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Kingdon Drag Strip in Lodi, California ("Oh Lord, stuck in Lodi again") was where I raced back in the 50's and early 60's, but it was closed down in 1978. This past weekend it was re-opened for "Return To Kingdon" and the organizers were expecting maybe 1,000 people to show up for Old Time Drag Racing and a Show and Shine car show.......bad guess!! There were between 4,000 and 5,000 people there and at least 200 cars in the Show and Shine area, with 200 or 300 more waiting to race. From old time hot rods to blown big block muscle cars, there was something to interest everyone. The races went very smoothly, except for one car rolling onto it's side with no injuries, and spectators were treated to runs up to 125 mph. While there were some old time gassers and dragsters on display, the racing was confined to the driveable street cars. The Central Valley Cruisers, who put on this event were overwhelmed by the response to this event and are hoping to do it again in the future. For me, it was like being in a time machine......surrounded by hot rods and customs, and racing, early style. I'm betting that "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, who raced there several times in the old days, would have really loved it.
Richard "Too Low" Haas, Street Rods Forever
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