Ramona Drag Strip / San Diego Raceway

An email about the Willie's Pie Wagon kicked in my mental time machine...

Back in the 1960s with it's grand opening in 1963 and operating until 1966, Ramona Drag Strip was the place to race in San Diego. It was called San Diego Raceway and drew nationally known drag racers to run the strip. The venture was put together by Paul and Bob Darrough who leased the land next to the Ramona Airport, Lou Castenagna and Ray Richards also came in as managing partners. This was an effort to get kids racing on the streets like El Cajon Boulevard in San Diego to take it to a track.

The effort was successful as attendance varied into the thousands as kids came to watch or take part in the racing with special events, such as match racing with well know drivers or jet-engined cars drawing as many as 7,000 spectators. A new track in Carlsbad, called Carlsbad Raceway basically closed the doors on Ramona's strip.

This was nostalgia racing at it's best, no line-locks or computers doing the work. If you ran an automatic, belly up to the line, plant one foot on the brakes, the other on the accelerator, watch the count down on the Christmas tree and let her rip.

A fan favorite was the Willie's Pie Wagon running a flathead.

Remember When...

No matter what type of car you had...when your buddies came over, this is what you did. It was as though everything in the world stopped, you would daydream about what could be...

Image © A. Y. Owen

To share a comment on the classic photo, this is the place to click.

Deuce of Spades

While scuffling along at the last Viva Las Vegas rod event, there's a black E-Z UP in the vendor area with a bitchin' '32 roadster sitting along side. Further investigating lead me inside the tent and a conversation with Faith Granger to find out about a movie the Deuce Of Spades. Purchased a copy to watch and wow...you gotta' see this film if you're into hot rods.

The Deuce Of Spades connects on an emotional level, it's an independent film made by a hotrodder, Faith Granger, for hotrodders. A film that doesn't come packed with made up special effects, but rather heart and soul with classic hot rods, music, and a look back in time. Faith is the creative force behind the full feature drama with a basic plot that goes like this,...when a hot rod girl finds an old mysterious letter dating back to the 50s hidden in her newly purchased roadster, she is left with nothing but questions. Tell me, don't you dig around in every car you buy, like a treasure hunt? She sets out to find the answers and retrace her deuce's past. But will learning the truth make a difference and can a broken man ever get a second chance at happiness long forgotten? The movie is set among a thriving car culture in rural So-Cal, 1952.

 "American Graffiti is a feel good movie about cruising and coming of age… and having fun.  Deuce of Spades, on the other hand, is an epic drama. It’s a long, intense, fun and at times a tear-jerker. It’s very dark and deep, inspiring, artistic and fun too! It’s a hot rod film with substance and that in itself has never been attempted.”- Faith Granger

'32 Deuce of Spades at Viva. Image © AFTR

Carmel-By-The-Sea Concour 2011...The Action Replay

One of the adventures on my yearly list, is the trip to Monterey in August for an awesome week of car shows, memorabilia and racing. "Carmel-By-The-Sea Concour" is close to the top of that agenda. It's held on the streets of Carmel, the Tuesday of the over the top car week. This show is cloaked in car goodness, however, it was inevitable that I was going to miss one along the way, this year was it. The thought of this was driving me into deep depression...so what to do? Call one of the blog followers and father of the show, Doug Freedman, and plead for him to send photos for all of us.

If you have never attended or entered this show...make it a "must do event." Next years event is scheduled for Tuesday, August 14th, 2012.  You can get an application by clicking, here. I've listed the "Cup" winners at the end, so read on.

Image via Rick Verbanec

"Hell Drivers" / Lucky Teter

"Feeling the wind in your face, and hearing the screaming tires and roaring motor, and then knowing that you've mastered a wildly skidding car...all are a big thrill."-Lucky Teter

Earl "Lucky" Teter was an American stunt driver in the 1930s and 1940s who was an innovator and the first to use the label "Hell Drivers." Teter started out as a race driver of both autos and motorcycles and had been a former gas station attendant and weekend test driver. While making his own car polish and selling it at county fairs a passer-by offered him $300 if he would roll a car...from that the life of a "Hell Driver" was born. 

Preserving the Patina

As the camera clicked away, I stood back with amazement. Randy was putting his artistic spin through the lens.

It's been years since I've been to a photo shoot for a car. The last I can remember, was taking one of my cars to L.A. for a studio shoot back in the 80s. This was a different car, a different time...my car was now being shot to go into the Porsche magazine, Excellence.

The prefect location for the patina coupe. Image ©  AFTR