The Cal-look Lounge

Gone but certainly not forgotten.  Back in the good old days, DKP hosted a number of Drag Days at the track.  These usually included a nice, casual, cruise down Interstate 5 to Palomar Airport Rd (read high speed hare and hound here) where we would have breakfast at the Denny's Restaurant.  After eating, it was out to the parking lot to remove mufflers and install stingers for the ten mile "drive" to the track... :)

Standing at the finish line...

Very cool story Sarge, love the part about puting on the stinger 8)
I have goosebumps ;D

Time slips at the "Sweat Box"...

when i said i loved that track (only from seeing pics and vids, never been there) a lot of people called me nuts. it smells like urine, it was a dump, blah, blah, blah

IT WAS A COOL RACETRACK

nah!


 ;D

It reminds me about the track at gardermoen  :D  The facility is sorta "basic"

Really cool pics.

"sorta basic"....too bad I've no pics of the "lovely" restrooms  ::) :o

did you have a cellphone back then???

Naw...two tin cans and a quarter mile of wire  ;D

Check out the large crowd in the stands... 

My wife didn't think too much of the restrooms last time we were there.

The first time I was there was for the US GP of motocross in 1973.  At that time we parked our van on the drag strip.  Everything was pretty clean then.

yeah callooks haydays...

You can just feel the atmosphere on that pic, must have been great!

Keep the old pix coming Sarge , I just love em  8) 8)

Underdog!  8) 

awesome collection of photos, Sarge. What year are they from?

Thanks Jim and also thanks to Fabs for helping with my crappy scan job...pics are from 1972 I believe.  Wish I'd had a digital camera back then!

probably would have been too big to fit in those buses!!! Univac Digi-Pic  ;D

Cool photos!


--louis

Thanks, Louis!

Wish I'd have made it there before too late.  I was in Carlsbad last year, and saw Palomar Airport Road.  Wanted to keep going, but the wife wanted lunch!

what the f..k ,why i was born here in belgium in 74 and not in socal in 55  ::)  that was the place that i want to know
underdog II rocks  8)
thanks for the pict sarge
 ;) fabs

correct 72 , it's written on the side of the picture you sent me  ;)

Nice pics. Don't hesitate to ad more :o

I noticed that their is someone hidden in the "Sweat Box" (3rd picture). Don't know what he was doing with his finger in the air ? ??? ;D

yeah what's with all those guys and their rude gestures? So much for my impression that DKP 1 was a bunch of clean-cut, polite, goody boys.... ;D

Bunch o' punks.   :D

Great pics Sarge. Keep them coming. Any other tracks the DKP visited often?

Sarge, thanks for all these great pictures! I always get goosebumps when I see such old stuff. I think these "amateur"-photographs carry a lot of the atmosphere back then (I was born in '72, wrong continent...)

I know that Andi/DFL has a video of the Carlsbad restroom... :o

Maybe he can post it here... ::)

Saludos,
Ole

Super nice stuff this Sarge, we live for this stuff here on the Lounge!

Sorry about that annoying finger...here's a "nicer" shot... ::) ;D

 ;D

Can you name off those guys? Who's that guy on the ground (looks like he stumbled and fell?)   ::)

That's Bill "Hippie" McMillan on the ground...the two guys on the left are not DKP guys...the thin, bond guy is Steve "Mr Music" Likus and Sergio "Pepina" Rampone in the red tennies.

great picture carlsbad !! it's coolman sarge 

Sarge,

You can't imagine how much you contribute to the Lounge by Posting such Pictures and Stories...!!!

You and all the "Old" Guys, make this Place so so so Special!!!

Back then you where there where WE all would like to be Today!!!

Thank You!!!

Frank

 ;D all hail the mighty Sarge!  ;D

 So true Frank!!!

Thanks so much for the kind words guys.  The Lounge is like home to me.  Sharing my old stories and pics with all of you is my way of saying thanks for making me feel at home...

your welcome sarge  ;)
fabs

Yes, your Welcome Sarge!!! Keep those Pics and Stories coming!!!  ;) ;D ;D

Frank

the members of lounge have to like much on this stories and pics ;)
the legends lounge is "SARGE" always !!
cheers liou

Very cool pictures, sarge. Thanks for sharing. So what is the story behind the "sweat box?" I see it has dkp writing on it. Did you guys pillage it and make it your own? ;D

I agree. Hopefully these stories and pics will continue to encourage others to share their pics and stories as well.

--louis

Ah, the sweat box...it had this musty, BO sort of oder about it.  Somehow, the name stuck and yes, we pillaged EVERYTHING!!  8) 

OK...anyone recognize this car???

lowry bros race car  ;D

Imagine that: it's Sunday morning, you're heading to the carlsbad strip and watch Dean do some passes... :o

Sarge, you made my day...

Hey, that was quick  ::) ;D


My pleasure, Ole!

Here's a shot of Mel Garbet's car posed in front of the lovely Carlsbad snack bar...

that car has a fiberglass body ??? there's something with that car & the dune buggies magazine ???

thanks again for sharing, does this car have windows. it doesn't seem to have any...

Not too sure about this car, Fabs...I don't think it had anything to do with any magazine.  I'm thinking Bud Whitfield drove it.


Before Lexan, there was NO glass   :o ;)

Is this the one that was on the back off the original "How to hot*rod a VW..." book by Bill Fisher?

You've got me on that one...and I used to have that book, too.  How about a shot of Odley Campbell's Stutt Bee...one of the best looking cars of it's time.

yeah that's the one. With the guy in all white next to it.

Last but not least... :'(

very cool pictures sarge you're DA MAN  ;)

is that the first version or the second who was  chopped ???

Great Pix Sarge! You have to love the idea of wearing white Levis to the track..filthy after one round.

I think it was the same car Fabs, just chopped later and the top half painted black. The pictures I've seen show the same cut down rear wings, and it's definately an oval too.

. The pictures I've seen show the same cut down rear wings, and it's definately an oval too.
[/quote]
i saw that the rear fender were cuts like the chopped car

Sarge, damn! ;D Now I must to build a time machine!!! ;D

Beautiful photos....thanks a bunch!




Ciao
Mauro

Thanks, Mauro and to all the rest of you.  It was certainly a time I'll never forget!

Nostalgic,what happened to that track btw?

I undersdtand why sarge  ;D ;D
that was to be cool there to be, for us this time appears marvellous to us, but we don't go against ours, because in can be 20 years the young people who will be in VW at this time there will say similar for us  ;D
rgd
fabs

Your probably right Fabs. Unfortunately, I think in 20 years this will not be a sport young kids could afford.

--louis

Cool photo, Fabs!  8) 8) 8)

hi sarge
why not you will be able to create a book with the old pics stories VW which you were young in the adventure ??
regards liou

Someone felt we needed a few more houses here...plowed under earlier this year.  >:( :( :'(


When I retire from the "sweat box" (work), who knows??   ;) ;D

THANKS FOR SHARING SO NICE PICTURES

When I retire from the "sweat box" (work), who knows??   ;) ;D
[/quote]

I am 007 james bond vw aircooled  ;D ;D and I hope for you work with nice books  8)
liou

Your Welcome!!



 ;) ;D

Oh mann, those pic`s are sooo as we say here in D: "Geil"  ;)

Now I need a big breath and some lines out of the KS bible, and maybe I will even have VW related dreams then  ;D

Best Greetings & thanks for sharing the pic`s,
Felix

Great pics Sarge, Thanks!

Its funny how Carlsbad even in the 90's and after 2000 still took you back to an older era.  It was a very special place for me.  I can remember getting choked up when the Cornpanzers invaded in 2003 because I know that the track was doomed....just didnt expect it so soon.  I actually shed a few tears when Jason lauffer called and told me that ithey had started digging.   :'(

Although I must jump on the pile and comment that the bathrooms were truly awful!  Not the place that you want the previous nights drinking to work its way through your system.   :-X

Would it be ok to add more Carlsbad photos to this thread even though they may be more recent?

Sucks Sarge,thnx for the update 8)

Thanks, Felix!  8) ;)


Hey Dave...I think all of us here would enjoy more pics, so live it up!!  ;D

OK, so not only Sarge's pics, but it's happening...  8)

what a great thread.......its kinda funny how we all feel, seeing a couple of old cars in the middle of nowhere with vitually no-one watching them.......special times :)

what a great time it must have been.......thankyou Sarge.         and Keith, in anticipation of part 2.

I missed this thread fro a while but now I found it all I can say is THANKYOU SARGE  :-* ;) :)

Also I can't wait for the New Testament ; KS  ;) :)

I drove my Fastback there in 2003... when Dave and the Cornpanzers were there. Im constantly kicking myself for not racing my car, just to say I did. Who cares if the front trans mount was broken, I know Tech wouldnt ;)

"Tech" and "Carlsbad"? Two words that don't normally belong together! :D

Actually,I did get thrown off the startline one time by an official. I was wearing 'Jesus' sandals while photographing! Not sure if I was thrown out for a safety infringement or for breaking a dress code. :)

I got thrown off twice, Cormack got it once and I think even Dean got thrown off.  They were a moody bunch  :)

What about those pic's you threatened to show us the other day??  ;) 

Here is a picture from our trip out to the classic in '03. That weekend in so cal was just a blast all the way around, but to be able to say we made the trip and raced at Carlsbad is a real treat. On top of that I managed a shot with the SSB.

I think the fella in the red shirt with the large melon is Homer!

Great shot of the old car Chuck!

And like the others have said, great thread and awesome pictures Sarge!  Thanks for sharing.

I was fortunate to be able to race at the track a couple of times.  One time in the 80's for a Hot VW's Drag Day.  The other times were simply test 'n tune sessions.  To be honest, I never liked the track much, especially compared to OCIR.  I hated the thick coat of dust my bug would get from those lovely pits and the road in/out of the track.   ::)  But I will say this, it had character, and the history made at the track made it special - right up to the end.   8)


I've included a shot I took in 1984 at a Drag Day of Mike Smith's racer.  I like this shot because of the cool sign placement!   ;)

The second shot I took at the same race and its a shot of the Wayne Davis racer (rumored to be an early gasser that he returned to the track).  I wonder if anyone kept that sign?

Here are two more from that same 1984 race with the sign pictured.  Remember these cars?

Here's a shot that I can't take credit for, but its from that same 2003 Cornpanzer session.  Here's Troy up against Bakken.

That kid has a head like a globe I tell ya  ;D Yeah thats my melon. I wish somebody had the photo of me and Richard helping Dave with is Slick. What a great trip that was, truly one of the best weekends of my life.

troy palmer's car rock  but i will remove the sticker(the one on the door ::).. ;)..) and the roll cage,  love that real dds wheels on troy's car

Too bad removing that sicker will remove the decades old paint. That sticker was a little too sticky!  :o

the car is artic blue or white ???

Blue.  Look at the shot above where he's racing bakken's white car.  You can tell the color better.

Matt,
I've actually seen a picture of us jumping on the tire trying to change that slick !
Unfortunately I can't remember who showed it to me.
Hopefully that person will read this !
:-)
Richard

P.S. Was it on the Carlsbad tribute DVD ?

(http://www.cal-look.com/events/orange_curtain32.jpg)
This one?

Thats the one!

But remember we had to drive the rental car over the edge of the tire to get the bead to brake loose.

Yea !
Thank you so much !
 :D

God that was a great day. So much fun

 :D  Look at Conklin with the screw driver!  "That's it guys, just a little more.  Put some weight into it!" :P

A great shot!

That was a frantic situation.  3000 mile trip only to have the valve stem on my slick fail.  DOH!  Big thanks to Muffler Mike for digging a screw-in schrader valve out of his toolbox ..... all we had to do was dismount the slick and pull the tube out so that the stem could be installed. 
Like Chuck said, we ended up using Matts rental car to finally break the bead.  He was afraid of bending the rim and I think I finally pulled him out and drove over it myself.  I didnt care if we ruined the wheel....it was worth one more pass down the track.  I got one more pass and then ran over something with my tubless slick which promptly went flat again.  ::)

Here are a few from 03

wow it's cool team cornerpanzers lol

The other cool thing was the next day I got to drive Daves car into the Classic. Hi Dave ;D

That figures...  :D

I dont remember you driving teh car Matt.  What was I doing?  I do remember racing Art G down the street from Irvine meadows with 250 lbs of ballast next to me squealing like a little girl.  :D

he he ;D :D ;D :D

You took off running as fast as you could to the swap mumbling something about a Mulholland Kit you were trying to score ;D ;D ;D

I think you were trying to get everything set up at the Cal-Look.com booth and get area for the the cars to be lined up. I do remeber the ride to Laqunita and trying to get Art G to give it a go. No ahah with that one. Yeah there was some beef in that car

sarge great early pics stuff thanks for sharing that. you know what would be so cool if it was even possible would be to build a time machine pack at least 6 of our finest performance cars into it. yea it would have to bigger than a delorean. anyway go back to the era were you showed and just piss a few people off i could just ivision there faces just go for one event then DISAPEER never to be heard of again. thank you everybody else for sharing there photes.  ;). UD.

 

Here's a shot of Craig Foster's "panel" racing at Carlsbad.  Craig's car was ahead of it's time.  I can't remember who did the paint and body work, but it was a nice job.

great thread! here are some pics from 2003. I've never been there, those photos were taken by Olivier Dido, the current owner of the SSB.
More pics: http://www.luftkraft.ch/carlsbad03/ (http://www.luftkraft.ch/carlsbad03/)

(http://www.luftkraft.ch/carlsbad03/10.jpg)

(http://www.luftkraft.ch/carlsbad03/14.jpg)

(http://www.luftkraft.ch/carlsbad03/23.jpg)

(http://www.luftkraft.ch/carlsbad03/02.jpg)

(http://www.luftkraft.ch/carlsbad03/21.jpg)

Awesome photos...Lee Gong's car (last pic) is just the best.  Here's another relic from the past...me giving some lucky sucka a "gentleman Jim" head start!  ::) ;D

Cool pic Sarge, Im using that for my wallpaper ;D
 

cool cool cool! 8) 8) 8)

Boy, you've got that one right Sarge.  Lee lives close by and I would see him at the Irwindale Thursday night TNT.  That car is amazing, but even more amazing was watching Lee jerk the wheel back and forth to keep that thing going straight down the track.  Great car and driver.

Thanks for all the input and photos Sarge.