Where and When? #469 - Holtville Drag Strip, Holtville, Ca. 18 Feb, 195

[Otto Puzzell]

For one point: Identify date and venue represented in this old photo.

Only a correct, complete and specific answer will earn a point; tag-on's to other guesses will not. So, be specific and complete!
 

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[Otto Puzzell]

Up

[D-type]

Is the 'where?' Muroc Lake?

[Otto Puzzell]

No sir

Up

[Otto Puzzell]

The venue usually served another, non-automotive purpose.

[faksta]

Was it an airfield then?

[Otto Puzzell]

Yes!

[nicanary]

Paradise Mesa, aka Sweetwater Dam Airfield, San Diego ?

[Otto Puzzell]

Paradise Mesa, aka Sweetwater Dam Airfield, San Diego ?

No sir

[Otto Puzzell]

Paradise Mesa, aka Sweetwater Dam Airfield, San Diego ?

Not too far from here...

[pnegyesi]

Santa Ana airfield, the Orange County airport?

[Otto Puzzell]

No; you've gone too far

[Otto Puzzell]

Paradise Mesa, aka Sweetwater Dam Airfield, San Diego ?

Not too far from here...

Quite close, in fact

[nicanary]

I've found a list of old airstrips in the San Diego area, but most of them have unpaved runways. One which has a huge expanse of concrete is Hourglass Field. Maybe this is it?

(I haven't a clue about Californian topography - don't laugh)

[Bill Murray]

Montgomery Field, Kearny Mesa Ca.??

[Otto Puzzell]

I've found a list of old airstrips in the San Diego area, but most of them have unpaved runways. One which has a huge expanse of concrete is Hourglass Field. Maybe this is it?

(I haven't a clue about Californian topography - don't laugh)

I'm not laughing. This airfield is not in the city of San Diego; it was east of there. West of there an equal distance would make this an underwater airfield 

[Otto Puzzell]

Montgomery Field, Kearny Mesa Ca.??

No sir.

[Otto Puzzell]

This strange passenger in a strange vehicle may help you find the place. 

[attachimg=1]

[Bill Murray]

Ramona dragstrip, Ramona airport, Ramona, Ca.??

[Otto Puzzell]

Nope - you went North.

[Bill Murray]

Well, looking at your clue, which I believe is a carrot, El Centro was the "Grocery Basket" of Southern California and there was a drag strip at the El Centro airport.  In fact I raced there as well as at every other track mentioned so far, in the 1950's and 1960's but El Centro is a long way from San Diego even if it is in the right direction.

[Bill Murray]

BTW, there was also a track at Otay Mesa, I never visited that one and cannot find if it was located on an airfield.
There was, however an airfield called Brown Field I believe.

[nicanary]

Santa Bugs Bunny ? 

[Otto Puzzell]

Not El Cento; not Santa, Brown or Otay - which, I think, has more to do with buckwheat than carrots

[Bill Murray]

OK, lets try Hourglass Field at Miramar Naval Air Station and I am running out of strips.
Bill