Photos: The Ken Hyndman Collection

[khyndart in CA]

One thing leads to another. After reading about Dan Gurney and Riverside and that he also raced at the Santa Barbara Airport when races were held there from 1953 to 1967. As I work at Moss Motors, less than a mile from the airport I decided to check it out as I thought all the racing was done on the tarmac but found out they also raced among the hangers and out onto the road and back around. I have taken some photos of what it looks like today and also some photos of the race action from the 1967 races thanks to John Lacko and some of his collection. Some of the best drivers in the country raced here, some such as Phil Hill would drive his Ferrari up from Los Angeles, race and party at the "Biltmore Hotel" then drive home! Among the drivers included were of course; Phil Hill, Dan Gurney,Bob Bondurant, Ken Miles, Jim Hall, Richie Ginther, Lance Reventlow, Carroll Shelby, Jerry Entin, Jim Adams. Etc.. (Even James Dean raced here a few months before he died )
I was amazed I had driven by this spot for years and not realized this where it all took place.
So here is my attempt at what it looked like then and how it looks today at Santa Barbara and Goleta, California.


In early 1967, the SCCA held races at the Santa Barbara Airport with a 2.5 mile course laid out on runways and between buildings.

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Santa Barbara Airport races. 1967
Jim Adams, 1967 Big Bore Race Winner, McLaren M1B (Chassis 20-09 )
(John Lacko photo ) ( john@lackophoto.com )

Ken Hyndman