Madras Drag Strip, Ore.:  The small tower located in central Oregon stands guard over the 1/8th mile track at Madras. Years ago, Robin Whitcomb talked us into doing a Pro Stock show there when the category was new and popular. The track was short, but the crowd loved us. It is still in action today! (Photo by Jim Doyle)

Barona Drag Strip, 2013: Perched on a hill alongside the drag strip is this operations tower at the only full time raceway left in Southern California.  (Who would have thought?) YES, Irwindale and Fontana may return, and Pomona is allowed to race ‘once in a while’. Barona is located in the San Diego mountain foothills on the Barona Indian Reservation, far removed from any residential ears. (Photo by Pete Liebig)

There you have it for column 2 about Timing Towers. We tried to stay close to the West Coast and show several places you may not know existed. California ‘was’ the Mecca of organized drag racing in the beginning. High land prices and an ever growing population have all but canceled out the ‘birthplace’ of our sport. To the north, several tracks still operate in Oregon and Washington.  For my next ‘Timing Towers III’, we will feature the mid-west.

 Until next time, Be On Time!