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Introduction
In A Nutshell
THE ERA
Mission Statement
Aerial Views
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
# Car Clubs
# Aurora Autocrats
# Chrome Czars
# Illinois Valley Idlers
# Scavengers
# Traction Masters
Drag Bikes
Evolution
Drag Days
The Gold Agency
Interstate Highway
Rat Rods
Safety Techniques
Salt Flats
Sponsors
Tire History
T-shirt History
Track Quiz
Mountain View
Biography
James Dean
Don Garlits
Norb Locke
Bill Modesitt
Wally Parks
Ron Pellegrini
Gary Skiles
Al Thompson
Jim 'Woody' Woodrow
Wood Car Parts
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The Making of...
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Sandcastle Builders

 

The Era of the Oswego Dragway

Mission Statement: To research, record, document and preserve the personal histories of the young people from here in the Fox Valley and the Midwest who played a vital role in merging land speed racing and hot rodding creating modern drag racing. And also to simultaneously note the myriad of positive benefits that accrued to the lives and avocations of these young people by the very nature of their activities and labors at the track. Whew! Jay Thompson

Email: jaysspeedshop@gmail.com

Every time I make a pass in the car I feel that I am endangering my life. -  Mike Sorokin, 1965

"You are a great champion. When you ran the ground shook. The sky opened and mere mortals parted. Parted the way to victory. Where you will meet me in the winner's circle. Where I will lay a blanket of flowers on your back." Cale Crane, Dreamer (Sonador)

On THe Road "Sept. 5, 2007, marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of On the Road, the novel by Jack Kerouac that gave voice to his generation's postwar experiences. With its energetic portrayal of the thrills and confusions of being young in the early years of the Cold War, it also helped usher in the "Beatnik" movement and many of the radical changes in American culture that took place in the 1960s."

Chapter 3 The BARBARIANS

Plus each copy of Chapter 3 comes with a genuine piece of the Drag Strip

asphalt with a Certificate of Authenticity!

Bill & Jeanne about with their sons Billy & Gary. circa 1953

The ‘Era’ Exhibit at the Oswego Drag Strip Festival, Downtown Oswego. Fri 4 - 8pm, Sat 12 - 8pm, Sun 12 - 4pm,  September 15-17, 2006. The next “Era” event will be held in conjunction with the 1st Annual Oswego Drag Strip Days that is September 16-17, 2006. The “Era” is an interactive, multi-media, guest racers, volunteer-enhanced exhibit recalling the 1950’s when young people from Fox Valley played a vital role in the evolution of land-speed racing and hot rodding to create modern drag racing. In fact we now believe that the Oswego Dragway is either the first, or one of the very first, privately-owned, purpose-built drag strips in the U.S. Note that for convenience the “Era” exhibit will also be open 4-8pm on Friday in addition to the Saturday and Sunday of the Drag Strip Days Festival in the middle of all of the Drag Days activities.

Tell Us Your Story!

Email: jaysspeedshop@gmail.com

The Official Headquarters & Home Website of Oswego Dragway.

 DVD's of The Instigators, The Competitors, & The Barbarians available!

Oswego Antique Market - Historic Downtown Oswego

Wholesale Tire & Ground Effects - Yorkville

Official "The ERA" Biography Forms are available free at Oswego Antique Market - Oswego