Funny Cars Invade Irwindale! Fontana Has Drags Again!

By James Drew

Dan Horan, Jr. setting new track records

Two of the venerable names from Southern California’s drag racing past have been reborn. The quarter mile California Dragway at Fontana and the new eighth mile Irwindale Speedway reside in cities with loads of history. While the facilities don’t yet match their previous stature, they provide something that is needed now just as it was back then – they provide a safe place to race for everyone who has a hot car. Both tracks have received high praise from the local police, which has helped to get young kids back out to the legit drags.

My most recent trip to Irwindale saw ground pounding nitro funny cars run on the 1/8 mile for the first time ever! Most of the guys and gals on this past Thursday night had never seen or witnessed nitro funny cars. But after Dan Horan, Jr. pulled on to the pad and did the first burn out by a funny car in this track’s history, the crowd went wild! Dale Pulde had the ‘65 Mustang thumping. On Dan's first pass, he laid down the quickest and fastest run in the track’s history at 4.15 seconds and a new track record speed of 176 mph. If Horan's flopper had not had front disc brakes, he would have not been able to get the ‘Stang slowed down in time and would have gone into the net! Check out www.irwindalespeedway.com for more info. The track is open every Thursday at 4:00 p.m. Runs begin at 5:00 p.m. Cars with open headers can make runs until 8:30 p.m. and muffled cars can run until 11:00 p.m.

The drag strip at California Speedway in Fontana is open every Saturday and Sunday for anyone who wants to make runs. Anything from street legal cars to Junior Dragsters to Top Alcohol Funny Cars and Dragsters have come out to test and race. For more info, check out www.californiaspeedway.com

Now both cities have a place to help battle illegal street racing. While talking to a couple of Irwindale police officers, they laid out a new tactic to use during encounters with guys or gals in fixed up cars. The cops would pull them over, talk to them about the dangers of street racing, and then pass out an Irwindale Speedway “ticket” that looks just like a real speeding ticket. This ticket, however, gets you one free trip to run your car or motorcycle at the strip. Damn, how come when I get pulled over all that I have ever gotten was a speeding ticket?

If you live in the southern California area, you need to check these tracks out! Here is a sampling of photos taken recently at Irwindale and Fontana.

Mr. Pammy doing a burnout in Jeff Gaynors Cuda; they broke the rear end on the launch

One bad 1957 Chevy P.S.C.A.

Twin turboed 350 240 Datsun Z doing a burnout

The brand "NEW" Dick & Ed Racing 1971 Chevrolet Vega AA/Funny Car.

The attention to detail on this AA/FC is just Awesome

Wow! A Thursday night with AA/FCs invading Irwindale for the first time!

One bad ass Chevy Nova doing a F/C style burnout

Dan Horan buckled in & ready to go

Besides the blower bag & diaper you would not know that this car was built today

Checking out the cockpit

Father & Son in a funny car!

The new California Dragway

Larry Scratch out testing one of his race cars

A newer Malibu doing a burnout

Dennis Taylor came out to make a couple of check out runs at Fontana

Another Super Stocker out testing

Getting a license

Mach 1 smokes the hides

How come when a cop pulls ME over I never get one of these? I always get the kind you have to pay!

V.W. powered T-Bucket

Blast from the Past: '55 Chevrolet

Another funny car making check out runs at Fontana

Rick Rogers was out at California Dragway testing his front motored Top Fueler

A pair of Semis doing burnouts. You don't see THIS at the Ontario truck stop!