Vintage shots from days gone by!

Hello,

Nice find of a historic photo and place. The photo shows a long straight away heading East toward the inland portion of Orange County, towards the city of Westminster. This is Westminster Blvd in inland Seal Beach, California. It is/was near the Seal Beach area of aerospace development in the early days. For us teenage hot rod guys/girls, this was the southern nighttime dragstrip for both counties, LA and the OC.

If anyone (seemed like almost a million people) drove over the PCH/ Anaheim Bay Bridge leading out of Seal Beach into the Surfside/Sunset Beach area, the big displays were the warships docked in the protected harbor. It is a military harbor with a narrow public right away down the middle of the channel. But, in the far distant property inland, past the swamps, marshes, and bunkers, was Westminster Blvd. From the far reaches of the property back to this long street, several train tracks lead to the coastal harbor. Those train cars carry the necessary ammunition and can be seen loading at the dock at times. The cool thing was that in Belmont Shore, this same street (Westminster Blvd) is the main road for all activity and dining on 2nd street.

As it nears Seal Beach Blvd, 2nd Street turns into Westminster Blvd. This intersection is quite busy, but a few short seconds of driving, brings anyone to the empty, long street, especially at night. That is the Eastward drive along this fairly empty stretch of highway. The reverse is true coming from Orange County into LA County. A busy intersection leading away into a few short seconds for quiet and emptiness towards Seal Beach/Belmont Shore.

Jnaki

Why is this road so significant to hot rodders? When we had our cars finished with the latest upgrade, dual quads, new axle gears, etc, we needed a place to do a full acceleration test. Cherry Avenue in Bixby Knolls is fine, but the traffic can sometimes be hectic. Late at night there were patrols cruising in the dark, waiting. But, way out here in no man’s land, the only thing to be disturbed is a bird, a lizard, or two. The underground bunkers were made to look like a neighborhood street from the sky. So, there is usually no one to complain or disturb.

There were countless teenagers that used this lonely stretch of road before our time and the photo is inviting for such a long stretch of empty road. (It is almost two miles long, but the actual marked off starting line could be anywhere, with plenty of shut down space) The farther into the street a group is located, the darker it becomes, so it is virtually in the middle of nowhere. Shut downs have plenty of slowing space for safety. For us, it was the Orange County equivalent of the Cherry Ave. Drags.

These days, the boulevard is very well used with commuters bypassing the crowded 405 Freeway. Caution is always used for any kind of acceleration run. The commuters going to and from Belmont Shore to the West from the 405 Freeway, usually pack this road during rush hour.

 

Peace baby!.....

 

Lakeside Speedway Colorado

 

From the dover site:https://doverdragstrip.com

 

Bromley

 

Honeymoon from Nebraska to Niagra, 1956. Stop at Painesville Ohio For Mom and Dad.

My wife and I own a copy of this car now.

 

Ford tractor is being used as a steering dolly to facilitate tight turns

 

George Amick at Daytona in 1959. About 15 years ago I was in the Mobil suite at Indianapolis where George Bignotti was their resident racing expert and personality. There wasn't much going on and I got to spend a couple of hours talking with George; mostly just listening. All those years later he still maintained that Amick would have won the 1959 Indianapolis 500 if he hadn't crashed at Daytona.

 

Jnaki


These days, the boulevard is very well used with commuters bypassing the crowded 405 Freeway. Caution is always used for any kind of acceleration run. The commuters going to and from Belmont Shore to the West from the 405 Freeway, usually pack this road during rush hour. [/QUOTE]

When I moved to Fountain Valley in 1971 Wesminster Blvd thru the weapons station was the short cut off the 405 to Studebaker Rd and the Edison Power Plant where I worked. I had a lot of breakfasts at the Primrose Resturant at the corner of Seal Beach as Westminster next to the Chevron Station.

 

Got it ...I never thought of that .....Thanks .....

 

O.K then

 

Log stretcher ?????????