Morrow Drag Strip
Drag races at the airport in Colton, California in 1954
Back in the late 1940’s, there was an independent service club that was based in San Bernardino, California. Founded by local entrepreneur Howard Morrow, known to all as “Spud”, he and fellow club members strived to make a difference in the lives of area youths. Spud Morrow owned a small airport in nearby Colton, about 3 miles south of San Bernardino that had been built in the early 1940’s and used briefly as a training base for U.S. military pilots during World War 2.
Troubling headlines in local newspapers highlighted the need for safe avenues for many of the adventurous youth infatuated with hot rods. There was a tremendous need for these young hot rodders to test their cars in safe places, and Spud Morrow’s airport seemed to be a perfect solution.
The board of directors of the Argonauts met to work out the many details needed to make this ambitious plan work properly. Leading the newly-formed “Argonauts Timing Association” included board members Frank Nicholson, Stewart Metz, C.W. Scott, Edward Dempsey, Floyd Wells, Bert McKissock and Spud Morrow.
Important endorsements came from the Colton Police Force, California Highway Patrol, the County Board of Supervisors, and the Mayors of Colton and San Bernardino. The track received immediate sanctioning from the National Hot Rod Association. Local car clubs that endorsed the project included members of the San Bernardino Krankers, the Colton Antiques, the Riverside Night Owls, the Redlands Marauders, and the Menton Hornets.
By early July, Spud Morrow had pledged more than 12 thousand dollars out of his own pocket towards updates in converting his aging airfield into a drag strip.
More than 50 volunteers were recruited to help clean up the site. Weeding, mowing, and other necessary steps were taken to get the site in proper condition ahead of surface repaving. The entire former landing strip was then repaved in preparation of the upcoming racing action.
At first, there were no provisions for spectator seating, but plenty of space with excellent views next to the strip was provided for parked cars. Guard rails consisted of hale bales strategically placed around the facility. New fencing was installed around the track site, and a crew installed the electronic timers needed to record the speeds of competitors.
Ahead of the opening date of August 22, several test days were offered to local racers and anyone interested in viewing these preliminary events. Members of the Argonaut Timing Association were unprepared when five thousand spectators arrived at the first pre-race day to watch several hundred cars race each other, one against another down the new strip. With this amount of support from the very beginning, it was quickly decided to hold several more races ahead of the official opening event on August 22.
After another astounding turnout the following week, Timing Association officials decided to shut down any future events.
While it was obvious to them that they had a popular situation, the officials realized that they still needed to do necessary work on the site that couldn’t be completed if races were being held. With that in mind, all further race event days ahead of opening day were cancelled until such work was completed.
A week before the opening day, a meeting of racers was held, as Association members laid out the new track’s set of rules and regulations.
Finally, Morrow Drag Strip’s opening day drew near. Officials predicted that up to 300 cars were expected to compete. Gates would open at 8 am, with spectators being charged 75 cents to enter that facility. Children under 12 years old were to be admitted for free. The first time-trials would begin at 9:30 am, with elimination runs beginning at 1 pm.
In competition that day were a host of hot rod roadsters, stock street-driven cars, several “laker” cars previously seen in dry lakes competitions, and many motorcycles all eager to compete.
After a successful opening day, the President of the Argonaut Timing Association Floyd Wells, and track manager Trevor Constable handed out trophies to class winners in a ceremony held near the new track’s starting line. Winners that day included Davy Torres, Joe Arizaga, Sam Brollier, and Bobby Alvarez. Top Eliminator of the day was Mike Zarate.
This first race at the new Morrow Drag Strip was a huge success, leading to events held throughout the fall and winter at the southern California facility and well into the following decade. Even with stiff competition from nearby Fontana Drag Strip and Riverside Raceway during the early 1960’s, drag racing flourished at Morrow Drag Strip with an impressive lineup of top notch drag racing events, cementing the track’s legacy in California’s rich drag racing history.
Today, Morrow Drag Strip is no longer there. Much of the property that once was an airport has been redeveloped into warehousing, industrial businesses, residential housing and a golf course. Surprisingly, a center section of the land remains open and undeveloped. This area includes what would have been the second half of the actual drag strip, although there is nothing structurally remaining from the old track.
…Tim
*Race photos courtesy of Bud Henderson. Memorabilia from the Tim Sykes collection.
$12 k back in ‘54 was far from chump change 🏁