Santa Maria Dragway (site) (Santa Maria, California)

USA / California / Santa Maria / Santa Maria, California / West Foster Road
 draw only border, historical layer / disappeared object
This is the site of the third official National Hot Rod Association dragstrip in the U.S., opened in 1951.

The Dragons Car Club, with help from police officer Gale Brady, persuaded city officials to let them use an abandoned Santa Maria Army Air Field P-38 taxi-way, (now Foster Road), as their dragstrip.

Steve Evans, NHRA’s all-time best announcer, started his announcing career at Santa Maria.

Closed in the late 1970's.


www.youtube.com/watch?v=1psX060k4jo
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   34°53'0"N   120°26'37"W

Comments

  • Steve Evans was a later announcer and never ran the dragons drag strip. He came in 1967 or 68 when a speed shop owner from LA took over the strip. Prior to that it was operated by The Santa Maria Dragons until the early 60's When Jack Tremmer and Bob Parker operated it for a short time. The Dragons reorganized when the strip fell upon hard times and ran it until the LA operator along with Steve as announcer. I may be off on the dates somewhat. I was drafted into the Military about that time and lost track of it. But when I returned there was a different strip in a different location.
  • Hi Calvin, do you recall the exact configuration of the strip? Some sites say it is now Foster rd, however, that does not look correct. If you can share additional information, would you email me at kodachrome@verizon.net ? Thank you. Jerius Williams
  • Hi Jerius. I grew up in Santa Maria. I do not believe it was on foster road. If I remember correctly the trees in the background are where Foster Road is and was. The drag strip was probably North of the road by 1/8 mile, at the southern End of airport. Google map it.
This article was last modified 8 years ago