The 22nd annual California Hot Rod Reunion at the Auto Club Famoso Raceway, Bakersfield, CA
The 22nd annual California Hot Rod Reunion at the Auto Club Famoso Raceway near Bakersfield, California, welcomed an estimated 20,000 spectators and racers. The crowds that filled the Raceway enjoyed wonderful weather, racing royalty, cool cars and amazing nostalgia drag racing. More than 250 racers, including 14 Top Fuel Dragsters, and 30-plus Top Fuel Funny Cars participated. There was a lot to do aside from racing, with vendors, a big swap meet, lots of good food and hundreds of cool street rods in the Famoso Grove.
The Cacklefest in particular was spectacular. More than 60 classic nostalgia Top Fuel Dragsters produced unmatched sights and sounds. The Reunion was like a “living museum,” an explosion of hot rods, nostalgia cars, racing, friends and drag racing legends. The Reunion also served a greater purpose, “Every dollar spent at this event will go to the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum,” said Larry Fisher, the new director of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum.
Famous Lions drag strip starter Larry Sutton.Tom “Mongoo$e” McEwen points at former rival George “Bushmaster” Schreiber.Dave McClelland signs the banner.
Several big names in the sport to attended, including “Fast” Jack Beckman, Cruz Pedregon, Densham, Head, Kenny Youngblood, Gene Winfield, Dave McClelland, Ed Iskendarian, Ed Pink, Greg Sharp and Steve Gibbs. It was a special treat for fans, but for the NHRA pros, the Reunion was their time to enjoy nostalgia drag racing and meet some of their heroes, like Tom McEwen, Don Prudhomme, Tommy Ivo, Roland Leong and Art Chrisman.
This year’s grand marshal was Butch Leal and honorees included Tom Allen, Roy Brizio, Jim DeFrank, Larry Dixon Sr. and John Rasmussen. If you missed the 22nd iteration of the Hot Rod Reunion, don’t miss the 23rd!
Top Fuel Winner! The Top Fuel final matched Low Qualifier Denver Schutz in the left lane against 2011 Heritage champ Adam Sorokin from La Crescenta, CA, in the right lane. At the start, Sorokin, in the canopy car, left first and pulled ahead for the win.
Starter Bill Condit (Left) and Adam Sorokin discuss track conditions.Top Fuel Funny Car Final winner John Hale of Addison, TX The Top Fuel Funny Car final matched John Hale in the left lane against Dan Horan in the right. After identical reaction times at the hit, Hale won with a 5.682 E.T.(L-R) artist Phil Whetstone, honoree Tommy Allen and Funny Car driver Jack Beckman2013 NHRA Heritage Racing Series Top Fuel Funny Car champion Jason Rupert hangs out his pink laundry!The Nostalgia Pro Mod (formerly AA/Gas) final matched Dan Myers in the left lane against Tim Krupa in the right. Myers, driving Nitro A GoGo, took the win.The 7.0 Pro A final matched Mike Smith in the left lane against Steve Faller in the right. Faller went red and gave the win to Mike Smith.The 7.0 Pro B final saw Richard Phillips take a single run for the win over a broken Dwayne Sanders.In the A Fuel final, Les Davenport, from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, in the left lane defeated Kin Bates from Anderson, CA.The A Gas final saw Al White, in the right lane, beat Tom Fowler in the left.In the Nostalgia Eliminator-1 final, local Jason Barta, in the left lane, beat Alan Hull on a holeshot.In the A/FX final, San Diegan Mitchell Akers in the ’60 Chevy beat Michael McCallum’s Grand Junction, CO, ’63 Dodge 400.A/FX winner Mitchell Akers’ ’60 Chevy Biscayne.High Heaven lifts a wheel.Bradford’s and the Winged ExpressPure HellRat Trap lifts the wheels at 600 feet!Aussi Roly Leahy makes his customary awesome burnout.Bradford’s with a burnout of his own.Ernie Algorri lifts his ’67 Ford Fairlane.Paul Soliz puts High & Mighty in the air.Jack Goodrich puts his ’64 Plymouth into “Outer Limits.”Roy Pool of Camarillo, CA, reaches for the sky in his ’65 Comet.Cacklefest dragster, Vagabond, hangs out the laundry.Chris Karamazines’ ChizzlerOne of “Big Daddy” Don Garlits’ Swap Rats.The Jerry Ruth car is cackled
Ultimate Wheelie
Perhaps the show’s most dramatic moment. James Valencia of Tehachapi, CA, finished his car the day before. Fortunately, he wasn’t hurt.
Nostalgia Top Fuel dragsters in the pits.The Gary Cochran car is cackled.John Wiebe DragsterThe Tocco-Harper-Garten AlteredThe car in the middle is pulling the Howard Cam Rattler and pushing the Speed Sport dragster.VagabondVarmit
Honoree Tommy AllenHonoree Roy BrizioHonoree John RasmussenThe Reunion Spotlight featured Tom Kelly and his son Mitch.Grand Marshal Butch LealHonoree Jim DeFrank
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