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LIONS DRAG STRIP MUSEUM GRAND OPENING

Roger Rohrdanz . December 30, 2022 . All Feature Vehicles
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On June 22, 2019 The Lion’s Drag Strip Museum opened its doors to the motorsports community for a one day Grand Opening Celebration that took you back in time to the early beginnings of professional drag racing and provided fans an opportunity to meet the legends that called Lion’s Drag Strip their home track.  

For eighteen years, Lions was considered one of the finest and fastest tracks in the United States until it closed in 1972. It was an end of an era that launched careers of many of today’s legends whose stories are now being told at The Lions Drag Strip Museum.

Lions was considered one of the finest and fastest tracks in the United States…

Standing at the “starting line” looking toward the “crossover bridge” above the pit gates.
The original “Stone-Woods and Cook” Olds. Surrounded by memorabilia from the early 60s.

Outside 40+ nitro fueled Top Fuel Dragsters and Altereds were waiting to be seen and heard. They first fired-up one at a time. The finale was later when they all fired-up together. Awesome!!

Doors opened at 1:00pm with Opening Ceremonies at 2:00pm with Master of Ceremonies and former Nitro Funny Car Driver, Mike Dunn and a warm greeting from The Lions Drag Strip Museum founder Rick Lorenzen. Following opening ceremonies, the day was filled with exhibits and cars that brought back memories.  The Lions Drag Strip Museum accommodates an amazing 4,000 sq. ft. reproduction of the Lion’s Drag Strip starting line within its 15,000 sq. ft exhibit area which will include 5,388 sq. ft of awesome wall painted murals created by Kenny Youngblood, Yvonne Meclalis and Keith Mooreland. The Museum proudly displays a Memorial Wall honoring the 12 men killed in competition at Lions with photos and heartfelt stories assembled by museum volunteer, Mike McCarthy.

This wouldn’t be a drag race event without the smell on nitro in the air, Steve Gibbs of “Nitro Revival” presented 40+ Nitro burning dragsters and altereds cackling Rolling Thunder and Line of Fire in the back lot.

Thanks for the Show!

AA/Fuel Altereds “Pure Heaven” and “Pure Hell” were the ones to beat.

Red Greth brought his Ford modified model “A” roadster race car from Tucson, AZ.
When they fire-up, people gather to hear and smell the nitro.
Front right, The “Iron Horse” flathead dragster, behind it is “Beaver Hunter” Blown Hemi Altered, to the left of the dragster is the Jones-Malliard Sidewinder. The walls are filled with pictures and display cases full of Lions history.
A glass case for winning engine builder and winning racer, Mike Kuhl.
Outside 40+ nitro fueled Top Fuel Dragsters and Altereds were waiting to be seen and heard. They first fired-up one at a time. The finale was later when they all fired-up together. Awesome!!
Unbelievable! This is the “starting line” at Lions drag strip from the spectator’s side! The race cars are in their staging lanes. The “Tower” was on the left lane side.
Outside 40+ nitro fueled Top Fuel Dragsters and Altereds were waiting to be seen and heard. They first fired-up one at a time. The finale was later when they all fired-up together. Awesome!!

 

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