Willies collection / Lions Dragstrip

[340swingerParticipant]

The Willies collector opened up his museum again for a tribute to Lions Dragstrip. This track is a real big deal to these guys out here in Southern California.
This is the track that spawned the birth of the rear engine dragster after Garlits’ infamous clutch explosion in 1970.
Note the old Lions sign, a lot of people don’t realize that the ” Lions ” in Lions Dragstrip was for the Lions Club. Keep them off the streets kind of thing.
Garlits wanted that sign donated for his museum but it wound up here (10K later.) Tom “The Mongoose” Mcewen was here, if I could have gotten close
to him I’d have asked him if he remembered Dover. Enjoy the photos!
Bob Hoffman

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[340swingerParticipant]

A few more.

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[340swingerParticipant]

Still more.

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[tomblakeParticipant]

We never got to race at the original Lions dragstrip but Mary won the Lions reunion race at LACR Palmdale CA back in 1988. We moved to CA a little to late to race at some of the cool and historical dragstrips that were in CA.

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[340swingerParticipant]

Wow, that’s great Tom I never knew you lived out here. I ran at LACR right up until the last day 7/29/07. I don’t remember going to the Lions race though, I may have been at a wedding, I got married in 88.
Bob Hoffman

[john-sachs-srParticipant]

Started match racing in Cali in the fall of the year. I ran the Lions track, first time, back in 1968 with my AA/GS Anglia. First track I’ve ever run on that had a wall on each side of the asphalt. Seemed scary at first. 😯 😮
John

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