Vintage Chicago Indoor Drag photos-

[1970Moparmann]

A friend sent these to me this morning. Thought they needed to be shared. Cool photos!

Indoor Drag Racing from 1963-1964 at the International Amphitheater in Chicago.

 

[Satellite65]

Know what would be interesting? Trying to get an insurance company to underwrite a policy for something like that nowadays!!!

 

[Redpolara]

Very cool, chances are the owners of the 32 and the 63 wished they'd stayed at home that day.

 

[64BEL]

Wow - that's wild! Here's a good article about it with a link to more pics. One pic shows a white Dodge with Ramchargers on the side of it.
http://automotive.speedtv.com/article/vintage-racing-the-southside-winternationals/

 

[Al K]

That is way too cool. Inclement weather? No problem;move the racing indoors.

Indoor drag racing. Brilliant!

I agree with Satellite65;I'll have to show the gf(who's an insurance agent) this post and see her reaction. Should prove interesting...

 

[1970Moparmann]

See the driver of the 63 looking back when he's about to go through the 12' opening to the next section of the building - WOW... White knuckle for me!!!!

 

[moparstuart]

wow cool pictures , must have been a huge building . Fuel Fumes and burnt rubber too!!!!

 

[Satellite65]

wow cool pictures , must have been a huge building . Fuel Fumes and burnt rubber too!!!!

I've been to a couple of indoor monster truck 'things' back in the day - Walked out of the place stoned and nauseas.

 

[kdtjb]

If it wasn't for insurence companys,we would have alot more fun at 1/2 the price.lol

 

[vintagetin]

I wonder what type of ventalation they used? I like the smell of tire smoke, but that and rich running performance big blocks?... I can't imagine it being very comfortable.

 

[64BEL]

Must have been a quick ride - only a 440' track - but a 660' shutdown area. Says something about the brakes of the day - LOL

 

[moparsteve636]

Boy! If I would win the lottery.I'd build a covered track.Open on both ends Only a few billion dollars needed!(lol)

 

[65-440]

thats pretty friggin cool ..... the crazy stuff that was done back in the day !!

 

[383man]

Now thats cool ! Dont have to worry about rain. Ron

 

[Redpolara]

Must have been a quick ride - only a 440' track - but a 660' shutdown area. Says something about the brakes of the day - LOL

I think the brake term your looking for 64BEL is....Fade-O-Rific

 

[1badstroker]

WOW, This is so strange, A bunch of us were talking about this as they all used to go there on a regular basis back in the day.
There was no exhaust for the fumes, When you started to feel ill you went outside according to the buds that use to go back then, This was about four years ahead of me and a drag strip.

 

[64BEL]

I think the brake term your looking for 64BEL is....Fade-O-Rific

LOL - that about sums it up!

 

[Cranky]

The things we use to do back then that you can't do now......but that's kinda nuts lol. Went to a Demo derby in the Astrodome once and it wasn't long before the place was full of smoke but the Tractor Pull in the Summit was over the top. It had better ventilation but the noise was incredible!! Anyone who remembers the Summit (now a church) know how small it is. It was mainly built for basketball and hockey games.....and there was not very much room for stopping and a few actually hit the wall after a full pull which wasn't easy since the weight box was in high gear and when it hit the stop, you could see the puller getting a good shove lol