Showgoers might say from its earliest days of being held on-site at their Santa Fe Springs, California, location the Mooneyes Xmas party has served as a sort of demographic barometer throughout the years. For December 23, 2008 all it took to confirm this was still the case, one only had to take a long walk around the perimeter of the Toyota Speedway of Irwindale and witness everything from rails and Gassers to crusty old beaters tearing it up on Irwindale's 1/8-mile dragstrip to the park's outer edges. The drag racing activities were added to the event when it moved to Irwindale and from the steady increase of new competitors each year it looks like drag racing will continue to be a mainstay of what make the Mooneyes Xmas Show & Drags a really neat and unique event. For the people who were more into the scene of pompadours, tattoos, and cuffed Levis the place was packed wall-to-wall with all kinds of custom culture iconery for sale in the vendors row. Beyond the vendors area out further in the lots, the local car clubs and lone wolf packs were filling the air with good smelling barbeque smoke and put on a real good show 'n' shine to boot. For information about next year's Mooneyes Xmas Show & Drags check out www.mooneyesusa.com.
We know this '46 Chevy sedan...
We know this '46 Chevy sedan delivery has been a Gasser since back in the day because we used see it on the streets of West Covina when it was known as the Grateful Dead.
The Rollin' Rice Bowl III,...
The Rollin' Rice Bowl III, a '27 T B/Altered pickup, was a NHRA record holder in 1963.
Check out the Mooneyes dragster...
Check out the Mooneyes dragster getting its Moon tank fueled, and near ready to roll up to the line. There's no mistaking a Dragmaster chassis with its double-hoop rollbar, the cycle tires look like they could be a pair of Avon Speedmaster Mk.IIs.
The odds of seeing an early...
The odds of seeing an early '50s Mopar Gasser like Paul Soliz' The High and Mighty back in the '60s were about as likely as meeting Raquel Welch shopping at a local Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Here's Larry Fator just moments...
Here's Larry Fator just moments before launching the Dead on Irwindale's 1/8-mile strip. Notice in keeping with fashion trends contemporary to the Gasser age, Larry is wearing a blue Pendleton wool shirt.
In the pits the place was...
In the pits the place was crawling with cool old trucks. This Studebaker push truck was in charge of lighting up this Corvette-powered '32 Austin Bantam. Notice the fuel tank fits neatly into a chopped '23 T radiator shell.
Dare to be different was the...
Dare to be different was the theme when the torch was put to this Ford F-1...
...from Interstate Customs,...
...from Interstate Customs, purveyors of "hot rods, parts, clothing."