SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND COACHELLA VALLEY CAR NUTS!

IT'S SOAP BOX DERBY TIME! GET INVOLVED!

BE THERE! Saturday, March 29, 2008, the "14th Annual Coachella Valley Don Berry Memorial Soap Box Derby" will be run on Avenidas Bermudas in La Quinta, California. From 9am until every entrant has run, late in the afternoon, there will be all the excited thrills and spills which occur in every kind of speed contest, but also a lot more. There will be great amounts of love, enthusiasm, coaching, learning, caring, mentoring and winners and losers ... But truly, no losers at all. All the competing girls and boys, from age 8 through 17, have, along with their adult "partners", built their own Soap Box race cars, made from kits which are shared by every participant, developed new ways to coax more traction and speed from their vehicles, learned about working with sponsors and, especially, the local media, to get the word out about this great annual event. These are great lessons for anyone of any age ... Just imagine if you'd had these kinds of lessons when you were much younger!

And the winners can make it all the way to the this year's "71st Finals" in Akron, Ohio.

This coming July 26, 2008, over 100,000 spectators will gather in Akron for the finals of the "71st All-American Soap Box Derby". Over the decades, the Derby has had its highs and lows, as any large event might, but in the past few years, along with a resurgence in Americans' patriotism, it has re-built itself into a huge, exciting contest not only for boys and girls, but also for their moms and dads, aunts and uncles, granddads and grandmoms, mentors and coaches of all types and kinds.

We'll be there at Avenidas Bermudas on March 29th, cameras and microphones in-hand, interviewing and taping all the kids and their great efforts, along with those of their mentors and sponsors, who are often the most emotional people at the event, based on past experience, for a future  'CAR NUT TV' show, and of course we'll post all the video on this website, too.

Over the years, many people have been great contributors to the Coachella Valley's Derby, including the late US President Gerald R. Ford, who with his wife, Betty, was for many years a local resident, and always a great font of encouragement for the Derby and all its participants and supporters. Don Berry, for whom the local Derby is named, established the event and was a person of non-stop action and enthusiasm, doing everything which needed to be done to guarantee the local Derby would continue on for years, even without him, as it has. Fred Mohler, now a longtime local Coachella Valley resident, was the national winner of the Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio, in 1953, and gives willingly of his time and effort, wherever he might be of the greatest good to encourage his "kids". We do point out, however, that while Mohler was from Muncie, Indiana, the next three finishers that year, 54 years ago, were from Los Angeles, only 100 miles from where our local Derby will be held on March, 29th, in La Quinta.

And we want to encourage all the adults from the Southern California area who visit this website --- more than several hundred a day --- To participate as sponsors and mentors in their own local Soap Box Derby! It's fun, it's a great learning and teaching experience,  and it's a fantastic way for kids and adults together to learn patience and teamwork. And all the local events need sponsors of all kinds, large and small, as you'll read below.

To paraphrase Dragnet's Sgt. Joe Friday, "Here's just the facts":

Race Date: March 29, 2008, 9AM Start - till approximately 4-5PM

Location: Avenida Bermudas in the La Quinta Cove area

Contact information: 760-564-3761; E-mail: Luciam@dc.rr.com

Coachella Valley Soap Box Derby Local Website: www.cvsbd.org

Ages: Stock 8-13, Super Stock 10-17

Divisions: Stock & Super Stock (Masters Division to be held in 2009)

Local area for competitors: All of Riverside & Imperial Counties (and portions of San Bernardino, i.e. 29 Palms)

Cost of New Car: Approximately $700

We are always looking for sponsors to help with the costs to send the winners back to Akron. 

Anyone interested in a sponsorship, please call 760-564-3761.  We can get your names in the event program for this year's event if you contact the Derby by March 25th.

Click below to read more for the sponsor and contact information ... Maybe you can help out! Maybe you should help out! What if someone had helped you when you read about the Soap Box Derby as a kid ... maybe you dreamed about participating ... but for whatever reasons, you couldn't ... Maybe that was because that someone who could have helped you never called when they should have ... So NOW is YOUR chance to help! It'll be fun! You'll LOVE it ... So DO it!

"DRAG CITY" IN BANNING, CA, NOW "DOA"

"Drag City", a proposed 1/4-mile drag racing facility planned to be built in Banning, California, is apparently dead ... At least for the moment. In late October, 2007, the Banning City Council voted to "terminate the master agreement" with the track's promoters, the most crucial part of a complicated plan for building the track. The concept for the track came from Andy and Ron Marocco., They have been working to get the facility built for seven years. The track would have been situated close to the "intersection" of two major Southern California highways, Interstate Route 10 and California State Route 60. But at the moment, Drag City, which the promoters say would have been the first major drag racing facility built in Southern California in some 40 years, does not appear to have a future, at least in the Banning area.

The following posting can be found at Drag City's website (www.dragcity.net):

"DRAG CITY IS FIGHTING BACK!!!!!! (10/25/2007)

To the racers and our supporters:

We are fighting back and already have Banning City Council members reconsidering their vote this past week to "terminate the master agreement" to build Drag City.

As you may or may not know we went through a tough time with an "investment group" that promised the world to us and the city of Banning. They didn't produce the cash necessary in their 3 years time at the helm.

However, we did gain 100% control of our company back and now have the leverage of land (that tripled in value) to offset the cost of construction, putting us in a better position then ever to build.

The city became gun-shy after the "investment group" left a bad taste in their mouth last month. We tried and succeeded in acquiring the investments group's LLC Company, master agreement with the city and its land just 2 weeks ago.  But because the damage was done, the city didn't want to continue this past Oct. 23rd.

There is still hope! We have a plan to reverse that decision with a possible lawsuit and the power of masses through an email petition.

If you love this sport and want a weekly place to race in Southern California... make a difference and let the city of Banning know by signing the following petition.

Please fill out all the required fields of the petition to make it legal. Thank You for your support. It's not over yet!  http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/dragcity/ 

We wish the supporters of Drag City all the best; however, now that the Drag City promoters are involved in threatening lawsuits aimed at the Banning City Council and possibly others, are complaining publicly about some of their previous benefactors and supporters and are appealing to current and new supporters to sign a Web-based petition ... And all this coming after seven years of meetings, votes, planning, sponsor development and everything else involved in creating a race track out of nothing but dirt, the dream of Drag City's promoters seems as far from reality as it ever was.

CELEBRATE BUD EKINS' LIFE; APPROPRIATELY SCHEDULED FOR WARNER BROS. STUDIOS IN BURBANK, CA

A Celebration of Bud Ekins life will be held at the Warner Brothers Studios on Sunday, December 2nd, 2007. Please enter the studio lot at GATE 4. The event begins at 1pm and ends at 4pm. There will be a tribute film screened at the "Warners Theatre" on the studio's lot. There will be many guest speakers, and refreshments will be served throughout the afternoon. Free parking is also provided.

Friends of Bud who will be riding motorcycles to the Warner Bros. lot should also enter at GATE 4, and will be directed to a special parking area and become part of a "static sculpture" in Bud's honor.

Important points:

Make sure to bring your photo I.D. with you. No entry without it.

Enter the Warner studio lot using gate 4 on "Hollywood Way".

Due to security regulations, RSVP by phone is mandatory for entry . Those not 'on the list' will not be allowed into the lot. The phone number to RSVP is: 818-954-5816.

Please call ASAP.

There will be two locations for motorcycles riders to meet and form a 'ride' to the studio. Meeting time at both locations is 12:30pm. The locations are "Johnson Motors" in Pasadena  (626-796-5666) and, in West LA, "Garage Company" (310-821-1793).

There is an EIGHT MILE-PER-HOUR speed limit on the studio lot which is stricly enforced (offenders are escorted off the lot).

AGAJANIAN FAMILY PROMOTES 67TH USAC 'TURKEY NIGHT GRAND PRIX' AT IRWINDALE

98 LAPS “TURKEY NIGHT” IN HONOR OF J.C. AGAJANIAN

            This year’s “Turkey Night Grand Prix” USAC National/Western Midget race will be 98-laps, in honor of J.C. Agajanian, the patriarch of the famed California family which has organized more United States Auto Club races than anyone else in the 52-year history of the club. The famed #98 is synonymous with Mr. Agajanian, having adorned his Indianapolis 500 winning entries in 1952 and 1963 driven by Troy Ruttman and Parnelli Jones. The announcement of the race distance was made today by race organizer J.C. Agajanian Jr. (Photo --- In his trademark Stetson, JC Agajanian Sr. cut an almost swashbuckling figure at Indy and other great American race tracks; his sons have carried-on his racing tradition, continuing the family's record of having the most 'privateer' entries, always with #98, in the Indy 500, and his three sons are closely involved with many forms of American two- and four-wheel racing).

             Mr. Agajanian passed away in 1984 after presenting 298 USAC events since 1956. His sons, J.C. Jr., Cary and Chris have carried on the family tradition by presenting an additional 178 races in the ensuing 23 years, giving the family a grand total of 476 USAC events.

            The November 22 program at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway features three more Agajanian/USAC events, the National/Western Midgets, the Lucas Oil Western Sprint Cars and the California Pavement/Utah Ford Focus Midgets. A 30-lap Focus and 30-lap Sprint race will precede the 98-lap Midget finale.

            The Turkey Night Grand Prix is a testimonial to American short-track racing and to a racing family steeped in tradition. It began in 1934 at Gilmore Stadium in Hollywood and this year’s race is the 67^th. Winners have included some of the most famous drivers in American history, including Indianapolis 500 champions Bill Vukovich, Johnnie Parsons, A.J. Foyt and Parnelli Jones, and more recently current NASCAR stars Tony Stewart, Jason Leffler and Bobby East. Billy Wease won last year’s race when the distance was 100 laps. The race distance has changed through the years and reached 150 laps several times.

            Drivers Ron Shuman and Billy Boat hold distinctive “Turkey Night” marks, Shuman winning the race a record eight times and Boat taking three straight at three different tracks from 1995-1997. Shuman probably wishes the 1986 race had been 98 laps! He was leading when he blew a tire on the 100^th and final lap at Gardena’s Ascot Park, allowing Warren Mockler to pick up the win! The race has been held at Irwindale’s 1/2-mile paved oval every year since 1999.  (Photo - JC Agajanian Sr. and his #98 car's driver, Parnelli Jones, celebrate their win at the Indianapolis 500 in 1963; Jones was JC's second Indy 500 winner, the first being Troy Ruttman, youngest Indy 500 winner ever, in 1952).

            The first Agajanian USAC promotion came at Saugus Speedway in California on January 29 and was won by Shorty Templeman, who went on to claim three consecutive National Midget championships. “Turkey Night” venues have included Gilmore Stadium (1934-1950), Gardena Stadium (1955-1959), Ascot Park (1960-1974 and 1976-1990), Saugus Speedway (1991), Bakersfield Speedway (1992-1995 and 1998), Perris Auto Speedway (1996), Ventura Raceway (1997) and Irwindale Speedway (1999-present). In 1975 the race was held at "Speedway 605", which was just across the freeway from where Irwindale Speedway now sits.

OFF-ROAD RACER NEEDS YOUR HELP; ANOTHER SUCCUMBS TO RACING INJURIES

become a much safer sport than it has ever been, considering the possibilities which come with the sport, whether the competition is on dirt, paved race track, temporary street circuit, or off-road in the open desert. Now, two pieces of sad news from the Southern California world of off-road racing. (Photo --- Chuck Mller on the 1991 Honda XR600R "Monster" Baja racer).

First, Eric Fisher, Class 9 champion, has suffered a stroke and is hospitalized in critical condition in the intensive care ward of a private hospital in Ensenada, Mexico. As much as he and his family need our thoughts and prayers, the family is also in need of any monetary help our readers can offer. Donations can be taken to any Bank of America branch and this account number should be given to the bank officer: 0934518121. Donations can also be mailed to any BofA branch with that same account information. Latest information can be had at: www.race-dezert.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32926.

Also, more very sad news. Brandon Smith, 19, succumbed to injuries suffered in a spill from his motorcycle while competing in the "Best in the Desert" Vegas to Reno race this past August 24th. Smith was riding #327 in the Open Expert Division. Smith was from Hesperia, CA. He was riding a Honda on a team with Kurt Carlson, 44, and his son, Craig Carlson, 21. They were sponsored by KC Fabrication and Smitty's Concrete Pumping.

Casey Folks, Best in the Desert race director said,”I am very sorry to report at approximately 4 pm Friday, August 24th , Brandon Smith died from injuries sustained in a solo accident during the running of the race. He was thrown from his bike and impacted the terrain.  John Gaughan arranged to have the helicopter providing support to the TSCO team dispatched to the scene, and medical care reached Brandon in a short time. Unfortunately, he died at the scene of the accident.”

Folks also reported that the County Sheriff determined it was a single-vehicle accident.

LAST NIGHT OF DRAG RACING AT LOS ANGELES COUNTY RACEWAY --- JULY 28, 2007

We were there. And so were a police-estimated 15,000-or-so other drag racing aficionados, all of whom showed-up in their racing-best in Palmdale, CA on a hot, hot summer night to celebrate --- and say goodbye to ---  Los Angeles County Raceway. The track first opened in 1964 for testing and resurfacing, and opened to the public as an NHRA-sanctioned 1,320 foot-long drag strip in 1965. NHRA's premier showcase track, at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds in Pomona, is much closer to downtown LA and the surrounding population centers. Though some always say Pomona may also fade into the past sometime soon, well, they've been saying that for 50 years, since the place opened. But with NHRA's new ownership, who knows for sure?

But literally tens of thousands of new residents are moving into the the "Upper Desert" every year now, a place where spanking-new cookie-cutter housing developments still compete with dune buggies, MX bikes and tumbleweeds for what's left of the "wide-open spaces" ... And the houses are winning the battle. And a lot of those new folks are already or will be drag racers. Where will these enthusiasts find their vehicles' nether reaches? Unfortunately, any number of them will probably (and typically, if history is any guide) find the streets in their new home area, which are for the most part brand-new, long, wide and smooth, perfect for competition.

The dry lake bed of El Mirage, a smaller version of the Bonneville Salt Flats, is within an easy 1/2 hour drive of Palmdale. You've seen it in any number of TV commercials, feature movies and TV shows. People who have been running at Palmdale's LACR for years will hear the Salt calling to them, too.

The streets and the Salt are both more dangerous than any organized race track. And Palmdale has lost its track.

THE CROWDS GATHERED EARLY FOR A LONG NIGHT OF RACING
Some came in their street-legal cars, trucks and motorcycles --- Others were trailering the loves-of-their-lives, still others appeared ready for the NHRA Pro ranks, with $100,000 transporters, some carrying jet-powered cars which can clear the 1/4 mile in somewhere around 3.5 seconds --- But NHRA limits these screaming meemies to around 5 seconds and just under 300mph, or thereabouts. Others showed up with their Pro-level TFDs (Top Fuel dragsters), the world's fastest piston-powered vehicles, which can accelerate from 0 to over 320 miles per hour in well under 5 seconds. The local police attended, too; but most of them seemed to be there as competitors, not enforcers.

When the track was built, the entire area surrounding it was owned by a gravel company. But Palmdale was small and growth was slow. And not much gravel was needed. That all changed in the 1990s, when slow-growth became quick-growth throughout the area. Today the track's surrounding land being mined, owned by Granite Corporation, is running out of gravel. So the company needs to tear-up the track and its parking lots and starting mining gravel. So, for the sake of gravel and suburban growth, a race track dies.

BERNIE AND BIG WILLIE TALK TO THE MEDIA
Bernie Longjohn, who has operated the race track since 1980, is moving on -- All the way to Alabama where new friends and, mostly, a new race track are calling to him. He told us it is hard giving up all his So Cal-area friends and relatives and racers, but with the track closing, he has no other choice but to find a new track to run. And right now, for Bernie, Birmingham, AL seems to be the place to go. (Photo - 'CAR NUT' Steve Parker interviews LA County Raceway track operator Bernie Longjohn for 'CAR NUT TV' and this website).

Big Willie Robinson, "King of the Street Racers", spent much of the evening greeting old friends and announcing on the microphone, calling the events in his inimitable, deep, knowledgeable, friendly and folksy style. According to Willie, heads-up racers bet hamburgers, not money or pink slips, between them, and when the cars take a break from the track for one reason or another, he encourages parents to take their little kids down to the start line and have a foot race. Plus, with the recent death of his wife, Tomiko, everyone was thrilled to see Willie out-and-about at a race track with his fellow Street Racers. Everyone knew it wasn't easy for him, but as the night went on, more and more Willie became the Big Willie everyone has known and respected for so many years.

Safe, friendly and fun. That's how Willie runs (and announces) his races, and he hopes to someday soon be running races again at Terminal Island in the Los Angeles/Long Beach harbor area, or perhaps even in Palmdale itself, where the same commission which manages Los Angeles and Ontario International Airports has several thousand acres where a futuristic Palmdale International Airport may someday be built --- Complete with high-speed rail conections to the greater Los Angeles/Orange County/San Diego areas. That's just a dream at this point, but the land lies fallow with nothing on it, and people have proven for over 50 years they'll drive from all over So Cal to the Upper Desert where Palmdale is located ... So, why not build a track in the meantime? (Photo --- 'CAR NUT' Steve Parker and Big Willie attempt to see eye-to-eye).

Every time we turned around, someone was pitching a race track idea to us. Some say a track near Beaumont, CA might actually become a reality. But after years of waiting, a lot of people aren't very positive about that effort. Some push another Palmdale location. Others say they'd be happy with Brotherhood Raceway re-opening somewhere in the LA/Long Beach harbor.

ANOTHER SAFE, LEGAL PLACE TO RACE BITES THE HIGH DESERT DUST OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
But the reality is: Southern California  lost yet another 1/4 mile drag racing track where young and old, rich and poor, amateur and pro (a few racers were vying for their NHRA competition license) but especially black, brown, white, red, yellow and every combination --- which is what makes southern California what it is ---  were there with no ill feelings, no animosity, no fights. Anyone looking for some "real street action" would be sadly disappointed. Hardened and tough characters who look like veterans of the Heartbreak Hotel are playing with their infant grandchildren before getting into their race cars.

LA County Raceway was truly one of "the" places in So Cal where people could "Run Watcha Brung," in every sense of the phrase. (Photo --- A turbocharged Buick Grand National with racing slicks on the trailer, readying for LACR's last night of racing).

Dodge Ram truck against Suzuki Hayabusa? Bring 'em on! A Honda 2005 Civic which turns the 1/4 mile in under 7 seconds with a little help from the factory ... versus ... a classic and original T-bucket pumping out 600 horsepower with a blown V8, built by a husband and wife in their garage over the course of 20 years, and she's driving tonight? Get in line and suit up, drivers! A jet car which uses #2 "Sweet" Diesel as fuel, not A4 Jet Fuel ("Because it's a helluva lot cheaper!", one of the jet jockeys tells me) hits its afterburner and a wooden fence behind the long, sleek vehicle immediately bursts into flames (men are at the ready with fire extinguishers) ... And the night goes on and on. Live music from a Palmdale-level rock band only made the place feel more and more like Lions Drag Strip, Orange County International Raceway or even Pomona, before the "Circus" and the "Painted Elephants" (as some call the NHRA Pro classes) took over.

The fragrance of "Bernie Burgers" from the snack bar mixed with that of tire rubber is compelling, one which instantly puts real racers "in the mood". The blast of the live music along with the heart-stopping roar of some of the dragsters seems good training for the youngsters who want a future in racing (though most all the kids and many adults wisely sported ear plugs).

SAY GOODBYE
After taping interviews with the principals, shooting lots of still photos of the crowd, the cars and the  colorful people, seeing a lot of old friends and even making some new ones, we hit the road back to the Low Desert and our Palm Springs-area home.

Going to a race track opening is one thing, attending its wake is another. We hope we get to go to one of the former soon.

(Photo --- What's a race track without Trophy Girls? Here are Miss Palmdale and Miss Junior Palmdale, ready to present an award and a kiss).

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We were there. And so were a police-estimated 15,000-or-so other drag racing aficionados, all of whom showed-up in their racing-best in Palmdale, CA on a hot, hot summer night to celebrate --- and say goodbye to ---  Los Angeles County Raceway. The track first opened in 1964 for testing and resurfacing, and opened to the public as an NHRA-sanctioned 1,320 foot-long drag strip in 1965. NHRA's premier showcase track, at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds in Pomona, is much closer to downtown LA and the surrounding population centers. Though some always say Pomona may also fade into the past sometime soon, well, they've been saying that for 50 years, since the place opened. But with NHRA's new ownership, who knows for sure?

But literally tens of thousands of new residents are moving into the the "Upper Desert" every year now, a place where spanking-new cookie-cutter housing developments still compete with dune buggies, MX bikes and tumbleweeds for what's left of the "wide-open spaces" ... And the houses are winning the battle. And a lot of those new folks are already or will be drag racers. Where will these enthusiasts find their vehicles' nether reaches? Unfortunately, any number of them will probably (and typically, if history is any guide) find the streets in their new home area, which are for the most part brand-new, long, wide and smooth, perfect for competition.

The dry lake bed of El Mirage, a smaller version of the Bonneville Salt Flats, is within an easy 1/2 hour drive of Palmdale. You've seen it in any number of TV commercials, feature movies and TV shows. People who have been running at Palmdale's LACR for years will hear the Salt calling to them, too.

The streets and the Salt are both more dangerous than any organized race track. And Palmdale has lost its track.

THE CROWDS GATHERED EARLY FOR A LONG NIGHT OF RACING
Some came in their street-legal cars, trucks and motorcycles --- Others were trailering the loves-of-their-lives, still others appeared ready for the NHRA Pro ranks, with $100,000 transporters, some carrying jet-powered cars which can clear the 1/4 mile in somewhere around 3.5 seconds --- But NHRA limits these screaming meemies to around 5 seconds and just under 300mph, or thereabouts. Others showed up with their Pro-level TFDs (Top Fuel dragsters), the world's fastest piston-powered vehicles, which can accelerate from 0 to over 320 miles per hour in well under 5 seconds. The local police attended, too; but most of them seemed to be there as competitors, not enforcers.

When the track was built, the entire area surrounding it was owned by a gravel company. But Palmdale was small and growth was slow. And not much gravel was needed. That all changed in the 1990s, when slow-growth became quick-growth throughout the area. Today the track's surrounding land being mined, owned by Granite Corporation, is running out of gravel. So the company needs to tear-up the track and its parking lots and starting mining gravel. So, for the sake of gravel and suburban growth, a race track dies.

BERNIE AND BIG WILLIE TALK TO THE MEDIA
Bernie Longjohn, who has operated the race track since 1980, is moving on -- All the way to Alabama where new friends and, mostly, a new race track are calling to him. He told us it is hard giving up all his So Cal-area friends and relatives and racers, but with the track closing, he has no other choice but to find a new track to run. And right now, for Bernie, Birmingham, AL seems to be the place to go. (Photo - 'CAR NUT' Steve Parker interviews LA County Raceway track operator Bernie Longjohn for 'CAR NUT TV' and this website).

Big Willie Robinson, "King of the Street Racers", spent much of the evening greeting old friends and announcing on the microphone, calling the events in his inimitable, deep, knowledgeable, friendly and folksy style. According to Willie, heads-up racers bet hamburgers, not money or pink slips, between them, and when the cars take a break from the track for one reason or another, he encourages parents to take their little kids down to the start line and have a foot race. Plus, with the recent death of his wife, Tomiko, everyone was thrilled to see Willie out-and-about at a race track with his fellow Street Racers. Everyone knew it wasn't easy for him, but as the night went on, more and more Willie became the Big Willie everyone has known and respected for so many years.

Safe, friendly and fun. That's how Willie runs (and announces) his races, and he hopes to someday soon be running races again at Terminal Island in the Los Angeles/Long Beach harbor area, or perhaps even in Palmdale itself, where the same commission which manages Los Angeles and Ontario International Airports has several thousand acres where a futuristic Palmdale International Airport may someday be built --- Complete with high-speed rail conections to the greater Los Angeles/Orange County/San Diego areas. That's just a dream at this point, but the land lies fallow with nothing on it, and people have proven for over 50 years they'll drive from all over So Cal to the Upper Desert where Palmdale is located ... So, why not build a track in the meantime? (Photo --- 'CAR NUT' Steve Parker and Big Willie attempt to see eye-to-eye).

Every time we turned around, someone was pitching a race track idea to us. Some say a track near Beaumont, CA might actually become a reality. But after years of waiting, a lot of people aren't very positive about that effort. Some push another Palmdale location. Others say they'd be happy with Brotherhood Raceway re-opening somewhere in the LA/Long Beach harbor.

ANOTHER SAFE, LEGAL PLACE TO RACE BITES THE HIGH DESERT DUST OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
But the reality is: Southern California  lost yet another 1/4 mile drag racing track where young and old, rich and poor, amateur and pro (a few racers were vying for their NHRA competition license) but especially black, brown, white, red, yellow and every combination --- which is what makes southern California what it is ---  were there with no ill feelings, no animosity, no fights. Anyone looking for some "real street action" would be sadly disappointed. Hardened and tough characters who look like veterans of the Heartbreak Hotel are playing with their infant grandchildren before getting into their race cars.

LA County Raceway was truly one of "the" places in So Cal where people could "Run Watcha Brung," in every sense of the phrase. (Photo --- A turbocharged Buick Grand National with racing slicks on the trailer, readying for LACR's last night of racing).

Dodge Ram truck against Suzuki Hayabusa? Bring 'em on! A Honda 2005 Civic which turns the 1/4 mile in under 7 seconds with a little help from the factory ... versus ... a classic and original T-bucket pumping out 600 horsepower with a blown V8, built by a husband and wife in their garage over the course of 20 years, and she's driving tonight? Get in line and suit up, drivers! A jet car which uses #2 "Sweet" Diesel as fuel, not A4 Jet Fuel ("Because it's a helluva lot cheaper!", one of the jet jockeys tells me) hits its afterburner and a wooden fence behind the long, sleek vehicle immediately bursts into flames (men are at the ready with fire extinguishers) ... And the night goes on and on. Live music from a Palmdale-level rock band only made the place feel more and more like Lions Drag Strip, Orange County International Raceway or even Pomona, before the "Circus" and the "Painted Elephants" (as some call the NHRA Pro classes) took over.

The fragrance of "Bernie Burgers" from the snack bar mixed with that of tire rubber is compelling, one which instantly puts real racers "in the mood". The blast of the live music along with the heart-stopping roar of some of the dragsters seems good training for the youngsters who want a future in racing (though most all the kids and many adults wisely sported ear plugs).

SAY GOODBYE
After taping interviews with the principals, shooting lots of still photos of the crowd, the cars and the  colorful people, seeing a lot of old friends and even making some new ones, we hit the road back to the Low Desert and our Palm Springs-area home.

Going to a race track opening is one thing, attending its wake is another. We hope we get to go to one of the former soon.

(Photo --- What's a race track without Trophy Girls? Here are Miss Palmdale and Miss Junior Palmdale, ready to present an award and a kiss).

-30-