Dean Moon, Drag Racing Pioneer, Dies
Dean Moon, a drag racing pioneer and speed equipment manufacturer from Whittier, died Thursday at the La Habra Convalescent Hospital of complications of a lengthy illness. He was 60.
Moon was active in the dry-lake hot-rodding era of the late 1940s that led to organized drag strips and later the National Hot Rod Assn. He also designed and built equipment for many top cars, including the late Gary Gabelich’s land-speed record holder, Blue Flame, and Don Garlits’ world championship top-fuel dragster, at his Moon Equipment Co. in Santa Fe Springs.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley, of Whittier; two daughters, Mrs. Becky Bowman of Escondido, and Brite Moon; a son, Dean Moon Jr., and two grandchildren.
No services are planned, according to the family.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
