For many years, there was more than one Winternationals race to kick off a drag racing season. While the NHRA’s event at Pomona was always the better known of the two, the running of the AHRA Winternationals down the road at Beeline Dragway in the Phoenix area of Arizona was another yearly right of straight line passage. This video is from the 1970 running of that race and it is really, really cool. Between the classic wheel standers, funny cars, amazing stock and super stock muscle cars, and more, we were never at a loss for eye candy through this whole thing. There is no sound, but run a mental soundtrack in your head and let your eyes feast on the rich colors and cool shapes as the cars head down the strip.
You’ll see the awesome Backup Pickup (which has been restored), Bob Perry’s Fugitive Corvette, and Gary Watson’s Paddy Wagon wheelstander van as well. The funny cars are awesome because by 1970 technology was really advancing in the flip top style machines but they still bore the looks of their production counterparts. The stock and super stock cars are the favorites for us, though. Right around 2:00 you will see an incredibly rare drag spec GT350 Mustang. Only 12 of those were ever built and we firmly believe this is one of them. Seeing the two red/white/blue AMXs run side by side is awesome as is watching the likes of Dyno Don Nicholson pull one of the most massive wheelies we have ever seen on film from this era.
Funny cars with smoke rolling out the windows after the burnout, grandstands loaded with fans, Linda Vaughn cruising by on the back of an Oldsmobile, and every other awesome thing that’s present here makes it worth the watch if you are a freak for the old days of the sport. Can you believe this was made 47 years ago now? Yikes!
Was there selling programs.
Like Charley, I was at this race as well. I can taste the fry bread sold by the local tribe now. In the morning I would have it with honey on it. Later in the day I would have it with pinto beans on it. It was messy but oh so yummy. The only thing better was the racing it self.
Was their racing my 67 Camaro along with Joe Rundle (69 Camaro) and my neighbor at the time Jonny Loper (48 Anglia). Ran in 69 also with my 63 Nova. Wonder what ever happened to the green (55 I think) Carnation ‘Milk’ car, always got my ass beat by him (sorry can’t remember his name, I know his dad worked for Carnation milk. Boy’ was that a life time ago, great-great times. Sold everything in about ’72-73′ I think. This all went down after the Army got done with me in ’68’. Started racing again about 5 years ago, 67 Camaro. Best to all still living.