In the 1950s my father had an automotive in Bakersfield, and once sponsored a Jalopy Racer that raced at this tract, and my late father-in-law made, and drove one of the original cars that raced there in the late 40s and early 50s. The Bakersfield Speed Way was referred to locally back then as the "Oildale Oval', because it's located on the North end of Oildale, (an unincorporated community North of the Kern river, and just North of Bakersfield). The reference to the "OkieBowl" is because most of the residence of Oildale are descendants of people who came to California from Oklahoma to escape the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Most of these people worked in the Kern oilfields or in related industries, so their community was called Oildale, and still is. In fact, when I was going to high school in the early 1960s, I lived about 2 miles south of this track. In the summer evenings, we could hear the noise of the engines and the backfiring as they downshifted going into the turns.
I miss this so much. Worked pits for a friend back in 1965. He was running a ‘37 Ford slant back sedan with the flathead engine from his Dads race car from 1954. I still make contact with him from time to time. In those days the guys would wear street clothes with short sleeve shirts and football helmets.
We came, watched and enjoyed. Even though these jalopies all had chevy V-8's and automatic transmissions, it brought back great memories. Memories of my South Dakota roots and the Lake Kampeska Speedway at Watertown, South Dakota back in the '50's. What a hoot. It should become a National class like the Legend cars. Racing entertainment at its' best. Who'da thunk that racing at 45 MPH would be entertaining?
This group of Jalopy's do not run Chevy v8's. They keep them as close as the can to original. Some things they cannot find so they do use alternate parts some times but these are just about like they ran back in the day.
Me. You just put music loops from a computer program together untill it sounds good. You have to write your own music or find music that is not copyrighted so they don't remove you from RUclips.
There were some sponsors, but they were local businesses, and the sponsorship money was not that much. Because of that, most car owners hustled to get a number of sponsors, and even then there was a GANG of out-of- pocket expense for the owner/builders.
In the 1950s my father had an automotive in Bakersfield, and once sponsored a Jalopy Racer that raced at this tract, and my late father-in-law made, and drove one of the original cars that raced there in the late 40s and early 50s. The Bakersfield Speed Way was referred to locally back then as the "Oildale Oval', because it's located on the North end of Oildale, (an unincorporated community North of the Kern river, and just North of Bakersfield). The reference to the "OkieBowl" is because most of the residence of Oildale are descendants of people who came to California from Oklahoma to escape the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Most of these people worked in the Kern oilfields or in related industries, so their community was called Oildale, and still is. In fact, when I was going to high school in the early 1960s, I lived about 2 miles south of this track. In the summer evenings, we could hear the noise of the engines and the backfiring as they downshifted going into the turns.
I miss this so much. Worked pits for a friend back in 1965. He was running a ‘37 Ford slant back sedan with the flathead engine from his Dads race car from 1954. I still make contact with him from time to time. In those days the guys would wear street clothes with short sleeve shirts and football helmets.
We came, watched and enjoyed. Even though these jalopies all had chevy V-8's and automatic transmissions, it brought back great memories. Memories of my South Dakota roots and the Lake Kampeska Speedway at Watertown, South Dakota back in the '50's. What a hoot. It should become a National class like the Legend cars. Racing entertainment at its' best. Who'da thunk that racing at 45 MPH would be entertaining?
This is great stuff, I hope it gets more popular and grows.
Love these old car's
Ya me to
This group of Jalopy's do not run Chevy v8's. They keep them as close as the can to original. Some things they cannot find so they do use alternate parts some times but these are just about like they ran back in the day.
What kind of engines are they running flatheads too.
Me. You just put music loops from a computer program together untill it sounds good. You have to write your own music or find music that is not copyrighted so they don't remove you from RUclips.
That's a great video!!.........
Thanks Don. It is entertaining for us old folks that can remember them and what a great show they would put on.
Great Bluegrass song. Who was playing it?
I'd give my eye teeth to do this
now that was raceing no sponsors man built his owncar didnotmake much money what he made he usually put itback in the car he had fun
There were some sponsors, but they were local businesses, and the sponsorship money was not that much. Because of that, most car owners hustled to get a number of sponsors, and even then there was a GANG of out-of- pocket expense for the owner/builders.