LIONS ASSOCIATED DRAG STRIP
#006
BEE ON VIDEO is proud to announce the release of a new video focusing on the famous Lions Drag Strip located in Long Beach, Ca. The track operated from 1955 until its LAST DRAG RACE on December 2, 1972. During that time it became know as one of the most popular tracks in all of California and, for that matter, the entire Nation. Hear the story of how the strip was founded and follow its progress through the work of its three operational managers: Mickey Thompson, C.J. "Pappy" Hart and Steve Evans.
The video includes some very early black and white movie footage at the Beach as well as selective photos that help to outline the tracks early history. See "TV" Tommy Ivo and Jack Chrisman make some runs down the Lions quarter mile in their hot running dragsters.
During the 1960's LADS began to host some of the hot running Super Stock, Factory Experimental and early Funny Cars. Interviews with Hubert Platt, Hayden Proffitt, Dick Landy, Butch Leal, Doug Thorley and Phil Bonner explain how the door slammers began to challenge the popularity of the dragsters on the West Coast.
Movie footage of racing at other California tracks (Fremont, Half Moon Bay, Pamona and Carlsbad) is also included as well as a trip to the 1967 US Nationals where Doug Thorley won the Funny Car Championship. The Carlsbad footage includes an unbelievable match race between the Doug's Headers Corvair and Dyno Don's Eliminator II Comet.
The production also contains a movie segment dedicated to Stocker Day (Sunday) at Lions. Who knows perhaps your car is included if you raced at Lions back in November of 1967. Even if it isn't I am sure you will enjoy seeing all the great cars that came out for a beautiful day of racing.
Special interviews with Jim Deist and C.J. Hart are also included.
The video runs two hours and is packed full of entertainment and historical information. As is the case with all our productions we have taken the time to dub real car sounds on to the movie footage so you will get both the sights and sounds of the past. This video is fully narrated with a story line that run on top of the video action.
