SANTA ANA, California — Lyon Air Museum, which showcases historic aircraft and vintage automobiles, is hosting a never-before-seen exhibit, Santa Ana Drags and Beyond: America’s First Official Drag Strip.
The exhibit runs July 1 through Sept. 4, 2023, at the museum, which is located on the west side of John Wayne Airport (KSNA).
The exclusive exhibit takes place adjacent to the site of the very first commercial drag racing venue in the nation, which began in the summer of 1950, and is now overlaid with the runways at John Wayne Airport, according to museum officials. A collection of vintage race cars relating to the old Santa Ana Drag Strip, along with other period vehicles, complement the historic World War II and Korean War-era aircraft currently on display in the museum.
Shortly before World War II, Southern California became an epicenter of auto racing culture, so much so it is known as the birthplace of the “Hot Rod.”
Following the war, returning veterans eager to use the mechanical skills they learned while in the service, began modifying their cars in an effort to make them go faster. On weekend nights, custom creations cruised the streets and popular hangouts, their owners looking to prove their car was the fastest.
These thrill-seeking drivers pitted their often hopped-up machines against each other in a duel of pure speed. Some of these spontaneous and illicit speed matches ended tragically and, as the sport continued to grow, so did calls to bring organization and regulation to what had become popularly known as “Drag Racing.”
In June 1950, Santa Ana local C.J. “Pappy” Hart struck a deal with Orange County. Pappy could use a portion of an unused runway at Orange County Airport provided he agreed to share 10% of the proceeds with the county. The first race was a huge success and for the next nine years, hundreds of racers and thousands of enthusiastic fans descended upon what was called “Santa Ana Drag Strip.”
Racing was held every Sunday, generally from dawn to dusk. The last race was held on Sunday, June 21, 1959. This marked the end of a special era in Orange County history, but not before “Pappy” Hart, the “Father of Organized Drag Racing,” had left an indelible imprint on the sport.
Joining the history-making drag racing cars on display during the Santa Ana Drags and Beyond exhibit is the famed Bean Bandit Dragster. The Bean Bandits was one of the earliest drag racing teams, originally organizing in San Diego in 1949 to pool its member resources to afford to go racing. Known for its Mexican membership, the club in reality consisted of multiple ethnic groups. It included, among others, Anglo, African-American, Asian, and Lebanese members, brought together by their common passion for racing.
A few months after Santa Ana Drag Strip opened, the Bean Bandit Dragster was built. Within a short period, the dragster was winning races at Santa Ana Drag Strip, as well as all over California. The Bean Bandits went on to win hundreds of races and are still racing on the dry lakes, salt flats, and select drag strips where they continue their tradition of breaking records.
Saturday, July 22, 2023, Lyon Air Museum is further celebrating hot rod history with Hot Rods on the Tarmac, which includes a display of approximately 100 visiting period-authentic hot rods from the 1940s and 1950s.
For more information: LyonAirMuseum.org.
Looks like Ivo in top picture.