This is where I grew up.  It opened in July, 1969, Southland, Dragway, Houma, Louisiana, I was 9 years old!  Dave McClelland was the track manager back then, he left in mid '71 to manage Dallas International.  Candies & Hughes were my neighbors, so without a doubt, they were my childhood heros.....................



Grover Rogers driving Billy Meyer's dad's funny car vs. Candies & Hughes:


Leonard Hughes vs. Mike Burkhart:






The original Harry Schmidt "Blue Max"! Gotta love the team uniforms!


Shirl Greer's "Tension" Charger vs. Don Gay







Don Grotheer, Jim Hale, TNT Pro Stockers


Kelly and Reep Fueler:


Stevens and Venables Fueler:


Candies and Hughes vs. Sidney Foster:



Inside Candies and Hughes' shop when Prudhomme came to town!

Well I really hope that you guys dig this thread, I love thinking back on these great days.  My brother and I were young and going to the drags the first time really made an impression on our young minds, it sure hooked me for life. Also thanks to Dave McClelland, Larry Meaux Racing Engines and Gary Lebouf for their photo contributions included here. Here are some more to look at:

Bennie "the Wizard" Osborn:


Shreve Automotive:


Roy Rastetter:


Tarter Brothers from Houston, TX:


Super Duster from Memphis vs. Shirl Greer from Georgia:


A couple of really famous Funny Cars from the day:








Larry Gould:


Larry Brown from Oklahoma:


Radici and Wise from St. Louis:


Some Door Cars:



I used to really love this car, he was a local from Houma, back then it ran Modified Eliminator:






:This Ford Wagon of John Frith had some kind of factory supercharger on it, it was always getting indexed:



This was this kid's first ever pass in a Funny Car:



The Hell's Hemi, always was a crowd favorite:

The Tinker Toy Chevelle is alive and restored, although as a factory restoration now.  I picked the car up in the early 90's for a car collector I worked for at the time.  It was still in the original owners building and needed a total restoration.

I stumbled upon this board and was so pleased to see the great pics and read the fond memories of Southland. I was also there every weekend, rain or shine, from the begining. It was truly a sad time when it closed, but another chapter in my life of drag racing opened at LaPlace and State Capitol Dragway! Long live the CajunNationals! Those where such good times.
I left Houma long ago, but visited Southland several times after closing.I taught my sister to ride a motorcycle on the strip after the grandstands where gone. It's all gone now, but the memories will stay with us forever.

My brother in law use to drive the blue Tinker Toy race car.  I was about 6 or 7 so I don't remember what class the car use to run in.  I know it was blue with a white soft top.  I believe it was a cutlas and the year was around 72 or so plus or minus.  My brother in law's name was Ronnie Domangue and he says the car is still around and restored up north somewhere.  He raced this car for someone else who owned it.  Ronnie did own a 57 chevey called tuff enough.  The car was black and ran in the Super Stock class.  He told me that car is still around also.  I use to live to go to that track on the week.  I saw jet cars, Hell on Wheels, a guy named Rex Blackwell jump over a couple of PHI helicopters, All the local guys who use to race every week end.  Everyone knew everyone and most went to school together.  The cost was next to nothing to race back then as I remember so anyone and everyone could go and race.  It was a great time to live in South Louisiana.  Jerry Dover use to have a red cutlas with a white soft top and that car use to run.  It caught on fire and burnt.  A guy bought the car and restored it.  I hear the car is worth over 100,000 dollars.  Chris

My name is Rick David, my grandfather was WH David.  He opened and ran Pel State, Hammond, Lake Charles, Houma and State Capitol through out the '50s and '60s.  I am collecting pictures, videos and memorabilia from Louisiana tracks from the '50s and '60s, this would include LaPlace.  I am going to be setting up a website dedicated to the history of drag racing in Louisiana and would like to start a museum some time in the future.  I already have the original christmas tree, the 1950s NHRA banner from Pel State, pit passes, pictures, videos, 8mm videos, newspaper articles, etc.  All items donated are guaranteed to be preserved indefinitely

My grandmother, Jayne David, was the writer and editor Tire Marks published in the '50s and '60s.  I am collecting all issues and will have a link to them on the website.

Also, I am trying to locate the announcers stand (blue panel truck) from Pel State.  It was restored in the '80s by a Louisiana racing club, picture attached.  I have been told in may in North Louisiana.  If you have any information, please let me know.

In the early '80s there was a Louisiana drag racing hall of fame located at a track in Eunice, LA.  The track is now closed.  I am trying to get any information on the plaques and memorabilia removed at closing.

Any pictures or video that have already been scanned can be emailed directly to me.  Any other memorabilia can be mailed to the address below.  Please label anything sent with dates, locations, names, etc. if possible.  Credit for any donations will be recorded and noted.

Thanks,
Rick David
rdavid88@cox.net
225-413-2191  

9514 Cabernet Dr.
Baton Rouge, LA  70817