Drag racing's 1st live TV show Lions Drag Strip KTTV 1961.mov

On September 16, 1961, history was made at Lions Drag Strip (Wilmington/Long Beach, CA), when local Los Angeles television station KTTV (Channel 11) aired the first-ever "live" drag racing TV program. Hosted by Bill Welch, plus the legendary track's first manager and iconic hot rodder, Mickey Thompson. Clip is from Part 1 of the three-disk DVD trilogy "Lions - The Greatest Drag Strip", by Don Gillespie. Early day film clips include Tom McEwen, Dode Martin, Zane Shubert, Bob Muravez and Gary Cagle. TV show was the result of manager Thompson's second job, as a pressman for the Los Angeles Times, and friendship with its owners, the Chandler Family, whom also owned KTTV. Each "Lions - The Greatest Drag Strip" DVD is nearly two hours in length, and chronicles the track's incredible history from its opening in October 1955 thru "The Last Drag Race", held on December 2, 1972.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• NHRA
• drag
• racing
• hot
• rod
• nitro
• dragster
• races
• nostalgia
• racecars
• Los
• Angeles
• Long
• Beach
• TV
• history

[Thaddeusd1958]

This is incredible. As a kid I was a rabid drag racing fan. I never made it to Lions, dad didn't want to drive all the way there from Azusa when San Gabriel and Irwindale Raceway were just a few miles away. One of my dad's friends was married to a woman who worked for Ray Alley and she would save the old Drag News issues from his shop and give them to my dad, who gave them to me. Lions always got a lot of ink in Drag News, and I would have killed to go there. Thank you for posting!

[MrRonnieG]

@spidersinspace ~ Thanks for the reply. Drag racing, in the 60's, was magical. I got my 1st car, a 1957 Chevy, in August 1964 (age 17) and was then able to make the drive (down Florence Avenue to the L.B. Freeway to 223rd & Alameda) with a couple of great high school friends who also loved drag racing. Lions was my favorite spot although I spent alot of time at Irwindale and OCIR too. Made the Bakersfield Smokers' Meet in '64, '65 and '67 and the Winternationals (Pomona) '65 thru '69.

[spidersinspace]

@MrRonnieG

I was born in 1948 and grew up in Lynwood, CA. I can remember hearing the faint roar the dragsters from Lions Drag Strip on warm summer Saturday evenings when I was 14-years old. My mom would drop me off at the entry gate around 2:00 and then pick me up around 10:00. After I got my drivers license at age 16, I spent every Saturday at LDS for many years watching all the now-famous drivers make history. Those memories will stay with me for ever. Unfortunately modern drag racing sucks.

[XM170]

Fantastic clip, the good old days of drag racing, great to see this stuff documented.

[MrRonnieG]

These were the days, long long before they put in the roller starters that was powered by a little orange 283 Chevy. They'd push from the top and make the turn in front of the bridge, before staging.

[MrRonnieG]

I was born (1947) and raised 30 miles southeast of downtown L.A. (Norwalk) and remember KTTV (Channel 11) like it was yesterday. There was also KTLA (Channel 5), KHJ (Channel 9) KCOP (Channel 13) and the 3 network stations. I also lived at SoCal dragstrips from the end of 1963 until drafted (Vietnam) in 1969. Lions was, of course, my favorite & the best. 223rd & Alameda off the Long Beach Fwy. Just the best memories of this old man's life.

[PHAEDRIDER]

@PHAEDRIDER oh man .. may he rip .. amazing promoter..

[EdWatts]

Just seeing the KTTV remote van brought waves of nostalgia. This was back in the day when a blue-collar guy punching a clock could build a competitive car at home in his garage -- before the corporate entities took everything over.

America used to be a hell of a place, huh?

[EdWatts]

@PHAEDRIDER

Yup. THE Mickey Thompson.

[Jen31083]

My grandpa used to race his motorcycle there. Too bad it's no longer there :(