History TRADITIONAL GASSERS, Gas Class cars and modern TRADITIONAL cars.

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1957

Hello,

Popping up in an old version of the weekly Drag News was a surprising advertisement from one of the most recognized names in drag racing history. Howard Johansen and Howard’s Cams are two names that we see in a lot old photos with the cool decal.

But, it was this advertisement of his own 1955 Chevy Sedan that he kept winning those early drag races at the newly opened Lion’s Dragstrip. He did race at the old Santa Ana Dragstrip, but was usually found at Lion’s Dragstrip when that place opened in 1955 and the Santa Ana Drags closed in 1959. A traditional daily driver set up for the Gas Coupe and Sedan Class racing.

Jnaki

So, who else was racing at the time that we have all come to know in their later years?

Eddie Thompson/Junior Thompson in another 55 Chevy sedan.

In 1957 at Lion's Dragstrip:


Also, two guys from Bixby Knolls opened a shop called Speed Engineering during 1958 in the Westside of Long Beach. (a few blocks from our own Westside home.)

Ronnie LeGrand in a 1955 Chevy and his business partner/friend, Tom McEwen in a 1956 Chevy. The advertisement says so… that they have the Home of the “World’s Fastest “D” Gas Coupe/Sedan Chevy…”



Tom McEwen Marauders Long Beach 56 CHEYV D/GAS WINNER 1957

And in theGreen, our friend, Butch Taylor, who ran the famous concession stands at Lion’s Dragstrip. *denotes a class record