Fontana Drag City 1965

[glofria]

As posted on Facebook by Don Ewald;

 

[TopFuel@Lions]

Saw that last night, super sweet action.


TopFuel@Lions

 

[roscoe37]

the car i loved seeing there was the topped top 34 ford with the alison engine.i forgot his name, thanks fo the video

 

[ocdart]

Enjoyed that!
Sure looked like typical 1965 SoCal air quality. Fontana is at the base of the San Gabriel mountains but you couldn't even see them in the video.
It was amazing to see no guard rails at all on the outside of the lanes, especially with those 'telephone pole' light standards - and the photographer standing alongside the strip lane without a guard rail.
I got a kick out of seeing the "J&M Speed Center" sign on the pole by the starting line. They started in the Inland Empire in 1957 so they had been in business 8 years when that video was shot. They're still in business in Riverside.

 

[Cliff]

I was born in LA, grew up in Glendale. What air quality? heh S M O G.... I never went to Fontana, guess it was too far away. San Fernando was my home track, and of course Lions & later OCIR. I remember once there was a bus strike, & the busses didn't run. Air got clear. Argh So now I live in Phoenix, Valley of the Sun. In the winter, we get "inversion layers" & you can see the crap yer breathing. Makes LA look good.

 

[TopFuel@Lions]

Went to Fontana many a time, it was smoggy as heck during parts of the year. Very cool yet simple drag strip. I think the 34 with the Allison was Tex Collins maybe?



TopFuel@Lions

 

[glofria]

This guy has quite a collection of videos. How about featuring Top Gas, Competition Eliminator and Top Fuel at the 1965 Winternationals.