1965 NHRA Winter National Drag Races, Pomona--Redone

[@ew1usnr]

Oh, gosh, I love those Ford Fairlane Thunderbolts and Galaxies!!!!

[@MoparMan1320]

Thank you so much for posting this video. I was 7 years old when attended this event. My Dad worked as a Sarge with LACO Sheriff's Department, running "the shops", where all the "radio cars" were brought in for service. As the Big 3 auto manufacturers wanted the contract to supply cars to the department...they would test out at Pomona. They set up a road course, had a skid pad, and of course used the drag strip. Because of this, we got comp tickets to the Winternationals each year. I especially like the fact that all the cars looked different...not cookie cutter like today. Got bit by the drag racing bug so hard, living in So Cal, that I began racing in 74' after being licensed, and race my 70' Duster in Super Pro and Nostalgia classes to this day. ✌😎

[@jamcousi9]

One of the best vids of real American drag racing uploaded! Man I miss old America...

[@ronhadley7113]

Yup. Born and raised in Pomona. The drag strip was an every sunday adventure for a kid born in 1950. I became chief photographer for the old Pomona Progress Bulletin newspaper in the late 70's and the Winternationals were three days of bliss shooting from the xmas tree. Can't do that anymore. Stone Woods and Cook ruled when I was in JR. high.

[@babsinjrzy]

A time when people were people. Out there being. Loving what they're doing. Not texting it. Diagnosing problems by listening. Loving their cars and working on them. My kind of people. Thanks for this video and the reminder. I am blessed to have been there and known them.

[@irishguy2725]

1960-66; the greatest era for drag racing...ever. Saw many of these cars run often here in the Detroit area at Detroit Drageway and Motor City Dragway. Good stuff!!

[@mdr1320]

Wow. I wish I had a time machine. What a great time in drag racing that was, and the names. Just incredible.

[@eskrima1]

Remember this like it was yesterday.... What a flash back..thanks for posting..

[@Rowlandph]

Hey!..Thanks for posting this!... I love the behind the scenes stuff from that era...

[@chucklaneChuckylane]

Thank You for this look back at My childhood, All I did back then was dream of gassers, Build models of them, And race em' when I grew up. Finances and friends led Me to motorcycles, Where I stayed and made some great memories but still wish it could have been drag racing, I might have broke a few less bones.

[@Boots_And_Slicks14]

I live walking distance from the POmona (not Pamona) raceway and it truly saddens me that this track only gets used 8 days out of the year for the big corporate NHRA racer$ only... To make matters worse, the city of Pomona has turned into a turd world hell hole in some spots. I despise the times we live in.... Thanks for posting.

[@thomasisitalian]

Thank u for great vid.. I was there. It was magic back then. Too bad we can't turn back lol

[@TheGG794]

You are welcomed! Thank you Woody,for posting these historic images.I'm priviledged to be able to see these,and be part of these forums.Johnny Loper was one of many well known drag racers that visited the Islands during the heyday of NHRA sanctioned racing.

[@timhammett2302]

Thank you for putting this up. I wish I could say this was before my time, but I remember seeing so many of these run. Brings back a lot of memories, and yes drag racing was more fun back then (IMHO). No computers, everything was mechanical, pure passion in building these cars. All these would be quicker today with the tire technology and the tuning tools available now. Back then we had to read plugs and make notes of what happened at different altitudes, ambient temperatures and make changes to jetting, timing, tire pressure etc. based on past performances and 'gut' feelings and a lot of experimenting.

[@lennybobbio35]

Being from southern and very Southern California I was there at this event. Went with many of my friends older brothers. Also went to Lions and Carlsbad. It was so loud. Real racing with real cars with people who just loved the sport. BZ.

[@thomasisitalian]

i was at that race with my dad. i was 15yrs old. we didnt miss a race there until i was drafted. what a great time to ne alive. it was bitchen. thanks for the great video.

[@bills7974]

Great uploading video MrPLW as taken by Mike Tyler. I was so hooked into drag racing by looking through Hot Rod magazines and so forth-had to go to my first drag race the '65 Winternationals (as a spectator) and I was 14 then and its still in my blood more than ever-racing once a month now at Speedworld AZ. I just about remember all those cars and rails and especially the gassers. Remember also: Hemi underglass and the Little Red Wagon. This vid was a special treat. Outstanding job!!!!

[@giovanyr7017]

These were some beautiful cars

[@steveunger8108]

Went to the Pomona drags many times in the early 60's.

[@BuckeyeHopper]

Great Video..Thanx much...On 406 galaxies? My friend bought one new in feb 63..A black Fastback..Best tire burner I ever saw! LOL.. I was a Tasca Ford Fan in those days..I was from Conn and used to see them race @ the now defunct Connecticut Dragway...He was was almost unbeatable on his home turf.. I saw the prototype Thunderbolt unveiled @ the dragway in Nov 63...It was a 63 Fairlane 2dr HTP W/ a proto type hi rise engine in it...Turquoise in color,Dk blue writing on it! Ran 12 flats all day.

[@kukugajah]

I love this video, thanks for sharing this great video.

[@BackSeatHump]

This restoration is so good! I can't believe my eyes.

[@puck88stang]

thats rolling art! there are no cars today that look that COOL!

[@josephm.2856]

wow....1965......where were YOU people ?????? LoL....great time to be young. Thanks Woody

[@65coupestang]

Uhh 1965 wasn't even born yet Sadly 😭..!!

[@zwild1160]

Uh well I was all of two years old and my wife was just born that year. My sister graduated from high school and my brother was in middle school. My wife was in a similar situation with her older siblings being in either high school or brother in middle school.

[@bamknm90]

I was 9 or 10 and just started getting into drag racing. Started drawing cars,and building model cars. The great old days.

[@56cadd]

I was enjoying the Adams family and 1st grade.

[@ronschlorff7089]

I was probably there! Grew up in L.A. area, some of my friends and I were "at the drags" every weekend we could get away, at Lions, Irwindale, Fontana, and Pomona. We were too young and stupid to realize this would not last forever,... or us too, for that matter. Two to three years later we were all drafted in the Army, or enlisted in another Service;... some made it (like me, now I'm 74!!!) some did not!! : (

[@ronhadley7113]

Lived in La Verne at that time. High school at Bonita. Became chief photog. at the old Pomona Progress Bulletin in the mid 70s. Favorite assignment was the Winternationals for three days when I could sit under the christmas tree to shoot. Can't do that shit anymore. Stone Woods & Cook kicked ass.

[@richardhoepfner1633]

Wow... That brought back some memories. Thanks

[@RotorMedic7]

Cant get any more original than that!!!!!!!!!!!

[@13spdRoadranger]

Wow! This is something really special! Very cool!

[@nomiclas]

nice to see some footage of the cars as they did the day up.I was geeked to see Connie Kaletta's SOHC 427 AA/FD.those were great times.it's hard to believe that drag racing may be fading away.

[@takehikes]

At the 7:51 mark is Tom McMullens famous blown 32 flamed roadster. Winner that year with his wife Wild Rose McMullen driving.

[@_Peremalfait]

4:25 Hemi Under Glass. I had the model when I was a kid.

[@bills7974]

WickedTornado..Speedworld is located about 40 miles north of Firebird Raceway on U.S. 60 (Grand Ave.) The track is okay but the pits need some work like a whole re-pave. If you live in Tucson-try coming up on the 7th Jan. The Arizona Drag Racing Assoc. will hold its first race of the year. Gates open at 9AM. You know I just love the door (slammers) cars,,all those supercomp rails/dragsters look alike. Genuine Detroit Steel for this kid!!...Ron aka bills7974.

[@duckman195]

Hey, I'm old school, and this is as good as the Zapruder film from 1963!!!

[@Dld1985]

@raginroadrunner .I never saw a 2 four setup work on a 360 degree factory style manifold.Our Tunnel Port Ford had the 180 degree manifold which was a very nice design and performed well.Ford had a 180 degree 2 four for tunnel port but we never could get our hands on one. When I went to the Chev Big Block we gained power with a Weiand Tunnel Ram with 2 Holley 660's. When Chevy came out with the bowtie block we went with it because it had siamese cylinder walls between the cylinders for stability.

[@Rowlandph]

And I believe this is also what is the parking lot, when you go to the L.A. County Fair!...Neat!!!...Love it!..

[@RandysFiftySevenChevy]

Where ever I go in the world people always ask what it was like growing up in SoCal back in the 60s. My go to answer always is that it was very "White Bread" living in the OC. Has nothing to do with race and everything to do with good clean living. My uncles dragged raced and I was always tagging along. I meet all the famous racers that are big time today. Stone Woods & Cook being my favorite team and little did I know what a connection I would have with the family later on in life. I sell some of the teams used parts and now have the 426 magnesium blower intake manifold from one of the cars that I'm selling on eBay. It blows me away the history of some of the parts I've sold from that team. I race my 57 Chevy Gasser at nostalgic events all over the country. I keep asking Mike Cook if I can make a pass in the Willys someday. He says its too hard getting it out of the Lions Museum.

[@Dld1985]

@raginroadrunner -I haven't raced in a few years so am not up on what racers are using currently. You are correct about the fuel injection but unfortunately rule prohibit the use in some classes. Stock, Super Stock can only use if it came on the year model and engine of the production car they are using. Not sure if popular with bracket racers, SS/SG/SC cars. We ran the Weiand setup on our 1st SG cars when the class first came out in the 80's.We gained about 3 tenths with that setup.Obsolete now

[@radioguy1620]

For some reason , makes me want to build a model car again, Darned if i wont. great vid

[@HighrSelf]

Love it, thanks Woody!

[@extramile150]

thanks for the upgraded post!

[@rickmerson4907]

Saw Sox and Martin in a match race in 1965 against Dyno Don at Tampa Dragway the year before I went to Vietnam. Those where truely the good ole days.Sadly an area like that will never happen again.

[@MrPLW]

Thanks for your input-------, and thanks for your service!

[@MikeFlynnHITF]

lot of beauty`s there , ya can`t tell me a couple of those guys had some rich daddy`s , can ya imagine the price of those vets today let alone that caddy that was pushing one of `em , the HURST car was cool,, never saw that one before,, thanks for sharing this and well done re-mastering it

[@mikependergrass5691]

Woody, your stuff looks MAHVELOUS!!!!!!

[@JohnW1711stock]

Flamed 32 Ford roadster at 7:51, is the late, Tom McMullin's car. He owned Street Rodder magazine. RIP

[@raginroadrunner]

@WickedTornado...From what I have seen it is not in this video. I don't remember the coding of the vin number. It was a 425HP, DUAL QUAD, 427/425 HP Ford, top loader 4 spd, 4:56 gears, 12.5 et, 120 mph around the Denver Colo area ( 5280' elev) ..low 12's high 11's on the coast. We also had and ran a 63/406 car, tri power, 4 spd. It all had to go as the Viet Nam war found us all in the military the next year.(1965). I have nothing left except for regrets. These were durable engines with bad heads

Ohhh mannnnnn......to have been there and been able to walk the pits parking lots....

[@heavy1ism]

growing up in the san gabriel valley in the late 60's i lived next door to somebody who obviousley was into the drags, his back yard was full of pro stock hemi mopar. i would go to bed every night listening to irwindale drags going at it.

[@toddbob55]

The Fords dominated the tracks in them days good ol times

[@billycoleman2568]

THE GLORY DAYS OF DRAG RACING

[@raginroadrunner]

@1951RKP ..if you run the volumetric equations , most engines cannot flow enough air to totally consume two four barrels. Coupled with the fact that the fuel charge going into the heads has to be unrestricted. Throttle up is sometimes difficult whereas full rpm is efficient. This is where fuel injection closes the gap. It can do a much better job in monitoring the required fuel levels due to lightning fast micro processors. Any engine now with fairly good heads is a monster due to modern science

[@Timinator62]

@ 8:30 is Tony Nancy's Wedge II ...notice the rear engine...Don Garlits took credit for "designing" the Rear Engined Dragster....but it's right here in video 6 years before Garlits did it...Garlits did it 1st in Top Fuel...Tony ran Gas back then.

[@kiefferdavis3784]

Remember the Freight Train Driver,Goob Tuller???

[@Timinator62]

kieffer davis I didn't remember his name but I remember the Freight Train, Twin Engined Blown Hemi's in a Slingshot..I used to have pictures of it ( from Dad's magazines ) on my wall when I was a kid and the Back Up Pick up and Hemi Under Glass.....and BIG JOHN MAZANIAN Wileys.. I grew up in So Cal. literately 30 minutes from every track. Lions Field, OCIR, Pomona, Irwindale. My neighborhood friends Dad used to run at OCIR, Lions and Irwindale with his Buick WildCat in some Stock class and My Dad's buddy raced in the same Class with his '62 409 Impala. I used to race brackets in the late '70's and early '80's at OCIR..I ran the last event ever at OCIR in my '64 Impala SS..Monday they began tearing OCIR down.

[@kiefferdavis3784]

Timinator62 I live Near Where Fr.Train was built Met Goob & crew. 2-Small Block Chevys.

[@Timinator62]

kieffer davis Ahhh it was Chevy's, oh well I was a kid..I thought everything was a Hemi in a Rail back then...8^)

[@kiefferdavis3784]

Timinator62 Goober as they called him were good friends w/ Bob Crights (spelling) & Greer of Bennie Osborns World Finals AA/FD win in 1969 in Tulsa.I was there.Great times !!

[@TheGG794]

Sadly,Johnny passed away in 2006,but his very famous racecar lives on.Lil Hoss I believe was featured in Hot Rod Magazine at the time when it was the N.H.R.A. record holder for A/Gas.Those were the days when the"Gas" classes were very popular.When George Broome raced it at Hawaii Raceway Park,it continued to be a crowdpleaser and ran consistant 10 flats.

[@senatorlou]

great footage! to think of the huge amounts of money these cars trade for today

[@dwb131313]

Check out the 64 GTO 1:00. Great video. Always wanted to see these.

[@TheGG794]

At 3:20 is Johnny Loper'sA/G Anglia.George Broome of Hawaii bought this car when Loper brought it down here for match racing at the now closed Hawaii Raceway Park at about 1968.This car now is a streetrod on the Island of Kauai.BELIEVE IT OR NOT!

[@jwyche]

This is so cool! I was a junior in high school that year and would have happily given my blood to be there. That's when "real" cars raced.

[@Doosterify]

Wow, some of the push vehicles are just as cool as the race cars.

[@Mike62501]

That 65 Ford C/FX anyone have information on that one?

[@nomiclas]

I've just been hearing some rumors of strips closing in the MidWest.Martin Dragway is one I have frequented for decades and they have been scaling back.

[@12121149]

Great video,not ruined by stupid music,Thanks for the memories.

[@jamey4242]

Love it man

[@65coupestang]

Why no sound I imagine b/c if there was sound it would blow out our speakers but shouldn't we be able to decide that for ourselves ..?? 😔..??

[@MrPLW]

No sound because it was taken with an old 8mm, hand held, wind-up MOVIE camera--------before sound was available.

[@TheGG794]

The rumor was that Lil Hoss was sold at about 1970 and was destroyed at a Maui racetrack.Recently I discovered that to be untrue.I'm sure Johnny would have been quite pleased to know that Li'l Hoss not only survives,but is actually been returned to the streets!

[@Duxinflite]

Great restoration. I remember watching the previous version. One small suggestion- it's Pomona, not Pamona, Easy to change if you go to your video editor. I was at the race. It rained Friday and Saturday, so they were forced to have one qualifying session Sunday morning starting right after sunrise. I believe it was the first time they ever had side by side qualifying-definitely the first time I had ever seen it. Don Prudhomme won the event in Top Fuel- his first national event victory.

[@bubblejomay]

For those of you who don't know, in this video there was a quick glimpse of "Sneaky" Pete Robinson, who was the first ever to make 200mph pass in a dragster, yes even before Don Garlits got the record. Oh, by the was Mr. Robinson had a Ford 427 SOHC cammer engine in his dragster. Also Connie Kallita's Bounty Hunter used a SOHC motor, no brag, just fact.

[@garyschelp3044]

I just saw Li'l Hoss today in Kansas City Missouri!

[@mikeboyer3584]

Cool video! Thanks!!

[@Dld1985]

@raginroadrunner --- Medium and high risers didn't respond to the two four setup. Rocker shafts were a pain. If I remember right on ours we bought billet rocket shafts that seemed to help cure the problem of breakage. Didn't have to worry about all that with the cammer. We raced the Tunnel Port version in the 70's and even then parts were so hard to find and so expensive we went to Big Block Chevy in our 69 Mustang.

[@sizzlehalt]

WOW!!! This is too cool!!! If you were able to have the sound. But in a way it gives it more of a "flavor". All of this was before my time, but is this the same track/area that they race the Winternaionals today?

[@bobo1959er]

I was in the barn loft across the street watching

[@Ruckweiler73]

Big John was called Big June by Stone, Woods, and Cook. He called them Pebble, Pulp, and Chef in the drag papers of the day in Southern California. The Golden Era, sure!

[@MrPLW]

Interesting bit of "Golden Era" drag racing trivia for sure-----thanks.

[@leeschelin5017]

That would be Drag News, the Racer's Bible

[@chadkent1241]

There's no sound.....sigh

[@MrNailheadBuick]

You know that the Silver dragster with the long tail is Archie Ary's Big Inch from Colton CA, right?

[@speedskiff2]

WOW.....where are they now?

[@throw1932]

Most are just simply gone. Others were sold, and redone into different cars a few years after racers got bored with them, and wanted something new. Some could be stashed away in a barn, but who knows! :)

[@garyschelp3044]

Elijah Gosselin I saw Li'L Hoss in front of a Mustang Shop in Kansas City today!

[@charlesmarshall2697]

What's with no hemi B bodies Woody? They were the dominant full bodied cars!

[@mcmotorman]

how bout that smog ??? that sure brings back memory's...its so much better now.......

[@josephjakubec9584]

Drag racing at its best. Miss those days.

[@MichaelJohnson-xg2ik]

Anyone got any 64 video ? Particularly looking for S/FX Dodge Chargers driven by Jimmy Nix (RIP) and Jim Johnson (my dad) ... would love to see some.

[@Oscarandmax]

GREAT Video..I was only a sparkle in my Daddy's eye then..Look at those 'Altered's'

[@chevybelair612tur]

great stuff but no filters back then on cameras ???

[@kiefferdavis3784]

Loved " Wild Willy.s " AA/FA.

[@4406bbldb]

Viet nam stopped my racing. I remember racing with a flagman and not light's 64,63. Read all the Hot Rod magazines.

[@daryllect6659]

Yep. Same here. MCRD December, 1965 ooRAH!

[@ronschlorff7089]

Drafted in 67, out in 69, just in time to see the moon landing on tv; I was a big fan of that "race" too!!

[@heavy1ism]

You wanna see real time Pomona drags in 1964 ?! watch beach blanket bingo or Muscle beach party

[@thomashickey8098]

These look pretty sophisticated compared to the 1955 event!

[@drwax2]

Do yousell any of your videos I am intereested in a few

[@MrNailheadBuick]

Archie's Big Inch shows up @ 6.02 in the film

[@zxtenn]

No sound????

[@MrHawknroll]

I Just loved that black 64' GTO at 1:00.. =)

[@BackSeatHump]

Thank you. It has a double meaning, if you know what I mean.

[@patriciaschoemaker9348]

Is there sounds?

[@MrPLW]

Sorry, no sound------this was filmed using a hand held 8mm home movie camera that didn't have sound capturing capabilities. That was pretty much as good as it got back in the day.-----before video cameras, which did capture sound. I agree, it would have been much better w/ sound!

[@bubblejomay]

Bill Lawton at 4:15 also had a SOHC motor, yes the SOHC motor ruled back in the day.

[@65coupestang]

you know you can put a time stamp in by putting the "@" symbol inthen putting the time right after that correct 🤔..!! ?!?!? I hope so..??

[@MrNailheadBuick]

Woody: What software did you use to restore the film?

[@mynameis9057]

is there sound?

[@MrPLW]

Sorry--no sound----movie was taken with a home 8mm FILM MOVIE CAMERA----before VIDEO cameras that were able to capture sound became the norm.

[@MaxAC]

Great video but needs some tunes or something dubbed in.

[@raginroadrunner]

@WickedTornado..Ford got in a big hurry in 1962 when they offered the 406. The same year (1963) they featured the 427 in three configurations. The 427 ran better, and years later we found them to run better with one 4 barrel instead of two. The 406 did not have cross bolted main bearings and the 427 did. The rocker arm shafts were weak and inefficient on both engines. The heads had so much restriction that good flow was impossible to obtain which hurt them on the top end. I have more info...

[@Bellefeuille66]

@1:52..I want that hauler and trailer!

[@raginroadrunner]

I was there AA/S #772...427 Ford...

[@hpaddyh1]

1965? How do you get a 66 Fairlane and GTO in the mix

[@MrPLW]

Smoke and mirrors, I guess.

[@kiefferdavis3784]

Yes, rear engine dragster before Swamp Rat.LOL.

[@kiefferdavis3784]

Woody Woodford No Woody. Cedar Rapids Great town however my hometown Between Mexico & Kansas.Love All of USA. Pipefitter/Welder for nearly 40 years.Need Energy R & D for Thorium 238 "LFTR" Molten Salt Reactors such as Alvin Weinbergs At ORNL. at Oak Ridge Tenn. run full power 1964-69.

[@jamey4242]

No Sound. WtF