On November eleventh, we delve into Orange Countys unique history: the Santa Ana Drags. From 1950 to 1959, the unused runway of the Orange County Airport transformed into a bustling drag strip every Sunday. Spectators paid fifty cents, racers one dollar, to witness hot rods and custom-built roadsters speed down the quarter-mile concrete strip. This pastime emerged from the rise of hot rodding in the late 1940s and early 1950s, as young car owners modified their vehicles for optimal performance. To combat street racing, three Orange County residents, C.J. Pappy Hart, Frank Stillwell, and Creighton Hunter, created a safer, controlled environment. After securing approvals and pooling $1,000, they struck a deal with airport officials, allowing the Santa Ana Drags to open in 1950. The strip quickly gained national recognition, drawing racing fans from all over. Despite its popularity, it closed in 1959 due to airport expansion plans. Pappy Hart, who became the sole owner, went on to manage the Lions Drag Strip in Los Angeles and consulted for many other tracks and the NHRA, leaving a lasting legacy in drag racing history.
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