The streets of Bixby Knolls will come alive again with the roar of vintage top-fuel dragsters this weekend at the Bixby Knolls Dragster Expo and Car Show.
Evoking the era of the legendary Lions Drag Strip in Long Beach, the dragsters will fire up their engines in three sessions during the event, creating the thrill of power, the smell of the nitro fuel, and spine-tingling sounds from the cackling of these 3000-horsepower racing machines. As dusk settles on the final fire-up of the evening, spectators can even witness flames leap out of the engines.
The Bixby Knolls Dragster Expo and Car Show is free to the public and takes place Saturday, July 12 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Atlantic Avenue between Roosevelt Road and San Antonio Drive in Long Beach. The dragsters will fire up at the intersection of Carson Street and Atlantic Avenue.
Featured among more than a dozen vintage top fuel dragsters is “TV Tommy” Ivo and his famous “Barnstormer” Chrysler Hemi car. Ivo was one of the West Coast’s premier touring drag racers starting in the 1950s, and he also appeared in the popular television programs Margie and The Donna Reed Show and almost 100 motion pictures. 
The Bixby Knolls Dragster Expo and Car Show includes more than 150 classic and show cars, including a special collection of Ford Model As and Model Ts. Live music will be provided throughout the day by local bands including Party Jones, and the street scene will also feature music stages, kids’ activities, retail and food booths, and a beer garden.
The event is produced by the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association in cooperation with the office of Long Beach Councilwoman Rae Gabelich. The Professional Dragster Association is producing the dragster expo. Net proceeds from the event will benefit the Long Beach Special Olympics program.
Please note: Neighbors will definitely hear the roar of these vintage dragsters that used to race at Lions Drag Strip.
The BKBIA also wanted to make residents aware of the street closures on Atlantic. Access to Atlantic via Roosevelt Road, Marshall Place, Carson Street, Cartagena Street, Burlinghall Drive, and Claiborne Street will be closed.
Atlantic will be shut down at 7 a.m. and reopened at 10 p.m. San Antonio will remain open for east- and westbound traffic all day. Roosevelt and Bixby Road will also remain open for east- and westbound traffic all day. Long Beach Boulevard will remain open to north and south-bound traffic all day.
Residents should expect traffic delays on Carson westbound from Orange Avenue and eastbound from Long Beach Boulevard beginning at 1 p.m. as car show participants begin to line up before entering onto Atlantic to participate in the show. Access to Trader Joe’s will remain available via Carson and Burlinghall to the alley. All alleys remain open during the event.
For more information about the car show, visit www.bixbyknollsinfo.com or call (562) 595-0081.
