Supercharger whine at OCIR...doesn't get better than that. My first drag race was '81 Winston World Finals at OCIR and I've loved drag racing ever since.
"They paved paradise and put up a parking lot" Actually, they put up a train station and several industrial buildings. It was the best track in So Cal, if not all of Cal!
I was pretty lucky....my dad George was asst director at Lions with CJ Hart....he and Tom Ritchie had a sign up at OCIR on the 70s....so I got in free....
The good day! I miss that track and the fox hunt and the funny car lineup all together on the track. I remember i got to push the button for the tree for the final race of the finals!
OCIR was the best track in the country. They were one of the few tracks that didn't block off the top end and you could check out the cars close up in the shut down area.
That top end spot was a blast. You could really hear that supercharger whine from there. We lived in Fountain Valley back then and used to catch the Winston World Finals every year at OCIR. Great memories.
CC Cerny born 9/25/1949 to 3/12/2014. Seen here at the 8 minute mark. Loved what he did and never gave up his dream. Made his mark in drag racing history at Orange County Raceway. Top fuel Small block. Mouse vs. elephant.
I did work on the Corvair My profile picture is of me me leaning over the engine compartment of that car at Lions. I knew Dickie Harrel and crewed for him on his 65 and 66 Novas when he was in Calif.
Actually, it was similar. I grew up at Lions. To me, the best times in drag racing were the mid 60's, I was in my late teens, ,and I worked as pit crew for Hayden and others during the evolution of the Funny Car from the AF/Xers. Those were the days!
@ddguild1 It sounds similar to what happened to Lions Dragstrip. Didnt they do flame burnouts at OCIR? Think i have a picture somewhere. They were probably the best times for dragracing.
Did you have any involement when Dickie ran the Z-11 409/427's? I have Tom Jacobson's Z-11. I built a tunnel ram in 1971. 1975 I installed a 454 crank in a 409, to 481. With a 6-71 blower, installed in an wood Hallett Hydroplane. This engine was featured in the Feb 82 SUPER CHEVY magazine. It launched 409's out in 1982, and then again after I showed that article to Edelbrock at SEMA. I suggested he produce alum 409 heads, and here we go again! Photos are on my F/B Robert Bruce Sweeting
@ddguild1 Did you work on Hayden Proffits Corvair? I agree the A/FX cars looked great. I think there was a A/FX driver called Dick harrel. One of his cars briefy raced in England in the 1960s.
Hey I am looking for video of my brother Mike Askin from the 70's he had a silver 1968 Camaro Nasty Habit. He used to race Al Murawski in his Mustang at OCIR!
So this place is now a train yard and industrial park,sad. Same thing happened to my beloved Green Valley. It's now a neighborhood with high end homes. People probably don't even realize funny cars used to rip right through their living rooms. I look at it on google earth now and then,for some reason.
I caught that too. The old Ray Beadle Blue Max funny car was awesome. He used to grenade that engine in spectacular fashion! I used to live in Fountain Valley and went to OCIR quite a bit. Was really bummed when the Irvine community refused to renew their lease and the track had to close down. Lots of great memories there.
I race with Wilson Ford the best was the angles and Bob gillend and funny car mizabar the yellow car bad spelling sorry. And big Willie. Street raceing
Awesome video !! Spent most of my off duty time at OCIR while stationed next door at MCAS El Toro
Some nice flames in a few shots
Thanks Dwight
OCIR, Oh My God How i miss that place.
I have so many 8MM videos from OCIR. What a great place to grow up!!!
The two Top Fuelers at 3:40 were singing a beautiful song. The shifts were syncronized prefectly. Love it!!!!!
Thanks for posting. If only it was a little clearer, I recognized a few, though.
Love the sound of a top fuel motor cracking and popping as it shuts down!
Thank you for all of these great videos!
Supercharger whine at OCIR...doesn't get better than that. My first drag race was '81 Winston World Finals at OCIR and I've loved drag racing ever since.
Looks like the old Diamond P tapes. GR8 posting!!!
"They paved paradise and put up a parking lot"
Actually, they put up a train station and several industrial buildings.
It was the best track in So Cal, if not all of Cal!
I was pretty lucky....my dad George was asst director at Lions with CJ Hart....he and Tom Ritchie had a sign up at OCIR on the 70s....so I got in free....
The good day! I miss that track and the fox hunt and the funny car lineup all together on the track. I remember i got to push the button for the tree for the final race of the finals!
OCIR was the best track in the country. They were one of the few tracks that didn't block off the top end and you could check out the cars close up in the shut down area.
That top end spot was a blast. You could really hear that supercharger whine from there. We lived in Fountain Valley back then and used to catch the Winston World Finals every year at OCIR. Great memories.
Out of all your videos, this is by far, my favorite! Would love to see more top end shots if you have them.
CC Cerny born 9/25/1949 to 3/12/2014. Seen here at the 8 minute mark. Loved what he did and never gave up his dream. Made his mark in drag racing history at Orange County Raceway. Top fuel Small block. Mouse vs. elephant.
I did work on the Corvair
My profile picture is of me me leaning over the engine compartment of that car at Lions.
I knew Dickie Harrel and crewed for him on his 65 and 66 Novas when he was in Calif.
Actually, it was similar. I grew up at Lions. To me, the best times in drag racing were the mid 60's, I was in my late teens, ,and I worked as pit crew for Hayden and others during the evolution of the Funny Car from the AF/Xers. Those were the days!
@ddguild1 It sounds similar to what happened to Lions Dragstrip. Didnt they do flame burnouts at OCIR? Think i have a picture somewhere. They were probably the best times for dragracing.
Did you have any involement when Dickie ran the Z-11 409/427's? I have Tom Jacobson's Z-11. I built a tunnel ram in 1971. 1975 I installed a 454 crank in a 409, to 481. With a 6-71 blower, installed in an wood Hallett Hydroplane. This engine was featured in the Feb 82 SUPER CHEVY magazine. It launched 409's out in 1982, and then again after I showed that article to Edelbrock at SEMA. I suggested he produce alum 409 heads, and here we go again! Photos are on my F/B Robert Bruce Sweeting
@ddguild1 Did you work on Hayden Proffits Corvair? I agree the A/FX cars looked great. I think there was a A/FX driver called Dick harrel. One of his cars briefy raced in England in the 1960s.
Fantastic videos. What became of OCIR? Did the area become developed for housing/freeways?Its sad that it closed.
Iam from the UK.
Hey I am looking for video of my brother Mike Askin from the 70's he had a silver 1968 Camaro Nasty Habit. He used to race Al Murawski in his Mustang at OCIR!
I raced a VW Ghia there and a VW powered dragster in 1980 and 81. I wish I had a time machine I would go back say in 12:05 seconds.
Was this a test and tune before the Winternationals?
All that was used was the microphones built into the cameras.
So this place is now a train yard and industrial park,sad. Same thing happened to my beloved Green Valley. It's now a neighborhood with high end homes. People probably don't even realize funny cars used to rip right through their living rooms. I look at it on google earth now and then,for some reason.
I’m guessing this was an NHRA Division-7 points race.
Just another Saturday night match race. That place was magical
A shot of my team Infield fire crew
And a lot more entertaining and fun!
Rodney Flournoy at 7:13
Too far away need to be at least at the 1320 or maybe 1000ft, but this is in the shutdown area
Thank you for stating the painfully obvious.....
@bvonsvideos It wasn't billed that way, but it could have served the purpose.
That wouldn'ta been Beadle @ 3:30, maybe?
I caught that too. The old Ray Beadle Blue Max funny car was awesome. He used to grenade that engine in spectacular fashion! I used to live in Fountain Valley and went to OCIR quite a bit. Was really bummed when the Irvine community refused to renew their lease and the track had to close down. Lots of great memories there.
and Ambulance team
I race with Wilson Ford the best was the angles and Bob gillend and funny car mizabar the yellow car bad spelling sorry. And big Willie. Street raceing