Photos: Mike Garrett

When you’re down a quart on nostalgia, the sure-fire best way to get a top-up is to head out to any Mooneyes event. Most recently, the faithful gathered at Irwindale Speedway to celebrate the coming Christmas holiday. The cars, trucks, rods and bikes you’d see there do not fall under the category of period correct. They are – without a doubt – period defining.

In addition to the car and bike shows, there were also drag racing activities that had taken a bye last year due to inclement weather. This year, conditions fell into the category of fantastic and so did the turnout. Sunshine and eighties temperatures filled the Speedway’s parking lot to capacity with bikes, sleds, rat rods, race cars, gassers and more.

Drag racing went on in two heats during the day and, in between, there was plenty of time to check out the live bands, vendor booths, automotive art auction and pin-up girl contest. Really, though, it was the cars that people turn out to see and nobody went away disappointed.

You probably cannot imagine any kind of pre-1969 car, bike or racer, that wasn’t represented at this event. As a good indicator of the health of this market, there were a noticeable number of rides showing up for the first time. Mooneyes holds a number of events each year and this one draws just as strongly as the summer shows.

Check out the gallery beneath the jump to see what caught the eye of ace photographer, Mike Garrett.