The million-dollar Orange County International Raceway opened in Irvine in 1967 as the first quarter-mile "supertrack" in drag racing. It closed in Oct. 1983.
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There are at least a couple good histories of the OCIR available online, including on on the NHRA website, and another at a website called Competition Plus.
Chris Epting visited the site of the old OCIR and took the photos below. He writes, "I was doing a Forgotten O.C. segment today [for KOCE-TV] at the site of the O.C. International Raceway. It was hard to find a trace of ANYTHING - but the Sand Canyon Ave. gate is still there. ...It's on Sand Canyon right by the entrance to the 133, between Laguna Canyon Road and Burt Road" 
"In this shot, [below,] I lay out about where the track sat," writes Chris. "The red dotted line shows the location of Technology Drive."
53 comments:
Cool post!
I'll keep this former 'top-fuel' location in mind the next time I'm cruising south on 5.
Visited there many times. Great historic drag race info. Good to see it again.
I forgot all about the place, I there quite bit during the mid to late 70's Found a great little website that tell the history of OCIR with alot good photos too from the grand opening to tearing it down. I luckly walk into this on googles. Type in OCIR-CALIFORNIA DREAMIN, there is one photo at starting line advertising KEZY-1190AM (LOL) Ever done anything on that. I grew up 2 blocks away from KEZY.
Thanks again
Craig McCracken
If you look at the sat view in Google Maps, there appears to be what might be a remnant of the old strip in the dirt area just off the cul-de-sac of Technology Drive.
What a priviledge to have gotten my first whiff of nitromethane at OCIR! The nights we spent at that great little track left me with a love of horsepower, muscle cars and drag racing that I still can't shake at 51. I seem to remember entering the facility from a one-lane bridge or overpass - everybody better be coming or going at the same time or somebody was outta luck. I lived close to Dyer and the 55 and if I wasn't at the track I could hears the cars running at home. I nearly cried when I heard OCIR was gone.
I remember fondly the Bug-In (VW events) that I attended there from 79 through the last days. I also remember watching OCIR slowly fade away through the years that I lived in the area: 133 went in, Technology drive actually had development - right where we used to show off our VWs.
Awesome memories, but I guess in the big pucture, it's still progress (to shut the place down)
D. Gillespie (Dgillespie at veachracing dot com) just sent me an email, reading (in part):
"...Have been seriously considering doing an in-depth video documentary on OCIR, but am in the process of seeing how much good photography exists (which I'm allowed to use). Interestingly, I have some aerial photos of the 1st commercial drag strip in the history of the sport, Santa Ana airport.
"...My core question is whether the photo of OCIR on your website hints of the existence of more such photos of the track?"
I've got little to nothing. Can anyone out there help this guy?
This story is impossible to prove, but the weekend before they tore up the track at OCIR, I was driving by, and noticed the back gate was open. I drove in and had a look around, and then made a few passes down the 1/4 mile in my 1982 AMC Eagle SX/4. I remember there was a lot of rubber in the traps from the burnouts they did in the last big party, and they had already started ripping up the stands. My times weren't good, but I had a lot of fun for a few minutes. As I was coming down the return lane, a woman security guard suddenly zoomed up behind me and pulled me over. She was pretty peeved, and wanted to know how I had gotten into the track. She lectured me about how there was no insurance, and I had to get out. She escorted me to the open gate, and locked it behind me as I left. I always wondered if my Eagle was the last car to run the 1/4 mile at OCIR, as they started tearing up the strip during the following week. I also wondered if I should have asked the woman security guard to lunch.
I have a photo of my dad; John Miller; in his car "The Motion Machine". It was a gold colored Blue Oval/Ford Anglia with lettering exactly like on the coupe on this page. Kenny Youngblood did most of the lettering in those days.
In the background of the photo you can see part of the wall painted with "Orange County Speedway".
Wow!!! I bearly remember going to this track with my dad back in the "Good Old Days" when he and my Mom were still together. Latley I have been remembering the good things he and I did and reading some of the post that you all left brought a lot of memories back and a few tears to my eyes. I loved going there with my dad and watching the cars race and DONT forget the Jet cars I seem to remembere alot of jet cars at this track. I remember one time a pair of Rocket cars were staged to go down the track and my dad a big shutter bug was back behind the staging lanes and of course I was at his side. All of a sudden this lady started to talk to me and told me to stand behind a truck with her so that I would be sheilded. The cars took off and sprayed rocks and dirt all over the truck her and I were standing behind. Next thing I know Don Galits it yelling at her and telling her to get in the truck so that she could pull him into the stagging lanes. I WAS STANDING THERE WITH GARLITS WIFE AND SHE WAS LOOKING OUT FOR ME and I didnt even know. Well Thanks guys for bringing back alot of memories!
I worked OCIR in HS as a parking attendant around '81 or '82. Didn't pay much but all inclusive pit passes made it all worth it.
PS. Wow, KEZY. That was so long ago. Didn't Rita Wilde work there before going to KLOS?
Chris I have a few shots, one in particular was one of Wild Bill Shrewsberry's Berry Wagon.The Wheel Stander. Get with me if your interested at vanditone@gmail.com
Thanks Steve
My Uncle,Raymond "Bernie" Bernell Pifer,died this morning at the age of 74 yr(Sep,19,1938-July 26,2012).He was an MBA graduate of Pepperdine University,Malibu CA.As a teen he and my other two uncles Bud & Bob(Reilly) Shaped glassed surfboards and repaired boats and cars(corvette's).In their 20's they were the founding members of the Southern California Corvette Club.Which raced at the old El Torro airfield the original Orange County raceway,The first official drag strip in the world and birthplace ot the N.H.R.A.Later it was moved to Sand Canyon and was renamed the Orange County International Raceway.He was an avid fisherman and all around outdoors men,owning one of the first Motorhomes,36'Commander.Camping in the mountains,deserts and trips to Baja were always in order.He is survived by his three son's,Jeff,David and Chris Pifer,and Sister's Donna and Geraldine...Rest in peace,Uncle Bernell!
I too made a "Last Pass" after finding an open gate...well, a torn down section of chain-link fence. A guard chased me out as well. Looking back what I WISH I had done was snag that piece of plywood with "Yes, we're closed. It's all over" spray painted on it boarding up the tower door. THAT is drag racing history right there.
Many memories of Bug-Ins and partying in the parking lot the night before. Tire fires and a baja bug flipping over mere feet away from our tent. A very good friend of mine who went to the races with me more than once from the mid '70s to the Last Bug-In was struck and killed by a vehicle while crossing a street in a cross walk 12/22/12. You will be missed Linda Heilman. I have quite a few photos from these events: drags, car show & slalom.
I CAN REMEMBER GOING TO SOME OF THE EVENTS AT OCIR,SUCH AS THE FUNNY CAR 500,THE WEDNESDAY NIGHT GRUDGE RACING WHEN THE MARINES FROM EL TORO AND MCAS TUSTIN WOULD BRING OUT THERE PERSONAL CARS,AND THE WHEEL STANDERS,"WILD BILL SHRUESBERRY,WE SEEN EDDY HILL,AND SHIRLEY CHA,CHA MULDOWNEY RACE THERE,MANY MEMORIES.
I saw Evel Knievel jump at O.C.I.R. The thing that made it even more cool was my dad had to collect a past due tax bill from him. My dad took me with him and we met Evel at the Royal Inn in Anaheim before the jump and then followed him to the track and I watched him jump 13 Mack trucks from the stairs of the tower. This was before Snake River and Evel was at the height of his popularity. Super nice guy.
A couple of years before the strip opened, a Founding Father's membership meeting was held in the Anaheim High School Auditorium. I not only attended, but joined, as I felt that having the drag-strip was a benefit to the county. As a founding father member, I moved from OC in 1980; and did not know until recently that shortly after I left, it closed. There again, I was employed twice at El Toro Marine Air Station and worked directly in sight of the drag-strip and now both are gone. What a shame. Donald (Don) L. Kirk - grew up in Anaheim
My father raced at OCIR in early 70's, he drove a '66 Dodge Charger. Remember running around playing at race track as my father raced every Saturday until I was about 10yrs old. Have great memories.
Does anyone here remember the day (May 19, 1971) that the Bad News Coupe had its fatal crash that day. Heber Stillman Pond was behind the wheel. Any possible pictures or memories - anything - would be of interest to me. Please contact me. diamondbackdemo@att.net
does anybody remember,fast ray?? sat nite fever? i think it was original anglia,h&m performance,hathorne,ca.moved to harbor,city. mid 70s?
ror lolrnenAfter my tour in Viet Nam I was stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station in Tustin Cal.(LTA) around 7 miles north the Orange County Race Way from Dec.1966-To June 1968..The place with the big blimp Hangers .. I was at the Orange County International Raceway the first weekend it was open ..Me and some Marine buddies went to at least 20 events up to June of 1968 when I got out of the Corps.. I remember allot of great races!! The one Moment that still sticks in my head is watching Wild Bill Shrewsberry run whole quarter mile on the rear wheels in his LA Dart!! Also at the same event Wild Bill Shrewsberry was riding passenger in a wheel stander truck standing up waving at the crowd threw the open windshield while it went down the track on the rear wheels. That was Cool! ..I believe the truck was the Chuck Wagon! I can say I have lots of fun memories of the Orange County International!! ....Len Clark of Somonauk Ill.
First time at OCIR in 1972 walking in, a blower popped off and looked like a dime in the sky. Somebody on the "spectator side" go hit with shrapnel. That was before blower straps to keep them on the engine.
So many awesome races there! East vs West with 64 Funny Cars, or 64 Funny cars and Jets - 32 funny cars (16 alcohol/16nitro)and 32 Jet and Rocket cars!!! I didn't know there were that many jets and rockets in the country!
Who could forget the legendary alterds, funny car, top fuel, and all of the other awesome stuff like a Mazda rotary hot rod and a 9 second chop top vw.
Saw a guy jump 3 long semi trucks and trailers on a 400 Yamaha with a hang glider on it (still have a picture somewhere). The crowd went nuts!
It was my favorite racetrack of all time. Even better than going to the world finals at the olk Ontario Motor Speedway. It'as funny, this weekend I found a couple of photos of Gene Snow, The Hawaiian Funny Car, and Mike Mitchell (The Worlds Fastest Hippie) from OCIR...
I worked at Orange County Raceway from 1968-1970. I worked for the track during the week and was "HEAD" cook on the pit side. I had the fortune to be the one to pop the corks on the champagne in the winners circle for " TOP FUEL & FUNNY CAR". I remember meeting all the great drivers and now owners of some of the best teams in drag racing, some still operating today. Tom Mcquen, Don Prudohme to name just two.From 1970 till it closed in 1983 we raced a competitive SS/DA Chevelle SS. Such great times and memories! Bill White and Larry Vauhan were two great guys to work for, we were very sad to see this racetrack close.
the"snake" the"mongoose" jungle jim, "big" john mazmanian, dunn&reath rick ramsey, james warren, Shirley muldowney in funny car, don garlits, the octagon tower, saw evel knievel jump two semi cabs end to end, walked the track at the end of a meet with my dad and uncle. and the timing tower that never had all the lights working. great times and experience. the 70's great time to be alive!!
the"snake" the"mongoose" jungle jim, "big" john mazmanian, dunn&reath rick ramsey, james warren, Shirley muldowney in funny car, don garlits, the octagon tower, saw evel knievel jump two semi cabs end to end, walked the track at the end of a meet with my dad and uncle. and the timing tower that never had all the lights working. great times and experience. the 70's great time to be alive!!
Damn Craig ,
How I remember those days ! It's funny the neighborhood we grew up in ! And being young and are parents or in my case grandparents taking us to the track ! And hanging out and around KEZY ! I'm taken aback that you even remembered that radio station ? I sure do miss OCIR ! I miss the Fumes and the rubber burning ! I'm going to go down that way the middle of next month and check everything out ! It would be nice to see you and anyone else around ?
Respectfully,
Ron Lounsbury
I was there that night. I'll never forget the 100mph wheelies he did before the jump (standing on the seat for one of them),and that beautiful red tractor trailer/motor home he came out of. It's been fully restored and is now on tour along with a bunch of other memorabilia. Had tickets to the Snake River Jump too but ended up selling them and watched it on CCTV at the Anaheim Convention Center.
I worked there and was in the offices under the tower grandstands with (all the reflective mirror stuff) when Evil showed up on Thurs or Fri before the meet. He pushed the button on the entry gate around noon and we all knew who it was. He said who he was and "open the gate" Larry Vaughn owner of the track said "jump it!" Evil backed his truck up and we opened the gate.
I worked there and was in the offices under the tower grandstands with (all the reflective mirror stuff) when Evil showed up on Thurs or Fri before the meet. He pushed the button on the entry gate around noon and we all knew who it was. He said who he was and "open the gate" Larry Vaughn owner of the track said "jump it!" Evil backed his truck up and we opened the gate.
Wow I worked there from 73 till 77 for Larry and cleaned White's office. Tommy Lan Franko ad Louie was OCIR I worked at AODD the driving school there it's still going in the area and I believe Linda Vaughn is still alive!
Had a bracket-4 car,we used to go thru the orange groves behind the track,get in for free,until we got caught,then there was someone posted there always.
My favorite at OCIR was the awesome " combo" eliminator run at least 3 or 4 PDA championships. A/FD, AA/GD, and Awful, Awful/Fuel Altered!!! Awsome! All heads up. Adams and Enrique's A/FD against The freight train, against Mike Sullivan, Pure Hell, and all the fuel altered gang slugging it out, 16 car qualified field, in between the top fuelers and funnys
I will always remember this as one of the best of so cal drag history.
OCIR had open drag racing on certain sundays.I was stationed at Camp Pendleton and would go there with my '70 Chevelle ss 396 and race. Would also go and watch the big boys. Great memories.
Anybody remember a rock festival held at the raceway late 1968 or early 1969? A couple of stages and a lot of local/regional bands. I was 15 or 16. The event was sponsored by a pirate FM station that later became licensed.
Robert Blume
That was the best time of my life. All the racing the friend the bug ins the drag races the funny cars the list can go on. My aunt Catherine Cathy they called her she used to run the place back in the day with her husband John. It was the funnest time ever. I had a friend that had a 69 Camaro called Moody Blues and we used to race it there wow really miss that place our kids are really missing out.
I do remember it and I attended, at age 13. It was sponsored by KTBT, which was an "underground" rock station in Garden Grove. If anyone has mote information I would love to hear it.
I also remember one time racing my daily driver ('68 Bug) and coming off the line hot in 1st gear, grabbing 2nd and letting the clutch out, only to find I was still in 1st gear. That was a long trip back to Hemet on the freeway in 1st gear. 1st and ONLY time I ran out of gas. Amazing, the poor mileage you got in 1st gear....... lol
What about high school motocross and motocross racing on Friday nights about 1976
Does anyone remember the flat track and tt motorcycle racing events every Wednesday night sponsored by Wes Cooley, Sr. during the late 60's and maybe early 70's under the banner of the ACA, American Cycle Association. Please post something if you remember.
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Participated in the Ford sponsored High School Drag races in 1968 and 1969 from Western High School in west Anaheim.
Hello....I was one that attended the Concert right before i got drafted and went to Nam with the 173rd Airborne Rangers. Was hoping to see if anyone knows who played? KTBT was FM station at Chapman and Brookhurst. Maybe we could talk sometime......Bye
Oh yeah! Going down memory (fast) lane.... was last there for Evel Knievel jumpimg 13 trucks and doing 80mph wheelies all the way down the strip.. GREAT FUN!!
I was on the La Quinta H S drag race team for the first HS race. The principal of L Q dld not authorize the school's participation but our auto shop teacher signed us up anyway. We came in 1st place. Prize was $1000.00 for auto shop tools. Given that the principal did not back us, he cashed the check and gzve each of the 10 team members $100. That paid most of the $135 I paid for a new positraction differential for my '58 Chevy. The school authorized participation in future races
Ran with the SoCal Modified Midgets on the old speedway track the last year it was there. Our club dug the infield down, pushing the dirt up into the turns to make a banked track out of it.
We shared the track the the TQ's. Rip Williams was running a TQ at that time and later went on to Sprint Car fame.
Had a key for the front gate so we could get in to prep the track and set up the lights. They didn't renew our contract and bulldozed the track between seasons. So I just kept the key, still have it.
Forgot to add.
One afternoon, after work, I was at the speedway track working on the lights for Saturday's race when I spotted an Orange County Sheriff's car coming up the entrance road. I climbed down off the pole and met him by the stands.
He asked what I was doing and told him checking the lights. He said he had to come out and check because they had gotten calls from nearby residents calling in noise complaints. He said good bye and headed out.
Just one of the nails in OCIR's coffin.
Les, I was able to hear the dragsters race from my house all the way up in Trabuco Canyon, near the steakhouse.
Loved watching IMPI Volkswagon Bugs tear up Corvettes there. Lived down the street from the Beebe Bros in the sixties and enjoyed hearing them fire up their rail. Great times.
Used to when i was 12 go to rosmore my buddy's house and his neighbor was mr.Prudhomme and we would help move the snake bodies around the front yard. I was hooked. Grew up in Huntington beach went to marina HS. Listened to kezy kmet and klos all 3 rock stations in o.c. OCIR was our playground and yes the orange groves were the only way we new to get in.I made it to every Fox hunt event they had hot pants and bikini tops it was a target rich environment. Never have I seen so many jet cars in one place and at the same time and the fuel altereds almost never went strait down the track. It was the time of my youth and wed.nights run what you brung just to get a time slip I'VE missed that place, and now only pictures in my head. RIP OCIR.
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