If there is one place that has long captured the hearts and imaginations of drag racing fans from around the globe, it is Lions Drag Strip. Operated from 1955-1972 the place is viewed by many as the greatest drag strip that has ever existed. It was right in the thick of things during the great age of innovation and experimentation known as the 1960s and it was still going strong in 1972 when red tape and a bunch of other factors combine to close the place down for good. This video was shot long before that. In fact, it was shot long before lots of what people recognize as Lions was actually built. Yes, there is a timing tower, but that is about it. No stands close to the track, no guard walls, and not much crowd control as you’ll see. We’re not saying that’s a bad thing, we’re just pointing it out.
There’s lots to see in this video and like the Winternationals clip we posted this morning, there’s nothing to hear. Shot on 8mm film back in ’58, it lacks sound. As we said earlier on the Winternationals clip, if you can’t appreciate the visual end of this thing then this isn’t your speed anyone. Don’t come crying to us, we warned you. There are an array of coupes, roadsters, dragsters, and altereds that you’ll see make laps. There are a ton of then late model Corvettes as well, which is neat to see.
Our favorite parts of this video though are the lighthearted moments like the foot race toward the starting line, and the couple pairs of cars that are parked on the side of the strip and their drivers have to sprint across the track and back, jump in the car, and THEN drag race down the track. There’s another variant of that contest shown too where both drivers have to run a lap around their own car before jumping in and racing off. That is some great fun that you’ll never see at a strip again.
We dig the fact that cars were racing motorcycles and it just looked like a grudge match kind of day at Lions. Human beings are exceptionally talented at complicating things. When you watch this video revel in how simple it all looks and feels. It lacks pretense, it lacks attitude, and it looks like one hell of a good time.
PRESS PLAY BELOW TO SEE SOME GENUINELY FLIPPIN’ AWESOME VIDEO FROM LIONS DRAG STRIP CIRCA 1958 –
Great historical piece. The early dragsters are cool. Looks like an early version of the Speed Sport Roadster, there, too. Interesting!
My dad always tells of the early 60’s drag racing like the CAR CLUB race…. Memebers would roll a spare tire from the finish line to the starting line…open the trunk….then jump in the car….and race back to the finish line. He said one car club cheated by using an El Camino(spare tire goes behind the drivers seat)…..LOL