A little history of the Houston International Drag Strip

Front Page

This is a 2 page feature story of the Drag Strip that appeared in the

Houston Chronicle in 1959. All the newspaper articles on the

page were furnished by James "Buggs" Threadgill.

To enlarge the picture to read the text, double click.

Back Page

To enlarge the picture to read the text, double click.

To enlarge the picture to read the text, double click.

To enlarge the picture to read the text, double click.

To enlarge the picture to read the text, double click.

To enlarge the picture to read the text, double click.

To enlarge the picture to read the text, double click.

This Photo was taken in October of 1958 as the story goes. It seems to show up just about

all over Texas. If you are from Texas, the most notables are Eddie Hill, Bobby Langly and Ed Mabry

To enlarge the picture to read the text, double click.

To view the identified people click HERE

Just inside the gate off the feeder road of I-45

These photos were taken on April 8, 2000. If this track could

talk, you would hear some of the best drag racing stories ever

told. It opened up in the mid 50's and it was the premier track

of it's early era. At one time or another the best fuel cars in the

country came here to run.

The pits were on both sides of the paved road that you see.

Still in the pit area, as this road curves to the right it will take

you to the staging lanes.

This is standing on the starting line, looking towards the track

entry gate. The blue truck that you see is where you would pay

to get in.

What you see in this picture is the staging lanes from standing

on the track.

This is the return road from the end of track. You can barely

see part of the track to the right, between the trees.

This is what was left of the bleachers the day I was there.

This is what was left of the tower. It was torn down about

2 weeks before I got here. Like always, I'm a day late and

a dollar short.

A few cinder blocks from the tower.

This is the tower foundation with the remains in the background.

The red car belongs to a guy that was using a metal detector. I'm

sure he never found any gold, but I bet he found enough spark

plugs, nuts & bolts to retire on.

Tower foundation looking towards the starting line.

Standing a little ways behind the tower looking towards the

tower.

Looking towards the starting line and burnout area. The staging

lanes ran parallel to the trees you see in the picture.

This is looking down the 1/4 mile from the back of the track.

All the asphalt was dug up between the guardrails. This

picture was taken standing on top of the mound looking back

towards the starting line, the tower sat on the left side.

Standing on the asphalt still looking towards the concrete starting line.

What is left of years worth of rubber.

Standing on the starting line looking down the tower side

of the track.

Standing on the starting line looking down the left side.

Standing on the asphalt mound looking down the 1/4 mile.

I wonder where these came from, along with a box of asphalt.

I wouldn't have brought these home, but I knew if I left without

them I would regret it for the rest of my life.