Great film! I grew up in SoCal and, from 1964 until I was drafted (Vietnam) in 1969 I lived at Lions, Irwindale, OCIR, Fontana and Pomona. This stuff takes me back to some of the most enjoyable years of my life. Drag racing, back then, was all about guys working 40 hour a week jobs and then towing their cars (which they kept in someone's garage next to the washer & dryer) out for the weekend. Even Top Fuel operated that way ~ guys trying to make the $500-$1,000 Top Fuel money.
In those days I was on the West coast at places like Lions and Irwindale. I would have loved to have seen the Eastern tracks. Great vid and thanks for preserving this great stuff for posterity. Because of you and people like you I get to visit those tracks back in the day! Much appreciation!!!
This footage brings so much joy to my heart makes me feel so good the footage was absolutely awesome the music was great cause what the best back then everybody put their own personality into their cars and had a great time
Great stuff! So glad that someone was recording it. Like so many of us, I spent all my time at the strips without a thought to shooting the history around me. I did a little bit better in southeast Asia a couple of years later, but I sure do regret missing out on capturing the essence of drag racing here in the south. Thanks for the great job.
thanks that was great to see old school racing really wish i could have been back there in the gasser days im building one now a thames and it would be nice to know the history of it well thank you for the great video
I have searched the internet a long time before starting to find videos like this. UA-cam, a real reason for the internet. It is really something that you have this kind of footage and even better you have taken the time to show it. Thanks. The nice thing about Martin is, after you make your pass you get to do a parade lap in front of the crowd. It especially nice if you don't screw up.
@kibbiegirl1 I'm sure glad that you found my video! I can honestly say that of all the local racers back then "RUFF-N-READY" was my favorite! Me and my friends used to cheer for that car every time we saw it run! Thanks for watching and spreading the word! John P.S. You can see another clip of "RUFF-N-READY" on my video "Gassers At 131 Dragway in the "60S"
LOL... It makes me cringe to think of what I did with all that pristine but heavy brightwork I would remove from all those old chevys I'd get my hands on back then!... Hello dumpster! Meet steering wheels, bumpers and grilles!
GREAT VIDEO-GREAT MUSIC. I have a 96"WB altered, was built in the 60's (so I'm told) have no idea of the history. I was at "The Last Drag Race" at Carlsbad Calif Aug-8-2004. Hit two guardrails, and they gave me a trophy. I have vhs footage of it, I can't figure out how to up load it. It's the only footage I have of it so I don't want to let it out of my sight.
anyone got any pictures in 68' of a neat 37 chevy called the "dandy Lion" ive got acouple dated 1968, grandfather drove it and im looking for footage of him racing
They were cheap, easy to work on and a hell of a lot of fun.You could put in a few grand and pump out 400 to 500 HP. Still have my 62 FI Corvette. Now has 500 HP frame off restoration that cost 15 times the price of the car and I'm afraid to drive it.
Wonderful video's John! I'm so glad that I found your channel........Thank you very much.
Great film! I grew up in SoCal and, from 1964 until I was drafted (Vietnam) in 1969 I lived at Lions, Irwindale, OCIR, Fontana and Pomona. This stuff takes me back to some of the most enjoyable years of my life. Drag racing, back then, was all about guys working 40 hour a week jobs and then towing their cars (which they kept in someone's garage next to the washer & dryer) out for the weekend. Even Top Fuel operated that way ~ guys trying to make the $500-$1,000 Top Fuel money.
1957 Chevy Shake Rattle and Run Martin 131 Drag-way, I was 11 or 12 back than thanks dad for the introduction to drag racing.
In those days I was on the West coast at places like Lions and Irwindale. I would have loved to have seen the Eastern tracks. Great vid and thanks for preserving this great stuff for posterity. Because of you and people like you I get to visit those tracks back in the day! Much appreciation!!!
This footage brings so much joy to my heart makes me feel so good the footage was absolutely awesome the music was great cause what the best back then everybody put their own personality into their cars and had a great time
Great stuff! So glad that someone was recording it. Like so many of us, I spent all my time at the strips without a thought to shooting the history around me. I did a little bit better in southeast Asia a couple of years later, but I sure do regret missing out on capturing the essence of drag racing here in the south. Thanks for the great job.
This brings back memories of Detroit Dragway running off four cars at a time, what a great era !
This brings back great memories. I spent a lot of weekends at Martin Dragway. Always attended the Popular Hot Rodding Meet. Love the videos!
great vid and Creedence too
Gassers and altered remember those when I was.young the best racing.
Great music. Fantastic cars. Loved every minute of it. Thanks for posting!
thanks that was great to see old school racing really wish i could have been back there in the gasser days im building one now a thames and it would be nice to know the history of it well thank you for the great video
Fantastic Video,thanks for the sharing!
I have searched the internet a long time before starting to find videos like this. UA-cam, a real reason for the internet. It is really something that you have this kind of footage and even better you have taken the time to show it. Thanks. The nice thing about Martin is, after you make your pass you get to do a parade lap in front of the crowd. It especially nice if you don't screw up.
Hey, I'm glad you found my video and took time to watch it! I really appreciate your comments! Thanks!
John
That was some awesome footage. Thanks for posting part of my youth.
Great footage....thanks for sharing...love the music choice too!
loved the video, felt good to see my past and the cars i grew up with.
Cool rides and cool tunes :)
Actually.... the two songs used in his video were recorded in 1968 and 1969. Thanks for watching!
John
Fantastic old footage!
@canzoet I,m glad you took time to watch and comment! Thanks a lot!
John
@kibbiegirl1 I'm sure glad that you found my video! I can honestly say that of all the local racers back then "RUFF-N-READY" was my favorite! Me and my friends used to cheer for that car every time we saw it run! Thanks for watching and spreading the word!
John
P.S. You can see another clip of "RUFF-N-READY" on my video "Gassers At 131 Dragway in the "60S"
SUPER MEMORIES !
I was born late 70`s and pretty far from these tracks but I still love these cars and I wish I´ve been part of this era.
Thanks for watching and commenting! Good luck on your Thames project! I would love to see it!
John
thank GOD someone had a movie camera
Really good video !
thanx...that white AWB stang , was gettin' crazy ☺☺
@98dakrt Things were certainly different back then. Crude, but very exciting!! Thanks for tuning in to check out my videos!
John
we grew up at Fremont Drag Strip / Baylands Raceway Park .
LOL... It makes me cringe to think of what I did with all that pristine but heavy brightwork I would remove from all those old chevys I'd get my hands on back then!... Hello dumpster! Meet steering wheels, bumpers and grilles!
GREAT VIDEO-GREAT MUSIC. I have a 96"WB altered, was built in the 60's (so I'm told) have no idea of the history. I was at "The Last Drag Race" at Carlsbad Calif Aug-8-2004. Hit two guardrails, and they gave me a trophy. I have vhs footage of it, I can't figure out how to up load it. It's the only footage I have of it so I don't want to let it out of my sight.
Bring back drag racing to keep street racing off the streets !!!!!
@jaialaisavant completely agree
Do you have any footage of Dick Brannan's 1966 crash at 131?
Have you looked for the car?
@jrsn2cars
Yeah people were not pulling guns on each other over who beat who.
I dont know what i like better the music from CCR or the video !
@M78drivein No, I missed that one. I've seen pictures of that wreck. That was bad!
anyone got any pictures in 68' of a neat 37 chevy called the "dandy Lion" ive got acouple dated 1968, grandfather drove it and im looking for footage of him racing
Check out my video, Gassers at 131 Dragway in the 60s. I have some footage of Rex's car on there.
@98dakrt - I'm a younger generation car guy and I love this stuff : )
What good days of beer and bitchen cars 1doller to go to the drag strip or buck 50
This is some amazing stuff... I was born in the wrong generation.
@canzoet took the words right of my mouth. i was born 50 years to damn late
I noticed no one had a cell phone.
These cars look pretty old to drive now.
You know how much these OLD drag cars command in today's markets!
They were cheap, easy to work on and a hell of a lot of fun.You could put in a few grand and pump out 400 to 500 HP. Still have my 62 FI Corvette. Now has 500 HP frame off restoration that cost 15 times the price of the car and I'm afraid to drive it.