Automobiles Simulated Runs Point To Better Drag Race Days
by Johnny McDonald

Signs of the Times:

Powerful fuel dragsters, poised at the intersection of Broadway and Grand Ave., will stage a mock drag race with all the fire, sound and fury on Friday, Sept. 10, at Escondido’s Big Rail Review. It starts at 7:30 p.m.

Charged by nitromethane, the dragsters will “start” in pairs to recreate the sport’s tension, which has been virtually eliminated in San Diego County.

Each car’s starter will be attached to the blower snouts and drivelines will be disconnected. After a brief history is covered, those connected with the car will be introduced.

Moving up to the line, they will be directed by either Ramona’s Mickey Shidner, the original flag starter for San Diego Raceway, or Tim “Weed” Kraushaar, flag starter for old Lion’s Drag Strip in Long Beach.

There is no admission charge.

Such simulated exhibitions might be patterns of the future after the demise of motor sports in San Diego County.

Some of these vintage racers were headline attractions at San Diego and Carlsbad raceways. Drivers such as Don Garlits, Jerry Baltes, Don Prudhomme and Connie Colleta were marquee attractions.

Included in the dragster line-up will be Larkin & Weiss, Magicar, Chubasco and Poison Ivy.

With bulldozers perched atop hills ready to wipe out Carlsbad Raceway, it would appear the last motor sports outposts are the eighth-of-a-mile drag strip and quarter-mile oval at Barona Speedway.

Another blow for motor sports will be the end of stock car racing at Cajon Speedway, a fixture since 1961. After 50 years, county officials have elected not to extend its lease beyond July 2005.

The Brucker family, promoters of the three-eighths-of-a-mile oval since 1961, said they did not wish to stage half a season, so the end might come this September. The county has development plans for the property.

Like dinosaurs, some racetrack carcasses remain in San Diego. Bits and pieces remain around Lake-side’s Lindo Lake and Otay Mesa South Bay Speedway. Houses have erased them.

Old race fans gather from time to time to talk about the good old days. Admittedly, they were exciting.

In the 1930s, tracks emerged on El Cajon Boulevard, across from the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, on Mission Beach causeway and Sports Field at the foot of downtown Broadway. They gave way to developments. SeaWorld took over the causeway and the minor league Padres chased off the midget autos.

A simular fate came for Balboa Stadium, which had operated since 1938. In 1961, the San Diego Chargers advised the city that auto racing and football were not compatible. The races there had produced seven Indianapolis 500 winners.

When the Chargers moved on to Jack Murphy Stadium (now Qualcomm Stadium), Balboa was abandoned, condemned and destroyed.

There were several new facilities after World War II. They included Torrey Pines, Encinitas’ Bean Bowl, Lakeside rodeo grounds, Paradise Mesa, Miramar’s Hour Glass Field and the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

With drivers appearing from all sections of the United States, the Torrey Pines road course for sports cars utilized Camp Callan roads from 1951-56. Future international stars Phil Hill, Carroll Shelby, Masten Gregory and Dan Gurney raced there. But it gave way to a golf course.

Maybe people are satisfied viewing races on television. Speed Vision channel, for example, has improved its viewer ship by 50 percent.