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Image / Grand stand safe from mishaps

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Title
Grand stand safe from mishaps
Alternative Title
Valley Times Photo Collection
Creator
Siddon, Dave
Contributor
This project was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian
Made accessible through a grant from the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation and Photo Friends
Date Created and/or Issued
1954
Contributing Institution
Los Angeles Public Library
Collection
Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection
Rights Information
Images available for reproduction and use. Please see the Ordering & Use page at http://tessa.lapl.org/OrderingUse.html for additional information.
Description
Photograph was edited for publication purposes; Title supplied by cataloger.
In 1951, Sergeant Bud Coons and Pomona Police Chief Ralph Parker, in cooperation with local hot rodders, addressed the nuisance and dangers of illegal racing on public streets by leasing the parking lot of the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds to provide a safer and more controlled environment for drag racing. The result became the Pomona Raceway, also currently known as the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona and formerly known by it's nickname, 'The Fairplex.' The raceway became host to the first ever NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) event, the 1953 Southern California Championships, and the first NHRA Winternationals, in 1961. Featuring a quarter-mile dragstrip and a seating capacity of 40,000, the Pomona Raceway is currently host to both the NHRA Winternationals and NHRA Finals, both held annually.
Photograph caption dated September 14, 1954 partially reads, "Help is always close at hand at well-run strip and audience in grand stand is far enough away to prevent mishaps from turning into tragedy."; See images #00140180 through #00140183 for all photos in this series.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;21 x 26 cm.
Photographic prints
Identifier
00140183
Valley Times Collection
HCNVT_d048_f13_i27
CARL0005708653
http://173.196.26.125/cdm/ref/collection/photos/id/69353
Subject
Pomona Raceway (Pomona, Calif.)
Racetracks (Automobile racing)--California--Pomona
Automobile racing--California--Pomona
Drag racing--California--Pomona
Hot rods--California--Pomona
Automobiles--California--Pomona
Audiences--California--Pomona
Spectators--California--Pomona
Grandstands--California--Pomona
Pomona (Calif.)
Valley Times Collection photographs

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