Does anyone know the story on the why and when the Beeline Dragstrip closed? I drove by there yesterday and the tower is still standing and nothing has been built. The weird part was you can see the flat spot where the track was but there is no asphalt there it is all dirt. Almost like someone ripped the asphalt out to build something but never did.
Beeline Dragway (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter cone
- Start date
DrRocket
Nitro Member
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2006
- Messages
- 3,271
- Age
- 71
- Location
- Rosemount, Minnesowtah
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2009
- Messages
- 2,601
- Age
- 70
- Location
- Wilburn, Arkansas
I only went to Beeline once. That was in April 1970, for the Gas Ronda benefit race to help him with his medical bills after his horrific fire at the '70 AHRA Winternationals a couple months earlier.
That was a great drag strip.
Unfortunately, Johnny Loper crashed his A/G Maverick in the lights at the benefit race. Loper was OK but his car was completely totaled.
I was on the starting line helping the track photog and we ran to the crash scene. On the way back to the line, I found one of the injector stacks from Loper's car laying in the dirt.
BTW, I still have the stack. It is in my bookcase.
But, back to the question of what happened. The track is/was on Indian land. Apparently, the track manager and the land owners had a serious disagreement and the track was closed.
BeeLine Dragway
That was a great drag strip.
Unfortunately, Johnny Loper crashed his A/G Maverick in the lights at the benefit race. Loper was OK but his car was completely totaled.
I was on the starting line helping the track photog and we ran to the crash scene. On the way back to the line, I found one of the injector stacks from Loper's car laying in the dirt.
BTW, I still have the stack. It is in my bookcase.
But, back to the question of what happened. The track is/was on Indian land. Apparently, the track manager and the land owners had a serious disagreement and the track was closed.
BeeLine Dragway
Last edited:
DrRocket
Nitro Member
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2006
- Messages
- 3,271
- Age
- 71
- Location
- Rosemount, Minnesowtah
Here's the picture of the Beeline Dragway tower Ryan took.
I will say that people are usually pretty surprised by how fast asphalt breaks down.
I will say that people are usually pretty surprised by how fast asphalt breaks down.
When the the stardust raceway and drag strip in Las Vegas closed they dug trenches across the track every 20 feet or so to keep anyone from using the strip.
Stayed that way for many years until houses were built, maybe that is the reason they removed the strip at Beeline
Stayed that way for many years until houses were built, maybe that is the reason they removed the strip at Beeline
Toejam
Nitro Member
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2006
- Messages
- 9,757
- Age
- 64
- Location
- Albuquerque, NM
If you look on Google Earth you can ceratinly see where the Track itself was! Makes it look like the Asphalt is still there!
vegasnitro
Nitro Member
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2006
- Messages
- 4,753
- Age
- 51
- Location
- Burlington KY or Las Vegas NV
I was just recently made aware of that dragstrip ... I moved to Vegas in '94 and it was long gone by then. My understanding is that it was at Trop/Rainbow area ... back in the 60s and 70s that would have been MILES from anything. Now it is a nice central location.
Toejam
Nitro Member
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2006
- Messages
- 9,757
- Age
- 64
- Location
- Albuquerque, NM
I was just recently made aware of that dragstrip ... I moved to Vegas in '94 and it was long gone by then. My understanding is that it was at Trop/Rainbow area ... back in the 60s and 70s that would have been MILES from anything. Now it is a nice central location.
Chris there are some great pics on the Web from Stardust, only ran there like 5 years!
Rajunz
Nitro Member
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2006
- Messages
- 3,392
- Age
- 63
- Location
- Austin, Texas, USA
Some good shots of BeeLine throughout these links..............
Vintage Drag Club Presents The Bob Snyder Photo Collection
Vintage Drag Club Presents The Bob Snyder Photo Collection
Gary H
Nitro Member
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2006
- Messages
- 430
- Age
- 62
- Location
- Chandler, Az
Pics from when I was alot younger.. one of those old 110 cameras.. LOL. 1973
one of those old 110 cameras.. LOL. 1973
Gary H
Nitro Member
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2006
- Messages
- 430
- Age
- 62
- Location
- Chandler, Az
Toejam
Nitro Member
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2006
- Messages
- 9,757
- Age
- 64
- Location
- Albuquerque, NM
I was told it closed the same year Firebird opened in '84??? Not positive though...
Johnny Mopar
Nitro Member
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2006
- Messages
- 1,385
- Age
- 65
- Location
- Lake of the Ozarks, MO
Joe,
What is the address you used on Google Earth? I'd love to see it from above...
Toejam
Nitro Member
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2006
- Messages
- 9,757
- Age
- 64
- Location
- Albuquerque, NM
Don't know about addresses, just pull up Mesa,Az and scroll up the Beeline Hwy, It's there!
