Vintage 1960's Drag Racing - rare footage

[@MrWhatnext]

How many of you can remember a time when almost every small town had a damn good speed shop and motorcycle shop. PS .... and a Schwinn bicycle dealer.

[@jerrysaunders6105]

and every town had a strip of road for those impromptu, Friday and Saturday night grudge races.

[@janebook294]

before America became whackoconda

[@dominiccogan945]

I do very well

[@randyelliott9152]

in my neighborhood it was Lions drag strip,nearly anyone with enough money to have a car and a tool box could go racing.Except for the war and the draft,a damn fine time to grow up .

[@Mark-lq3sb]

Yep, I remember my blue Schwinn 5-speed Stingray with a slick on the back!

[@josephjakubec3171]

God I miss those days of drag racing. Nothing can compare.

[@thesurveyor2235]

Awesome! I have drag raced my entire life and nothing beats the racing of the 60's. They were the pioneers who had to learn everything for themselves and gave us that knowledge to build on. Bless them!

[@MrWhatnext]

And standing room only at the track.

[@johnl.sillasen1780]

Public was allowed freely to wander around in the "pits". We used to stand only a few yards behind the cars at the starting line ... Lion's in Long Beach, '64, '65.

[@richardcole9308]

You had to have pump back then to drive, funny car with alted wheel bases nitro modifications fly by the seat of your pants !!!

[@paxhumana2015]

@@gth77s , piss off, tosser! Without them, you have no drag racing scene today. Let me guess, you like your overrated, as well as oversized, Dust Buster go karts that dare refer to themselves as "cars"?

[@paxhumana2015]

@@gth77s , says the person that has an icon from one of the worst movies of all time.

[@kne2323]

If you don't get your shoulders into rowing those gears, just stay at the house! Awesome videos.....got a little misty eyed thinking about how awesome and simple it used to be.

[@badlilstang]

The car Satisfaction was owned by Bob Tucker. My Dad used to work for Bob back in the 60s building race engines. He helped my Dad with his 65 GTO and had it running 12.30s. Bob passed away a couple years ago. May he RIP.

[@Mike583]

Mom let me skip school,me & a friend went to the Nationals in 1970,my first time at a major event, Hooked for life!! RIP Mom,miss you!!!!!

[@robhargis6980]

I just lost my Dad a couple of months ago. He was 85. I used to help him wrench on cars back in the late 60's into the 70's. My love for him and working on cars has never stopped.

[@patberry7711]

Robert M Trolinder I grew up in Clermont Indiana and the US Nationals were next to none. IRP and IMS within 5 miles of home. Was I ever blessed.

[@garymckee8857]

Mickey Thompson's Mustang that cam lope was awesome.

[@toomanyhobbies2011]

That was a very early nitro funny car.

[@grifce]

I was born 61 i remember Mickey Thompson.

[@joshuafuller9898]

Danny Ongais was driving that, wasn't he? Looked like his name on the door.

[@tonichecavalari5956]

The cams lope ' sounded like a few drummers off beat on the bottom of giant steel 55 gal. Drums ! 😎 The way it was floating at the rear when the chutes came to hold the pony back too ! 😂 🙏🇺🇸👍

[@videoman77365]

It's funny to watch this in 2020 and remember when this was real in my life. Now its called Vintage 1960's. In 1966 I had a 66 mustang than a 1967 Malibu. I went into the service after I got out of school and bought a 1970 Challenger' That time might be Vintage now But it was a happier time for me. So I guess this makes me Vintage also.

[@joequillun7790]

I know what you mean. I still laugh when I see a 64 GTO with an antique plate on it. (not really funny)

[@BatMan-oe2gh]

Yep, we are vintage. I see 60's cars and I know them all.

[@rays7437]

I lived just a couple of miles from IRP until the early 90's. I was born in 68 so this video is a little before my time, but it sure brings back memories. Seeing the lines of hot rods, trailered cars, and race teams going down the road past our house, listening to the roar of the engines all weekend, it was great. My grandpa had a 68 Charger that needed tires and clutch when it was still very new. It turns out one of my uncles was taking the car to Raceway Park and drag racing. My grandpa worked graveyard shift so he didn't know what was happening to his car during the day. We drove past the entrance of the track almost every day and I would always look for dragsters and hot rods. Thanks for the memories!

[@jesswebb2200]

There was nothing like seeing a 409 chevy and a 421 Pontiac go after it.

[@MrRonnieG]

The beginning shows a Royal (Pontiac) being towed in ~ Royal was a heavy hitter back in the middle 60's. This is midwest drag racing and though I grew up in SoCal and lived at Lions, Irwindale, OCIR, Pomona and Fontana (from '64 until I was drafted in '69) this video STILL brings back wonderful memories of a time when drag racing was different, a bit more fun and much more simple. Even the best top fuel cars, back then, had a crew of only 2 or 3 ~ and all the guys worked 40 hr. a week jobs too

[@saratoyek2574]

love the 60's gassers espically 55 Chevys and the 41 Wilys of Stone, Woods and Cook and Big John Mazmanian I remember them running at Lions Drag Strip, Long Beach, Ca. And the Winternationals at Pomona, Ca. GASSERS RULE!!!!!

[@johnl.sillasen1780]

Yeah, I recall Stone Woods Cook and their Willys at Pomona Winternationals ... and their B&M Hydromatic transmission ... simply awesome stuff!

[@davebaker9128]

Dave here. I remember my uncle George took me to "the last day at the beach" I still have his participant stickers from Dec. 1-2 1972, I have them in my hand right now,

[@1976ClassicCelica]

I love the soothing music after the dragster crash

[@DTittle]

U.S. 30 Drag Strip. Gary,IN. R.I.P.

[@jac.mobile5646]

My grandpa always told me about his races, watching these makes me image him banging his gears in his 1968 mustang

[@paulgordon9648]

First drag was at Irwindale in Ca. 1969 I was 13 and hooked . Lived in Indy so I got to see a lot of drags . Nothing like it .

[@largelarry2126]

I worked the gates back in the mid 60s as a 15 year old after my Dad got me involved. I loved fast cars and had a blast, some of the drunks threw beer cans and bottles at me but I just threw them back. I was always amazed at loud the cars were, I have a bunch of photos and slides that my Dad and I took back then.

[@1JUSTGOTLUCKY1]

Man, I really those days!!! National Speedway on Long Island was my weekend destination during the Summer.

[@mikecarmean6446]

Love It... ✅ Earlier than I can Remember I Started Racing National Trail Raceway Kirkersville Ohio 1971

[@strangelyfamiliar1729]

The Mickey Thompson Mustang at the end looked like one hell'of'a run!

[@thepoodlebitesthepoodleche1914]

A lot of these guys used their last few bucks to get on the track. Much respect to them.

[@artjinks2935]

I remember my neighbor loading the slicks in the trunk and back seat of his 69 mach 1. His tool box was the size of a plumbers. Yeah man the good old days . I got to meet Dick Landy at a dodge dealership I was 10 yrs old & I met the guy I'd seen in HOT ROD MAGAZINE! Life was good.

[@jaco5187]

'Old Reliable' is a 1963 Impala Z11 that sold for almost $1M at Mecums a couple of years ago.

[@stevethomas760]

I been attending Mecum Kissimmee for the past few years. A car lovers dream. Got to see the Bullit Mustang go through in January , took a minute to get past 1M. Sold for 3.4. The car was getting some love from someone with deep pockets

[@randy95023]

Wow! What Memories. First Drag races I ever went to was with my uncle in 1967, LIONS Speedway in SoCal. I had muscle cars in the 70's and lived only 40 Miles from Fremont Raceway. Got to go into the pits and shook hands once with Don Garlits around '73. I still miss my old Roadrunners...

[@HEMISUPERBEE426]

SUPER MEMORIES FROM TIME PAST...THANKS MUCH !

[@AccordionJoe1]

Back in the day, we did our drag racing on the street. You not only had to outrun your opponent, you had to outrun the cops if they showed up.

[@toomanyhobbies2011]

Why do you think 1/4 mile racetracks where made? To keep racers off the streets.

[@LeeWalker58]

I was there when it happened, Worked at Krogers at the Speedway Shopping Center where the cars were registered and weighed in. This brings back many memories!!! Lee Walker

[@kargmeister]

I wish I grew up in this era, fuck todays technology I want to drive these cars.

[@gth77s]

@SuprxmeDreams Ok boomers

[@kurtpecsenye9806]

Love watching Danny Ongaias real tires bouncing off the ground in the shut down area

[@davidsumners8268]

This reminds me of my childhood, when Don Garlitis ran Swamp iV in San Antonio right after he broke the 200 mph mark. Wow ! Memory lane ;)

[@stevethomas760]

Stopped at Don Garlitis's Drag racing Museum this past year. He isn't doing them right now because of the virus but he hosts tours. That would be a real treat.

[@_dave4460]

rip mickey, et al; most if not all of the old poineers are gone now... good memories. good vid!

[@nancykennon310]

I remember there was a 2 cinder block high seperation from the raceway and the crowd. Nothing else. Whitehouse Texas 1967.

[@afinelookinggentleman2631]

Some great footage

[@paulbaker5085]

I want to see these same cars today . I know it will never happen but one can hope cant they .

[@jeffcolt9185]

I like seeing the old Z11 Chevys :)

[@ROGER2095]

SUNDAY! US-30 Drag Strip! Drag racing capitol of Chicago! Where the great ones run! SUNDAY! Rang-a-lang-dang, rang-a-lang-dang, rang-a-lang-dang! SUNDAY!

[@tubedude54]

I lived 20 miles from that strip... ended up closing it because of the noise as subdivisions popped up all around it! I also remember the ads on WLS 890... "Where the great ones run... run... run...." kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJ21ioarq85godk

[@cherryhollowboy]

those were the good ole days of drag racing.''run whatcha brung.''

[@f4tweet]

The old DA tower, the memories.

[@hempster333]

I used to sit at the starting line of LIONS DRAG STRIP the nitro exhaust was like tear gas .LOVED IT .does anyone remember lions drag strip in so. cal.

[@kevinrice4909]

Thanks

[@Kingmick58]

Far out. Great video. from an old Aussie. Thanks.

[@neapolis6919]

That is one BAD Mustang!

[@ocevicheband502]

Love this !!!!

[@jaymegaedke848]

Good old days & good racein!!!!

[@KSpides53]

That was an awesome video. Good stuff. 🤙

[@lescobrandon3047]

My old days with my Ultra Stock 1962 Chevrolet 409/409. (In NY)

[@Hot80s]

4:48 very wild to see the mustang funny counter steer hard against the chute's drag

[@markmark2080]

First drags I went to were at "CDR" just south of Castle Rock, CO in 1964. One race I'll never forget was a new 396 Sting Ray vs a Cobra Dragon Snake, I forget who won, it was close, but that had everyone's attention, those early days were exciting. One thing that was "cool" visually was when the AA/FD's would smoke their tires all the way through the quarter. Everyone would bring their cars out to the local strip to see what they could do, I ran in G/SA, I'll spare you the times.

[@stephenherrera124]

Born and raised in Denver. But never knew that there was a track in Castle Rock? That is before my time. Where was it located, just curious?

[@markmark2080]

@@stephenherrera124 Hey, Steve, It was called Continental Divide Raceways and was built in 1959 about the same time John Bandimere Sr was building his strip to keep John Jr and his NASCAR '57 Chevy off the street. If you go to satellite images, you can still make out it and the road course about 1/4 mile West of I-25 just around 1/2 mile south of Crystal Valley Parkway, Google it, also. If you've heard of 2nd Creek Raceway out on the East side of the NE corner of the old Rocky Mountain Arsenal, that started out as Thunder Road Dragway and later was turned into a dirt oval and road race course. You can still barely make out the traces on satellite image, the strip ran N & S through both courses and was used for the long straight on the road course...Most of what was Century 21 Raceway is now covered by a big Amazon building on the NW quarter of I-70 and E-470, south side of Smith Rd and east side of Picadilly Rd. You can make out the West sides of the big oval, the small oval/figure 8, and the starting line of the drag strip that ran E & W....Last but not least is "my" old strip, Mountain View Dragway. It's located and very visible just south of the Eire High School on the Eire Parkway at County Rd 5 running in a N by NE direction. That was where I "raced" when I was in High School in '65 and then after the Navy in 1970. First covered pits in Colorado, back then it was way out in the country. Hope you enjoy checking this stuff out, history gets rubbed out pretty fast these days. You can google Old Drag Strips for more information. Just a final note, 7 or 8 years ago I was going by there with my late childhood best friend and just for the hell of it he pulled off the road and onto the old starting line and we ran through the weed choked quarter for old times sake, couple old farts having some fun.

[@stephenherrera124]

@@markmark2080 Thank you for the info. History is fascinating. And sad like you said, "history gets rubbed out pretty fast these days" or at least the buildings/locations. History never really gets forgotten. You haven't forgotten it.

[@markmark2080]

@@stephenherrera124 You're welcome, Steve, '55 - '70 was kind of a "golden age" for so many different things, the early days of drag racing being just one, we didn't know how cool of a time it was till it was gone. Another little racetrack you may know of already is the little oval at Lakeside Amusement Park, races every weekend, right in town, till people no longer enjoyed the sound of youth having a good time...Cheers my friend

[@stephenherrera124]

@@markmark2080 I do remember Lakeside. That was a very small track. I remember going there for the rides as a kid and hearing the cars. I heard there was also a track in Englewood CO back in the day? I am a car guy and like racing. But I don't know if you noticed or not, lots more street racing? I live close to 1-25/Downingish. There are so many races going on late at night. Very loud, when I am trying to sleep. When I was younger in the 80s they used to street race out near Stapleton airport or more remote areas. Getting tired of all the noise, about any time of the day. Keep it at the track I say. It is safer for everyone.

[@danshelburne1948]

Cost me a few dollars doing this on public roads.

[@johnl.sillasen1780]

Vivid memory of paying couple hundred bucks at ticket window for two "speeding" tickets. One of them: Flying up the street from the light somewhere on Sepulveda in Van Nuys near Bob's Big Boy (American Grafitti's "turf"), motorcycle cop was standing by his bike at the curb, and next thing I knew he was handing me a ticket ... Claimed he was trained to know speeds while standing around talking!

[@69shovlhed89]

all the best cars were made between 1955 and 1972. these kids with their turbo'd subarus and Hondas will never know what a real car was. if they're lucky, they might get to ride in one once in their life.

[@stevethomas760]

Well I'm 70 and owned a damned fast '67 Camaro back in the day. Still got a trophy in the basement from taking it to the drags. As you know most of our racing was done on the streets. By the way I own a Subaru WRX and a Acura NSX

[@mr.mckinnon5680]

Back then a Precision tuning instrument was a flat head screwdriver. And 12 seconds was fast. But those cars were cool as hell.

[@easyjettoo]

sweet vid thanks a lot for posting love that old iron and the sound so nice

[@jimmytsmith5671]

My dad was old school drag racer, (Wally Smith)

[@55555711]

so cool

[@davidcoffin9632]

dang tompsons mustang was clean off the ground at the end of the video, mean mustang...!

[@jamallnu1365]

At 1:30.... didn't know sliding on the grass caused screeching tires.......... I love old dubbed in sound videos. Almost better than HDTV's today.... A simpler time....

[@temptedbyasiren]

If it's got an engine and it's racing it's ALL good.

[@hgrorng]

Love when they have "car in tow" on rear window, what simple times.

[@CamaroAmx]

great video. I love the camera shot of the the yellow Vette called Nymphomania then the next shot was of a girl in a yellow shirt with a nice set on her. They knew their demographics back then. lol. I love seeing these old drag racing videos from back when drag racing was cool. wonder if there are any film from Maple Grove from this era or a little later?

[@stevenlaplante2446]

x take me back to the videos

[@tjh9250]

wish i saw this at the march meet or the reunion

[@whitelx50]

great video i love it

[@onlythewise1]

California had alot of race stuff then , muscle cars a came out in the 1967

[@tubedude54]

Standard 'attire' back then was a t-shirt, shorts and of course... a crash helmet! lol @2:55

[@nathansneath291]

'm only twelve and I love nostalgia super stock

[@ethan944]

Dang your 19 now

[@gojackets4894]

Simpler and better times.

[@MrDjh66]

Jim Wangers Big Pontiac guy

[@dixieman69]

I remember these days well cause I was right in the middle of it. You could ride on a dollars worth of gas.

[@bnoone3072]

Used to load weights (barbell weights) in the back of my 56 Nomad and pull wheel stands at the Hoppers or Blue Bird impressing the girls. Balanced the rods and pistons on a 3 beam scale, ported the heads and then painted the ports with epoxy. Good memories. Those days are gone now. Kids now just buy (or steal) what they need. Camaraderie isn't in anyone's vocabulary anymore and TRUE friendship has no meaning. How many nights did you all stay up polishing valves with a drill press and sandpaper?

[@dixieman69]

@@bnoone3072 Way to many nights but it was so much fun. It is sad young people know nothing of fun times. We hung out at the Red Pig which had a DJ in a tower stand so we could make request. I had more muscle cars than I can remember and cry sometimes thinking about the ones I got rid of. Days gone but not forgot.

[@donziperk]

Geez that Mustang at the end was all over the place. Nice job of controlling it.

[@PD3a11]

Before tuning was done with a laptop when it was real.

[@johnl.sillasen1780]

You listened and you pulled plugs to "read" them.

[@feez357]

Ha! Then in the 80s the "laptop" was the size of a bread truck and nobody knew how to use it.

[@williammeek765]

Crazy that's where I am, Indy ..

[@wesleyhayley3657]

houston international raceway...R.I.P.

[@cslan4]

Chrome reverses and wide white walls nothing better!!!!

[@Northstar8765]

We used to be a country

[@onceANexile]

Fremont Drag Strip, Fremont Californi

[@PhaQ2]

It's kind of funny that we now have economy cars that can literally smoke every one of the cars in this video.

[@3melendr]

Luckily, all he got was a cracked skull!

[@Porsche996driver]

LAWBREAKER 🏁

[@tjh9250]

totally freekin awesome!!!!

[@Mannard74]

Good ole CLERMONT, INDIANA

[@blkft]

4:00,,,, a Well Endowed Brunette,,, . What was this video about? ;))

[@RustyOpel]

Just after showing a car with a "Nymphomanianc" title too!

[@blkft]

@@RustyOpel HaHa!!! Good catch! :))

[@99percenter1]

At kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6q4XoBmhdxoZ9E you can see the driver is native Hawaiian Danny "On the gas" Ongais. Years later he became an Indy car racer and sports car endurance racer driving a Porsche 935. He won several Indy car races. He also drove in a few Formula 1 races.

[@kelvinh8327]

Going in straight line is the pinnacle of car design? Pity about corners, then...

[@louf7178]

This is drag racing. Its track is small, affordable and useful. There are other types of races and tracks. Happy now?

[@jmzochsnrtr]

Would be nice if it wasn't cut up to shorten it. Missing alot of the film...

[@MMRodsCycle]

Neat!

[@luisdakillkustomgarageminis]

1:12 Village People in the track 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@timpriddy349]

Sigh.........I want this America .........not 2020s

[@migmadmarine]

Is that Detroit dragway in the beginning?

[@leecoates4082]

awesome half hour 1/4 miles lol

[@ChrisL-ni9tb]

He slings parts.....I mean BODY parts all over the place 💪 🦵!!

[@senatorlou]

and the dodge takes the A/FX crown! all too often lol great footage

[@TheJerseyRejects]

cool video, in sceen 2.42 is gene schwartz from ohio, he's also a blues gutiar player.

[@IukaOldFarts]

Boy oh boy has this country gone to crap compared to then... the decade of my childhood.

[@danieltagum9901]

Them day where the better ones... Dad drag a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS The polinasian With the holidays and birthday past I daniel Tagum enjoy to do 2008-2009 Street comp a 2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8t Ran 16.000

[@Johnnywhamo]

show a car called Nymphomania.....next shot, pretty brunette with a big rack....gotta love it :)

[@tim05metro]

i wonder if Hurst had anything to do with this video

[@chamomiledill6532]

Here we are 50 years later, and still doing the same dumb shit with combustion engines. Where is my damn hoverboard already?

[@burningblue1254]

Ed Martin Ford, was that a Glidden car?

[@stephenherrera124]

This was before Glidden I believe? Glidden was in the late 70s-Mid 80s. But not totally sure on that?

[@burningblue1254]

@@stephenherrera124 Bob raced a 65 Galaxy he bought from Ed Martin Ford where he worked as a mechanic. Ed Martin Ford was his sponsor

[@stephenherrera124]

@@burningblue1254 Ok. Sounds good to me. That was early on in his career.

[@HighlanderNorth1]

🤔 [0:05] Seems backwards somehow...... Wrong car towing, wrong car racing. 😆

[@GeorgeCarlin88]

4:48 holyy shitt :D

[@scottweatherman3266]

I used to save my Vacations for the U.S. Nationals. Now that John Force and Don Shumacher have killed Nitro Racing. I guess I will go boating. The old days we dealt with oil downs big delays. Now it is just the Billionaire teams that can possibly be competitive in Nitro racing. AKA Papa Johns. They pay less than minimum wage to thousands and thousands of employees that cannot afford to even WATCH much less participate.