"Lions - The Greatest Drag Strip : Part One" is the first of three DVDs to cover the history of the most famous drag strip in hot rodding history. Amid massive powerlines, refineries and accessed at Alameda Avenue off the San Diego Freeway in west Long Beach, California, there once lived Lions Drag Strip, an iconic, motorized centrestage which, from 1955 though 1972, mixed damp, ocean-fused air with the pleasant smells of popcorn, tamales and hamburgers, plus heavy, acrid blends of nitromethane and gas, while punctuated by shrill, ear-splitting noise that rung for days. Magical weekends were visually spiked by candy apple paint, glittering chrome, plus ominous, smoke-screened curtains emitted from pair after pair of exotic, home-built creations, with grandstands so close you could almost touch the machines! Some who raced there became household names. Others seemed to fade into obscurity...while wide-eyed loyal fans witnessed it all - both the greatest of times and, likewise, the unexpected tragedy. Finally, the history of Lions - The Greatest Drag Strip has been assembled from many dozens of interviews with leading racers and other significant figures - amid hundreds of photos by the sport's best lensmen and family albums, plus many novice and several profesional movies - including seldom seen footage. Part One covers the track's inception with the speed legend, Mickey Thompson, as it's first manager in 1955, through the return of nitro racing after the infamous "fuel ban" was lifted in 1962. Part One is now available. Available since: 12th December, 2006. Part Two picks up speed, literally, in 1962, when nitro-burning cars returned after a five-year ban under founding manager, speed king Mickey Thompson. The (1-Hr, 40-min) presentation concludes near the end of 1966, with the sport’s explosive growth in everything from dragsters and supercharged coupe match race wars, to early funny cars, etc. In 1962 newly formed 7-second dragster teams included Greer-Black & (Don) Prudhomme, plus “TV” Tommy Ivo, both among more than two-dozen interviewed participants on the DVD. Roland Leong recounts his rule-changing accident in the “Hawaiian”. Don Garlits recalls a colorful match race involving Chris Karamesines. NHRA starter, Rick Stewart, shown in a violent finish line crash, recounts waking up in the hospital as the Watts Riots began. Even “Wild Willie” Borsch explains how he drove his AA/Fuel Altered using one hand, from newly uncovered audiotape. Others on camera include Tom McEwen, John Force, Gene Mooneyham, Larry Sutton, C.J. Hart, Ed Iskenderian, Ralph Guldahl, Jr., Don Prieto, Dave Wallace, Pat Foster, Paula Murphy, Ronnie Rapp, Dale Armstrong, Frank Fedak, Jim Kelly, Doug Kruse, George Bolthoff, Chris Karamesines, and many others. Top Fuel dragsters had also reached 200 MPH. Major match race draws included the blown Willys coupes of Stone-Woods-Cook versus “Big John” Mazmanian, the ‘stands packed to capacity. Stockers swiftly evolved into altered wheelbase machines; from carbs to injectors, then blowers, gas to nitro – and funny cars were born. Emerging, too, were breathtaking yet scary streamliners, exhibition cars, junior fuel dragsters, gas and fuel altereds, coupes, motorcycles, the list goes on. Mickey Thompson’s departure witnessed promotional genius C.J. “Pappy” Hart take the helm, who promptly ended NHRA sanction. As a result, epic and rival AHRA dual stocker/dragster World Championships took place, plus the racer-formed UDRA held a series of memorable events of similar national caliber. Available since: 1st November, 2007. Part Three (for LATE 2008 release), will conclude with the track’s emotional closing in December 1972 with The Last Drag Race. Running time: TBA Format: ALL regions. Price: AU$39 each or AU$70 for both, including postage (Australia ONLY).

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