El Cajon Boulevard riot facts for kids

The El Cajon Boulevard riot was a big event that happened in San Diego, California, in 1960. It was also known as the Drag Strip Riot. Many people see it as one of the first major youth protests of the 1960s. It involved young people who loved drag racing and were upset about their racing spot being closed.

The El Cajon Boulevard Riot: What Happened?

The riot began on the evening of August 20, 1960. It was an organized protest because a place called Hourglass Field was closed for drag racing. Hourglass Field was an old United States Navy airfield.

Why Did the Riot Start?

The Problem with Racing

For a while, a local group called the San Diego Timing Association organized drag races at Hourglass Field. This group was made up of different hot rod clubs. Even though the races were not officially allowed, the Navy and the police often looked the other way. This was because Hourglass Field was the only place where people could race cars off the main streets.

However, on August 8, 1960, a few people watching a drag race were hurt. After this incident, the Navy felt pressure to stop the racing. They decided to close Hourglass Field to all drag racing. Car clubs then asked the city to create an official drag racing site. But the San Diego Police Chief, A.E. Jensen, said no. He believed that drag strips actually encouraged dangerous driving on regular roads.

How the Protest Was Planned

Thousands of flyers were handed out all over town. These flyers were left at coffee shops, car clubs, movie theaters, and other places where people gathered. They announced a "mass protest meeting" on El Cajon Boulevard for Sunday, August 12. A local radio DJ named Dick Boynton also helped spread the word.

A few days later, the police arrested a printer named Herbert Sturdyvin, who was 20 years old. They suspected him of helping to print the flyers that organized the protest. However, he was released two days later. The police did not have enough evidence to charge him with anything.

The Night of the Protest

What Happened on El Cajon Boulevard

All this led to a large, organized protest on the night of August 20 and 21. It took place at the corner of El Cajon Boulevard and Cherokee Street in San Diego. About 3,000 teenagers and adults gathered there. They blocked three blocks of El Cajon Boulevard, which is a major road in San Diego.

The crowd started holding their own impromptu drag races right on the street. There was just enough room for two cars to race side-by-side.

Police Step In

Around 2 A.M., more than 65 police officers arrived to control the situation. First, they ordered everyone to leave. When people didn't move, the police used tear gas and riot sticks to break up the crowd. Some protesters tried to fight back. They threw soda bottles and rocks at the police. They even tried to overturn police cars.

It took three hours for the police to get the crowd under control. Two police officers were hurt during the night. At the scene, 80 adults and 36 young people were arrested for their involvement in the protest. The next night, some drag racers drove around town, trying to provoke the police. This led to another 100 people being arrested, including over 30 young people who were taken into custody for breaking curfew.

What Happened After the Riot?

New Places to Race

After the riot, the City of San Diego promised to create a committee. This committee would look into the problem of not having enough places for drag racing. The president of the National Hot Rod Association also offered his help to find a proper racing spot for local enthusiasts.

Eventually, all these efforts led to two new drag racing strips opening. The San Diego Raceway opened in Ramona in 1963. The Carlsbad Raceway opened in 1964. The San Diego track closed after 1968, and the Carlsbad track closed after 2004. In the 1970s, there was an attempt to hold organized races in the parking lot of Jack Murphy Stadium. Today, drag strips in Barona serve the purpose for racers in the area.