昨年まで約20年に渡りIrwindale Racewayで開催してきたMOONEYES Christmas Party Show & Drag, Irwindale Racewayが2024年限りで閉鎖となり2025年の開催はBakersfield? Borona? or Pomona? Southern Californiaに残るDragstripはこの3箇所しかない、Bakersfield and Borona、どちらもLA辺りからだと2時間位は掛かるのでちょっと難しい、ではPomona? Drag Raceが出来てCar Showも出来、Cityに近いとなるとPomonaしか無い、しかしその大きさは我々の規模にしては大きすぎ、Drag Raceの運営はNHRAが管理するとなると$$$$は??? かなり高いハードルになる事は誰にでも分かる事だけど、現実Pomonaしかないので一かバチかPomonaでの開催を決断、「やるぞ!」と言っても我々の置かれている状況はedgeにいるのは事実で色々な不安要素が頭の中をフラフラしながら12/07(日) Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show 2025を無事終わらせ、次は 12/20(土) Pomona, California！
So Calはこの時期、朝, 霧が濃く視界がしっかりしない日が続き、ショー当日これだったら嫌だなと思っていたらスタッフが揃った4am「霧！」それも相当濃い霧が会場全体を包み、Gate Openの5amになっても霧は晴れる事なく結局9am位までは、その状態が続いた、しかし霧が消えるとそこはSouthern CaliforniaのBlue Skyとなり気温もどんどん上昇しすっかりShow日和となった。
そんな状況でスタートの遅れていたDrag Raceも始まり、My 1969 Camaroとemi's Sprightly Fairly 1972 VegaがOpeningの1st Pairで Side by Sideで走りDrag Raceは開催された。
日本で走っているのと同じ調子でStartしたらいきなり空が見え路面のGripの良さにびっくり、おかげで首が痛くなった。
Race Carのエントリーは200台とかなりの台数だがRaceはNHRAが運営、手際良く早い進行でどんどん走っていく、Lunch Breakもなく約6時間走りっぱなし！何度も走れRacersからも笑顔が溢れていたのが印象的だった。
Car Showには約1,400台の車が集まり、それぞれが自分たちの楽しみ方で1日を過ごして行くと言うMOONEYES Christmas PartyのStyle。時間が来ると何となく自然と解散してくれると言う何とも緩いEventだがBlue Sky, Palm Tree のSouthern Californiaでの1日は他では味わえないFriendlyなEventはこれしか無い。
2026年はどうするかって？
今の所、まったく分からない。
やれたら良いね！
For about 20 years until last year, we held the MOONEYES Christmas Party Show & Drag at Irwindale Raceway. With Irwindale Raceway closing at the end of 2024, the question for 2025 was: Bakersfield? Barona? Or Pomona? In Southern California, there are only these three dragstrips remaining. Both Bakersfield and Barona are about a 2 hour drive from the LA area, which made them somewhat difficult choices. That left Pomona — a place where we could host both a drag race and a car show, close to the city. However, the scale of the venue was much larger than what we usually handle, and with the drag race being run under NHRA management, whats the $$$$ that was a significant hurdle. Everyone knew it would be a challenge, but in reality, Pomona was the only option. So, we made the risky decision to hold the event there. Even when we said, “Let’s do it!” we knew we were on the edge, with various concerns swirling in our minds. After Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show 2025 on December 7 was safely finished, we turned our attention to December 20 in Pomona, California!
At this time of year, mornings in SoCal are often foggy, and we were worried about the visibility on show day. Sure enough, at 4 am, "FOG"! When the staff gathered, there was thick fog covering the entire venue. Even when the gates opened at 5 am, the fog wasn't cleared, and it wasn’t until around 9 am that the sky finally cleared. Once the fog disappeared, the sun came out and it turned into a perfect Southern California blue sky day, with temperatures steadily rising—it was a perfect Show day.
Under these circumstances, the delayed drag races finally began. My 1969 Camaro and emi’s 1972 Sprightly Fairy Vega ran side by side as the Opening 1st pair, kicking off the event. Starting in the same style as I do in Japan, I suddenly saw the sky and surprised how grippy the track surface was—it even gave me a sore neck.
With around 200 race car entries, the races were run efficiently by NHRA, keeping the event moving quickly. There was no Lunch Break, and cars kept running for about 6 straight hours! It was impressive to see so many racers smiling and enjoying the race, even after running multiple times.
Meanwhile, the car show gathered approximately 1,400 cars, each participant enjoying the day in their own way—this is the style of the MOONEYES Christmas Party. It’s such a relaxed event, where people naturally start to leave when the time comes. But a day under the blue skies and palm trees of Southern California like this offers a unique, friendly experience you can’t find anywhere else.
And what about 2026?
At this point, we honestly have no idea.
But if we can make it happen… that would be GQQD!
So Calはこの時期、朝, 霧が濃く視界がしっかりしない日が続き、ショー当日これだったら嫌だなと思っていたらスタッフが揃った4am「霧！」それも相当濃い霧が会場全体を包み、Gate Openの5amになっても霧は晴れる事なく結局9am位までは、その状態が続いた、しかし霧が消えるとそこはSouthern CaliforniaのBlue Skyとなり気温もどんどん上昇しすっかりShow日和となった。
そんな状況でスタートの遅れていたDrag Raceも始まり、My 1969 Camaroとemi's Sprightly Fairly 1972 VegaがOpeningの1st Pairで Side by Sideで走りDrag Raceは開催された。
日本で走っているのと同じ調子でStartしたらいきなり空が見え路面のGripの良さにびっくり、おかげで首が痛くなった。
Race Carのエントリーは200台とかなりの台数だがRaceはNHRAが運営、手際良く早い進行でどんどん走っていく、Lunch Breakもなく約6時間走りっぱなし！何度も走れRacersからも笑顔が溢れていたのが印象的だった。
Car Showには約1,400台の車が集まり、それぞれが自分たちの楽しみ方で1日を過ごして行くと言うMOONEYES Christmas PartyのStyle。時間が来ると何となく自然と解散してくれると言う何とも緩いEventだがBlue Sky, Palm Tree のSouthern Californiaでの1日は他では味わえないFriendlyなEventはこれしか無い。
2026年はどうするかって？
今の所、まったく分からない。
やれたら良いね！
For about 20 years until last year, we held the MOONEYES Christmas Party Show & Drag at Irwindale Raceway. With Irwindale Raceway closing at the end of 2024, the question for 2025 was: Bakersfield? Barona? Or Pomona? In Southern California, there are only these three dragstrips remaining. Both Bakersfield and Barona are about a 2 hour drive from the LA area, which made them somewhat difficult choices. That left Pomona — a place where we could host both a drag race and a car show, close to the city. However, the scale of the venue was much larger than what we usually handle, and with the drag race being run under NHRA management, whats the $$$$ that was a significant hurdle. Everyone knew it would be a challenge, but in reality, Pomona was the only option. So, we made the risky decision to hold the event there. Even when we said, “Let’s do it!” we knew we were on the edge, with various concerns swirling in our minds. After Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show 2025 on December 7 was safely finished, we turned our attention to December 20 in Pomona, California!
At this time of year, mornings in SoCal are often foggy, and we were worried about the visibility on show day. Sure enough, at 4 am, "FOG"! When the staff gathered, there was thick fog covering the entire venue. Even when the gates opened at 5 am, the fog wasn't cleared, and it wasn’t until around 9 am that the sky finally cleared. Once the fog disappeared, the sun came out and it turned into a perfect Southern California blue sky day, with temperatures steadily rising—it was a perfect Show day.
Under these circumstances, the delayed drag races finally began. My 1969 Camaro and emi’s 1972 Sprightly Fairy Vega ran side by side as the Opening 1st pair, kicking off the event. Starting in the same style as I do in Japan, I suddenly saw the sky and surprised how grippy the track surface was—it even gave me a sore neck.
With around 200 race car entries, the races were run efficiently by NHRA, keeping the event moving quickly. There was no Lunch Break, and cars kept running for about 6 straight hours! It was impressive to see so many racers smiling and enjoying the race, even after running multiple times.
Meanwhile, the car show gathered approximately 1,400 cars, each participant enjoying the day in their own way—this is the style of the MOONEYES Christmas Party. It’s such a relaxed event, where people naturally start to leave when the time comes. But a day under the blue skies and palm trees of Southern California like this offers a unique, friendly experience you can’t find anywhere else.
And what about 2026?
At this point, we honestly have no idea.
But if we can make it happen… that would be GQQD!
MOONEYES Warehouse
45年経ちCaliforniaに戻って来るとはね。
Can't believe it’s been 45 years and it's back in California.
Can't believe it’s been 45 years and it's back in California.
２台共Californiaにある方がマッチしていると思うのは僕だけ？
Am I the only one who thinks both cars fit better in California?
Am I the only one who thinks both cars fit better in California?
Opening 1st Pair!
びっくりしたな〜〜！
That surprised me!
That surprised me!
ここで走れるのはRacerにとっては夢ですね。
For a racer, running here is a dream.
For a racer, running here is a dream.
Sprightly Fairy's 2nd Run
OMG!
Japanへ送り返す必要ないですね。
No need to send it back to Japan.
No need to send it back to Japan.
こっちの方が似合っているな〜。
It actually suits it better here.
It actually suits it better here.
