Flamin' Frank Shoots the Ditch at San Fernando

By Tom Jobe

Here's another memory from San Fernando drag strip. All of the pictures you will ever see are taken from the right side of the track because on the left side is one of those big "flood control" channels. Down in the shut off area there was only a chain link fence separating the strip from this big concrete walled drainage ditch.

Okay, one Sunday afternoon Frank Pedregon, Sr. is there racing somebody. Just after the lights, something goes wrong with Frank's car and it veers left, hits the chain link fence, and disappears! Harry Hibler with all of the rest of us right behind him, run over and look down in the ditch. Frank has gone underneath the fence and is sprawled out on the ground next to his car 10 feet away. Down on the floor of this ditch, it is looking very grim! The ambulance guys just about break their necks getting under the fence and down to Frank.

Just as they get to him he jumps up and starts laughing; everyone but the ambulance guys fell over laughing. Pedregon's sense of humor is legendary, although the ambulance guys would probably disagree.

Tom Jobe