Back in 2001 a group of investors and race promoters were heavily involved in planning a new drag strip in Banning, California. The location was good as Banning is situated right on Interstate 10 about half way between San Bernadino and Palm Springs.
The city fathers were behind the project 100% thinking that a drag strip, and the racers and fans that came with it, would provide an economic benefit to the town.
To generate some excitement for the project, they held a two-day event using a temporary drag strip set up on the runway of the town’s airport.
A lot of racers showed up. The mayor of Banning was there. The racing was good and everybody had a good time.
But, as so often happens to even the best plans for race tracks in Southern California, the drag strip was never built and “Banning Drag City” remains to this day just a sleepy little town on the way to somewhere else.
