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-California
Dreamin'-| Remember
the old Santa Ana Drag Strip at Orange County Airport? There are four gentlemen
in particular who certainly recall that bumpy piece of airstrip which served
as the initial stepping stone in the long road toward safe and organized
drag racing. It was there that the seed was planted in the minds of those
four original innovators of this new Orange County International Raceway.
- These four men are Mike Jones, Bill White, Larry Vaughan and Mike McKenna. It was they who realized that here was a budding sport which not only demanded the best in human skill and a competitive spirit but also provided a valuable community service by providing for a safe, controlled area for the racers, thus ending dangerous street racing practices. When that old strip was closed because of the airport expansion program, a substantial automotive industry, many race drivers and a large, drag racing oriented population were left with no in the entire county. |
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four gentlemen were not alone in their belief that a new, modern racing
plant should be constructed in this county where drag racing was born.
Numerous other groups worked through the years, trying to revive that exciting
era, but to no avail. One by one they fell by the wayside and the years
passed with still no raceway for Orange County.
- It seemed only logical to Larry Vaughan and Bill White, who had grown up on the Irvine Ranch, that somewhere on this vast property there still remained enough land in a proper location to satisfy all the needs of their project. Thus, upon completion of his tour as a Navy lieutenant on underwater demolition teams, Bill white, president of Orange County International Raceway and Larry Vaughan, OCIR's secretary/treasurer, joined in a concerted effort to research and develop their long-time dream. - At this same time, Mike Jones, an automotive designer, drag racing national record holder and long-time racing enthusiast, and Mike McKenna, newspaper publisher and auto dealer, were heading along the same path. It took Bernie Partridge, west caost division director for the National Hot Rod Association, to link these two parties together. Once joined, the four worked feverishly toward their goal of developing the "super track" for drag racing. |
| After
long and detailed study and consultation with the management of the Irvine
Company, the tracks present location was decided
upon. Happy with the concept of a modern facility which would offer spectator
comforts and conveniences never before available at any drag strip, and
which incorperated extensive landscaping and controlled architectural design,
the board of directors of the Irvine Company saw fit to grant a long-term
lease to the Orange County International Raceway
Corporation, adding one more unique facility
to their master-planned developement program. This action completed one
more step up the ladder toward bringing drag racing back to its birthplace.
Orange County already had Anaheim Stadium and major league baseball. Why,
shouldn't it have a similar facility for major league drag racing?
- Commensurate with the lease negotiations, additional investors were sought in order to obtain the necessary capital to build the type of facility drag racing and Orange County deserved. Five Orange Countians were contacted and all accepted the invitation to invest in the "super dream.' The original four stockholders were thus joined by Carroll D. Cone of Fullerton, owner of Cone Chevrolet; David M. Brant of Laguna Beach, broker and investment banker; Raymond C. Martin of Tustin, owner of amusement facilities at O'Neill Park and Irvine Park and a former midget auto racing track owner in Orange County; Mrs. Myford P. Irvine of Newport Beach, Irvine Company stockholder; and Mrs. David M. Brant of laguna Beach, Irvine Company stockholder. |
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last, progress was truly evident; the glimmer of hope was becoming brighter.
With the ground lease and necessary capital formulated, the officers then
sat down to the task of actually designing the raceway and contracting
the construction. Through an adept use of his racing background and engineering
design capabilities, Jones, vice president and general manager, devised
a layout and plot plan of the facility, one considered by many experts
to be the most efficient, modern and safe auto racing plant produced to
date. NHRA officials were consulted and numerous tracks throughout the
United States were visited in order to arrive at the end result.
- With the design complete and the location determined near the Santa Ana (5) Freeway, the A.T.& S.F. Railroad (which will offer special passenger cars for large events), and the U.S. Marine Corps Station, the project was submitted to the Orange County Planning Commission for a use variance approval. In view of the ideal geographical location, the public services afforded and the blessing of adjacent land owners, the Commission granted approval. It was on the following day, November 10th, 1966, that the public was given its first notice of a new raceway via an announcement ceremony held jointly with the National Hot Rod Association and the Irvine Company at the Irvine Information Center. |
| Architectural
and engineering preliminary studies had already been long started and on
February 15th, 1967,
after nine months of research and revision, ground was actually broken.
the initial grading of the track itself began on March 13th and on Monday,
July 10th, the racing surface received its
first coat of asphalt.
- By this time it was evident that the dream was about to become a reality. The 40-foot high, four story, glass enclosed tower- the administration building- had passed the halfway point and the permanent restrooms and concession stands were near completion. All utilities had long since been placed underground. |
| The date August 5th, 1967, was then chosen by the board of directors as the official day to hold the inaugural event. This day signifies not only the completion of many years of research and study but also a revolution in drag racing, a sport which originated in Orange County and has now returned- in major league form. |
| California Dreamin'----- | |
-----Biography: OCIR |
