San Fernando Drag Strip

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This popular drag strip, affectionately called "The Pond," was built adjacent to the northwest side of the runway at San Fernando Airport in 1955. The San Fernando Airport Development Company owned and built the drag strip at a cost of $70,000. Builder and developer Fritz B. Burns spearheaded the project. It boasted 3,200 feet of paved straightaway with an additional shutoff area that was oiled and graded. Frank Huszar, president of the Throttle Merchants car club of Tarzana, was the strip manager. The Valley Timing Federation sponsored the strip. One old timer recalled: "San Fernando opened around ུ, was right next to the San Fernando airport. The shutoff ran under a bridge that Foothill Boulevard ran over, several fatalities when guys hit the bridge abutment. [There were] houses right next to the track, so competition cars could only run between 12-3:00 PM. Finally the noise complaints closed the track.