History Early drag racing photos

Now those are weed burners...

 

Awesome engines !

 

Hello,

In the fall of 1962 into 1963, a friend of ours started and finished his own hot rod. He loved going to Lion’s Dragstrip nearby and enjoyed the sounds emanating from the race cars. His favorite was the Gas Coupe Class and Sedan Classes. They were the hot rods and street cars that we saw, usually at night in Bixby Knolls or surrounding hot rod cruise destinations. Harvey’s Broiler had the most different array of hot rods and modified street cars, as we drove many miles to see the action up there in Downey.

When he was finished with his new project, it was something that no one had seen before locally or anywhere in So Cal. A modified 409 motor crammed into a small Henry J fastback. A 4 speed added to the quickness and speeds. It was ready for the Gas Coupe and Sedan classes, probably in A/Gas as the 409 motor and the light weight was a major factor. He had some tough competition coming up, soon.

But, as things go, as a backyard mechanic and builder, money was tight and it was a daily driver to school and work. Even as modified like all of the other Gas Coupes/Sedans, with an aluminum firewall set back the legal 10%, two bucket seats and legal street headers and mufflers, it was intimidating to say the least, just sitting anywhere. When the motor started, and slowly drove off of any of the drive-in restaurant parking lots, it was impressive to everyone. A real drag car in street disguise was the opinion of all who saw and heard the Blue Henry J.

Jnaki

It was a fun time, but my friend had no inclination to go to Lion’s Dragstrip to race. He just like building things and cruise around with his friends, me included. He liked the sound of drag racing, the surge and great feeling when the powerful motor launched the hot rod forward.

He saw this Studebaker sedan at the drags and liked what he saw and heard.
1959-60 Lion’s Dragstrip

We drove all over our local So Cal area. With the exhaust+ mufflers capped up, it was still loud inside. But, it was the aspect of driving around in a really fast car with the power instantly showing up when the throttle was pushed a little harder. My Impala was impressive with the C&O Stick Hydro off of the starting line and the 300+ hp at this time period. It was no longer stock with a cam/lifters and some porting/polishing.

But, when the accelerator was pushed down, instant power sent both of us back in our seats and the Henry J surged forward. My friend was learning the speed shifting aspect of a 4 speed, but first, he had to know how to control his power from the motor. He was learning and enjoying every minute.

We drove it down to Newport Beach during the Easter Vacation. (Spring Break) There we had an encounter that was one for the books. In order not to get a ticket racing this loudmouth guy in his flashy XKE Jag with a 327 dual quad motor, we had to drive all the way back to inland Seal Beach. There, we knew that being interrupted was not going to happen from the local police or CHP.

This character was obnoxious as he was bragging to everyone that he beat all cars in the lot at Merle’s drive in on the corner of MacArthur and PCH. So, in order to shut the guy up, we accepted the challenge with money he wanted to put down on the outcome. So, a few miles away, the money came out, what little we had and the race was on.

I was going to drive, since the owner had never raced before, other than our practice runs on the Cherry Avenue Drags location. But, the other guy said owners vs. owners. So, after a quick run down on starting well on every race, remembering to shift normally and keep in control, he was as ready as can be.

He won two out of three and we had a pocket of the braggart’s cash in our possession. As the Jag drove off, we knew he was mad and that made it all worth it. I had to drive to our local Bixby Knolls hangout, as the owner was too hyped up with his first encounter. And, win!...yes

Note:

When the new drive in restaurant opened in 1951, months later, our family arrived in our family Buick sedan. As a teenager, my own Impala made the trip down the coast many times during Easter Week. It was in 1960, 61, 62 Spring Break with the black 58 Impala. Then, in 1963 with a 409 Henry J.
Thanks, @themoose to allow what was cruising in 1963 with some modifications on our mild custom Impala. The only 1958 Impala with a C&O Stick Hydro, Buick Skylark Wire Wheels and a solid core trailer hitch…

The old Merle’s Drive In Restaurant was situated on the corner of PCH and MacArthur. Although no one would recognize it today, as it was a barren ranch with plenty of rolling hills and views all the way back to the Big Bear Lake mountain range.

The flat, level main building and front row service parking. The slope was to the right side of the old photo and ran along the MacArthur Blvd. curb.

In the 50s, driving down the coast line was like driving up or down the Big Sur coast line. The surf and ocean to the West and vast spreads of open land towards the mountains. There were some buildings and homes, but mostly, it was barren. By the time of 1960-63 construction had been started and completed to give the whole Newport coastline from Huntington Beach to Laguna Beach some population.

Good or bad, it was done and the drive-in restaurant was a place to go for a lot of local families. Also, for a ton of teenagers with hot rods and fast cars, for the usual, "who is the fastest" bantering that always would be associated with drive-in restaurants and teenage hangouts.

It was in a great location as MacArthur is a major thoroughfare from the ocean to the far reaches of inland cities. But, the build up near the ocean to PCH was just starting from the early 1951 days until the 1953 Boy Scout Jamboree just behind the whole empty complex. By the time we were driving and exploring the longer road trips, it just seemed like it had been there forever.

 

Is this Tom Prufer's dragster ?

 

Art Chrisman ?