Remember When We Could Cruise and Drag by Sue and Chuck DeFiore

As I was listening to our oldies station, they were talking about the big June event in Modesto, with all the old cars, music groups, car shows and cruisin down the main drag. For those of you who don’t know Modesto is where the inspiration for American Graffiti came from and that movie brings back memories for all of us who love cars.

Between hearing the info on that event and reading about drag and bracket racing, made me think back to my high school days, I know amazing at my age that I can actually still remember them!

While no one ever condoned street racing we all know it took place. Even more than street racing, I can remember spending all day Saturday, washing, waxing, polishing and cleaning the inside of the car so it was in tip shop shape Saturday night to cruise with.

For so many of us back then there were places to go and show off our cars. We had streets to cruise on and show off our cars. And yes, we also had those places where we drag raced them.

But we also had tracks you could go to and drag race on. I can remember, Central Islip’s and National Speedway to name a couple. Today’s car lovers don’t really have that luxury. Maybe some areas of the country do, but here in California for the most part it is gone. Not the tracks, but the ability for the average Joe to use them for fun. The police here have curfews and don’t want any kind of cruising activity to take place. Drags have been outlawed on the roads, as well they should. However, the raceways (the ones that are left), won’t even accommodate those who wish to drag race. They are strictly for those with the big bucks and the big buck drag racing cars.

What a shame, as I know of many kids who would love to have an outlet or place to go to show off their car and their skills as drivers. Like so much else today, it is just another bastion we have lost. Very sad to those of us who grew up in an era when all of this and much more was available.

So for those of us who have the memories of what it used to be like, be sure to share those with the youth around you today and let them live vicariously through you.

We would love to hear your stories, drop us an email so we can put yours up on the site today.

DeFiore Enterprises, 2006

About The Author

Sue and Chuck DeFiore

The Past Is A Blast - Where you can reminisce about the "way it was". Vintage videos from the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. Plus lots of fun facts and history from those times in addition to memorabilia to take you back to much better times, (in our humble opinion). Remember the great movies, the great songs, the cars, the clothes, the attitude.... Join us today and start reliving yesterday at http://www.thepastisablast.com/