by Shannon Bowman-Sarkisian

Mark Andermahr (left) and David Weissbart (right) with their Willys Hot Rods at Dream Machines in 2008. Photo courtesy of Mark Andermahr.

April 2011 — The Coastside has been a haven for fast and fancy cars for decades. Locals may complain about gridlock on Highway 92 during Dream Machines, but our history is steeped in automobile myth and legend.

In 1957, the Half Moon Bay Drag Strip was started up at the Half Moon Bay Airport. The car club operating it ran into some financial trouble and was forced to shut down. Two enterprising street racers, Don Smith and Jim McLennan, approached the county and the club’s creditors to see if they could re-open the strip. A price was agreed upon, and the Half Moon Bay Drag Strip was reborn in 1958, on the condition that no noise was made before 8 a.m.

Smith and McLennan made a lot of improvements to the strip — the largest drag strip in Northern California. They put in fencing and bleachers on both sides, bought the latest timing and starting line equipment, put in a safety net at the far end of the strip, converted a truck into the timing tower, and added concession stands. Local sheriffs were hired and attended every race, along with an ambulance or two.

The car in the 1966 photo is known as the SWC team of Fred Stone, Leonard Woods & Doug "Cookie" Cook.

Smith and McLennan were the first to use radio and television advertising for drag strip events. Their efforts paid off. “In the early days,” Smith says, “the Raiders had just started out. We would out-draw a Raiders football game.” These events would create bumper-to-bumper traffic, blocking off Highway 1. “The highway patrol was going crazy trying to get everyone in,” he adds.

The Half Moon Bay Strip became one of the country’s premier drag strips. On Jan. 23, 1966, the world’s best drag racers, Don “Big Daddy” Garlits and Don “The Snake” Prudhomme, raced against each other for a $5,000 purse and a large trophy. Garlits won against all odds — Prudhomme’s name was etched onto the trophy before the race began — and Half Moon Bay’s place in drag race history was sealed.

Sadly, Smith and McLennan sold the drag strip in 1968, and it closed down soon afterwards. Although the Sunday races ended, the history of the Half Moon Bay Drag Strip is kept alive by Half Moon Bay Bakery owner Mark Andermahr, who remembers watching the races from on top of a barn at the end of the strip. “We always liked the Willys Hot Rods the best,” Andermahr says, “The shape of the car; it had a neat look to it.” Today, he has restored several Willys coupes and pickups. He helped Dream Machines organize the Half Moon Bay Drag Strip reunion and Willys round-ups. Three or four years ago, Andermahr became acquainted with Don Smith. The two became friends through a mutual love of hot rods. “I gave Mark all my old photos for the Half Moon Bay Bakery,” says Smith. His collection of Half Moon Bay Drag Strip photographs adorns the walls of the bakery at 514 Main St.

For those with more than a passing interest in hot rods, Andermahr advises getting a turnkey car, unless you can do the mechanics and bodywork yourself. “Get a project car that’s mostly done,” he says. “It’s an expensive hobby.”