Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Santa Ana Drag Strip at Orange County Airport

Santa Ana Drag RacingBefore it was called "John Wayne Airport" it was called "Orange County Airport", and during the 1950's it was the place for drag racing.

A man named C.J. "Pappy" Hart was credited as having built the world's first commercial drag strip, named "Santa Ana Drag Strip" or "Santa Ana Drags", and held races there every Sunday. The drag strip operated from 1950 to 1959, until the County of Orange forced it closed due to increasing air traffic.

When Hart passed away in 2004, several newspapers rans articles that documented his fame in racing circles and told the story of how he started the first commercial drag strip. A site called, "We Did it for Love" has archived them all...
http://www.wediditforlove.com/cj-2.html

While going through the e-mails we received during the old days of OCThen, I found one that talked about the Santa Ana Drags...

Before it was called the John Wayne airport and before it was called Orange County Airport, it was just a sleepy little landing strip used by private planes, charters and the Martin Aviation Company. When I was a teenager in 1955 the airstrip would close down on Sundays and NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) sanctioned drag races were held on the runway. I remember seeing the "Green Monster", Art Arfons jet powered drag racer, screeming down the runway. It was probably the first jet to ever "land" at SNA. The drags moved to Lyons Speedway in Long Beach sometime in the late 1950's. They did return later on, for a few years, as the Orange County Raceway located at the I-5 and Sand Canyon.

By: Richard M. Cowan, 10 Aug 2002

If you can remember the drag races at Orange County Airport, click on "Post a Comment" at the bottom of this article, and share your memories with us.

41 comments:

  1. I do remember the Orange County Airport. My cousins lived on the other side of baker st. I think the area was called Santa Ana Heights. On Baker st behind the airport was where they kept all the old ww11 planes, and my cousins and I used to play on them, sometimes pretending to be pilots. I also remember the Orange County Raceway. My brother belonged to the Orange County Timing Assoc. That was in the early 60's. I was born in Santa Ana, and grew up there. I left to join the Army in 68, and only returned to Orange County in 2002. I have gone back to my old neighbor hood, and it is nothing at all like it was when I was a kid. I just can't begin to explain that, it would take a book. But time marches on, and its nice to be living in Orange County.

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  2. I had been to the "Santa Ana Airport" as a kid on and off over the years when I lived there. My first trip to a drag race was there on a very hot sunny August Saturday afternoon, 1959. My friend Hank Avis was a car guy and we both were just about beyond reality looking over the various drag cars! it was just unreal! Well, the day progressed into one race after another, then the Chrysler powered COOK and BEDWELL digger came on the line! The noise was horrific, the tire smoke coupled with fuel fumes caused a seven alarm headache! The speed was unbeleivable for the time, 148 MPH in the quarter mile! Oh my, not to be out done by that the twin engined(Chev Powered, side by side no less, blown fuel)Howard Cams special "TWIN BEARS" lines up and is push started and roars to life! What a noise, I thought Hank was gonna faint! We were about thirty feet behind this thing when the driver (Jack Chrisman) nails the throttle and launches into the afternoon sun! My Dad picked us up later that afternoon, my ears ached, head hurt and so did Hanks, we just talked and talked about the noise and the speed and the did you see this and that! For years after I would go to the drags races at Lions in Long Beach, Colton, etc. Pamona became the real event as years went by, some of the fastest drag cars on the face of the earth make their debut at Pamona. Well for sure, Santa Ana Airport, C.J.Hart, started a real something back then, was really something to have been there!

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    Replies
    1. does anybody remember 'the beanfield racers' down around the Zoo at macauthur and coast highway? what about flat heads forever?

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  3. My father was the first air traffic control chief at Orange County Airport in 1958. They annexed land and began to expand the airport. I was too young to go to the drags in the mid 50s, but heard many stories. They named the control tower road after my father when he passed away in 1968 in Tucson, AZ... Randy Jones (Son of Ike Jones)

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  4. It was May of 1952...we had moved
    to Lido Isle from Sunland. It was
    a big deal. My parents had to sell
    all but one car and my dad kept his
    '32 Ford Coupe...which he had chopped himself. He was running
    a Vic Edelbrock prepared 59-A block
    with 4 Stromberg 97's and Edelbrock
    Heads... We moved in on Saturday
    and my dad was supposed to start
    his new job in Brea on Monday. Well, we took the Ford to The Santa Ana Dragstrip and turned 98.5
    MPH...The Coupe was not even painted...dark primer only and we didn't even have floorboards. Everyone said...boy is that car fast...but it is so ugly! On
    the last run of the day...Dad
    blew the transmission and my folks
    friends from Lakewood had to take
    us to stay with them Sunday night
    and then take Dad to work in Brea
    to start his new job the next day.
    Luckily, he was going into sales
    and they gave him a company car.
    A new '52 Ford 2 door!

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  5. My mother worked as a waitress in the Orange county airport restaurant and has told me many stories of the dragstrips. I remember the airport back in the 60's. My grandmother had her pilot's license and we flew out of OC many times. What wonderful memories!!!!!

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  6. Lets not forget O.C.I.R. or the Orange County International Raceway
    ...Leo

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  7. creativeI was the youngest member of the Orange County Timing Association. My older brother Greg and I used to go to the meetings they had at Anaheim High School. One of the local papers back then published an article along with a picture of my brother and I having Holly Hendrich signing an Entry form While sitting in the Schaeffer Clutch Special. A great looking rear engine dragster with flamed body. I still have the photo they gave us. This was the early sixties. The money from the OCTA dues help put OCIR on the map. Matt Holmes

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  8. Does anyone remember a Thomas Brooks. He is said to have been a founding member of Orange county timing assn. He ran a green colored fiat altered. I believe he did motor and body work for many racers.

    Thanks

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  9. I was the Divisional Director of OCTA, the Orange County Timing Assn. Our goal was to build a drag strip in Orange County and I signed on over 2000 OCTA members, each getting a membership card. Jack DeBord, from Muncie, Indiana founded OCTA. We held fundraising events like car washes and a car show at OC Fairgounds where Dick Dale played. Bill Thomas in Anaheim was building Chevy powered sports cars and he was one of our sponsors at events. Mike Jones worked for him. We failed to find land to build a strip but were in contact with the Irvine Company...but they wanted to own the drag strip and let us work there but Jack said no. We ran out of money and disbanded but Mike Jones stayed in touch with Joan Irvine and that led to the building of Orange County International Raceway in Irvine. Mike managed it for a while.

    Dave W.

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  10. Tom Brooks was indeed an engine builder based in an old house on Chapman Ave in Orange. He was one of the many people involved with the Orange County Timing Association, along with Jack Ford, Dave Wise, two brothers who worked for the Anaheim Bulletin newspaper, and of course Jack DeBord, founder of OCTA. Jack's brother ran the drag strip in Muncie Indiana and Jack would phone him often to get advice on how to find land and raise money to builds a drag strip in Orange County.

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  11. I was born in 1947. We lived in Santa Ana and my Father, Harvey Malcolmson, owned Harvey's Auto Glass at 302 E. First St. My Father sponsored a race car (back in the day...early 50's) driven by a fellow named Ollie. All I remember is that Ollie's car was white, shaped like a bullet & on the side of it, it said Harvey's Auto Glass with the address. I wonder if anyone remembers this? I can be reached at 714.528.1141 or rose.malcolmson@gmail.com Oh yea, those were the days; 3 lanes to the beach; the middle was for passing only; there were no freeways or shopping malls, just the good old days! P.S. My Father is still alive & will be 93 in August!

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  12. Hello everyone. I live in a small town called KIng City. My brother and some friends and I are tring to host some drag races at our local airport, the only thing that we are runing into is how we get the FFA to allow us to close the airport dow for a day or two. I would realy like for some one to help us out. thanks..........

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  13. My father in law, William "Bill" Sanders raced dragsters at this track in the 1950's against the likes of Don Garlits. Now 83 years old, I'm looking for any photos of stories from back then for a tribute to his early innovations in the sport. I think he said CJ Hart was the starter.

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  14. My family had long time ties to the founders of the Santa Ana Drags. My dad "Ronnie" was a neighbor of Creighton Hunter of Hunter Oil Company on First St in S.A. My dad just gave me a cast iron green oil tank truck that Creighton gave him in the late 1930s. It's my guess this was a promo for Hunter Oil. Creighton's parents would take him downtown to Main St for an ice cream back then.
    My mom (Patti) was a friend of Joan Hart (CJ's and Peggy's daughter)in high school and they sold hot dogs together at the races in the early 50s. Peggy would drop Joan off at school and my dad said she would usually burn out when leaving upsetting the faculty.I have many cool things that they have given me recently such as an original unused decal,stick pin and pictures they took.
    Keep on sharing. darboo55@yahoo.com

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  15. Our family vacationed in Balboa beginning in the 40s. They bought a waterfront cottage just doors from where we rented. Coming from the San Fernando Valley, as a teenager in the fun 50's we used to watch the drag races on San Fernando Blvd. in the Valley. But to come down to the Air Strip in Orange County was even a bigger thrill with more souped up cars, screaming kids, and the noise....loved the noise. Forgot about those days....thanks for the memories!

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  16. My dad told me a lot of stories about the Santa Ana Drags. He got his pilot's license in 1948 at Martin's Aviation and had his plane parked there in the 50's. He belonged to the Civil Air Patrol squadron stationed there. I remember goofing around in the LINK instrument flying trainer they had in the big hangar. Us kid's would play on the swing sets they had next to the old rotating beacon. I was born in 1958, so this was early 60's. When the Bonanza Airlines F-27 would pull up to the terminal building we'd run to the fence a little downwind to get a whiff of turbine exhaust!!
    They should make a cologne of that!
    They had airshows there and you could ride in the Ford Tri-motor(Tin Goose) for a "Penny a Pound".
    My favorite was hanging on the chain link fence off Main St. at the end of the runway watching Bob Hoover do his thing in his yellow P-51 Mustang, especially his famous landing routine. I remember drag cars making runs down the strip during a break in the flying!
    We would also go to the,then, Naval air base at Los Alamitos when they had their Open House. I remember watching the "Little Red Wagon" and the "Hemi Under Glass" doing wheelstands up and down the runway!
    In the 70's my High School buddies and I would be at OCIR. The "Foxhunts" were fun and watching Gordie Bonin going 240mph
    (Two-Forty Gordie) was top notch!!
    I remember being there the first time they ran the jet dragsters. It was kinda nuts back then when they ran the finals. we would walk out to the side of the burn out area and christmas tree, right in the middle of the mayhem!!! When the jets ran the "officials" just told everyone not to stand behind the cars!! A few people sitting on top of the tall wooden fence found out why!! Sometimes before the races Art Scholl would do aerobatics in his Super Chipmonk aircraft. Classic stuff!!! I got my pilot's license in 1981 at OC airport and every now and then I'll go up and see whats left of the OC I grew up in.
    Gene Serrano

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  17. Yes, I remember "The Santa Ana Drags"...Before I was old enough to think about anything but cars and girls I used to go and watch the races on Sunday...You parked along the strip and watched...I do remember when the wind was blowing you could hardly see the strip or the cars on it for the dust in the air but Drag Racing was just that, Drag Racing and a little wind and Dust didn't stop it...

    Granddaddy Joe Smith

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  18. I grew up in Santa Ana (south olive st). We moved there in 1947 when I was 6, and I went to Glenn Martin Grammer Sch. When I was older, we kids would ride our bikes out McArthur to the airport and climb around all the old planes (B-17, B-25, P-39, P-51, etc.) Later; I took flight instructions with Martin Aviation on the weekends in the days when the tower was closed. (VFR only).

    Much later, I found that my Father-in-Law was the air base commander of the Santa Ana airport during WWII. I was the field used for the training command of Santa Ana Air Base.

    Connections?

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  19. One more note on the Orange County Timing Association: Among those of us who worked along side Jack DeBord to help build a drag strip in Orange County were Tom Hoover and the Robinson brothers who worked at the Anaheim Bulletin. Our goal was to gain public support through OCTA membership, public meetings and newspaper coverage of our progress. My family car was a red 53 Plymouth and written on the sides in white shoe polish was: "Orange County needs a drag strip, join OCTA". Bernie Partidge, Regional Director at NHRA, was one of our mentors.

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  20. Tom Brooks was my cousin and one of the smartest people I ever knew. Taught me alot. He passed away a few years back and left me the old family homeplace here in Va. I have his OCTA jacket hanging in my shop. I also have many pictures of the races back when he lived on Chapman. He was part owner of Brooks Fischer automotive.He built his first custom when he was only 15 years old. He chopped channeled painted and did a complete custom uphoulstry job along with a long list of other unbelieveable touches to that Buick ,and it was featured in Custom Car magazine. I will be taking his ashes from Va. to Ca. this year on his 61' Triumph . Really would like for someone to show me around out there. My business # is (804)854-5000 My name is Patrick

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  21. Thanks for all the great memories, I was at OC only one time but remember when Lyons opened and was able to get a tag-along with my brother to the drags. The wheel standers like "Little Red Wagon" were my favorites and the "worlds Fastest Mustang" with the turbine engine from a Huey helocopter. We had a lot of fun watching those races, thanks for taking your little brother along with you. R.I.P. bro.
    MARK CRAIG

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  22. IF CJ. DONT CREATE DRAG RACING THE HISTORY OF DRAG RACING NEVER EXIST..!! THANKS TO CJ. DRAG LEGENDS INC. ONLINE MAGAZINE EXIST..!!
    FANS SEE US IN myspace.com/draglegends and facebook.com/draglegends

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  23. Anyone remember the red 1924 t roadster sponsered by "Moon Equipment" hand painted on the rod that was driven by Hill Alcala and raced at the Orange County Dragstrip in the 50's and 60's. His son Rudy is still involved with dragsters and workes with the Gasparrelli racing team (TAFC) funny car.
    The Red roadster is still around OC and is run and shown at some of the old timers meets like in Bakersfield.

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  24. Just found this bit of history today, brings back great times. Grew up on an orange and cattle ranch 3miles East of Orange off Chapman Ave, wen't to OUHS graduaTED IN 1950. D.D. Lembke and I took home a trophy from C J Hart's opening day summer of 50. Later I ran my Sidewinder dragster with Jack Chrisman on occasion at Santa Ana. We set the the top speed and the lowest E.T. ever ran there the on the day the strip finally closed, i958, I beleive. 9.04 or so and 164 mph, quickest on gas anywhere at that time. I finished my racing some 50 years later after being involved in SCCA,USRRC,CanAm,Indy, F5000, and finally owned the Ensign F1 team with Mo Nunn. Now I'm 78,living in Florida with my grandchildren.Got to live my dream and it all started 60 years ago at Santa Ana Drags, Sincerly Chuck Jones

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  25. Wow, just pulled up your site. I lived in N Long Beach. went to the drags often, drove a 32 ford roadster with a cadilac flat head. Would turn 110mph, was there the day the "Beast" beat the "Bug's" record. If my memory serves me correctly Chet was there tuning (mock)his HARLEY and did in fact beat the bugs time. Seems to me it was 142+ MPH not 129 as previously mentioned, a fraction of a second faster. I was next in line to run my roadster when they interupted the activities because they had a special event.Chet had the Beast rolled out, came out in his wheel chair and began to appear as though he was tuning the carbs, Watching the beast disappear before me at about, my guess 10 flat (the new way to time events}, it was a site to remember.
    Continued events until drafted in the Army in 1953.
    Many, many fun times at the old drags, no ET crap just the speed of the rod and skilled drivers. it's got to complcated and scientific, bring back the old street drags speeds of 100 to 150. Much more fun for the little guys and their families

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  26. I ran a 1954 olds in 1954 top speed 85 mph we also ran a crosly with a blown cad.

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    1. My father-law is. Rebuliding a crosly

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  27. stop talking about the past and lets build back another drag strip in ORANGE COUNTY! THis county needs one, especially since all this illegal street racing is goin on, we need a track to be built here!! Petitions, anything, etc.. whatever it takes this county should have a strip! the Irvine company should get their head together and have one..

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  28. I am Eric De Bord who is the nephew of Jack De Bord and son of Doug De Bord who ran MUncie Dragway! Please share any stories about Jack or my Dad (good or bad!!!!)
    Thanks!
    Eric
    eric.debord@protential.com

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  29. I came to OC during the late 80's and I really had no idea that John Wayne Airport used to be the hot spot for drag racing. That's really something.

    I agree with other posters that there should be a drag strip in OC. Too many people are just racing in the public streets endangering other folks and that's just not cool at all.

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  30. We had a Cessna 195 at SNA and we would come back from a trip on Sunday to have to drag the strip so they would shut down the drag races so we could land. This was circa 1956. Fond mmories.

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  31. I am Jack DeBords - founder of OCTA - youngest daughter. My dad passed away early this morning with photos of his dragster "Agitation" by his side......thank you for mentioning him in prior posts, he would have loved that.....jodyd@jsapa.com

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  32. I'm in the process of doing a video documentary on the history of Orange County International Raceway. Several years ago I completed a three-DVD set on the history of Lions Drag Strip ("Lions - The Gretest Drag Strip"). First will be a "discovery" phase, to try and dig up as much film, photos, history and other artifacts as possible. After reading some of these posts, I'd really like to find out if anyone has an original Orange County Timing Association (OCTA) patch, or any other club materials. Want to be sure this group is given proper credit in laying the foundation for a drag strip in Orange County. I can be contacted at: Dgillespie02@hotmail.com.
    Thanks.... Don Gillespie

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  33. Several years ago I created a video documentary on Lions Drag Strip, titled "Lions - The Greatest Drag Strip". I'm now in the process of gathering home movies, artifacts, etc., for a history on Orange County Int'l Raceway. I want to justly give credit to the track's creation, which includes the efforts of the Orange County Timing Assoc. Would really like to gather any and all info regarding OCTA, especially items depicting the OCTA logo (plaques, jacket, etc.), to be able to show while being discussed. Any info greatly appreciated. Don Gillespie (dgillespie02@hotmail.com)

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  34. i spent a lot of time at the Santa Ana drags ,my brother was a member of the Outlaws car club i've often wondered what happened to Chuck Jones i worked for chuck at meridian antique auto ,we were converting maserati's to left hand drive. was supprized to see a post from Chuck (remember me) i'm Kent's brother Mike animalmike@charter.net would love to talk to you

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  35. I wonder if anyone has pictures of the painters ford pickup that ran in the early to mid 50s. It was painted yellow with black strips on the sides of the hood, this hid the air inlets to the engine. At a time when a lot of dragsters were useing flatheads this ford used a dodge red ram v8 with a 6-71 blower and two carbs fead cold air through flex tube in the hood. I know that they held the B gas record at least once maybe twice. They stopped running at lions because it got too scary to run. I had pictures of this truck, unfortately they were stollen menu years ago. I would like to know if anyone even knows of this truck because it was really ahead of the rest of vehicles running at that time.

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  36. My father worked for the airport from 1952 to 1965. He pumped gas to all of the airplanes. On Sunday he would pump 100 octane for the drag racers. I would go over with him some times to watch. I never got the drags out of my system.

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  37. I was running a 1957 FI Chevy 150 at the time, managed to win the super stock division at Santa that year. Young, dumb, broke, no money to support my hobby, have't raced since 157

    Tom Cole

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  38. Eric DeBord... I am Jim... I announced for your dad at Muncie Dragway for well over a decade. I dont have many heroes... Doug is one of them. Muncie Dragway is still going strong. You and your brother Mike were very young then... Doug got into raising beagles and left... we continued running the place (mostly Bob Grimes and Bill Moser) until it was sold in the early 70s to another group.

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  39. Started watching the drags at Santa Ana about 1953, those were the "good old days" of drag racing. '48 Plymouth 64.53 MPH, can't remember the et, musta been up there though. Never outgrew the sounds & smells of the track. Still go to this day although it's doesn't seem to be as much fun.

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