Another Legendary Drag Strip Is Gone
 

Lakeland Dragstrip in Florida is closed for good. It is to be a parking lot for warehouses. Lakeland has a very colorful past where almost every great racer has made passes over the years. It has been licensed by both NHRA and IHRA . The circle track was nationally know and all the NASCAR greats have raced there. Here is the official notification to the public:

Lakeland Drag Strip
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Its with A. broken heart that I make this post.
Mr. Spiker, property owner, has let us know that he has accepted an offer from a developer to purchase the whole facility ( Dragstrip and mud hole) unfortunately for us they where able to offer more than us .I personally would like to thank all the RACERS, SPONSORS ,STAFF AND FANS for supporting us for the last 6yrs .Im going to miss all the great folks who shared there days with us .Again i am truly greatful to everyone..
Thank you very much . Ozzy and Maria Moya and the whole lakeland family.

Re: Another Legendary Drag Strip Is Gone
 

Raced there almost every week from abt 66 to 71 didn't know how good we had it, one of the best tracks I'm told at that time. I was also in the movie that was filmed there 2 Lane Blacktop w James Taylor and warren Oates in 1971. Man had some great times. Not too long ago I walked down what is left of the track and got me a small piece of the retainer wall and a chunk of asphalt i remember seeing all the "greats" of that time running there I do have some 8 mm I took there " back in the day" great memories and i'm thankful to be still racing and making more memories!!

Re: Another Legendary Drag Strip Is Gone
 

Jim is talking about Lakeland Florida.

Re: Another Legendary Drag Strip Is Gone
 

Sort of funny that they will put in an industrial mall type complex and that is where all those Street outlaw guys race. So I guess it will continue to be a race track just no fees or rules.

Re: Another Legendary Drag Strip Is Gone
 

Sorry I thought he was talking about Lakeland tn it's been closed for years but I just heard last week about someone bought the land and is fixing to dig up what is left of the drag strip to put in a large mall and hotels .

Re: Another Legendary Drag Strip Is Gone
 

https://youtu.be/EUJYRe1Hqa8
are you in this clip?
Mike A114

Re: Another Legendary Drag Strip Is Gone
 

I spoke with Ozzy last week when I was at OSW for the Southern Superstock race. He told me they were pretty far apart on negotiating a price. I’m sure he did everything he could to keep the track open. Really a shame though I live about 15 minutes from there.

Re: Another Legendary Drag Strip Is Gone
 

Tough to lose a track because they're always gone forever.

Re: Another Legendary Drag Strip Is Gone
 

Yes after the first scene when the 55 parks in the pits, the Torino Warren Oates is driving goes by a mopar w the hood up on the other side of the mopar there is a guy sitting on the rear bumper of a Chevy looking to the left. That is me playing a "very important part" there was a glare coming off the rear bumper getting in the camera they had me sit there to block the glare !! now we're talking Lead Role Huh!! Also another place I was In My 69 B/sa Camaro in the lane behind Ivar Smeltnic of RHS in his G/sa 69 Camaro it is a shot of the "star " girl getting her stuff out if the 55 u can c about half of my car and half of Ivars' on the other side of the 55.it was a lot if fun and we got paid $100 each for 2 days "work"! We just hung out grilling hot dogs and doing what they wanted !!

Re: Another Legendary Drag Strip Is Gone
 

I see you about 00:25 seconds in
A breathtaking performance Ken :D
Do you remember how quick the 55 was?
Mike A114

Re: Another Legendary Drag Strip Is Gone
 

hi mike I think it was mid 12's or so btw autographs are available at reasonable prices !!

Re: Another Legendary Drag Strip Is Gone
 

Richard Ruth built the 55 for the studio,I have a magazine from around 1980 with an interview with him.He said before he turned the car over to the studio he ran it at the strip,went 10.70/127. Incidentally,this is the same 55 used in American Graffiti,they put a flat hood and a L-88 dual plane intake on it and painted it black.Changed interiors and wheels,also.

Re: Another Legendary Drag Strip Is Gone
 

I was looking at an AG clip and the 55 Harrison Ford was driving had a funky front bumper on it. It looked like it was too high up
I`ll try to find and post it.
Mike A114
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xad3wbuCe8c

Re: Another Legendary Drag Strip Is Gone
 

You missed your calling
Mike A114

Re: Another Legendary Drag Strip Is Gone
 

Damn, saw American Graffiti when I was 15 years old....

Re: Another Legendary Drag Strip Is Gone
 

That's a shame, lot's of history at that track. We supplied the racing fuel there for a while and really enjoyed the atmosphere and the racing.

Re: Another Legendary Drag Strip Is Gone
 

Sad to see another drag strip being sold off and redeveloped. Lakeland was the birthplace of the SSSSA about 10 years ago. Ozzy did a lot to that place to bring it back to a pretty decent racetrack. Thanks Ozzy for supporting the SSSSA.