Growing up in a family immersed in drag racing history, Lana Chrisman understood the importance of preserving that history. That's why when Chrisman, daughter of the legendary Jack Chrisman, was offered the Executive Director position at the Lions Automobilia Foundation; she knew she had found her calling.

"I think it's important because we have to understand where we came from, where our industry came from," Chrisman said. "In southern California. So much came out of there, and so many innovators; we have Iskederian and Howard Cams, Keith Black, there's so many of our founding manufacturers came out of Southern California and tested at Lions. So I think that that relationship is important for us to preserve for just for our next generation to understand it and have a clear understanding of where we came from."

Credit successful Southern California businessman and car enthusiast Rick Lorenzen for providing the opportunity to preserve such a crucial chapter in drag racing's legacy. He is the driving force behind the Lions Drag Strip Museum.

"It was a premier track in Southern California; it was known across the country," Chrisman said. "Keeping that history alive is very important for our industry."

Chrisman understands two key elements go hand-in-hand regarding the museum's purpose. It provides the older generation an opportunity to relive the moments which shaped their lives, all the while educating generations to come about the sport's colorful past.

"We need to spotlight those that raced there because those are our storytellers, hearing it from the mouths of babes basically," Chrisman explained. "You want to hear their stories, the time and the atmosphere they experienced it, and to share it with the next generation because when you share it with the next generation, you're looking to make contact and a connection between the old and the new. If someone else's story can inspire somebody, I think that's a great segway into our industry and motorsports."

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Chrisman understands the generation responsible for the Lions Drag Strip memories represent a moment in time that will never likely happen again.

"It's hard to repeat," Chrisman added. "It would be great if another track popped up somewhere in the country and brought the community together and brought these great innovators. I think that's what it is. What can we come up with next? And I still have hope for that that can happen somewhere because the evolution of racing and the automotive industry's changing so much. I just came from SEMA, and the big thing, and I know a lot of these guys don't like hearing this, but the EV movement is happening, and those cars are performing.

"So it'll be interesting if we kind of recreate what happened at Lions 50 years ago either in Southern California or somewhere else in the country to bring everybody together. Because racing is a strong community, and it brings everyone together and it's positive."

For Chrisman, it's really not a challenge to be passionate about Lions because it was such a vital part of her racing DNA,

"Lions was a home track for both my dad, Jack and my cousin, Art," Chrisman explained. "So being a part of that brings me closer to them because, unfortunately, they're both no longer with us. So to be able to come up and have people in the foundation or visitors come up and say, 'Hey, I remember watching your cousin do this, or your dad was my hero."

"It always brings a tear to my eye. It's a great feeling because you're close to them at that moment when that story's being told. And with myself my daughter, Shelby, is a volunteer at the museum, so she never had the opportunity to meet my dad. So for her to hear those firsthand stories from people that knew her, that's very, very gratifying for me to hear that and to see the smile on her face to know her grandfather."

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE MUSEUM WEBSITE