For some reason, the past few weekends have been huge car show and racing weekends for us, from a kid perspective. We were at Perris Speedway for Sprint Car races on the 4th of July, at the Haddick’s Car Show here in SoCal, where there were tons of kids running around having a good time this weekend, and our 12 year old son Cole was in Texas with his Uncle Todd going to the drag races. Just a guys weekend deal, and by no means Cole’s first, but one that got me thinking nonetheless. I started going to the drag races when I was merely weeks old, but not everyone grew up a hot rodder or racer. Lots of you guys out there got your start later in life.
So whether kid, teen, adult, or old guy, what was your first hot rodding or “automotive” event? And how old were you? Do you remember it if you were young? If not, what is the first event you really remember?
Check out these two photos we took at Perris Speedway. The first little dude was asleep under his parents seats, with his American flag for 4th of July, while the B Main was running. Awesomeness. The second kiddo was waiving his flag like a mad man, and enjoying every innocent moment of it. He became a clown once Mom pointed out I was taking his photo. Remember when people did stuff cause it made them happy, rather than just because someone might catch it on camera?
It had to be going to watch the figure eight races at Sun Valley (now called Anderson Speedway) in the 60’s. My dad knew the track owner.
9 years old, 1963, the first day we went to Dover Drag Strip as a family, and my brother raced my Mom’s ’59 D500. Awesome. Still hooked. NHRA still sucks though…
I was attending drags before I was born. My father ran a 55 Chevy Handyman wagon gasser up until I was about 6 or 7 years old. I can’t remember much about those years, but I’m sure I had fun!
It’s funny that you have an article on Don Gartlits today. I saw him and Don Prudome in a match race in late sixties at Muncie Indiana dragstrip. I must have been eight or nine but still remember it pretty vividly. Prudome was in a funny car and Gartlits was in a dragster. they apparently did not have reverse in the cars yet as I remember they did a burnout and then turned around mid track and drove back across the starting line in opposite lanes, then turned back around behind the starting line to end up in the lanes they started in. I can still see the nightime race like it was yesterday with the flames and smoke.
Sebring when I was probably 8 or so.
The first race I went to was the 1974 Fall Nationals @ Englishtown, NJ. The only moment I remember was seeing an English Thames Panel Gasser barrel rolling when he lost control. I was 10 yrs old.
Mine was a van show at the Nassau Coliseum in the late 70’s on Long Island. Great huh?
My brother and I got a hold of the keys to moms car. He worked the gas & brakes, I got to steer. I was 4 or 5. We’re a year apart in age.
The first one I remember is my old man taking my brother and I to the Buffalo Autorama in 1986. I was 8 or 9 years old. I got to meet Adam West and have my picture taken in a Barris Batmobile. I still have the polaroid and autograph to this day.
Must have been 6 or 7,dont know the track(s) but sprint car races in the NoCal area,we lived in San Pablo,family in Richmond,Antioc, Stockton area. Cousin still doing it. Kaeding Family.
Then later races at Ascot,Lyons,and Irindale.
1968 US Nationals
I was 8 years old and amazed by those AA/FA’s
I must have been about 6 or 7, which would be summer of ’66 or 67 when my Dad took me to Minnesota Dragways to see the “Funny Cars”. I remember the Funny Cars cars being brightly colored, loud, and fast. But I don’t remember any real details. I also remember that it was very hot, and we walked and walked and I got tired and thirsty. But I sure had bragging rights when I got back in front of my freinds, and it got me started looking at my dads Hot Rod magazines.
My first was a drag race at the Akron airport in 1955, I was 15 years old.
I saw the likes of Art Arfons and the Green Monster, Otie Smith, Arlen Vanke.
John Benko
Beltsville Speedway, Beltsville, MD. I’m guessing 1970 or ’71. Instantly hooked.
The first “hot rodding” thing that I can remember was a car show at the Graceland Shopping center in Columbus on a hot July night in 1989. I had to be about 6 or so. My Dad took my younger brother and I. Several things I remember are a stern warning from Dad to not touch the cars (if I wanted to see the engine he would pick me up, climbing over the fenders was a no no!) lots of chrome, and flames shooting from the tail pipes of a t-bucket as it lit the tires up. Thus a seed was planted…
Opening night at the Slinger Speedway 1959, 6 years old. My dad’s cousin in law was Fuzzy Fosbender, a true Wisconsin racing legend. A couple months later my dad, my older brother and I attended the Milwaukee 200 and watched Rodger Ward win the race. My mom and I had listened to the Indy 500 on the radio the previous week and Rodger won that also. He had become my hero and after the race my brother (ever the ultimate con man even at 13) took me to Victory Lane where I met Rodger and sat in the car. I will never forget the heat and smell of that Leader Card/Offy. Heady stuff for a 6 year old. A few months later we moved to Indy and after a bit of a dry spell, attended the 1964 Nationals and in 1966 the 500 for the first time. Been to both dozens of times since. My dad was a civil engineer, no kinda gearhead, but he sure enjoyed taking me to the races. Thanks, Irv.
I was 6 years old when my dad took me to the very first California 500 at Ontario Motor Speedway in 1970. I still have the program.
1975, The Sandhills Racing Association car show at the National Guard Armory in Garden City Kansas. Then off to the drags with my sister and future brother-in-law in Liberal Kansas. He was racing a 64 Corvette during “All Comers Match Racing Saturday”.