LOST DRAG STRIPS II EXPOSED!

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It's sad enough that so many of America's drag strips have been shut down over the years. Discovering them and telling their colorful stories is certainly a humbling adrenaline rush, but many of the abandoned strips I found while researching for the Lost Drag Strips II book remain adrift in drag race purgatory, due to substandard photos and/or lack of credible historical documentation. Luckily, that double tragedy can be somewhat amended via this blog.

Typifying the many abandoned race tracks that didn't make the cut for Cartech's new Lost Drag Strips II book is Sunset Drag Strip, near Clark, Pennsylvania. As pit lore has it, bracket racing was born at this eighth-mile strip off of Charleston Road, in 1961. Originally a quarter-mile track, Sunset ran from '59 to '94, was induced into a ten year coma, then was resurrected in 2004. The cylindrical object at the starting line is the remains of an old storm drain, installed to protect track personnel from errant race cars and their associated errant parts. 

Local fan Ron Pollack photographed Sunset shortly after its 2009 closure. Sadly, the low resolution images did not meet CarTech's requirements. (Photos courtesy of Ron Pollack)


I'll be sharing more of those Still Lost Drag Strips with you in future posts, but now it's high time for a sneak peek at the tracks from Alaska to Hawaii to Florida that are featured in the book. As always, I can only post out-takes here. You'll have to buy, borrow, or steal the book to see the images we ultimately settled on. Most are in color, are dynamic, and were photographed by some of America's most esteemed drag race lensmen. Of course, the photos only illustrate the stories of how these tracks came to be, the people and events that defined their history, how and why they closed, and what has become of the properties since. I can tell you that each of these track bios is a hairy ride, so sign the waiver, and strap in tight before reading.

Racing Lions Motorsports Park at Fort Wainwright. Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo by Doug Ogden)

Avenue G at Camp White. White City, Oregon. (Photo by Dick Simonson)

Fremont/Baylands Raceways. Fremont, California. (Photographer unknown)

San Fernando Drag Strip. San Fernando, California. (Stormy Byrd photo courtesy of Larry Tadlock)

Fontana Drag City. Fontana, California. (Photographer unknown)

Inyokern Drag Strip. Inyokern, California. (Photographer unknown)

Kahuku Air Strip. Kahuku, Hawaii. (Photo courtesy of Tommy Ivo)

Speedrome. Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Reyes)

Continental Divide Raceway. Castle Rock, Colorado. (Photo by Pete Garramone)

Minnesota Dragways. Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo courtesy of John Foster)

Detroit Dragway. Detroit, Michigan. (Photographer unknown)

SRCA Drag Strip. Great Bend, Kansas. (Photo by Pete Garramone)

KCTA Drag Strip. Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo courtesy of Jim Green)

Southwest Raceway. Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo courtesy of NHRA)

Willow Run Raceway. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo courtesy of Doug Waggoner)

Niagara Airport Drag Strip. Niagara Falls, New York. (Photographer unknown)

National Speedway. Center Moriches (Long Island), New York. (Photographer unknown)

York US 30 Drag-O-Way. York, Pennsylvania. (Photo courtesy of Bruce Wheeler)

South Mountain/Quarter Aces Raceway. Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania. (Photo courtesy of Marjorie Rollason Romano)

Yellow River Drag Strip. Covington, Georgia. (Photo courtesy of Fred Simmons)

La Place Dragway. La Place, Louisiana. (Chuck Conway photo courtesy of Bob Gibson collection)

State Capitol Raceway. Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo courtesy of Rusty Brown)

Thunderbolt Raceway. Green Cove Springs, Florida. (Photo courtesy of Clay County Archives)

Amazon.com is now taking discounted pre-orders for Lost Drag Strips II. Better reserve yours now, before they run out! END OF SPAM.
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SQUIRREL AND TOOLBOX

Squirrel interrupts awards ceremony at Maryland International Raceway, to no one's surprise. This track is still going strong, despite the rodent infestation and archaic Altered-class entries (in background). MIR plans not to be included in Lost Drag Strips III.

I recently discovered the secret world of cast iron toolboxes. I believe they were options at tractor dealerships. The next obvious thought was, "Did anyone cast them from aluminum?"  A hasty online search turned up this image, and a modern square diecast version offered by a Chinese start-up. Hmmm... I'll need a small box for my cross-country Model A. Now I'm considering starting my first home casting project. Here we go again.

GRIN

This industrial tachometer has hung from the header panel of the Ramchargers' "High & Mighty" '49 Plymouth since they first fired the car. It still rides in the current recreation, and it still works. (Photographer unknown)

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THE SPAMMING OF LOST DRAG STRIPS II/TOO/ALSO/AGAIN

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Here it is. The cover art that CarTech Inc. is using to promote Lost Drag Strips Too was a surprise to me, but I trust in the company's marketing prowess. Amazon.com is now accepting pre-orders, and states that the book will be available, "April of 2016". I'm guessing it will be out before that, but that date should cover everyone's asses. Better pre-order yours today, just to be safe. (Photo courtesy of Amazon.com)

It's been a hectic week in Scottyville. Nothing exotic, just life stuff. But I failed to find the time to assemble a proper blog post. So here's another sample of rejected imagery from Lost Drag Strips II. Today we look at some of the promotional material used for fan bait. On future blogs, I'll be posting some of the complete feature stories that didn't make the cut. So you have that to look forward to. If you can't wait for that, I'll be jabbering about the book on Motormouth Radio (www.motormouthradio.com) this Thursday at noon, Eastern time.

Before National Dragster, Wally Parks was editor of the Tie Rod.

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UPDATE

Did you know the Scotty Gosson Combo has their own Facebook page? If not, then you missed the announcement of our latest honorary member, Lisa Allred. We were so taken by Lisa's voice and songwriting that we set aside our second album project to do a demo project for her. It worked. Lisa is now in the midst of contract negotiation with Interscope Records. They handle Madonna and No Doubt, among dozens of other platinum artists. Congrats, Lisa! It's been a fun honor. Now we're back on the Scotty Gosson Combo album - which you'd know about if you "Like" our Facebook page. For the record (so to speak), Lisa's no poseur. She uses this bike for road trips, and buzzes around town on a scooter. (Photo courtesy of Lisa Allred)

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SQUIRREL AND TOOLBOX

Yep. Squirrels have to hit the bricks just like the rest of us. (Image courtesy of Motormouth Ray)

Rocky Gosson's itsy bitsy garage seems to be built around the bare necessities: His '33 coupe project, a welder, and a Snap-On rollway. (Photo courtesy of Rocky Gosson)

GRIN

Couldn't resist tossing this in. But Islip also had a drag strip.

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DRAG RACE CULTURE, HORTICULTURE, WHATEVER

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New Years Day, 1957. Fort Worth, Texas.

Yet more out-takes from the imminent Lost Drag Strips Too book. Again, these are just photos that I happened across in my research, knowing they would not make it into the book for various reasons. So I didn't bother collecting any information on these images, other than this: They spin my crank! The book will be available sometime this winter. Watch this page for an exact release date.

You get the picture. There are thousands of these shots clogging up my computer. But I saved the good stuff for the book.

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UPDATES

Air, spark and fuel. That's the recipe. The more air you can get, the more spark and fuel you can add, producing more grins. Simple. The above image is an example of getting good air. (Photographer unknown)

These things clean the air, providing a superior oxygen-to-pollution ratio to tune with. It takes a bunch of them to do the job, but we'd be screwed without them. Now that I'm a professional horticulturist, I can tell you that this is an example of the Spath genus (AKA Spathiphyllum, or Peace Lilly). That's all I know about plants. So far. (Photo stolen from internet)

Since writing doesn't pay the rent, side jobs are mandatory. Bonus: They force me out of my comfort zone and into the real world. I delivered these periodicals for a couple of years, but that gig has dried up, launching me into the job market once again. If my new gig as a plant whisperer works out, I hope to get a new hat this year. (Scotty shot)

Possessing an awe of nature doesn't mean I know much about it. Even growing up in environmentally-conscious Oregon (boasting the most micro climates in the U.S.), my ignorance of what makes living things tick is a shameful embarrassment. That's what happens when you spend your life under a hood.

A call from my pals Mary and Elizabeth Kelly alerted me to a job opportunity last week. When they explained the gig was caring for plants, I instantly dismissed the potential rent maker as a threatening distraction from my focus on hot rodding. Until the rent came due. Then I reconsidered, and surprised myself with a leap of faith out of my pampered princess poodle world, and into reality. At this writing, I've completed four days of training, during which my ego has constantly pleaded with me to walk away and apply for a job washing parts, changing oil, or anything other than this. It's really been a struggle, which is telling: I'm stuck. That means no growth, which means trouble. So I'm wrestling through the process of deciding what my priorities really are, and why. Man, being a human is exhausting. I wish I were a plant. No wait - they're just as complex as people. I wish I were a robot.

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SGE Washington correspondent Walt Skoczylas took the 2015 Points Championship at Oregon's Woodburn Drag Strip last weekend with his HAMB Dragster. A jaunty tip of the SGE helmet to you, Walt! And as always, he did it with inline six power! Walt notes, "The award ceremony will be at the World of Speed Museum in Wilsonville (Oregon) this year. That should be cool." (Photo courtesy of Walt Skoczylas)

You may recall Walt as being the new owner/operator of our own Dr. Lockjaw's "Tetanus II" coupe, shown here winding up for a pass down Champion Raceway at Medford, Oregon. (Scotty shot)

The 6', 4" doctor was a tight squeeze in the little coupe. (Scotty shot)

Being of a more accommodating stature, Walt opted to install stereo seating, thanks to a re-tubing of the 'cage by Twisty Ron Austin. (Photo courtesy of Walt Skoczylas)

Dr. Lockjaw's trusty 383-inch alky guzzler served him well, but Walt prefers to keep his cylinders all in a row... (Scotty shot)

... so the bent eight was swapped out for one of Walt's signature injected inline 6-cylinder masterpieces. The "Tetanus II" will now be serving up the yuks on both street and strip with an angry bumblebee presence. Walt declares, "It should be a runner by this spring." You've been warned. (Photos courtesy of Walt Skoczylas)

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SQUIRREL AND TOOLBOX

Tired of being beaned by fall acorns? Who isn't? Next time you don't get boinked by an acorn, thank a squirrel. This may be a fake squirrel with a fake acorn, but at least you didn't get nailed. (Photo courtesy of the oh-so-real Spike Kilmer)

SGE National reporter Kristin Cline (far right) and friends, supporting event sponsor Craftsman Tools at the 2015 Race of Gentlemen on the Jersey shore. Behind the gentlewomen is a herd of modern Craftsman rollaways, but it is unknown whether any wrenching was performed at the beach drags. What is known is that Craftsman supports traditional hot rodding with traditional toolage. That's enough to ensure our loyal brand loyalty continuation. (Photo courtesy of Kristin Cline at www.drivingforce.com)


GRIN

Plants provide shade for photographers and wrench twirlers, and make swanky backdrops, as well, too, also. Hug your plant today.

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