I wish we still had a drag strip!

Firebird has a reputation for being the friendliest track there is.
Since I grew up at Lions, I dig tracks that still look pure, or in modern terms, "old school".
Famoso (aka "Bakersfield") is another place that looks very much like the 1st time we ran there in the early '70s.

The modern palaces that NHRA builds all look similar: cold, authoritarian, and kinda elitist.

Since the Bowser's took over Famoso, it just isn't the same. Put many a lap down Carlsbad, Pomona, OCIR, LACR, Inyokern, Sacramento. PRP(Speedworld) Firebird(Wild Horse) Sir(Tucson), Bonneville(dragstrip). Nothing as enjoyable as the old drag strips. Hell, Holtville could be managed with a good set of shocks. Man, am I getting old!

I raced at Firebird many times when I lived out west, it's overall my favorite track to be at, it is truly a family run track. The New family works there butts off running that track because they take that operation very personal since they basically grew up at that track, and their Dad took pride in owning and operating it. If you ever race there once your very likely to meet one of the New's and then you go back the next year, and they say, "hello Glenn, we sure are glad you made it back, is that Mopar still running strong" its amazing t me how they keep up with it so well and show appreciation for your patronage. Their goal is to make sure everyone who is there knows its important to them you showed up. They have many long time employees that act just like the family. The one thing that is kinda wrong about the article is that the track hasn't changed any, its correct in many ways but they also upgrade some stuff every year, pit roads, bigger pits, paving, they even replaced that old cracker box of a pit control tower finally 10 years ago. I wish I could race there regularly.

Although I’ve never been there, All of my buddies that have say it’s well run, a great place to race and very friendly to all that arrive.

Glenn summed it up nicely. I usually only make it there 1-2 times a year since its 500 miles one way, but its a great facility run by a great family.

Agreed,
I have only raced 2xs in in the last 2yrs, have a track 45 mins away.
I drive to firebird that is 8hrs away if that says anything. Feel like a whole bunch of buddies over there. The whole atmosphere is beyond great.

Well my home track has been around since 1962. It has a new tower and they added steel guard rails probably 25 years ago. But it pretty much is unchanged.

http://www.mokandragway.com/index.html

I was referring to it being put on the national register of historic places so its there for all to enjoy

TVD sure could be. It almost looks the same as it did when it opened in 1968.

I hope there is a plan for it , Glenn is 84 years old this summer and I am not sure what would happen if he passed away

No wife, no kids ..Lots of rumors but who knows

As the story states, we keep getting more housing developments moving closer to the track. Which has led to shutting the racing down earlier in the nite. can remember racing at 1:00 am and sometimes later! But it is a really nice track and the News and crew are the best! And we do miss ya coming over Glenn!

Thanks Jim, along with the good operation, there were lots of really good racers at Firebird to, I really miss the few races a year I used to make there. Those big expensive houses were being built out that way before I moved back east, I imagine there are a lot more of them now, hopefully most of them are racers, or a few of them anyway

Once I t the s a historic place they cannot take it

Dumb place to build your house. It's in the middle of the desert with nothing but sage and dry grass as far as you can see. One lighting strike and your home could be up in flames.

My early August 2018 entertainment. It was 110 or so out and I drank like a fish to keep hydrated. All worth it though! https://youtu.be/qikn-ryMVJU

You see all sorts of old celebrities mingling around at the larger races. Last year Whit Bazemore was roaming around the pits. The year before Jack Beckman was the guest announcer + he did some bracket racing in a borrowed car.