October 9th 1955 was a day that has never been forgotten. It was the opening day at Lions Drag Strip in Wilmington, California. With Mickey Thompson as the track manager which happened to be the only paid staff that the track had. All other help was on a volunteer basis. With the facility being accommodated to entertain 2500 people and the likes of 50 cars they were greatly overwhelmed when 10,000 people swarmed the grounds. Over 400 cars showed which a large amount had to be turned away due to unsafe conditions found during tech inspection.
Foundation for the track was based on a long struggle to bring legalized drag racing to the Los Angeles area. Local officials were concerned about the amount of street racing.
Mickey Thompson and members of a chapter of the Lions Club raised the money along with leasing an unused railroad yard.
Opening Day 1955
With Thompson’s ingenious ideas and promoting skills the track became the standard for all others to follow with even having lights installed in 1957 and a “Christmas Tree” starting system. The track always had great tractions and air conditions were some of the most sought after in the country.
Some of drag racing’s legendary people got there start right there at Lions. With the likes of Tom McEwen, Stone, Woods & Cook and Tommy Ivo became the regular draw at Lions on Saturday night. The legend of Lions continued to grow throughout the sixties with C.J. “Pappy” Hart taking over for Mickey Thompson in 1965 who moved on to concentrate on his business. Hart presented the first eight car fields in Top Fuel, Top Gas, Fuel Altered and Competition every Saturday night. In it’s prime there was one day where 72 Top Fuel dragsters showed up to do battle on the 1320. Hart was a innovator of his time introducing bracket and grudge racing along with the ever popular Junior Fuel. Traction technology continued to grow with several different compounds being researched along with a racing surface that was copied from San Gabriel dragstrip when it closed in 1963.
The last drag race at Lions in 1972
The decline started in the late sixties with the Funny Car shows basically becoming a weekly routine and the cars were considered mediocre and were unable to draw the crowds that the track had been known for. The Harbor Commission and Lions Board cited for action at the strip to be limited do to increasing population. In December of 1972 the era came to an end when the permit in which the track was operated under was revoked after constant noise complaints.
Photo of what used to be the dragstrip and now is a container yard. (1998)
The “Last Drag Race” will be forever be the greatest spectacle of all times with over 20,000 spectators gracing the Lions Drag Strip grounds along with the greatest of competitors traveling cross country to partake in the grand finale at what has been formally named the greatest track ever.
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