223rd & Alameda off the Long Beach Freeway. My first drag race WAS at Lions in March 1963. The Greek was making an appearance that windy, cold & overcast day. He ran a best of 8.20 @193.00 with the Chizzler. From that day until I was drafted (Vietnam) in February 1969 I lived at Lions, Irwindale, OCIR, Pomona (in February) and Fontana. Made the Smokers Meet (Bakersfield) in '65 and '67. I loved drag racing in the 60's, it had a magic now gone from the sport, replaced by corporate money.
I wish I could go back in time and build a 7 sec 1970 corolla with a turbo, fuel injected, intercooled 1.8 motor and destroy every car on that track, lol. It would be something similar to Rosado or Nyeli.
@HoneyRyder Yeah I doubt your 1.8l Corolla could run in the 7s, it might run in the 10s and thats with twin turbo and race fuel. I doubt you would destroy everycar on that track.
place looks to have been a dumplots of weeds tall grass not many bleachers on other side.It does however have a much straighter gardrails than OCIR did everyone talks how great that place was and youtube vids beg to differ one giant rats nest.oh well at;least racing was great
@itsracingron25 You're right, that strip was built on a big empty field...pretty funky. Most of these youtube vids of Lion's are shown in the daytime when not too many spectators were around. But come night, that place was completely packed w/people. I was just a kid back then. We used to sneak in every weekend. Everything about it was pure magic for me & my friends.
It is now a part of the Long beach/Sa Pedro Harbor overseas shipping complex. Pretty much just a parking area now...A very long (1/4 mile) and very straight parking area.
I used to live in the old Navy dependent housing near Webster Ave. and Willow St. in Long Beach from 1969 to 1972 and we used to hear the engines roar every night. Hard to believe it has been almost 40 years. I just wish they would move those shipping cargo containers that are there now for just one more run.
I too grew up close to Lions Could hear the drag racing my dad would take us boys to the track and we would park about 1/3 the way down and just lean on the parked cars or sit in lawn chairsthey and do that today!,DOES anyone remmber the starting line guy who was in control of the lights he would run the lights with one hand and play with "clackers" with the hand, they sold those things at the track,such memories, i used to have a piece of the starting line they dug it up with a pic ax last race
223rd & Alameda off the Long Beach Freeway. My first drag race WAS at Lions in March 1963. The Greek was making an appearance that windy, cold & overcast day. He ran a best of 8.20 @193.00 with the Chizzler. From that day until I was drafted (Vietnam) in February 1969 I lived at Lions, Irwindale, OCIR, Pomona (in February) and Fontana. Made the Smokers Meet (Bakersfield) in '65 and '67. I loved drag racing in the 60's, it had a magic now gone from the sport, replaced by corporate money.
MrRonnieG 5 months ago
@MrRonnieG I loved Lion's!!!
cliptop100 2 months ago
I wish I could go back in time and build a 7 sec 1970 corolla with a turbo, fuel injected, intercooled 1.8 motor and destroy every car on that track, lol. It would be something similar to Rosado or Nyeli.
HoneyRyder 1 year ago
@HoneyRyder WTF? Did they even have performance parts for a 1.8 Corolla back then? You would probably have to use race gas to make a 1.8 go 7secs.
skatepunkzero 1 year ago
@HoneyRyder Yeah I doubt your 1.8l Corolla could run in the 7s, it might run in the 10s and thats with twin turbo and race fuel. I doubt you would destroy everycar on that track.
JCKustom 1 year ago
@HoneyRyder you're a fucking idiot
sewallm60 11 months ago
place looks to have been a dumplots of weeds tall grass not many bleachers on other side.It does however have a much straighter gardrails than OCIR did everyone talks how great that place was and youtube vids beg to differ one giant rats nest.oh well at;least racing was great
itsracingron25 1 year ago
@itsracingron25 You're right, that strip was built on a big empty field...pretty funky. Most of these youtube vids of Lion's are shown in the daytime when not too many spectators were around. But come night, that place was completely packed w/people. I was just a kid back then. We used to sneak in every weekend. Everything about it was pure magic for me & my friends.
cliptop100 2 months ago
Its a shame, when they take a good old vintage tracks, and turn them into somthing useless.The mom dance is great.
chevyracer70 1 year ago
Man I wish I could've had the opportunity to go to lions drag strip...
bradlyw420 1 year ago
It is now a part of the Long beach/Sa Pedro Harbor overseas shipping complex. Pretty much just a parking area now...A very long (1/4 mile) and very straight parking area.
kristov29 2 years ago
what is lions dragstrip these days?
petrolheadkiwi92 2 years ago
I used to live in the old Navy dependent housing near Webster Ave. and Willow St. in Long Beach from 1969 to 1972 and we used to hear the engines roar every night. Hard to believe it has been almost 40 years. I just wish they would move those shipping cargo containers that are there now for just one more run.
efrem1 2 years ago
The starter's name was Danny Lars (not sure of the spelling).
SirBuckofSnort 2 years ago
I attended the opening day, which was October 5, 1955 and to date I am still going to the drag races!
SirBuckofSnort 2 years ago
I too grew up close to Lions Could hear the drag racing my dad would take us boys to the track and we would park about 1/3 the way down and just lean on the parked cars or sit in lawn chairsthey and do that today!,DOES anyone remmber the starting line guy who was in control of the lights he would run the lights with one hand and play with "clackers" with the hand, they sold those things at the track,such memories, i used to have a piece of the starting line they dug it up with a pic ax last race
whoasurf 3 years ago
Wow! What a Rush seeing that again. Reminds me of my way out to work! Love seeing Mom Dancing at the end... :)
CWMDV 3 years ago