In recent years, many of us in SoCal were wondering if it were going to take a speeding SVO Mustang wiping out a busload of nuns to get some action on local dragstrip construction. Both California Dragway and Irwindale Dragstrip are providing an exceptional venue for competition and are removing some illegal street racers from the general public. However, according to a recent conversation with an LAPD media spokesman, they feel that building dragstrips does little to remove illegal racing from the street.

FAST & FURIOUS IN SAN DIEGO

Street racing is a huge media problem in San Diego County. Race dates in the parking lot dragstrip of Qualcom Stadium are sporadic, but the vision of some local businessmen has built a permanent new strip about 30 minutes east of downtown on an Indian Reservation.

Enter Barona Dragstrip. It's an eighth-mile strip with a 100-foot concrete launch pad built on a former sand drag track with paved pits, 3000 seat grandstand, concessions, top end sand pit and safety net. With their official opening in June, Barona is hoping to provide locals with a safe place to race twice a week with an NHRA sanction. Entries will be limited to 150 cars to ensure participants get an adequate number of passes. Hopes for a quarter-mile upgrade are still in the planning stages, but may be in the distant future. http://baronadragstrip.com

North of downtown San Diego is historic Carlsbad Raceway. According to drag strip operator Jim Levold, they will be undergoing some facility improvements soon, but no longer carry an NHRA sanction. Since the mid-1960s Carlsbad's quarter-mile played host to the likes of the Snake and Mongoose, but now has a strong street/strip following with its notoriously short shut-off area. Just inland from the Pacific Ocean, encroaching industrial development has ended the road-racing course, but Carlsbad's two motocross tracks run regularly. The drag strip is open every Saturday at 10:00 AM.
http://carlsbadrags.tripod.com

RIALTO GONE?

Last year the Rialto Drags closed, thanks to the Federal Aviation Administration, but rumors are that the timing system, guardrails and other dragstrip components may end up at an existing SoCal racetrack. With its competitive Jr. Dragster program, Rialto is being missed, but may reappear later this year near the Perris Auto Speedway dirt track.
http://rialtoraceway.net

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TOO?

California has tougher regulations than many states, but I-5 Raceway, North of Sacramento has been making noise. The promoters are looking for financing to build a state of the art facility and have a good PR machine, but have yet to turn a shovel.