PART 3 “LIONS DVD RELEASED
Mon, 2008-10-20 16:00
The third and final “Lions – The Greatest Drag Strip” DVD is now
available, following its debut during the NHRA Hot Rod Reunion, in
Bakersfield, Calif. Copies can be purchased at: www.Lionsvideo.com .
The nearly two-hour (110-mi.) video documentary on the revered, southern California-based Lions Drag Strip, by longtime photojournalist, Don Gillespie, covers a critical and history-changing period from late 1966 to its closing in December 1972.
The third and final “Lions – The Greatest Drag Strip” DVD is now available, following its debut during the NHRA Hot Rod Reunion, in Bakersfield, Calif. Copies can be purchased at: www.Lionsvideo.com .
The nearly two-hour (110-mi.) video documentary on the revered, southern California-based Lions Drag Strip, by longtime photojournalist, Don Gillespie, covers a critical and history-changing period from late 1966 to its closing in December 1972.
The episode is hosted by Jon Lundberg “The Voice of Drag Racing”, and narrated by Rick Carlson. More than 40 individuals have speaking parts throughout, including the sport’s leading pioneer drivers, manufacturers and key track workers, such as Don Garlits, Ed Iskenderian, Hayden Proffitt, Gas Ronda, Bill “Maverick” Golden, Robert “Bones” Balogh, Carl Olson, Sush Matsubara, Tom McEwen, Pat Foster, Dale Pulde, Don Long, C. J. Hart, and Larry Sutton.
Others include: T.C. Lemons, Roland Leong, Steve Reyes, Doug Kruse, Ed Lenarth, Don Prieto, Ralph Guldahl Jr., Bob Muravez, Tim Kraushaar, Dave Wallace Jr., Wayne King, Harry Hibler, Mike Thermos, Greg Sharp, Willie Borsch, John Ewald,
Frank Fedak, Tom West, Doug Hayes, Tommy Ivo, Gerry Glenn, Bill Schultz, Chuck Finders, Don Irvin, Mickey Williams, Ron Capps, Mashie Mishalko, and Dan Radlauer.
The project required more than seven years to accumulate not only the interviews, but also the hundreds of rare photos, film clips, and extensive research.
The final episode begins with nitro racing’s version of a heavyweight bout, as Top Fuel dragsters fight the growing trend of AFX and early Funny Cars.
Huge meets ensued. Top Fuel scored big with the United States Professional Dragster Championships. Funny Cars countered with the Drag Racing Magazine East-West meet, and epic AHRA Winter Nationals, featuring a 32-car field.
Innovation led to quicker ET’s – and speeds. Funny Cars roared into the 7-second zone. Top Fuelers blazed past 220 miles-per-hour. With increased performance came danger. Straining clutches and superchargers resulted in spectacular fires, wheel-stands and crashes, with drivers in extreme peril.
One of the more dramatic segments depicts the AHRA Grand American in early 1970, when Top Fuel legend “Big Daddy” Don Garlits lost part of his right foot in a horrific starting line transmission explosion. Graphic film of the incident, shot by a spectator, surfaced only recently. Garlits recounts the incident, plus his equally stunning return months later with a rear-engine dragster that likewise changed the sport forever.
Weekly campaigners included Jr. Fuel and Gas Dragsters, AA/Gas Supercharged, AA/Fuel Altered, Injected Funny Cars, plus wild exhibition vehicles, like Bill “Maverick” Golden, who tells of a memorable match with his “Little Red Wagon” Dodge wheelstander.
Manager C.J. Hart departed in 1971, replaced by innovator, Steve Evans, who switched from AHRA to NHRA sanction, and produced events like the giant Grand Premier, which saw the track’s largest number of incidents. Incredible film clips include a wheel-stand and crash by Gary Burgin, plus the sports’ first over-backwards flip of a rear-engine dragster by the Penner & Beach fueler, and a truly frightening fire by Bob McFarland’s Funny Car, captured on movie film by veteran lensman Paul Sadler at the edge of the sand trap.
When noise complaints spelled the end in December 1972, Lions held the racing equivalent of Woodstock, with “The Last Drag Race”, a colossal, fitting, yet tear-filled end to one of the sport’s most historic, and revered tracks.
The DVD retails for $29.95 each, plus $5 shipping/handling, and is available at: www.Lionsvideo.com, and soon at Amazon.com, among other major vendors. Also available are Part One (1955-’62) and Part Two (1962-’66).
For information, please contact: Don Gillespie, 167 Charleston Street, Weber City, VA 24290, phone; 276-386-9120, or email; Dgillespie02@hotmail.com .
The nearly two-hour (110-mi.) video documentary on the revered, southern California-based Lions Drag Strip, by longtime photojournalist, Don Gillespie, covers a critical and history-changing period from late 1966 to its closing in December 1972.
The third and final “Lions – The Greatest Drag Strip” DVD is now available, following its debut during the NHRA Hot Rod Reunion, in Bakersfield, Calif. Copies can be purchased at: www.Lionsvideo.com .The nearly two-hour (110-mi.) video documentary on the revered, southern California-based Lions Drag Strip, by longtime photojournalist, Don Gillespie, covers a critical and history-changing period from late 1966 to its closing in December 1972.
The episode is hosted by Jon Lundberg “The Voice of Drag Racing”, and narrated by Rick Carlson. More than 40 individuals have speaking parts throughout, including the sport’s leading pioneer drivers, manufacturers and key track workers, such as Don Garlits, Ed Iskenderian, Hayden Proffitt, Gas Ronda, Bill “Maverick” Golden, Robert “Bones” Balogh, Carl Olson, Sush Matsubara, Tom McEwen, Pat Foster, Dale Pulde, Don Long, C. J. Hart, and Larry Sutton.
Others include: T.C. Lemons, Roland Leong, Steve Reyes, Doug Kruse, Ed Lenarth, Don Prieto, Ralph Guldahl Jr., Bob Muravez, Tim Kraushaar, Dave Wallace Jr., Wayne King, Harry Hibler, Mike Thermos, Greg Sharp, Willie Borsch, John Ewald,
Frank Fedak, Tom West, Doug Hayes, Tommy Ivo, Gerry Glenn, Bill Schultz, Chuck Finders, Don Irvin, Mickey Williams, Ron Capps, Mashie Mishalko, and Dan Radlauer.
The project required more than seven years to accumulate not only the interviews, but also the hundreds of rare photos, film clips, and extensive research.
The final episode begins with nitro racing’s version of a heavyweight bout, as Top Fuel dragsters fight the growing trend of AFX and early Funny Cars.
Huge meets ensued. Top Fuel scored big with the United States Professional Dragster Championships. Funny Cars countered with the Drag Racing Magazine East-West meet, and epic AHRA Winter Nationals, featuring a 32-car field.
Innovation led to quicker ET’s – and speeds. Funny Cars roared into the 7-second zone. Top Fuelers blazed past 220 miles-per-hour. With increased performance came danger. Straining clutches and superchargers resulted in spectacular fires, wheel-stands and crashes, with drivers in extreme peril.
One of the more dramatic segments depicts the AHRA Grand American in early 1970, when Top Fuel legend “Big Daddy” Don Garlits lost part of his right foot in a horrific starting line transmission explosion. Graphic film of the incident, shot by a spectator, surfaced only recently. Garlits recounts the incident, plus his equally stunning return months later with a rear-engine dragster that likewise changed the sport forever.
Weekly campaigners included Jr. Fuel and Gas Dragsters, AA/Gas Supercharged, AA/Fuel Altered, Injected Funny Cars, plus wild exhibition vehicles, like Bill “Maverick” Golden, who tells of a memorable match with his “Little Red Wagon” Dodge wheelstander.
Manager C.J. Hart departed in 1971, replaced by innovator, Steve Evans, who switched from AHRA to NHRA sanction, and produced events like the giant Grand Premier, which saw the track’s largest number of incidents. Incredible film clips include a wheel-stand and crash by Gary Burgin, plus the sports’ first over-backwards flip of a rear-engine dragster by the Penner & Beach fueler, and a truly frightening fire by Bob McFarland’s Funny Car, captured on movie film by veteran lensman Paul Sadler at the edge of the sand trap.
When noise complaints spelled the end in December 1972, Lions held the racing equivalent of Woodstock, with “The Last Drag Race”, a colossal, fitting, yet tear-filled end to one of the sport’s most historic, and revered tracks.
The DVD retails for $29.95 each, plus $5 shipping/handling, and is available at: www.Lionsvideo.com, and soon at Amazon.com, among other major vendors. Also available are Part One (1955-’62) and Part Two (1962-’66).
For information, please contact: Don Gillespie, 167 Charleston Street, Weber City, VA 24290, phone; 276-386-9120, or email; Dgillespie02@hotmail.com .
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