Anchorage Dragstrip

[DanRoche]

I'm looking for info on the dragstrip that was built in Anchorage shortly after Polar was built in the Butte. Supposedly it was built in the area that is now Independence Park so that would put it southeast of Diamond and the Seward Hwy. I found an aerial photo from 1974 that shows what could be the remnants of this old strip. It would have been closed down for quite a few years when this photo was taken. I have also heard that it was only open for a year or two before it started sinking into the peat. Check the photo and see if anyone knows if this is the old strip, or maybe it's just somebody's airstrip. Any info would be a big help. Did it have a name? What year(s) was it open? Who owned it? I actually have a librarian at the Loussac who has volunteered to help me research this thing but we don't have much to go on. I know there's a photo or two out there too but that's just wishful thinking on my part. Time for you "old" guys to climb up into the attic and look around. Whether it's the attic in your house or the attic of your mind doesn't matter. I know there's someone out there who remembers this place.
Thanks

In case my attachment doesn't show up in this post, It's here too: Anchorage1974

[pumpgas540]

Dan, I found an old strip years ago by accident. It was where AS&G is now, kind of just south of the Lowes at O'malley and Old Seward. Only one I am aware of. Good luck...

[DanRoche]

Thanks Rick. Not sure what that could have been that you saw. I know there was a dirt oval and a dirt bike track out that way. I got some info the other day confirming that the strip in the photo was, in fact, the old Anchorage drag strip and it was called Anchorage Dragway. Not too sure of the years of operation yet, maybe 67 & 68. The Loussac has microfiche of the old Anchorage Times and Anchorage Daily News so one of these days I'll go down and go through the summer '67 and '68 sports sections.

[AKNOVA]

I remember the Dirt Track, cause my mom raced there in The Powder-Puff race. She even took me for a ride, and scared the hell out of me.

[oldbluegoat]

The track off of omalley and old seward was a circle track asphault . the dragstrip was off of abbot and lake oatis. I had a friend in the early 70s and we partied and drove around the circle track until they cut a deep ditch across it in about 1974. He had a hotrodded opel Manta orange with side pipes name was steve wilber. The strip closed before that the track off debarr and bergaw was a dirt track.

[DanRoche]

Nov 13, 2014 9:02:06 GMT -9 oldbluegoat said:

The track off of omalley and old seward was a circle track asphault . the dragstrip was off of abbot and lake oatis. I had a friend in the early 70s and we partied and drove around the circle track until they cut a deep ditch across it in about 1974. He had a hotrodded opel Manta orange with side pipes name was steve wilber. The strip closed before that the track off debarr and bergaw was a dirt track.

Are you saying that you don't think that the area I have circled in the photo is, in fact, the old Anchorage Dragway? It looks to me like it's right between the Seward Hwy and Lake Otis.

[dwl5x18]

Dan, I think the area you have circled is right. I live at lake otis and abbott, I lived in this area as a kid and played in that spot.all through grade school and I do remember there being the strip and tower plus there was a couple little ponds in there too.. I've heard stories about it I think from John Childs. I'm sure he would know. But I think your spot is right for the dragstrip.

Dwayne

[dwl5x18]

Plus if you enlarge the photo and look down and to the left you will see the circle track Rick is talking about and it was paved. We raced our motorcycles around it as kids too. They later put big dirt mounds on it so we used those for jumps.

[DanRoche]

Nov 14, 2014 20:18:32 GMT -9 dwl5x18 said:

Dan, I think the area you have circled is right. I live at lake otis and abbott, I lived in this area as a kid and played in that spot.all through grade school and I do remember there being the strip and tower plus there was a couple little ponds in there too.. I've heard stories about it I think from John Childs. I'm sure he would know. But I think your spot is right for the dragstrip.

Dwayne

Thanks for the confirmation Dwayne. The fact that there were ponds there reinforces the fact that it was built on poor ground.
Like your new profile pic.
Dan

[oldbluegoat]

The area he has circled is right on. the asphult track was in the pit behind turnagain liquor. and there was a strip bar a little bit south of there and georges was dondees at the time. Stan and wes's dad talked about it one night. The track was gone before 1970 my first year in Ak. Way cool photo of the dLs wagon.

[dwl5x18]

Thank for the likes on the picture. Liked the other but that car is not mine anymore. Jeff " AkAutosports" took that picture. Can't wait for the video from Dan.