If you grew up in Southern California from the mid ’50’s to the early 70’s, there is no doubt you had heard of Lions Drag Strip. Opening in 1955, the same year as Disneyland and in the middle of a population boom. The core purpose of Lions Drag Strip was to cut down on criminal street racing and create a legal venue for such shenanigans. Long Beach Judge, Fred Miller, reached out to service clubs in the area to obtain financing. Judge Miller teamed up with then Mayor Norris Poulson, Councilman Gibson, newscaster George Putnam, and former President of the LA Harbor Commission, John Chadwick. Chadwick was responsible for securing the property owned by the Harbor Commission. The Lions Club stepped up and volunteered their services to raise $45,000.00 to build the facility and then formed the Lions Associated Drag Strip. The profits were reinvested back into the community through charitable contributions to the Blinds Boy’s Clubs, Community Chest, Red Cross, Exceptional Children’s Foundation, YWCA, UMCA and the City of Hope. Close to 300 cars competed on the first day; October 9, 1955. Managed by infamous racer, Mickey Thompson, the racing was strictly professional. It was known as one of the fastest tracks in the U.S. due to it’s incredible traction, and close proximity to the ocean dubbed it “rareified air”.
Lions Drag Strip was the first in the nation to be lit for night racing and was the first to replace the flag-dropping starter to what’s known now as the “Christmas Tree” starting light system.
Lions was also the site where, in 1970, legendary top fuel driver Don “Big Daddy” Garlits’ transmission exploded, cutting the driver’s foot in half, and severed the arm of a spectator. Within a year, Big Daddy debuted a new racecar with the engine behind the driver which became a top fuel standard. “Lions” was also the home track to Don “The Snake” Prudhomme and Tom “Mongoo$e” McEwen who would become household named rivals when they went to Mattel Hot Wheels for promotional toys. The track closed on December 2, 1972 where Tom “Mongoo$e” McEwen beat all time rival “Snake” Prudhomme with the fastest time ever of 6.39 seconds in his funny car.
MEET RICK LORENZEN
Rick Lorenzen, philanthropist and cool car guy, has been amassing a collection of incredible cars in a world class setting for decades. His core business, Price Transfer in Rancho Dominguez is a perfect home for “Price Automobilia” with the large buildings and grounds. In the past few years, Rick, who grew up in Wilmington, California was in the thick of it as he grew up around Lions Drag Strip. Rick started his love of cars with a modified ’51 Willys coupe where he and his friends built it up with the help of Jim Dugan’s Muffler Shop, who also built headers and chassis for Mickey Thompson. The seed was planted at that moment for a world-class museum like the one we are in today.
Price Automobilia’s collection of 35+ Willys, and over 100 classic cars continues to grow. The venue features a working soda fountain diner, storefronts featuring a speed shop and a replication of Ricks father’s Texaco Station. Most of the cars are restored in the Price Automobilia shop on the premises which, many of the tools were acquired from the nearby Boyd Coddington’s shop.
Lorenzen’s love for the drag strip is culminated with the founding of The Lions Drag Strip Museum, a 15,000 square foot facility with a 4,000 square foot diorama of the starting line bridge, spectator bleachers and over 5,000 square feet of hand painted murals by legendary artists: Kenny Yongblood, Yvonne Mecialis, and Keith Moreland. The murals, exhibition pieces and ambience rivals any world-class museum out there. AND, it’s a private collection. A collection of a philanthropist who generously shares his passion to help those who need it most.
Both Price Automobilia and The Lions Drag Strip Museum are private venues that are occasionally open to the public. The venue’s primary focus is for charitable fundraising including Honoring Our Fallen, in which Rick and daughter Tami Lorenzen-Fanselow are proud to support.
Be sure to take a visit to www.TheLionsDragStripMuseum.com and follow on Facebook: @TheLionsDragStripMuseum , Twitter: @LionsDrag , InstGram: @TheLionsDragStrip