Chicago Indoor Drag Racing In The 1960s: A Complete History

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ก.ย. 2024
  • You've seen a couple of photos, you have heard that it happened now and again, but this is the entire history of the now legendary indoor drag races held in 1962, 1963, and 1964 at the International Amphitheater in Chicago.
    How did the events happen? Who made them happen? Did you know they ran a sports car race on an indoor road course long before the drags? Why did they get shut down? Did anyone else ever drag race indoors? All these questions answered and a whole lot more here!

ความคิดเห็น • 320

  • @SteveMagnante
    @SteveMagnante 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +68

    Brian, your scholarship on Auto racing is TOP NOTCH. -STEVE MAGNANTE

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน +21

      YOU set the bar! The rest of us are just trying to uphold the standard you have created, man!

    • @timfoley4731
      @timfoley4731 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +11

      Steve, you are also an encyclopedia of auto intelligence. ❤

  • @JamesSmith-mz9ec
    @JamesSmith-mz9ec 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +59

    My Dad raced quarter midgets in the late 40's at the Ampitheater, some great history you cover on your channel, good job!

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน +16

      What a spectacular connection! I am always amazed at how this stuff finds the right people!

    • @JamesRockefeller45
      @JamesRockefeller45 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +9

      They prefer to be called dwarf or little people

    • @TheMNrailfan227
      @TheMNrailfan227 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      @@JamesRockefeller45 I think you have misunderstood. He’s talking about midget cars, they’re small wingless open wheel machines that resemble sprint cars and often race at the same tracks.

    • @davidhollenshead4892
      @davidhollenshead4892 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

      You missed the joke...@@TheMNrailfan227

    • @cptbuiltk7944
      @cptbuiltk7944 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      My grandfather was a quarter midget

  • @68motovator6
    @68motovator6 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +24

    The Carbon Monoxide Nationals. Great work as always Brian.

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Hahaah truth!!

    • @brucybabyy7355
      @brucybabyy7355 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      cant imagine todays cars doing this. lots of burst eardrums.

    • @Nick_J_
      @Nick_J_ 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      The title of Carbon Monoxide Nationals is now held by the Chili Bowl dirt track events. Look up the “chili bowl flu” if you don’t believe me

  • @BlackFlagsMatter
    @BlackFlagsMatter 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +38

    This channel getting me more into drag racing, thank you!

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน +18

      Dude! Your content rules! Have been a longtime watcher of your videos. Wow! Thanks for this!

    • @sharkinstx
      @sharkinstx 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      I was a fan of drag racing as a kid, in the ‘60s, then got away from it. Fifty years later, Roadkill, Brian’s videos, and drag n’ drive events have brought me back to it!

    • @BlackFlagsMatter
      @BlackFlagsMatter 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Sir your videos are the best!@@brianlohnes3079

  • @elebeu
    @elebeu 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +42

    You come up with information that I had absolutely no knowledge of, let alone even imagined.
    Your videos are a treasury of superior preparation and presentation.
    Thank you so much for your efforts.

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      This means the world! Thank you so much!!

    • @williamwigfield7296
      @williamwigfield7296 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      I have listened to all of your content while working over the years (multiple times). Entertaining and insightful. This one is hilarious for the outrageous way we spend our winters in colder areas.
      The board track episode is my fave as i live about an hour and 20 min from Altoona and my parents lived there for a few years in the 60's.​ Thx so much for your diligence while researching the history of our sports. Kudos for everything. @brianlohnes3079

  • @justinyoung109
    @justinyoung109 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +11

    So this is the actual birthplace of the RC No Prep/Indoor drag racing scene. Complete with Coke syrup as track prep. Allow me to explain. Next week, on February 17th-18 the Motorama car show in Harrisburg, PA will host indoor drag racing in the PA Farm Show complex. There is a scale quarter mile drag strip that will be there next week that will see speeds top out around 100 mph indoors. This exact track and format from the 1960's is still being put in use among us RC guys. If you want an electrified, miniature look at how this track could have worked, please check it out in person next week. Great video and indoor racing is cool and doesn't get enough credit

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      This sounds awesome!!

    • @justinyoung109
      @justinyoung109 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      It sure is!
      @@brianlohnes3079

    • @dafuqiputhere
      @dafuqiputhere 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      you should post some videos if you have any that sounds awesome

  • @brianmcadow4054
    @brianmcadow4054 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +21

    Love to see this coverage, as a born and raised Chicagoan I’ve heard about this many times, every time Shake would run at Great Lakes they’d mention the indoor racing in the 60’s. Another interesting fact about Northern Illinois drag racing from that time was that Byron drag strip would run 4 wide , decades before z-max

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

      I was very friendly with Ron Leek for years before he passed. What a guy! Byron’s greatest four wide race was the contest between the two top fuel cars and two stock eliminator cars!

    • @brianmcadow4054
      @brianmcadow4054 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      That sounds like an awesome race ! We don’t get to Byron all that much anymore but I have always enjoyed running there. Please keep up the great content , really enjoying your work

    • @tomstiel7576
      @tomstiel7576 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      they ran four wide at the Detroit Dragway back in the day as well

  • @stephenlea5765
    @stephenlea5765 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Thanks Brian. This reminds me of the time I convinced my mom to take me to see the tractor pulls held inside the Sam Houston Coliseum in downtown Houston in the early 80s. The exhaust was so powerful, they’d rattle the giant 4x8 ceiling tiles loose & a few would come floating down to the ground. Not long afterwards, they moved to the Astrodome! I had a blast, mom got a migraine.

  • @shafferjoe1962
    @shafferjoe1962 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

    I cannot belive that no one has photos of all the events. The inside road race would have been cool to watch. Ear plugs or muffs would have been needed as the sound would have been unreal. Great story, God has blessed you with great story telling skills. God bless you brother.

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Thank you Joe!

    • @bobhemphut4011
      @bobhemphut4011 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Plugs or muffs... what are you 6 or you sit down to pee?

    • @dadbodii
      @dadbodii 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      I cannot imagine how loud it would be. The only thing that could possibly compare would be the Gateway Dirt Nationals have a big late model race inside The Dome, however I guarantee a gasser would be a hell of a lot louder than that

    • @chrischiampo7647
      @chrischiampo7647 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@dadbodiiGassers Rule 😊

    • @Spike-sk7ql
      @Spike-sk7ql 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      We have tractor pulls inside. Can get pretty loud.

  • @kcrreedranch
    @kcrreedranch 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    I have a few 8x10 pics of those races. I bought them from the original photographer. A good friend of mine said he went once. All the big names were there Arnie the Farmer, The Ramchargers, and so on. He said the staging lanes were outside. And the Recap slicks that they ran back then were as hard as a rock. Some cars did 5-6 burnouts to warm up the slicks. He said they had to leave halfway through. The smoke was deadly in the building.

    • @Dipndots87-ms6ds
      @Dipndots87-ms6ds 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      This is why videos like this are so important. I hope more people come forward with pictures and stories to go with them. It would be awesome to find some cars and parts that were associated with this event.

    • @austinkapler6417
      @austinkapler6417 20 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I have 3 pictures if you wanted to send each other im curious about the ones you have

  • @3cressidas
    @3cressidas 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Brian, enjoyed this video immensely!
    I was 10 in '63, and had heard of Soldier Field from an uncle that lived in Chicago, but never anything about the indoor sports car racing. By '71 I got interested in motorcycle racing, and by '75 I had my own shop, and was running flat track bikes around AMA Distict 16.
    Of course when the summer was over, the bikes got put away until spring. That was until I found out about indoor races in the Minneapolis National Guard Armory. They became my favorite races. Only one class, 0-500cc. A typical turnout was 300+ bikes. The first year I ran a 250 Bultaco, which would hold it's own against any 500 twin 4-stroke, but that small of track, it was almost impossible to control, came back the next race with a highly modified 125cc Harley, and never failed to make the main, which always put a little cash in my pocket.
    A few months ago, got curious to see if that building still existed, and was surprised that it did, but only because it was declared a historical site. No races are held there any longer, just concerts and such.
    What I wouldn't do to run that track one more time...
    Some pictures exist on the net, plus I have a coupe.
    That building got pretty smoky with a bunch off both 2 & 4-strokes.

  • @drunkpunk5393
    @drunkpunk5393 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    Your videos are staggering. In the best way. Overflowing with facts. History. Insight. And examples. Found this channel a few months to a half year ago and I’ve never been more interested in drag racing. I always have been. But godamnit if I wouldnt trade today’s life of drag racing for the 50s 60s era! So much cool bad ass inventive and creative stuff back then. Thanks you again so much for diving deep and sharing your finds with us! Brian posts a new video on TH-cam. I watch it asap!

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Thank you for the kind words and I sure would like a Time Machine one day!

  • @HotRodHoarder
    @HotRodHoarder 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Mind-numbing research yet again. You're killing it!

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thanks man. Trying to match your level of thoroughness!

  • @oaktadopbok665
    @oaktadopbok665 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    Dude - we saw Grand Funk Railroad ~1971 in that very room! They packed thousands of us in there, general admission standing room only. What a blast!

  • @strykerentllc
    @strykerentllc 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +13

    Brian, having grown up one mile from the Amphitheater / Stockyards and having raced on 43rd & Morgan behind the Amphitheater in the 80's, this took us down memory lane for sure. Few know much about this history of drag racing in Chicago, and racing on the Chicago Skyway, 107th street in Willow Springs--if it was straight and tires stuck with VHT before the cops rolled up, we were lining up on Friday nights at Duke's Drive-in to set up races at "The Yards" or on "107th" or on "The Skyway". lol Cheers!

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

      This rules! I have a Duke’s shirt that I wear with pride!!!

    • @strykerentllc
      @strykerentllc 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@brianlohnes3079 That's awesome! "Fastest Drive-in"--the original location was sold to Panera but they reopened in Mokena IL. and every Friday night during the summer, the car shows for locals still happens.
      Names like, Marty Bilecki (RIP), Kevin Lawrence, Mike Alberts, etc. set the bar. Buying the first available BBC 'bowtie' block and stuffing it with AL rods, nobody was fooled when the word got out. Good times for sure. Please keep doing these presentations. They're great!
      ps. Kevin drives Red "Shake" and his son-in-law, Adam Drzayich drives the chopped "Shake".

    • @C_71
      @C_71 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I grew up in Beverly, but I used to go down behind the Amphitheater, Doty Road, 79th and South Chicago/Stony Island, really just all over! I raced my friends red 1987 Mustang GT and his Ninja! I was maybe 15 or 16!

  • @bryceocain5234
    @bryceocain5234 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +11

    Recently stumbled across your channel. Pure gold. Thanks for the info and cant wait for drag week.

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thank you very much and amen to that!!!

  • @rageracing6435
    @rageracing6435 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

    I live 60 miles from Chicago and never heard this story. Fantastic research!

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Glad you liked and learned a new thing!

  • @nolanthompson2701
    @nolanthompson2701 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +13

    Yeaaaa buddy, I see Brian upload... I WATCH

  • @colossae3241
    @colossae3241 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +8

    I hope you bring all the engineering story from Instagram to the TH-cam and make it a full informative video and maybe more story. Really love you video ❤

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Thank you and I think that’s certainly part of my plan!

    • @colossae3241
      @colossae3241 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      @@brianlohnes3079 yes, let's go. I really like the video about the twin Porsche engine racecar that race in Indy 500

  • @masongiles8443
    @masongiles8443 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Love these stories man thank you for not letting these names and events get lost to time

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thanks for appreciating those same things that I do!

  • @iacono1987
    @iacono1987 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Was always curious about these photos. Thank you. Another great video.

  • @genelong1748
    @genelong1748 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Brian thank you for all you do for our sport.

  • @sharkinstx
    @sharkinstx 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Brian, your videos are always must-see - gotta watch this one tonight. I’ve read several stories about the indoor races over the years, and I know you’ll do it justice.

  • @mattwilliams3456
    @mattwilliams3456 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    What an amazing legacy. Thank you for opening my eyes to this crazy history.

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Thanks for being open to watch it!

  • @Rebelx251
    @Rebelx251 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    This is the most awesome thing about drag racing ive seen yet. Working in huge places like these ive always wanted to race a car in one! Amazing 🇺🇸💚🏁

  • @joeculpjr3028
    @joeculpjr3028 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Great job as always Brian! Although just a wee little guy of 3&4 I was at a few of the races in '63 & '64. My dad had pictures of him and I with Mr Beswick and some other racers he was acquaintances with. When he passed away about 7 yrs ago all his old pictures were nowhere to be found. Keep up the great informative work your doing by preserving the past and history of this great sport. Again thank you!

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Glad you have those memories though!

  • @chevelle300post
    @chevelle300post 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    This, RULES. Tons more information on a legendary era from this area. Thanks B!!!!!

  • @dbeaus
    @dbeaus หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Beswick, the first man in the 8's on an NHRA official track without a sponsor. A true racer.

  • @RobJaskula
    @RobJaskula 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I love hearing my dad's stories about concerts at rhe amphitheater, thanks algorithm for giving me this video! Fantastic work 👍

  • @Merylstreep1949
    @Merylstreep1949 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Yep and drag racing at US 30 Dragstrip, White's Pit Stop in South Holland Illinois and the World of Wheels custom hot rod show and Mr Norms and Nickey Chevrolet...omg glad I was born in the 60s in Illinois

  • @P_Partridge
    @P_Partridge 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    This story is amazing!!! Who knew that racers were just as crazy (maybe more) as the racers today... Great work on creating this content.

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Appreciate it and yes they were!

  • @JamesSmith-mz9ec
    @JamesSmith-mz9ec 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +8

    Top speed set by the Farmer in a Pontiac, imagine that! good stuff!

  • @ginoferraro8088
    @ginoferraro8088 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Thank you for putting in so much time for these videos! Love learning the history of the sport

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      A sincere thank you for watching!!!

  • @mikehagen3785
    @mikehagen3785 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Best channel on TH-cam, I've wanted a deep dive on this very subject for decades, thank you for all your efforts!!

  • @edog7059
    @edog7059 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Dang! I lived just 30 or so miles away from there in 1958 and missed the whole thing! But then, I was only four.

  • @The55nomad
    @The55nomad 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Somehow, somewhere I heard about an indoor drag race in the Midwest but that's all. Thank you for an excellent piece of investigative reporting. I've learned much.

  • @mykec.selene8302
    @mykec.selene8302 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Really interesting how drag racing began in the inside venues? Thanks for the upload! Really enjoyed it! Looking forward to more of these videos!

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thanks to you for giving this stuff a look!

  • @scottcecil8106
    @scottcecil8106 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I grew up in Carpentrsville, Illinois. I lived across the street from Meadowdale Raceway, by the Fox river dam. The track was long closed, but not yet a forrest preserve. We would snow sled, ride bikes, motor cycles, buddys dad would take us for 4x4 off-road fun. Really cool to see what other racing was going on at the same time,

  • @alseidel5622
    @alseidel5622 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Brian you are the best pervader of drag racing. Thank you so much for what you do. The stories and behind the scenes information all orchestrated by your incredible voice are a highlight for myself as well as the others in the Motorsport industry. I look forward to your stories. Thank you.

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Humbling, Al. A sincere thank you.

  • @matthewheide4797
    @matthewheide4797 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Just WOW! Imagine the air quality with ethyl fuel and lack of oxygen. Then again I have been to a couple of indoor tractor pulls and monster truck show and the fumes are kind of a bonus. Great video Thank you

    • @anthonyrowland9072
      @anthonyrowland9072 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Imagine all the extra lead inside...

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      It really is wild to consider the noise and air quality.

    • @jimstenlund6017
      @jimstenlund6017 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      I’ve heard it suggested that crime problems in the 70s could, at least in part, be blamed on the leaded gas exposure from 20 years prior.

    • @anthonyrowland9072
      @anthonyrowland9072 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@jimstenlund6017 You can lay a graph of lead exposure in the mid 20th century with crime rate later on and it's shockingly similar. you can just look up the graphs on google, it's crazy
      Turns out we just lead poisoned poor people more...

    • @rogerdodrill4733
      @rogerdodrill4733 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      ​@@jimstenlund6017criminals & defense attorney use any alabi available

  • @PFay
    @PFay 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Once again, great work! Impressive that you tracked down the extant Messino and his 57 chev.! What a trove of info and memories that old guy must be?

  • @kevinharms7578
    @kevinharms7578 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    The Amphitheatre is where it all happened, new car shows, custom car shows, Ringling Brothers circus, wrestling Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher, way before Mc Cormick place was built. I believe they might of had tractor pulls there ? Great video.

  • @theschultz-ster
    @theschultz-ster 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Hell yeah brother!! Been waiting on your take for this. Just about to start it.

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Awesome!!! Thanks! Let me know what you think.

    • @theschultz-ster
      @theschultz-ster 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@brianlohnes3079 Very complete! Setting the history straight is important. Man I would love to see some photos of that Ferrari doing 120 down that front straight! Oh the noise! Dick definitely need his own episode, BTW. That may uncover some pictures from then too?

  • @amelierenoncule
    @amelierenoncule 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    My God-father, was a constant fan at these races...along with his Super-8 movie camera. Although ancient now, mon ami, and residing in "Hollyweird", I shall contact him to see if he still has those films. Keep your fingers, AND toes crossed !

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      This would be incredible!

  • @here_for_the
    @here_for_the 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Crazy & remarkable story of Drag racing history, Brian!!
    Well Done, Sir!

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Appreciate you watching!!

  • @Dipndots87-ms6ds
    @Dipndots87-ms6ds 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    You did a great job making this video. I hope more people come forward with pictures and history about this event.

  • @TillrockART
    @TillrockART 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    So Good Brian! This was a little before my time, but spent many hours at the Amphitheater at Rod and Custom shows and other events. Shake Rattle and Run was and still is awesome to see at our local tracks... Thanks for doing this deep dive into the craziness of indoor drag racing!

  • @Patrick-is4ym
    @Patrick-is4ym 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Brian, you’ve made this my favorite channel on TH-cam! Amazing content! I’m always ready for the next video.

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Thank you and I’m crackin on some more now

  • @MichaelGuziak
    @MichaelGuziak 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    >> AGAIN, ANOTHER GREAT VIDEO... I AM FROM CHICAGO SOUTHSIDE.. NEVER WENT TO ANY RACES THERE. TOO YOUNG THEN
    THEN WE MOVED TO SO CAL IN 1964.>> I, JUST ABOUT LIVED AT LIONS DRAG STRIP IN WILMINGTON, CA.. LOVED THAT PLACE AND IRWINDALE AND OCIR TOO.. IRWINDALE BECAME A MILLER BREWERY AROUND 1975..

  • @acetomatocompany
    @acetomatocompany 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you Brian, also educating us about our old glory days. 👍👍

  • @dmeemd7787
    @dmeemd7787 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Anyone ever go to the misc indoor AHRA (and similar) tractor pulls, etc. stuff they had in the early 90’s? during the winters up North..?
    Awesome, awesome video!!

  • @MakeStationWagonsGreatAgain
    @MakeStationWagonsGreatAgain 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Buford T Justice caprice needs a showcase video!
    Love the history videos... your personal archive has got to be amazing.
    ** bangshift regular here **

  • @WaverleyHilton
    @WaverleyHilton 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    ❤ love your work sir. Best thing on utube . Your love for the subject comes through in the videos and the amount of knowledge you have on the subjects has me in awe

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment!

  • @timrayburn2461
    @timrayburn2461 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Thanks for the outstanding effort to produce these stories

  • @georgeadams8230
    @georgeadams8230 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    What a crazy story! Thanks so much for posting.

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thanks so much for watching!!

  • @bodarville2510
    @bodarville2510 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I quick checked a forum called The H.A.M.B. , searched indoor drag racing, there was postings. There’s a lot of vintage car guys on there. Free to be a member.

  • @user-im2tc6pl9i
    @user-im2tc6pl9i 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Heard good things about you Brian, excellent source digging! 👏👏👏

  • @IanTheMotorsportsMan_YT
    @IanTheMotorsportsMan_YT 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    Indoor Drag Racing??
    Damn, 1 day imma die knowing there was indoor drag racing!
    Thanks Brian, you are the man on the booth, behind the mic, and on TH-cam! :D

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Appreciate you checking this stuff out

    • @IanTheMotorsportsMan_YT
      @IanTheMotorsportsMan_YT 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@brianlohnes3079 of course!

    • @Spike-sk7ql
      @Spike-sk7ql 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      One day I'm gonna die knowing there WAS indoor drag racing, but I never got to experience it. 😢 There's always indoor pulls, but tractor pulls are not drag races. Damn right you will find me at the Chilli Bowl though.

  • @jeffreypelletier7247
    @jeffreypelletier7247 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    That’s awesome!!! I’ve always had this day dream of building something like that up here in Maine so we could race in the winter. I had never heard of anything like that.. that’s so cool thanks for the content!!!

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      See, your daydream was legit!

  • @jigwhatup
    @jigwhatup 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I’m hooked on these bio’s. Thanks for sharing the history.
    I would like to see some of these made about some of the legends of American kart racing

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Sounds like a fun thing to dig into

  • @billmadison2032
    @billmadison2032 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I grew up in Romeoville and never heard anything about this. awesome video about the history

  • @Merylstreep1949
    @Merylstreep1949 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    The picture in my head about that race and hot rod show is better than any real picture ❤wow especially hearing about that British motorcycle lady and her motorcycle shop on the south side of Chicago in the 1950s....I bet she was VERY popular ❤❤❤❤❤wow what a picture

  • @johnsandor757
    @johnsandor757 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I remember my old man taking me there when I was kid. Great memories. In the 80’s amphitheater would hold truck pulls.

  • @oldrustycars
    @oldrustycars 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Dick Messino would be a good subject. He was a Chicago cop and cocaine distributor. I'm not positive, but i think the Pro Mod version of the Shake was a different car, fiberglass and tube chassis. There was a story of it being impounded by the feds, they hooked to what they thought was a bumper, but it was fiberglass.

  • @bigneasy2106
    @bigneasy2106 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Watching this while looking at a trophy my father acquired from the Indoor Drags ❤

  • @mikepaul3959
    @mikepaul3959 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    I thought I knew a good deal about drag racing history. My interest started by stumbling on articles and lore from first Nationals in Great Bend, KS while racing there myself in high school (in the mid '60s). However, I was not aware of any of the indoor drags. Or of a lot of things in your videos for that matter. Thanks again Brian.

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Appreciate you investing your time to watch!

  • @gafrers
    @gafrers 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Interesting and so much research behind every video. 👍👍👍👍

  • @billlamb1937
    @billlamb1937 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    While I knew about the Chicago indoor Drags I never knew the details until today. Thanks for that.
    I have heard stories about indoor drags here in Tulsa and the former Douglas Bomber Plant which is about a mile long. If there was a race there, and I am not sure there was, I am pretty sure it was a one time deal.

  • @rayleehylton8427
    @rayleehylton8427 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Another great video, thanks Brian for all you do.

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Very welcome!!!

    • @rayleehylton8427
      @rayleehylton8427 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I hope you're doing nhra again this year?

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@rayleehylton8427 absolutely!!!!

    • @rayleehylton8427
      @rayleehylton8427 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@brianlohnes3079Great to hear that,you're a big part of the nhra !!!

  • @tomp1612
    @tomp1612 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Great stuff yet again! The video of the steel plate drags at Two Rivers Stadium is awesome! There was a plan for an indoor or covered dragstrip around 20 years ago, somewhere in the Southwest. Seemed silly to me, put it somewhere where rainouts ruin the racing schedule, not there.

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      It sure is a grand plan we love to talk about at the drags when it is raining!

    • @dukecraig2402
      @dukecraig2402 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Three Rivers Stadium.
      Two Rivers, Franco Harris just rolled over in his grave.

  • @markstopkey4085
    @markstopkey4085 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    That's insane! Never thought that would be done.

  • @HANDBALLDIEHARD
    @HANDBALLDIEHARD 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Fire Dept grandstanding , you could have held a indoor massive barn fire safety in the wide open space, the fire that spooked them totally different situation !

  • @saturnfivehynrgrc581
    @saturnfivehynrgrc581 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Good stuff Brian. Like button energized.

  • @mrjoel59
    @mrjoel59 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I had no knowledge of any of this, however me and my buddy once went down there to see pulling trucks. It was wild.

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Indoor pulling is gnarly!

  • @ryno6101
    @ryno6101 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Thanks for sharing history ❤❤

  • @productboy3187
    @productboy3187 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Brian, fantastic video as always. If your looking for video ideas, I have one - the most incredible drag racing photo I have ever seen was the photo of 4 jet cars side by side at the starting line (I think at Fontana?) in the 60's. I have never seen any actual information about that incident - I would love to see a video on that; did they actually race 4 abreast? was it a publicity stunt? how fast did they go? why did the drivers agree to that?

  • @louislepage5111
    @louislepage5111 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Thanks for the content, very informative. The only time before this that I heard about the venue was Norm Krause, the owner of Grand Spaulding Dodge in Chicago. His dealership provided some support for a local super stock racer in the area, in 1962 if I remember correctly 😊

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Wow! THE Mr Norm! Thank you for watching.

    • @claytontaylor2800
      @claytontaylor2800 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      One of the cars in the video had a Grand Spaulding Dodge sign on it.

  • @bullhead360
    @bullhead360 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Brian, do a story on Don Garlits when he realized advancing the timing a stupid amount would propel his swamp rat to win multiple events till others figured it out. I learned of this story first hand from him in his shop at his museum, at 12 years old. My uncle Larry, known as “Donut” was the crew chief for the Mongoose. Any questions ask away.. I could put you In touch with Donut if you want. Keep doing what you’re doing👍🏼🤘🏼💪🏼

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      That is an epic story for sure

  • @russellharper3027
    @russellharper3027 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Dude. Your research is incredible. As much as I dislike the current "take pictures of every single thing" (and I think in the future that will cause the important things to be lost in the current flood of pictorial effluvium) , I wish there was more to be seen of so many of these cool old races.

  • @tylerkinley268
    @tylerkinley268 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    That is so damn cool. The sound mustve been painful, but damn cool.

  • @prostockjohn1967
    @prostockjohn1967 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Good job Brian, they tore down the amphitheatre in 1999. It was a popular car hangout until then I went some.

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Neat you had some time to hang there!

  • @bendaves77
    @bendaves77 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Bet this would be highly successful today.. in the midwest we have custom motorcycle shows and other automotive shows that get us thru the difficult winter months.. the other thing is that there's some really cool & great history thats happened here in the midwest area and the entire area is usually overlooked

  • @allareasindex7984
    @allareasindex7984 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you Brian! As a car crazy kid growing up in NYC I attended a circle track motorcycle race held in Madison Square Garden. Must have been in the early 1970s. The track was tiny, fitting in the same space as a basketball court!

  • @mpanka1
    @mpanka1 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Just a heads up, The Headline at 30:28 I understand is tough to read due to the terrible image, however I wanted to let you know, the Headline is actually “Scat-Kitty” (S•Kat-Kitty), I only know this because back in the 60’s, there was a company who designed, manufactured and sold a 1-piece poured cast Aluminum framed minibike or mini-scooter that housed a 3.5hp Briggs & stratton engine….. And again, I only know this because I owned one MANY years ago….
    Anyway, I’m not here to give you a tough time, things happen, It just hit me a few seconds after hearing you read the headline as “SEAT-Kitty” is when it all “clicked”, and since I know the fact checking effort you must go through for your nostalgic and factual informative videos, I thought you might want to know..
    Great content by the way!! Great work!!

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Mark it’s a cringe for me for sure! Cannot believe I screwed that up!

    • @mpanka1
      @mpanka1 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Bah, it’s all good, no harm done… stuff happens! But it’s extremely clear the effort you put in, so if it hadn’t been pointed out before, I figured I’d try to break it as humanly as possible…. Considering we’re all just human!

  • @frankrodelli4940
    @frankrodelli4940 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Drag racing at the “Amp”, I was 19 years old at that time. During the winter it was street racing because US 30 or Oswego weren’t open till April, so it was great except for the carbon monoxide headaches.one of my buddies crashed his 63 Plymouth into one of the steel support columns. Yeah Jack Sharkey ran real strong so did Shake Rattle and Run, it was a blast!

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Man the air must have been thick enough to chew.

  • @russellharper3027
    @russellharper3027 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    That Pittsburgh event with the Backup Pickup (I think it is) looks so cool. There is lots of indoor midget, three quarter midget, and quarter midget indoor race to this day. Not as much as 20 years ago, unfortunately, but still lots. The Chili Bowl being the largest by a huge margin.

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      100% indoor racing is still alive and well

  • @bsmuggs
    @bsmuggs 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I saw tractor pulls in the old amphitheater That was intense when those things revved up and the sound bounced off the roof

  • @jakespeed63
    @jakespeed63 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Wow! Incredible story
    I’m from Euclid Ohio just like the guy mentioned in the story
    Thanks for sharing
    JT: Orlando FLA

  • @HoosierDaddy_
    @HoosierDaddy_ 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    What the what? I've never even heard of this, lol. How cool! That had to be the loudest thing ever. Nice!!

  • @timfoley4731
    @timfoley4731 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Thank you Brian! I love this sh!t....

  • @claytontaylor2800
    @claytontaylor2800 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Brian - one of the photos in the video showed “Tiger Tom” Pistone in a stock car. He was a REALLY well-connected racer in the Chicago area (mostly stock cars) and certainly knew many of the people you mentioned in the piece. His son is Pete Pistone, who is currently the morning host on SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. A quick search for Tiger Tom indicates that he is still alive at 94 years old. (!!!!) Have you tried contacting Pete or even Tiger Tom himself to see if they or anyone they know has any knowledge about the Indoor Grand Prix? I am fascinated.

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Aware of both of their impressive careers but have not reached out. I should! Photo was definitely included because of who was in that car!

  • @randalljames1
    @randalljames1 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Have you done a deep dig on Beswick? Met him while we were all match racing at the old Vegas strip (final event for them)... Guy has some stories. I got to sit and BS with him for a few hours.. had his "log book" in his back pocket with every run he had made in the last 10+ years...

  • @user-id4so3wu4b
    @user-id4so3wu4b 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I have videos of Byron back in the 60s. Awesome to watch especially all the hair do,s and clothing

  • @nhra7110
    @nhra7110 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Fantastic history! Thanks Brian

  • @sanddragracer
    @sanddragracer 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Mickey Thompson not long before his death was trying to promote 300ft indoor top fuel sand drags in the late 1980s, there are multiple racers, as well as Danny Thompson whom I asked about it at the PRI show that state they actually tested and were ready to put the races on using a braking system based off air craft carriers landing brakes. Unfortunately an event at an Anaheim USHRA truck and tractor pull would eventually cause several injuries as well as the ban of paddle tires on mud and sand drag machines in indoor events throughout the country, and not long after with Mickey thompsons death the thought of indoor top fuel sand drags died.

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      This is more insight into that scene than I have ever heard before! Thank you for the clarification and background.

    • @sanddragracer
      @sanddragracer 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@brianlohnes3079 also thank you sir for all these great videos and you podcast, so much information and stories I’ve only heard the edges of, my favorite episode is still the Dork’o’Motive episode on Art Arfons
      I got you the manual, “I don’t need it no more “

  • @jaspal666
    @jaspal666 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    I have a pal. He was a drag racer. There’s a Sears that’s empty. He has the means.
    I’ll report back.

  • @dennis1954
    @dennis1954 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    The only indoor motorized event I saw in the Amphitheater was Evel Knievel promoting his Snake River jump and his motorcycle repair shops(early 70s). I saw him later at an event placing a plaque (in the 80s) next to the bridge that spans the river. Also at that time I met a new girlfriend. She knew Evel, her husband’s (divorced when we met) drinking buddy when he was in Idaho doing his thing.
    The main thing that I clearly remember when Evel made his indoor jump was he had to duck to prevent hitting a rafter. @12:15 rafters are shown.

  • @onehot57
    @onehot57 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    I raced there! On the dragstrip.

  • @stevegabbert9626
    @stevegabbert9626 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I went there for the car shows in the 70's, but didn't know about the racing in there. I would have been to young at the time to get there.

    • @brianlohnes3079
      @brianlohnes3079  7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Would have been something to see!

    • @stevegabbert9626
      @stevegabbert9626 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      The smell of the wide open exhausts, the ear splitting sound of the engines, would have been unforgettable for sure. The car shows were great. It was the first time I saw a 427 SOHC stuffed into a Pinto. @@brianlohnes3079

  • @SuperDirtyred1
    @SuperDirtyred1 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Hello, Great Video. I would like to see you do a Tribute to the Late Jack Ditmars & Famous "Lil' Screamer." .😂