October 2020 • By Tony Thacker • Photos Dave Kommel

They said it was a portal into the past and whoever they are, they were right. I’m talking about the Eagle Field Runway Drags organized by Rocky Phillips and friends and held a couple times a year on an old WWII airfield, Eagle Field, as it happens, 200 something miles north of Los Angeles in Firebaugh, just off the 5 Freeway in, well, a field.

Joe Davis who intended to preserve the history of Eagle Field purchased the decommissioned pilot training base in 1980. In 2009, along came Rocky with the idea of running flag-start, eighth mile drags on what was left of the runway.

Eagle Field is a long drive from LA but worth the trek. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic the recent ‘Social Gap’ event, presented by Dos Palos LIONS Club, was not open to spectators. Nevertheless, when you do get to go you’ve DeLorean’d back to what drag races were like in the 50s and 60s when there was little corporate control, minimal sponsorship, tons of creativity and too much fun.

One of my best times there was hanging with Ed “Isky” Iskenderian who was 96-years-old at the time and showed my how to operate two iPhones at once. Truly the iconic ‘iPhather.’

The vast majority of the field, which is actually a dirt lot or, a lot of dirt sprayed with some chemical to keep the dust down, comprises a couple hundred door cars of every make and model from funky hot rods to straight axle, wheel-standing Gassers. The track is a bit rough and a bit short on length but the event is high on action.

Sadly, just prior to this event, their chief starter, Eves Tall Chief, the last flag-starter at the Fremont Drag Strip, passed away so they used both a flag and a Christmas tree to start the cars. Also different for this event was the introduction of bracket racing with classes for Mean Street for all door cars, Gasser for ’66 and earlier vehicles built to look like a 60’s Gassers and Open Comp for dragsters, altereds and Funny Cars, etc. There were also categories for Heads-Up Quick 8 door cars.

If you’re tired of the overly corporate, Big Show shenanigans then maybe some down home drag racing is for you.

For more info about future events visit: EagleFieldDrags.com