Abandoned drag srtip east of Phoenix
 

I was flying into Phoenix a few weeks ago and as we turned base toward the airport I look down and see what is clearly an old abandoned drag strip. The tower is at the west end and the cars ran eastbound. Here are the Google Earth images with the PHX airport on the left/west and the strip out east-northeast of the airport. Is this the old Beeline strip? I flipped when I realized I was looking down at an old dragstrip!

Orientation image:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...enixStrip2.jpg

Closeup with tower at left/west end:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...enixStrip1.jpg

Re: Abandoned drag srtip east of Phoenix
 

Closer-in view of the tower and start line area:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...otos/Tower.jpg

Re: Abandoned drag srtip east of Phoenix
 

Very cool find--any info on the track? https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/hmmm.gif

Re: Abandoned drag srtip east of Phoenix
 

That would be Beeline....if the Hwy is Hwy 87

http://arizonaracinghistory.com/beelinedrags

http://arizonaracinghistory.com/beeline2.JPG

http://arizonaracinghistory.com/beeline1.JPG

http://arizonaracinghistory.com/beeline3.JPG

Re: Abandoned drag srtip east of Phoenix
 

COOL Bruce!!! Too bad old Beeline isn't still in use. It would make a great nostalgia drags venue! I suppose the Firebird folks wouldn't want the competition from another venue. Thanks Bruce!

Re: Abandoned drag srtip east of Phoenix
 

Yep Bill...it is too bad...here is the google earth confirmation!

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...tn_beeline.jpg

Re: Abandoned drag srtip east of Phoenix
 

Funny, that info box didn't pop-up when I was looking at it earlier today.

Maybe we should start a new thread: Old/Abandoned Drag Strips. Calling Dog427435!

Re: Abandoned drag srtip east of Phoenix
 

Keep it up guys. One of my favorite old drag strips! AHRA in its hey day.

Re: Abandoned drag srtip east of Phoenix
 

In the search window...just type what you are looking for! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/wink.gif

Re: Abandoned drag srtip east of Phoenix
 

Great information Bruce. Aren't you supposed to be at a concert with a VERY important young woman? https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/headbang.gif

Re: Abandoned drag srtip east of Phoenix
 

Ummm....I let Lynn take her!

I love to have hook ups just a phone call away. Thanks to my KDKB DJ buddy...Lynn and Holly are going to this...in a suite no less! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif


http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...aaaboston1.jpg

Re: Abandoned drag srtip east of Phoenix
 

Damn that would be soooooooooooooo cool!!!!

GREAT e-mail attachment by the way!!!!

Re: Abandoned drag strip east of Phoenix
 

BTW, they just called and they are there!!! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/headbang.gif

Re: Abandoned drag srtip east of Phoenix
 

[ QUOTE ]
Damn that would be soooooooooooooo cool!!!!

GREAT e-mail attachment by the way!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Glad you like the email attachment!

Shhhhh https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/wink.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif


Like I said...somtimes in my job...I get some cool 'stuff'!

Re: Abandoned drag srtip east of Phoenix
 

[ QUOTE ]

Shhhhh https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/wink.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

You know me, mums the word. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif


[ QUOTE ]
Like I said...somtimes in my job...I get some cool 'stuff'!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes I know, looking forward to that sailplane ride! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif

Re: Abandoned drag srtip east of Phoenix
 

Oh, the glider ride? I still have the "non expiring" ticket sitting on my dresser....it's just waiting for you to get out here! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/headbang.gif

Re: Abandoned drag srtip east of Phoenix
 

[ QUOTE ]
Keep it up guys. One of my favorite old drag strips! AHRA in its hey day.

[/ QUOTE ]

The winternationals were held there... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif

Re: Abandoned drag srtip east of Phoenix
 

This is a pretty cool site from Michigan, that has some cool old closed drag strips.

Drag Strips

Re: Abandoned drag srtip east of Phoenix
 

Wow https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif neat link Dog. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Abandoned drag srtip east of Phoenix
 

Bee Line property is on an Indian Reservation. Mark Murphy (dreemz) and I have kicked around the idea of at least getting in there (with permission of course) for a photo shoot of some area drag cars.

I am tracking down the only S/S '62 Mopar delivered to the area that used to haunt that track. I know where the engine, headers, Laker pipes, and BW 3 speed tranny are - now if I can just figure out where the rest of it is https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/hmmm.gif .

Good eye Bill! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/wink.gif

Re: Abandoned drag srtip east of Phoenix
 

Now that would be cool if you guys could get access to take some pics with your cars! I'll bet that if you approach the property owners and show them photos of your cars that they might go for it. A photo of the Savoy on the old Beeline strip--that would be incredible. You could lay down some burnout marks on the old pavement and take photos of the marks with the weeds growing up through the old asphalt. (Bruce, you need to go along with them in the '66 and do some burnouts a-la your nearby burnout spot!)

When I spotted the old strip we were at about 2,500 feet turning base-to-final (right turn to the west) for runway 26 in the afternoon and I saw the old Beeline tower and for some reason I thought "that looks like a drag strip tower." As we banked over the top of the strip I had my head up against my forward side window looking almost straight down and I saw the 1/4 mile and it all came together. I forgot all about it until yesterday and then hit G-Earth and there it was. Beeline! I love historical stuff (I have pin-pointed all of the WWII 8th Air Force bases in England, many still clearly visible on G-Earth) and seeing Beeline still there was great.

Re: Abandoned drag srtip east of Phoenix
 

[ QUOTE ]
Ummm....I let Lynn take her!

I love to have hook ups just a phone call away. Thanks to my KDKB DJ buddy...Lynn and Holly are going to this...in a suite no less! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif


http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...aaaboston1.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]

Holy cow Bruce! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/shocked.gif A bud called me late yesterday p.m. and said he had tickets for this concert. Had a blast. I am not a Styx fan, but those guys played a great concert, very talented, some awesome duelling guitar riffs that were over the top.

Did the girls enjoy themselves?


https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

P.s. Our seats weren't that good! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/shocked.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/hmmm.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...BruceRocks.gif

Re: Abandoned drag srtip east of Phoenix
 

[ QUOTE ]
I am not a Styx fan, but

[/ QUOTE ]

In 1981 my still-in-high-school girlfriend (I was class of '80) went nuts over the Styx album Paradise Theater that had "The Best of Times" as well as "Too Much Time on My Hands." SO, we double-dated with a buddy and his GF and went to see Styx at the Oakland Coliseum. I got so sick of the song "The Best of Times" but "Too Much Time on My Hands" was a good song. Makes me want to go crusing with the Pioneer cassette player jammin' some Styx through the Jensen Tri-axials mounted in the rear package tray of my '67 SS 350. Jeez, was that really 27 years ago....?

Re: Abandoned drag srtip east of Phoenix
 

[ QUOTE ]
In the search window...just type what you are looking for! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ] Blonde 25ish with big.... I'm sorry I was thinking out loud. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif

Re: Abandoned drag srtip: Fremont
 

Here's what Fremont looks like today:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...s/Fremont1.jpg

The former GM plant at right, now a Toyota plant:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...s/Fremont2.jpg

Back in the '70s with the strip to the right and a small airstrip at left:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...montc1970s.jpg

1993 aerial photo after Fremont, then known as Baylands, had closed:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...emontc1993.jpg

Re: Abandoned drag srtip east of Phoenix
 

Yep...they had a blast. They got home at 12:45am. Boston sounded great according to Lynn and Holly...as well as Styx.

I spent today with Rick E.(69SUPERSPORT396 on this site)and his family showing them the area around where I live. We cooked out and had a great time!

Bill Eaton...you keep bringing back the memories....

Cruisin down PCH with Boston playing in the 8 track...followed by Pieces of Eight https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Re: Abandoned drag srtip east of Phoenix
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Ummm....I let Lynn take her!

I love to have hook ups just a phone call away. Thanks to my KDKB DJ buddy...Lynn and Holly are going to this...in a suite no less! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif


http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...aaaboston1.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]

Holy cow Bruce! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/shocked.gif A bud called me late yesterday p.m. and said he had tickets for this concert. Had a blast. I am not a Styx fan, but those guys played a great concert, very talented, some awesome duelling guitar riffs that were over the top.

Did the girls enjoy themselves?


https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

P.s. Our seats weren't that good! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/shocked.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/hmmm.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...BruceRocks.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I have seen Styx several times in the 70's/80's , they were opening for Aerosmith on several tours.
I have never seen Boston but would have loved to, how did they perform without their lead? https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif

Re: Abandoned drag srtip: Fremont
 

Hey Bill, Great pictures! Fremont was real fast cause it was right on sea level with that real good air! Should have never closed in my opinion. Now......some pictures of Half Moon Bay Dragstrip please. We were there a few years ago and I took some pictures of the air strip as it is today. I am just not sure how and which way it was set up as a drag strip. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: Abandoned drag srtip east of Phoenix
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Ummm....I let Lynn take her!

I love to have hook ups just a phone call away. Thanks to my KDKB DJ buddy...Lynn and Holly are going to this...in a suite no less! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif




[/ QUOTE ]

Holy cow Bruce! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/shocked.gif A bud called me late yesterday p.m. and said he had tickets for this concert. Had a blast. I am not a Styx fan, but those guys played a great concert, very talented, some awesome duelling guitar riffs that were over the top.

Did the girls enjoy themselves?


https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

P.s. Our seats weren't that good! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/shocked.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/hmmm.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...BruceRocks.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I have seen Styx several times in the 70's/80's , they were opening for Aerosmith on several tours.
I have never seen Boston but would have loved to, how did they perform without their lead? https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

They found their new lead singer from a tip of some guy singing their songs on myspace...

He sounds eerily like Brad...and looks nothing like him. Lynn said that he sang really well...and dedicated a few songs to him..."A man I'll always be"...instead of "A man I'll never be".

She said the best thing is that he doesn't try to act like Brad did...

BTW, thanks to Chris (YenkoYS-199Stinger) for giving me the heads up that they were touring! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/headbang.gif

Re: Abandoned drag srtip: Half Moon Bay
 

Half Moon Bay, located about 20 miles south of downtown San Francisco along the coast. Built as a navy PBY seaplane training airfield in WWII, it was used as the drag strip in the 1950s and '60s and is now the local airport. The famous "Mavericks" surfing area is adjacent to the airport off the point at the bottom left of the G-Earth image. The drags ran toward the southeast or lower right along the airport runway.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...otos/HMBay.jpg

Gasser Willys pickup gettin' it on at HMB in the mid-1960s with the coastal hills in the background:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...tos/HMBay3.jpg

Neat Garlits v Prudhomme poster with the Little Red Wagon in attendance as well:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...tos/HMBay2.jpg

54-minute long DVD on the history of the strip, available here: wediditforlove.com/Jackson-DVDs.html

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...tos/HMBay4.jpg

Text from DVD ad:

"Located along the California Coast about 20 miles south of San Francisco lies the historic Half Moon Bay Dragstrip. All of the big name drag racers of the late '50s to the late '60s competed there before thousands of enthusiastic fans. The track closed around 1968 and it was not until October 29, 1994 did the track re-open for "Sound Tests" of mild to hot drag racing machinery for environmental impact studies. Local prominent citizen of Half Moon Bay, Bot Senz, and his friend Lenny Kolstad have spearheaded efforts to revive the track which would center around the promotion and development of the Jr. Drag Racing League created by NHRA. Stock cars with capped headers would compete once a month with an occasional nostalgia drag race. Bob Senz has waged a tough uphill battle against environmentalists, local boards and home owners with irrational, unfounded misconceptions. The name Drag Racing still carries a stigma and still gets a "bad rap" since its inception. The question is: Do we "blot out" Drag Racing to save the earth or do we let Earth take care of itself and save our youth and human spirit?"

Re: Abandoned drag srtip: Half Moon Bay
 

Thanks Bill. I remember coming in off the main road and pulling up to the airport restaurant and hanger area. I believe I was on the right piece of black top that was used for the drag strip. Good picture of Panella Bros probably with Ken Dondero driving ( may be a little early for him) the gasser! Guys around here that ran the very early Pro Stock circuit used to go out west to test and tune in the winter months. It was tough for them coming back east and running 2 tenths slower because of the air and the sea level difference. Fremont truly was the place to go fast! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif

Re: Abandoned drag srtip: Westhampton NY
 

whats left of westhampton according to GEarth, they have an old overlapping a new satelite photo.

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...sthampton2.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...sthampton1.jpg

Re: Abandoned drag srtip: Westhampton NY
 

With all this high-tech detective work going on here, I thought I'd share an experience I had last year while flying a low-level practice mission here in Ohio in a C-130.

Doing my part to read the map while flying at 500 feet, I usually take note of out-of-the-way junk yards. We (the crew) were south east of Mansfield, Ohio when I noticed a junk yard; I asked the navigator to mark the position (latitude and longitude). He did that and handed me the lat/long after the mission.

For the heck of it, I put the lat/long into google maps: (N40 34.56 W082.41.54).

Result: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=...sa=N&tab=wl

It plotted the location, then I hit the "search nearby" button and entered "auto wrecking". It came up with Beck's Auto Wrecking as the closest location. I then hit the satellite view and there it was.

I haven't yet driven out to the place, but checked with some folks that I know that live nearby and they confirmed that they still have some "old stuff" in the yard.

Maybe I'll get there one of these days. It is about 1 1/2 hours from home.

Bill, nice detective work locating the Bee Line drag strip. What a great thread.

Phil Woj.

Re: Abandoned drag srtip: Westhampton NY
 

Phil, you remind me of me. I love looking at stuff from the air. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: Abandoned drag srtip: Westhampton NY
 

Bill - What a great thread - Love the aerial views of our disappearing Americana! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: Abandoned drag srtip: Westhampton NY
 

Now I KNOW you could make a considerable contribution to this thread Glenn. Jump in and lets' see how long we can keep this rolling!

Re: Abandoned drag srtip: Westhampton NY
 

Can I play???

Here is a picture of the now defunct OCIR (Orange County International Raceway) in SoCal. My Nova was there quite a bit https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Nice aerial view...

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...tn_ocirair.jpg


And here's what it looks like now...with sort of the same view...you can just make out where the end of the track was...at the top of the picture in the dirt area

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...r/tn_ocir3.jpg


And here's a wider shot with what looks like MCAS El Toro in the upper right? https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/hmmm.gif

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...r/tn_ocir1.jpg

Re: Abandoned drag srtip: Westhampton NY
 

And who can forget Lions...

Here's opening day in 1955

http://www.standard1320.com/1320Hist...ks/Lions55.jpg


And now it's a container storage lot https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/tongue.gif

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...r/tn_lions.jpg

Re: Abandoned drag srtip: Westhampton NY
 

So that's where OCIR was, next to El Toro. El Toro is just sitting there nowadays awaiting another series of malls/shopping/condos/box warehouses to replace it. Too bad one of those runways can't be used for drags.

Ah yes, Lions. I have a great DVD history of Lions and I wish I could have been there and done that.

Re: Abandoned drag srtip: Westhampton NY
 

Keep em coming! How about Santa Ana, Inyokern and the famous Irwindale?? https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif