Speedway Posters

50 years ago … … July 9, 1960 … …  Balboa Stadium San Diego California.

1960 Balboa Stadium San Diego California Poster Print

Balboa Stadium was one of the hotbeds of midget racing starting in about 1937 until the early 1950s (except for the war years). When interest in midget racing started waning, jalopies became popular. The San Diego Racing Association was formed in 1953 and started sanctioning the racing. By 1958 the San Diego Racing Assn had transformed from a jalopy association to more sleek modified sportsman (the forerunners of today’s super modifieds). Jalopy champions of the SDRA at Balboa included Glen Hoagland (1953), Jim Wood (1954), Jack Krogh (1955), Harris Mills (1956), Don Ray (1957), and Mondo Iavelli (1958). Don Thomas (1957) was the inaugural modified champion with Art Pratt being a three time titlest (1958 – 1959 – 1960). Rip Erikson took the honors in the 1961 season that was split between Balboa Stadium and Cajon Speedway. Also holding events at Balboa Stadium during the 1950s were occasional visits by the URA midgets and the NASCAR Pacific Coast Late Models. During the 1950s it was not unusual for more than 10,000 fans to attend a weekly show at Balboa.

Auto racing took place on a 1/4 mile dirt track in Balboa Stadium from about 1937 through July 4, 1961 when the racing stopped so the facility could be used for pro football.

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49 years ago today . July 8, 1961… the place …. Connecticut Dragway. An awesome reproduction poster print. This poster measures 13 inches wide x 20 inches tall.

1961 Connecticut Dragway Poster Print

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1966 Oakland Indoor Midget Racing Poster Print

1966 Oakland Midget Racing Poster Print.  Measures 17 inches wide x 22 inches tall. This reproduction poster is from 1966 Oakland , California. Bob Barkhimer Associates Inc. presents 1966 Pacific Coast Indoor Championships Midget Auto Races. Sanctioned by BCRA. Oakland Exposition Building.

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1963 Minnesota Dragway Drag Racing Program Poster Print

Minnesota Dragways , 3 miles east of Anoka on Highway #242. 1963 Minnesota Dragway Drag Racing Program Poster Print. A great poster to hang in the garage.Strip Records Fuel: 169 MPH, 8.98 ET, Gas: 162 MPH  ,9.54 ET.

Racers at the event

• Tommy Ivo
• Chris Karemisines
• Bob Langley
• Rod Stuckey
• Al Williams

May 29-30, 1963. Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota. This reproduction poster measures 14 inches wide x 22 inches tall.

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The front engine dragster is a is a race car purpose built for drag racing.

Now considered obsolete, the “rail”, “digger”, or “slingshot” dragster is now used mainly in nostalgia drag racing. Models range in length from 160–225 in (4,064–5,715 mm) in wheelbase. They were originally used in the highest class of drag racing, Top Fuel. The front engine dragster naturally came about due to engines for the most part, being in front of the driver. However they used and still do not use any form of suspension, so the top fuel and alcohol cars became very unstable. This due in part to their making 2,000–3,000 hp (1,491–2,237 kW), plus having poor tire technology, short wheelbases, and very light weight. (This was demonstrated to extremes in the Fuel Altereds.) The driver sits angled backward, over the top of the differential in a cockpit that is situated between the two rear tires, a design originating with Mickey Thompson in 1954, as a way of improving traction. This position led to many drivers being maimed when catastrophic clutch failures occurred.[citation needed]

Introduced with the start of organized drag racing, they were limited by the availability of traction from their rear slicks. A number of with four rear drive wheels were attempted, as well, including cars by Art Chrisman (along with his brother, Lloyd, and partner Frank Cannon), Bill Coburn, and Eddie Hill. (Coburn and the Chrisman brothers used twin engines, also.)

The rail was supplanted by the rear-engined car now standard when Don Garlits introduced Swap Rat XIV in 1971. He designed the car designed while in the hospital, himself suffering from severe injuries caused by an exploding clutch.

1960 Sonoma County Fairgrounds Indoor Midget Racing Poster Print Santa Rosa California

1960 Sonoma County Fairgrounds Indoor Midget Racing Poster Print Santa Rosa California.

This Poster measures 17 inches wide x 22 inches tall.

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With a good handful of posters from the 60′s, here is a cool one from San Diego, California. Three posters I carry are from Balboa Stadium. This one measures 17 inches wide x 22 inches tall. The event date was July 9, 1960. The other two prints are just as cool , one from 1945, and the other from 1951. So with that, we have a poster from each era, 40′s, 50′s,  and 60′s. I will have to dig some info on the track and post it when I post the other two posters.

1960 Balboa Stadium Modified Sportsman Auto Races Poster Print : San Diego, California

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Getting Back on track with things. Been busy here and there. Father’s Day is right around the corner and I always get pretty busy around this time of year. And usually from about this time on thru to the year end it seems to stay pretty steady.

A lot of car shows to hit, and a lot or events to goto. There never seems to be enough time in the day to get all what I need done. One show going on this Father’s Day is the Eyeson Design Automotive Design Show. We donated some prints for this very special annual event. You will see the prints on display next to cars from that era. The “American Racing: From Dirt to Bricks” display will have all kinds of vintage race cars.

I will not able to attend this years LA Roadster up in Pomona this time around. But I am looking forward to checking out “Event Coverage” on the HAMB while on the road. I have been seeing a lot of postings in the Minnesota area, so thought I would post up a poster print from the 1963 Minnesota Dragway. An AWESOME print !! It measures 14 inches wide x 22 inches tall, and the event took place in May 29-30, …heck that was only a few weeks ago ……and BACK 46 YEARS ago. ! Amazing how time flies. I know I posted this one once before, but I REALLY dig this print.

1963 Minnesota Dragway Program Poster Print

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…..and when you use Amazon and buy more than $30 of prints , you will get your posters shipped for free.