New - Photos from the 1964 Winternationals
This article about the New Bee Line Dragway is from the November, 1963 issue of DRAG NEWS. It has been submitted by Rod McCarrell. This article has been reprinted verbatim.
Located just 20 minutes from downtown
Due to the areas annual temperature average (71.1 degrees)
and the strips easily accessible location Hiways 60-70-80-89 and being located
in the very heart of the Valley area between
A few comments on the strip itself will find –A $125,000 invested to date with more being improved constantly. A three story timing tower, glass enclosed and refrigerated, heated for winter. The strip is 60 feet wide and over ¾ miles long, with over an additional quarter mile of safety road for those who can’t quite make it. (No hazards)
Separate paved hot car and stock car pits.
A paved 1000 ft. hot car fire up lane. All timing systems are by Chrondek
of La Verne, California, with dual lane timing, foul lites and winning side
finish boards. Parking areas and
unlimited bleacher capacity, with all parking areas paved.
Jim Rogers, who manages the all new installation and is backed by
corporation members and local investors. Tim
Rodgers who is a commercial developer and building contractor is president of
the corp. Archie B. Campbell, who
is vice president, is a retired cattle and sheep rancher from
William G. Orr acting secretary is management assistant of
the Garret Corp, best knows and AIResearch.
George W. Podd handles the treasures chores, while maintaining the Sec.
Treas. Position of the Baird Bakeries Corporation.
These men are all newcomers to drag racing and are anxious to learn and
are certainly to be commended on their fine job to date.
Among some of the nicer parts of the operation we find, concessions,
block built with running water, throughout the pits.
Good looking young college girls working everywhere.
Telephone connections to insure proper management and co-ordinations,
plenty of P. A. systems so everyone is assured of hearing.
A three foot wall in front of the spectators eliminates the possibility
of spectator damage or spectators wandering. One of the finest safety advantages
of the strips is if per chance your chute fails to open or you are unable to
stop, there is nothing you can hit except
Always on duty will be two ambulances and for those who may
run into some unfortunate trouble, a tow truck.
For those of you who may be contemplating a venture to BeeLine, there are
motels and some of
c)2010 Jim & Nancy Schaut. Our mission is to preserve the rich history of automobile racing in the American West. We have done our best to credit the proper people for information contained on this site. It is sometimes impossible to find the original source. We welcome your comments & corrections. If you would like to submit items to the site, please send them to Nancy.