Irwindale Raceway...

[rivermobster]

Not the poser one off the 605, the REAL one from back in the day, where the brewery sits now off the 210?

Cept there was no 210 freeway back then. Just a good ol dragstrip, speedway course, and i think a small MX track?

I spent tons of time there in high school. Walkin around the pits on Sat. night, bracket races mid week, and speedwas races on friday? or sunday? Kinna hard to remember now.

Anyone else remember this place???

http://www.competitionplus.com/2006_08/so_cal_strips.html

 

[RitcheyRch]

Remember going there as a kid when my mom used to race.

 

[Magnethd]

Saw my first speedway race there in '74 or '75. Before the race, my Dad's friend told me I wouldn't believe how fast these bikes are. He was right.

 

[scottietwohoty]

Sweet pic's Joe!:thumbsup I never got to go to that track but I have seen some pretty fun shit at the poser track!!

 

[rivermobster]

Remember going there as a kid when my mom used to race.

Do tell!!! Got any pics anywhere???

 

[tbskis]

Use to go there all the time for the drags and Friday night speedway races. On Wedesday nighs you could run your car down the drag strip if you met a few reqirements. It was a blast.

 

[charlyox]

Sure do. We could hear them racing from our house on Saturday night. We used to ride our bikes there and sneak in. We would watch funny cars like Gas Rhonda ,the Hemi Cuda. Kohler Brothers King Kong. Dick Landy. The Back-up pick-up that did wheelies down the drag strip. I loved Irwindale.

 

[Gramps]

Way back when we used to run our top fuel car there just about every other week.

 

[72Hondo]

Anyone remember saugas speedway?

I remember going there as a kid and watching my dad race. First place I ever saw figure 8 racing lol

 

[rivermobster]

Anyone remember saugas speedway?

I remember going there as a kid and watching my dad race. First place I ever saw figure 8 racing lol

Wife took me there when we were dating. The train races were a blast!!!

 

[2FORCEFULL]

Way back when we used to run our top fuel car there just about every other week.

we had to have been there at the same time..we used to run a AA/BAD
out of vegas... HIGH ROLLER..Joe Squires, of miller darian and squire...
used to build our motors and tune for us...

 

[rivermobster]

good times for sure...good times...

 

[Flyinbowtie]

Don't have any pics, but my Dad was pals with Joe Reath for 20 plus years, so yes I spent some time at Irwindale as a kid. I remember riding home to Long Beach in a sleeping bag on top of a chunk of foam rubber in the back of the '68 Ford pickup.

 

[rivermobster]

Don't have any pics, but my Dad was pals with Joe Reath for 20 plus years, so yes I spent some time at Irwindale as a kid. I remember riding home to Long Beach in a sleeping bag on top of a chunk of foam rubber in the back of the '68 Ford pickup.

Nice...

 

[Flyinbowtie]

Rivermobster I don't know how far you go back, but my Dad was a flathead racer on the lakes in the forties/earlier fifties. In 1975, he was building his last flathead for a car I stil have, a '40 Sedan.
Anyway, Joe helped him track down a guy named Lockerman, who, back in the day, was THE guy to do port and relief work on Flatty blocks.
We delivered the block to him and Joe went with us. They guy lived in an old neighborhood with an alley behind it. Dad knocked on the door and he told us to meet him in the alley. Back then this fellow was at least 80. He opened up his garage door and it was like traveling back in time. A full on machine shop straight out of 1940. Even had a belt drive lathe. He had about three pairs of glasses he used, I remember thinking that was funny.
The three of them shot the breeze for about an hour, then the guy said, "well it has been 25 years since I did this, it'll take me some time, but I will do it. Same price as before, guys. $50.00 cash." They tried to get him to take more, no dice. Just pissed him off.
When we left as we were riding back to drop Joe off at his shop he told me to "remember that guy Jeff, you've just met a genuine legend and hot rod hero"
I said, "Joe, my Dad is my hereo, but other than that I have always thought you were a genuine legend and hot rod hero."
Joe was a big man, and he rubbed my hair and said, Not really son, but it helps to sell work"
Next I saw that block it was unreal. The bare metal surfaces around the cylinders and in the porting areas looked like they were chrome plated. It was simply stunning. (I still have it and it still is.)
Lockerman died a couple of months later, ours is the last engine he ever worked his magic on.
Hot rods are in my blood.

 

[rivermobster]

Rivermobster I don't know how far you go back, but my Dad was a flathead racer on the lakes in the forties/earlier fifties. In 1975, he was building his last flathead for a car I stil have, a '40 Sedan.
Anyway, Joe helped him track down a guy named Lockerman, who, back in the day, was THE guy to do port and relief work on Flatty blocks.
We delivered the block to him and Joe went with us. They guy lived in an old neighborhood with an alley behind it. Dad knocked on the door and he told us to meet him in the alley. Back then this fellow was at least 80. He opened up his garage door and it was like traveling back in time. A full on machine shop straight out of 1940. Even had a belt drive lathe. He had about three pairs of glasses he used, I remember thinking that was funny.
The three of them shot the breeze for about an hour, then the guy said, "well it has been 25 years since I did this, it'll take me some time, but I will do it. Same price as before, guys. $50.00 cash." They tried to get him to take more, no dice. Just pissed him off.
When we left as we were riding back to drop Joe off at his shop he told me to "remember that guy Jeff, you've just met a genuine legend and hot rod hero"
I said, "Joe, my Dad is my hereo, but other than that I have always thought you were a genuine legend and hot rod hero."
Joe was a big man, and he rubbed my hair and said, Not really son, but it helps to sell work"
Next I saw that block it was unreal. The bare metal surfaces around the cylinders and in the porting areas looked like they were chrome plated. It was simply stunning. (I still have it and it still is.)
Lockerman died a couple of months later, ours is the last engine he ever worked his magic on.
Hot rods are in my blood.

Wow, what an awesome story.

One of my HS buddies at the time, his family name was Waltrip. His dad was into flat heads! The lived off Rosemead Bl, right by the tracks, and his garage and backyard were a trip. There was engine and car stuff everywhere, there were just little paths to navigate the entire back yard! We just kept our hands in our pockets walking around back there, touching was not permited!

I know he ran the salt flats and all that, but I never did go out with them. Tim had a 64 Falcon in high school, and i had a 67 Mustang. We sure thought we were da chit!

I would have to guess my friend Tim's dad knew who your guy was. We all lived and breathed cars back then.

 

[Flyinbowtie]

Thanks, I bet they did, my Dad may have even known your buddy's Dad.
My Dad was Ken Glover, when he was racing he ran with Joe, and a guy named John Cannon. He was married once before, and his ex burned all his pics when they split.
We have one pic we believe is him and Art Chrisman at the lakes with a 34 highboy coupe back in the day. I sent a copy to Chrismans shop and a letter asking for info about Dad, but never got an answer.
My mom is sure Dad was in a wreck with Chrisman down in front of Cherry Park on PCH back in 43. Dad was home from Navy boot camp and they were in a 34 3-window doing warp speed when Chrisman lost it and they hit a retaining wall. Dad was in the rumble seat and was ejected, Chrisman lived but the right front seat guy was DOA.
Dad flew up and over the wall and went into a coma for a couple weeks. The Navy discharged him while he was out like a light, and a couple days later he woke up a civilian, but it was a year before he could walk.

One of these days I will gets some pics up of the flathead goodies.
My childhood Pal Ritchie Hughes owned a Falcon in '75-76, we did a 6-banger to a 289 swap, thought we were bad ass mechanics...
He still lives in LB, owns a tow service.

 

[rivermobster]

Thanks, I bet they did, my Dad may have even known your buddy's Dad.
My Dad was Ken Glover, when he was racing he ran with Joe, and a guy named John Cannon. He was married once before, and his ex burned all his pics when they split.
We have one pic we believe is him and Art Chrisman at the lakes with a 34 highboy coupe back in the day. I sent a copy to Chrismans shop and a letter asking for info about Dad, but never got an answer.
My mom is sure Dad was in a wreck with Chrisman down in front of Cherry Park on PCH back in 43. Dad was home from Navy boot camp and they were in a 34 3-window doing warp speed when Chrisman lost it and they hit a retaining wall. Dad was in the rumble seat and was ejected, Chrisman lived but the right front seat guy was DOA.
Dad flew up and over the wall and went into a coma for a couple weeks. The Navy discharged him while he was out like a light, and a couple days later he woke up a civilian, but it was a year before he could walk.

One of these days I will gets ome pics up of the flathead goodies.
My childhood Pal Ritchie Hughes owned a Falcon in '75-76, we did a 6-banger to a 289 swap, thought we were bad ass mechanics...
He still lives in LB, owns a tow service.

Sorry to hear bout your dad, damm glad he pulled through! Man if they only had digital cameras back then. So many cool pics to be had.

Gale Banks had a tiny little shop on San Gabriel Blvd. back when i had my Mustang. I built the motor, and he tuned the thing for me.

My first real job was in a parts store called Valley Auto Supply. I pulled up in my bad azz Mustang, so I could show off to the owner what a bad azz mechainic i was! He hired me, and Ill never forget my total amazment, when the machine shop guy dumped all the fastners from a long block all over the counter top, fresh outa the hot tank.

I was like "holy shit dude, how do you know where all that stuff goes????"

He just laughed at me, and 2 years later I was running the complete machine shop myself, building engines for all of my friends. Boy I sure thought I knew everything back then...

:rotflmao:

 

[TBI]

Great thread!

 

[TBI]

:thumbsup


http://www.nitroactive.net/awe_thentics.html


Some good shit here

 

[rivermobster]

Very cool! :thumbsup

 

[Flyinbowtie]

Thank God hotboat pics came back up.
Here is the pic of Dad with Chrisman. We believe he is the guy in the middle, seated.

O the door it says "Driver Art Chrisman"

Rivermobster you gonna be in Parker this weekend?

 

[Moneypit]

Don't have any pics, but my Dad was pals with Joe Reath for 20 plus years, so yes I spent some time at Irwindale as a kid. I remember riding home to Long Beach in a sleeping bag on top of a chunk of foam rubber in the back of the '68 Ford pickup.

Joe Reath closed up shop a few years back, but if you call the shop number, it rings through to the house.....AND he and his wife will still talk shop with you, and help you locate hard to find stuff...... AND yes, I spent many a Saturday night competing at Irwindale, (runner up in bracket 3 times, never won it though)...and drinking at the little bar across the street from the pits... Funny car match races were the spectator draw back then, and most of the legends of the sport were regulars.....OH, and the sign at the end of the strip, "Rots O' Ruck" as you looked at the outside rock wall of the quarry just past the track.....BIG rock wall, with big rocks, no sand pits back then......

Ray

 

[rivermobster]

Joe Reath closed up shop a few years back, but if you call the shop number, it rings through to the house.....AND he and his wife will still talk shop with you, and help you locate hard to find stuff...... AND yes, I spent many a Saturday night competing at Irwindale, (runner up in bracket 3 times, never won it though)...and drinking at the little bar across the street from the pits... Funny car match races were the spectator draw back then, and most of the legends of the sport were regulars.....OH, and the sign at the end of the strip, "Rots O' Ruck" as you looked at the outside rock wall of the quarry just past the track.....BIG rock wall, with big rocks, no sand pits back then......

Ray

Very cool. Where are these people located??

 

[rivermobster]

Thank God hotboat pics came back up.
Here is the pic of Dad with Chrisman. We believe he is the guy in the middle, seated.

O the door it says "Driver Art Chrisman"

Rivermobster you gonna be in Parker this weekend?

Bitchin pic!! No bro, not gonna make it. Wont be out till the Parker Enduro, too much goin on here right now..

:grumble:

 

[Flyinbowtie]

RM the shop was in Long Beach, on Cherry Ave, near the 405
My Mom still get a Christmas card from them...
MP I probably met alot of guys, but was too young to understand how historic the whole thing was. Now, I do.

 

[Moneypit]

RM the shop was in Long Beach, on Cherry Ave, near the 405
My Mom still get a Christmas card from them...
MP I probably met alot of guys, but was too young to understand how historic the whole thing was. Now, I do.

How about T/F match races with some unknowns...Like Kaletta, Garlits, the Greek, and of course, Shirley..... Or F/C with Jungle Jim...Gene from C&O Hydro and his "Destroyer Jeep"...... I can see all these guys in my mind like it was yesterday..... AND the Reaths still live right there near the old shop off Cherry...(last spoke with Joe in '07 I think... I was on my way to Long Beach Circle races and needed a Vertex cap)

OR even earlier, and the AA/GS Willys of Stone, Woods, and Cook, Big John, Jack Chrisman, and the Austin Pick up of C&O...All running 394/425+ Oldsmobiles...

And THEN, there was Lions, but that is a whole other story...With John Peters and the "Freight Train" dual SBC dragster........I went to Venice High with Eddie Peters, John's son.....

Bonneville is still very much old school, and if you've never been there during an event, put it on your "Bucket List"....You'll never forget it.....

Ray

 

[Flyinbowtie]

How about T/F match races with some unknowns...Like Kaletta, Garlits, the Greek, and of course, Shirley..... Or F/C with Jungle Jim...Gene from C&O Hydro and his "Destroyer Jeep"...... I can see all these guys in my mind like it was yesterday..... AND the Reaths still live right there near the old shop off Cherry...(last spoke with Joe in '07 I think... I was on my way to Long Beach Circle races and needed a Vertex cap)

OR even earlier, and the AA/GS Willys of Stone, Woods, and Cook, Big John, Jack Chrisman, and the Austin Pick up of C&O...All running 394/425+ Oldsmobiles...

And THEN, there was Lions, but that is a whole other story...With John Peters and the "Freight Train" dual SBC dragster........I went to Venice High with Eddie Peters, John's son.....

Bonneville is still very much old school, and if you've never been there during an event, put it on your "Bucket List"....You'll never forget it.....

Ray

B'ville is on my bucket list, Bubb Engineering is in Grass Valley, (my neck of the woods) and I have a standing invite from Richard Farmer, the bike Chief, to c'mon out. A bunch of local guys have salt cars too, you'd be shocked how many rodders are hiding up there in the hills.
I remember the Gassers, and the early funny stuff. But being 12 or so I didn't pay enough attention to the big names who were becoming stars at the time. If I had, I would have all their autographs stashed away. Too busy drreaming about being a driver myself, and looking to snag some time riding one of the Honda mini-trails some of the big shots had.

 

[flyingcolors]

used to go there in high school ,run my parents car, and a couple others but
nothing to quick,
remember Speedway 605 and the motocross track at Irwindale ?
I seem to recall speedway at Irwindale also

 

[rivermobster]

B'ville is on my bucket list, Bubb Engineering is in Grass Valley, (my neck of the woods) and I have a standing invite from Richard Farmer, the bike Chief, to c'mon out. A bunch of local guys have salt cars too, you'd be shocked how many rodders are hiding up there in the hills.
I remember the Gassers, and the early funny stuff. But being 12 or so I didn't pay enough attention to the big names who were becoming stars at the time. If I had, I would have all their autographs stashed away. Too busy drreaming about being a driver myself, and looking to snag some time riding one of the Honda mini-trails some of the big shots had.

I always wanted to be a wrench for one of those teams, I spent the whole night in the pits. Hardly ever watched the races!!

used to go there in high school ,run my parents car, and a couple others but
nothing to quick,
remember Speedway 605 and the motocross track at Irwindale ?
I seem to recall speedway at Irwindale also

They did have a speed way track there. Those f'n guys were nuts!!! I think that was Sunday night.

How about T/F match races with some unknowns...Like Kaletta, Garlits, the Greek, and of course, Shirley..... Or F/C with Jungle Jim...Gene from C&O Hydro and his "Destroyer Jeep"...... I can see all these guys in my mind like it was yesterday..... AND the Reaths still live right there near the old shop off Cherry...(last spoke with Joe in '07 I think... I was on my way to Long Beach Circle races and needed a Vertex cap)

OR even earlier, and the AA/GS Willys of Stone, Woods, and Cook, Big John, Jack Chrisman, and the Austin Pick up of C&O...All running 394/425+ Oldsmobiles...

And THEN, there was Lions, but that is a whole other story...With John Peters and the "Freight Train" dual SBC dragster........I went to Venice High with Eddie Peters, John's son.....

Bonneville is still very much old school, and if you've never been there during an event, put it on your "Bucket List"....You'll never forget it.....

Ray

You killin me Smalls. I remember most of those names. Good to know I'm not the only one!

 

[Nuvie]

Man you guys are bringing back some good old memories. Back in the 60's, my dad was a fireman in Azusa, so he was out there doing the ambulance thing from time to time. Every once in awhile I even got to go out there with him. I remember it like it was yesterday.

 

[musicFunsun]

I was kinda young, maybe a sophmore or junior in high school, used to go to the Motocross races, met Billy Gray from Father Knows Best! Then I dated a guy who worked on the fire crew, Tom Stollmeyer. His family had a lamp shop just south of the 10 freeway and Barranca, maybe?? Long time ago but I sure remember the races. That's when I decided fast cars are cool!

 

[flyingcolors]

I recall Billy Gray was doing speedway

 

[charlyox]

I remember going to speedway on Thursday nights and watching Mike Bast and Bruce Penhall battling it out.