shots at the 'dale

[Dave Galassi]

Here are a few shots to brighten your day.  All from Irwindale, circa very early 70's.  In the shot of the starting line, my office is where the trees are to the right of the tower.  Wish the track was still there...............now it is a Miller Brewery.  There was a go cart track where my office is now, and just down the road a bit was SPEEDWAY 605....."The fastest 1/2 mile in the West!"  Good times. 

[Dave Galassi]

more.............

[Dave Galassi]

I almost forgot...........this is a VW site.  Not the 'dale, but I think y'all might recognize the place and the cars.

Dave

P.S.  Go Iguana!  Local boy Bill and Competition Engineering (Ray Litz), in Pasadena did the engine work.  Out in front!

[speedwell]

thx for sharing dave 

[Nico86]

thx for sharing dave 

+1 

[Dave Rosique]

Very cool!!

Thanks Dave!
 

[team97]

I remember going to Irwindale about twice a month. My dad ran a A/FC (Injected on Nitro) against the likes of Ken Veney, Wild Wilfred Boutellier. The original home of the In and Out burger as I recall  We lived in Long Beach at the time so I spent a lot of time at Lions, Orange County and Irwindale............I really can't believe how lucky I was!

[jick]

cool shots.....thanks Dave,  i like the look of the 32 coupe in the background of the first photo!

[kev d]

Very cool pics
the black '55 chevy would be my 1st pick, followed by any of the altered wheelbase cars
Cheers,
Kev

[johnl]

I was there MANY times, but one in particular I remember.  Bob Bartels an original VW Limited guy who drove a black Comet (figure that one out)  had his side window broken in the parking lot and all of his 8 track tapes removed.      That was a cold winter night and it was a rather BREEZY ride home.....

[javabug]

Thanks for sharing Dave, those are great!  I like all the "Corvairs," the 5-window in the background of the 1st shot, and of course the '55.  Also cool to see local PA boy Jungle with one of his early cars.

[Rennsurfer]

Very cool stuff, Dave. Neat seeing pictures of the old track.

[deano]

Boy, do those photos bring back great memories of summers gone by. I spent a huge part of my Saturday nights at the orginal Irwindale, and I was probably at those same meet your photos were taken. But I do believe many of them were taken in the late '60s, judging from the old tower and signage. You could drive in for $2.50, add a buck for a pit pass, add 45 cents for an In-N-Out Burger, 20 cents for popcorn and 10 cents for a Coke. Man, I loved that place. One thing I do recall, never, I mean never be in the port-a-johns on the pit side, during first round of Top Fuel. You'll be sorry! I went to Irwindale with Jim Holmes one night and we parked on the entrance road side, to forego the dusty parking lot. He covered his white ragtop with a car cover.... it was gone when we came back at 10:00....

One Saturday night, by older brother and I borrowed my mom's '63 Buick stationwagon and went to the 'Dale. After the meet, we were driving down Arrow Highway, and we got into a race with a '57 Chevy. We blew his doors off with a 325 Buick w/Dynaflow.... Cops pulled us both over, and talked to the Chevy first. He let them go, and then came up to us.... First words out of his mouth was, "I just told those guys in the '57 that you have to be driving one sick Chevy to get beat by a Buick station wagon!" He left us go with a warning.....

[Rennsurfer]

One Saturday night, by older brother and I borrowed my mom's '63 Buick stationwagon and went to the 'Dale. After the meet, we were driving down Arrow Highway, and we got into a race with a '57 Chevy. We blew his doors off with a 325 Buick w/Dynaflow.... Cops pulled us both over, and talked to the Chevy first. He let them go, and then came up to us.... First words out of his mouth was, "I just told those guys in the '57 that you have to be driving one sick Chevy to get beat by a Buick station wagon!" He left us go with a warning.....

HA! Great story, Deano. Back in the days when sick actually meant sick.

[Kaferdog]

And to think....They make beer there now...!!!

[Rennsurfer]

And to think....They make beer there now...!!!

No, they THINK they do. That's NOT beer. More at: http://www.chimay.com/

[volkskris]

And to think....They make beer there now...!!!

No, they THINK they do. That's NOT beer. More at: http://www.chimay.com/

I couldn't agree more

[2manytoys]

And to think....They make beer there now...!!!

No, they THINK they do. That's NOT beer. More at: http://www.chimay.com/

x3

[Nico86]

And to think....They make beer there now...!!!

No, they THINK they do. That's NOT beer. More at: http://www.chimay.com/

 

[61SNRF]

To this day when I smell burning rubber I still think of Irwindale! Closer to home, cheaper and better entertainment than Knotts!
Thanks for sharing Dave.

[Fiatdude]

Which track is this?? Oh Crap it is the title LOL

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/eR5EcN7fzEw" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/eR5EcN7fzEw</a>

The Red Austin was one of my old street cars

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Pgt4ziwljzw" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/Pgt4ziwljzw</a>

[deano]

Nice Austin A-40 truck! I had a '48 Dorset 2-door at one time....

[Fiatdude]

I'd settle for one of your Anglias

[Dave Galassi]

It's Friday, let's see some more...............not all at the 'dale. 

[team97]

If yuo'll notice the second picture above at Pomona, there is a street sign next to the starters box that reads Parker Ave.. The track used to reside on Parker Ave when they first started racing in Pomona many years ago. The sign is still there today.