"It was about 1948 when local hot rodders, including Roger Whipp, first sought a safe place to drag race their cars, and in Roger’s words, “…offer encouragement to be legal”. With support from community elders, including the mayor, city council and newspaper editor, some who enjoyed racing themselves or whose young teenagers showed interest in hot rods, is where the meager beginnings of a long, gr
assroots history of the Shasta Roadsters and Redding Drag Strip began." The Shasta Roadsters were also the first team and owner of the famous RedHead Streamliner, a land speed car that ran at the Bonneville Saltflats. Originally an unfinished project of Romeo Palamides, of dragster fame, it was built by the team formed by Don Hammon, Bob Mc Grath (who was also the driver) and Roger Whipp. Chrysler and a B class record at 249.324 mph, which was bettered the next year, 1963, at 302.812 mph, the fastest record ever set by this car. A one way run at 331 mph in 1966 could not be confirmed for a record by a good return run, due to a transmission failure. Today, the Redding dragstrip is oldest continuously operating NHRA drag racing facility in United States. Redding Drag Strip signed up in the Fall of 1955 to become an officially sanctioned NHRA track, and has run ever since. In the early 1960s, the Redding Dragstrip became the place to race for locals and other Northern California events.
