Looks like some “cowpunk” guys and gals from up yonder ’round Bakersfield made their way down to south SoCal to hit the track, and got in a little off-roading besides! Somehow this crew of woofy good ol’ boys and their girlfriends got their old Studebaker wagon into the muddy part of the infield, but there’s no doubt the big lifted late ‘70’s 4×4 Chevy fleetside had no trouble getting there!
Prior to the creation of this little scene this part of the track was completely bare with the exception of a trio of palm trees. With the addition of some of the brown clay to cover the bases of the trees, I moved them closer to the track (I like the “canopy of leaves” effect over the track!) and, having done that, opened up enough space that it just cried out for some new tableau. It just so happened I got a new shipment of 3D Printed figures in around the same time, so I opened that package up and started painting.
So, this is the scene I came up with! Subject to change, of course, since that’s all part of the fun, but for now more spectators than ever are enjoying the racing action at Drag City!
Did they bribe the marshals in order to park at such a dangerous part of the track?
Ha, good question! They’d have to do so these days, for sure. My recollection of the time is that people weren’t as focused on safety back in the early 80’s as they are now but even then, a group of people at the side of a hairpin turn was probably against the rules. Hard to say, though; go back in time a little further and I’m sure you’ve seen videos of road races and ralleys in Europe and South America in the 50’s and 60’s where spectators are lined up right alongside the roads as the cars are flying by. The evitable result of that enthusiasm is what finally ended the Mille Miglia in Italy in 1957…and Darwinism is timeless, after all!
Another great tableau! The figures are great and I love how you integrate the matchbox cars into the diorama! As always, very cool!