RELATED STORY - WHEN THE LIONS ROARED 

Part two of the acclaimed video documentary, “Lions – The Greatest Drag Strip”, will be released on DVD at the NHRA Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield, Calif., October 12-14, 2007.

The latest installment on the revered Long Beach, Calif.-based track, by veteran motorsports journalist, Don Gillespie, picks up speed, literally, in 1962, when nitro-burning cars returned after a five-year ban under founding manager, speed king Mickey Thompson.

The (1-HR, 40-MIN) presentation concludes near the end of 1966, with the sport’s explosive growth in everything from dragsters and supercharged coupe match race wars, to early funny cars, etc.

“Initially, this was supposed to be a two-part video,” began Gillespie, “but, the enormity and importance of the Lions story, the amount of pictures and movie footage, plus the tales as told by the sport’s early pioneers, make it necessary to conclude the epic tale with a pending third and final edition.”

RELATED STORY - WHEN THE LIONS ROARED  

Part two of the acclaimed video documentary, “Lions – The Greatest Drag Strip”, will be released on DVD at the NHRA Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield, Calif., October 12-14, 2007.

The latest installment on the revered Long Beach, Calif.-based track, by veteran motorsports journalist, Don Gillespie, picks up speed, literally, in 1962, when nitro-burning cars returned after a five-year ban under founding manager, speed king Mickey Thompson.

The (1-HR, 40-MIN) presentation concludes near the end of 1966, with the sport’s explosive growth in everything from dragsters and supercharged coupe match race wars, to early funny cars, etc.

“Initially, this was supposed to be a two-part video,” began Gillespie, “but, the enormity and importance of the Lions story, the amount of pictures and movie footage, plus the tales as told by the sport’s early pioneers, make it necessary to conclude the epic tale with a pending third and final edition.”

Part One covered its opening in 1955 through mid-’62. Part three (for future release), will conclude with the track’s emotional closing in December 1972 with The Last Drag Race.

In 1962 newly formed 7-second dragster teams included Greer-Black & (Don) Prudhomme, plus “TV” Tommy Ivo, both among more than two-dozen interviewed participants on the DVD.

Roland Leong recounts his rule-changing accident in the “Hawaiian”. Don Garlits recalls a colorful match race involving Chris Karamesines. NHRA starter, Rick Stewart, shown in a violent finish line crash, recounts waking up in the hospital as the Watts Riots began. Even “Wild Willie” Borsch explains how he drove his AA/Fuel Altered using one hand, from newly uncovered audiotape.

Others on camera include Tom McEwen, John Force, Gene Mooneyham, Larry Sutton, C.J. Hart, Ed Iskenderian, Ralph Guldahl, Jr., Don Prieto, Dave Wallace, Pat Foster, Paula Murphy, Ronnie Rapp, Dale Armstrong, Frank Fedak, Jim Kelly, Doug Kruse, George Bolthoff, Chris Karamesines, and many others.

Top Fuel dragsters had also reached 200 MPH. Major match race draws included the blown Willys coupes of Stone-Woods-Cook versus “Big John” Mazmanian, the ‘stands packed to capacity. Stockers swiftly evolved into altered wheelbase machines; from carbs to injectors, then blowers, gas to nitro – and funny cars were born.

Emerging, too, were breathtaking yet scary streamliners, exhibition cars, junior fuel dragsters, gas and fuel altereds, coupes, motorcycles, the list goes on.

Mickey Thompson’s departure witnessed promotional genius C.J. “Pappy” Hart take the helm, who promptly ended NHRA sanction. As a result, epic and rival AHRA dual stocker/dragster World Championships took place, plus the racer-formed UDRA held a series of memorable events of similar national caliber.

Immediately following the NHRA Hot Rod Reunion, Part Two (and currently Part One) of “Lions – The Greatest Drag Strip” can be purchased online ($29.95 retail ea.) at: www.lionsvideo.com. For information, call: 276-386-9120, or email: Dgillespie02@hotmail.com.