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Saturday Night Racer >> SNR LOUNGE >> Remembering O.C.I.R.-30 Years Ago
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Message started by Late_Model_Mark on 10/29/13 at 3:23pm

Title: Remembering O.C.I.R.-30 Years Ago
Post by Late_Model_Mark on 10/29/13 at 3:23pm

Today on this date, Southern Califronia lost the first super track in the state, the great Orange County International Raceway in East Irvine, California. I was there on opening night in August of 1967 and closing night for nitro on this date. So many memories, so much history. A chessburger, a basket of "strips,"and a cold frosty on a Saturday night watching the cars and stars of the golden era, so very priceless.

Late Model Mark

Title: Re: Remembering O.C.I.R.-30 Years Ago
Post by 81RACERS__DAD on 10/30/13 at 9:54am

There still isn't anything really on the site today...they closed El Toro also.

Title: Re: Remembering O.C.I.R.-30 Years Ago
Post by rwl on 11/07/13 at 8:57am

Shoot,as a kid I remember the hamburgers,while my dad raced bracket two.We always ran weds&sats,then irwindale sometimes on sundays.Different times,i remember all the killer cars waiting at the back of the staging lanes until all the ducks pulled into the lanes.Awesome memories.

Title: Re: Remembering O.C.I.R.-30 Years Ago
Post by sj_valley_dave on 11/08/13 at 1:32pm

OCIR, the nations first real "super track". So many drag strips have disappeared in the LA Basin area...Carlsbad, Santa Ana, San Gabriel, San Fernando, Lions, Terminal, Irwindale, OCIR just off the top of my head... :(

Title: Re: Remembering O.C.I.R.-30 Years Ago
Post by Rodney on 11/10/13 at 3:26pm

Seems like yesterday. With LACR and OCIR closed
everbody was comin' over the hill to Bakersfield. We got our first win that year. I'd have to sit and think, but I remember first round was at 2 pm against Marcum and the final was at 2 am against Sedmak. Seems like every time we went out there was a Super Gas or Super Comp World or Divisional Champ in the other lane. Great memories. Kinda made me sad when LACR re-opened and the LA guys stayed closer to home. Great Competition.

Title: Re: Remembering O.C.I.R.-30 Years Ago
Post by Rodney on 11/10/13 at 3:37pm

Favorite OCIR memory. '74 PDA race. We had Baca (who was
absolutely murdering everybody at the time) in the second round. We don't have a snowballs chance so Michael steps it up as much as the budget allows. Baca stays conservative on the tune and the lights and we hammer him. Rance being the cocky bastage he is decides to hang the chute out in Baca's face and we run 6.01 at only 218. pretty much killing our first 5 second run.

There were still 2 spots open in the 5 second club. DOH!

Title: Re: Remembering O.C.I.R.-30 Years Ago
Post by Late_Model_Mark on 11/20/13 at 3:27pm

The first O.C.I.R. reunion is Saturday at the NHRA Museum at the Fairplex. The lineup of legends is outstanding. In 2006 I had a chance to stop by the area. It is just packed with business.

Valley Fever! What a great Chevrolet powered AA/FD.

Late Model Mark

Title: Re: Remembering O.C.I.R.-30 Years Ago
Post by Late_Model_Mark on 11/20/13 at 3:30pm

Rodney, just thought of this, you might like this tidbit. I attended the first and easily the best one day Top Fuel race ever, the inaugural Professional Dragster Championships put on by Doug Kruse at the greatest strip ever, Lions Drag Strip, held in July of 67.

I hit every P.D.A. at Lions, Orange County, and Fremont, Seattle was just a wee bit far.

Late Model Mark/TopFuel@Lions

Title: Re: Remembering O.C.I.R.-30 Years Ago
Post by OLD SCHOOL#6 on 11/22/13 at 10:49am

Lions and Orange County is where you could always find me. The big name draws at that time were guys like Don Garlits, Art Arfons, Art Malone, Chris "The Greek" Karamesines, who still shows up from time to time, Connie Kallita, and Tommy Ivo's twin Buick. But the three cas I always looked forward to seeing the most were Gas Ronda in his Comet, Stone-Woods and Cook in their Willys, and of course, Big John Mazmanian. "Man-O-Man" those were the days..........

Title: Re: Remembering O.C.I.R.-30 Years Ago
Post by Late_Model_Mark on 11/23/13 at 9:23am

Ols School, remember those so tasty Chili Tamales and hot dogs that Lions had at the concessions? So darn good. My dad and I would during a race night at Lions would usually knock of 2 Tamales each.

Late Model Mark