Page 70 - Nitro Madness Magazine Fall 2017
P. 70
Having a strong observatory
spirit, Judge Miller collaborated
with nine Long Beach Lions Clubs,
Mayor Norris Poulson, Councilman
Gibson, George Putnam, several
representatives (including John
Chadwick) from the LA Harbor
Commission (LAHC) and Mickey
Thompson to bring this to fruition.
Though it was a long hard battle
that spanned almost 24 months, the
Lions Club raised $45,000 in funds
while the LAHC secured a dormant
railroad switching yard land lease.
The lease was based upon a 30-
day revocable basis. Upon the
procurement, Mickey wasted no
time digging fence pole holes and
constructing a timing tower and
selling pit passes.
Upon completion the 60ft
wide, 3,500ft long racing surface
would forever be known as “Lions
Associated Drag Strip” (LADS); in
which all profits were earmarked
for the Lions Clubs to support
various charities that benefited
the blind. Located south of 223rd
street, less than half a mile east of
Alameda in the LA Harbor district
of Wilmington; the “Beach” (as
the racers called it) was dedicated
on September 15, 1955. Little
did anyone know that this “back
ally kind of place” (as TV Tommy
Ivo described it) was destined to
become the “Holy Grail” of Drag
Racing! It’s “Drive the Highways,
Race at Lions” and “Run what you
brung” charter was a testament to
its reason for existence.
At twelve feet above sea level,
the dense “air” intensified the
insatiable appetite for horsepower
The iconic engine builder Mike Kuhl and Bill Schilling. in every class of vehicles; in which
The Lions starting line crew was as fabled as the
racers, “Little Bill” is one of the surviving members. many national records would be
set and broken! Quite often the
70 Nitro Madness Magazine Fall 2017