Address:
South Main Street & East Chestnut Avenue
Santa Ana
CA
92701
Artist: Chamina Elise Dormitorio
“Santa Ana Drag Racing” 2022
Location: South East Corner of S. Main St. and E. Chestnut Ave intersection
“Santa Ana made history in 1950 when it became the first city in the United States to have a commercial drag strip. This drag strip, “Santa Ana Drags,” was founded by C.J. “Pappy” Hart, Creighton Hunter, and Frank Stillwell, and was popular with hot rodders (most notably racers from Muroc) for its use of computerized speed clocks. My piece intends to pay tribute to this rich history by portraying the richness of the local scene, using vibrant colors and energetic shapes to convey the vivacity of the community’s culture. The founders’ names can be found on the license plates of each car, and the cars themselves are modeled after the cars from that time period. With this artwork, I hope to honor a key aspect of Santa Ana’s culture. Santa Ana Drags closed down in 1959, but its legacy lives on– reunions are held twice a year in Santiago Creek Park.” – Chamina Elise Dormitorio