San Gabriel Drag Strip (Irwindale)

When the first San Gabriel Valley Drag Strip in Baldwin Park had to move, the new track went a little west to Live Oak and Rivergrade Road in Irwindale, and part of the old strip became the new pit area. Fatal crashes had forced the old strip to bar dragsters and other fast cars, but the new one, owned by promoters Jack and Will Tice with partner Jack Minnock, was built for speed. It opened on September 17, 1961 with a short paved shutdown, so only the slower classes ran until the pavement was extended to 8/10 of a mile. All-out racing started with the October 29 meet, which drew thirty-six fuel and gas dragsters. In November 1961 Gordon Collett set a national record for single-engine AA/GD at 178.5 mph and 8.62 seconds. The track booked many name racers, including Lefty Mudersbach, Tommy Ivo, Chris Karamesines, Vance Hunt, Don Garlits, E. J. ‘Parachute’ Potter and Archie Liederbrand’s Untouchable jet dragster. Part of its success came from letting fuel cars run during NHRA’s fuel ban. Lights for night racing went in during 1962. The last race was a two-day event on August 10-11, 1963, when nearly 30,000 people watched more than twenty top fuelers, including a Tommy Ivo and Kenny Safford match race, Don Prudhomme, Masters-Richter, Mike Snively, Glen Stokey, Bob Sidebotham and Mike Danylo in the Airline Auto Special. The Tice brothers sold the track after their lease ran out. The site is now open gravel and a large electric substation.