flashed me back to the late 60's and early 70's when my dad used to take me there to watch the races. I wish I had taken some pictures from that era. I can remember watching Tommy Ivo smoke all four tires the whole quarter mile in his four engine dragster. He made one pass and then he got on the loud speaker and said "That's it for today folks, I could not see a thing the whole way thru! My dad also used to take me to Kearny Bowl and Clovis speedway to watch the "hard tops", midgets and motorcycles, again, I wish I had some pictures!
I know a guy who has some awesome video of Fresno Dragways that includes IVO, the 4 dragster pass plus more. I offered to buy a copy when he gets time to make some, he said he would.
Bernie Mather? He was the announcer at Famoso drags. I didn't know he did Raisin City also. His specialty was working from his home garage porting and polishing. He did a flathead, and later Chev heads for me. He was a way cool dude.
I wouldn't do it today but we did go out on the track in '76 or '7 and I got a pass or 2 in my old Mustang
Hi Toymaker: Do you remember my dad, Dennis Bloching? Here is his Jr. Fueler (The Proud American) @ Fresno, was formerly owned by Dwight Hughes. (I am the "short one" in the pic.) I believe we were trailered by Rance McDaniel in the semi's, loaning him our tires for the final. Best, Dave
From what I know and I'm far from being in the loop, a farmer who didn't like the strip to begin with bought the property before the lease was renewed to the promoter in '73. That paticular farmer nolonger owns it but all the open ground has been planted. I guess if some had the money and could pry it from the current owner hands it could be reopened. The strip was ran as a 1/4 mile but was getting short whan it closed. I wish I had the money to investigate the possibilities. Could someone with Google Earth post a photo? Rocky
Let me drop a few names from Raisin city regulars and see if it rings some bells for old central valley HAMBERS. How about John Edmunds, Gerald Enoch, Harry Webster, Chuck Tanko, Pete Petroff, Dean Cee, Ted Gottelli, Boghoshian & Wharf, and Frank Pedregon and his kids.
Petroff is still living in Selma as I understand, Joe Boghoshian Racing Engines still at it, I met Ted Gotelli a couple of times before he past. The first time I met Ted I was parking a display trailer in front of his store and he started yelling "TURN THE FUCKING WHEEL", funny stuff
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