March Meet


	The March Meet Auto Club Famoso Raceway March 8, ‘08 Story by and photographs by Roger Rohrdanz



		Roger Rohrdanz

The 51st annual March Meet is the lead-off event in the NHRA’s 8-race Hot Rod Heritage Series. The 2009 Hot Rod Heritage Series, now in its second season, gets the green light at historic Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, Mar. 6-8. Competition was tough in all categories. 500 race cars from around the country were competing in 14 classes during the 3-day festival of speed. This high octane combination generated a field of 16 Top Fuel Dragsters, 28 Top Fuel Funny Cars and over 35,000 spectators from around the world. The Kern County, CA .

economy is expected to see $5 million from this single event. All available race slots were filled 4 weeks before the event! The Grand Marshal this year was Cruz Pedregon, the reigning NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car champion.

Spectators and racers enjoyed comfortably cool weather. Along with the Hot Rod Heritage Series running on the track, hundreds of Hot Rods packed “The Grove” with many vendors showing their wares, and a cool swap meet provided plenty of excitement. Saturday night after the races, Famoso put on an awesome fireworks show.

Sunday began with a little warmer weather. The racing was a little behind schedule, but the Bowser’s and their great crew got the show back on track. The Top Fuel class saw Brett Harris pilot his dragster to a 5.674 et at 263.77 mph victory over Rick White’s 5.689 et at 259.36 mph. Nostalgia Funny Car was won by Bucky Austin with a 5.723 et and 246.77 mph over Garrett Bateman’s 5.853 et at 245.36 mph


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Top Fuel Champ Brett Harris

Nostalgia Funny Car was won by Bucky Austin (far lane) with a 5.723 et and 246.77 mph over Garrett Bateman’s 5.853 et at 245.36 mph.

Nostalgia Funny Car Champ (again) Bucky Austin.

Top Fuel Runner-up Rick White.

The AA/Gas Final saw Sean Renteria (far lane) run a 6.772 at 209.20 mph to beat Mike Leonard of Plesanton, CA.

The pit crew dog for Mike Leonard's AA/Gas Supercharged '69 Chevy, waits patiently for some attention.

AA/Gas Champ Sean Renteria.

In the A/Gas Final Brad Chafee (far lane) beats Ray Martin's '63 Vette from Anchorage, Alaska.

After 7 rounds of Hot Rod Eliminations this little VW powered, ’65 Karman Ghia driven by Mike Lawless of Clovis, CA. defeated Stacey Staab and her ’69 Barracuda.

A pair of AA/Gassers start their quarter mile contest.

Everybody waits to see the legendary “Winged Express” make another amazing pass.

Art Chrisman smokes the tires on his “Hustler I” Nostalgia Top Fuel Dragster. Hustler I looks right at home at Famoso. With Art Chrisman driving, it won the first Top Fuel Final at the first March Meet.

Beyond the Rat Rods the motorhomes stretch more than a quarter mile into the pits.

Traditionally the Rat Rodders gather at the end of the grandstands. The swap meet is not far away.

Auto Club Famoso Raceway operator John Bowser is at home doing what needs to be done. I didn't see anybody working harder than John!

“Hands down” the “Backup Girl” Champ is Miss Marie Norton. Oh yah, her brother is A/Fuel pilot Nick Norton.

“Standing room only”, Over the 3 day event 30,000 spectators, from around the world, filled the stands.

The Grand Marshal this year was Cruz Pedregon, the reigning NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car champion.

Jerry Wold's crew keeps an eye on his "Screamin' Norwegian" Camaro.

Leah Pruett-LeDuc gets her Holy Toledo Funny Car a little crossed up during the burnout.

Jeff Utterback drives the "Pisano & Matsubara" Funny Car through the burnout.

Garrett Bateman driving the "Plueger & Gyger" Funny Car was runner-up in the Final.

New colors for Steve Romanazzi.

The "Bomb Squad" Funny Car is driven by Mendy Fry.

Always a tough competitor, Chris Krabill of Orange, CA. was taken out by Garrett Bateman.

Terry Capp in the "Bubble- Up" Funny Car.

Steve Nichols driving the Mill Road Boys Nostalgia Funny Car.

Dan Horan Jr. make a run while Dan Horan Sr. is recovering from his Top Fuel accident yesterday.

Dale Pulde and his Nostalgia Funny Car “War Eagle”.

Randy Guitar runs a steel bodied early ‘50’s chevy in D/Gas.

Kelly Pruett driving her "topless" '55 Chevy.

This very slick dragster was competing in NE ll.

Always nice to see a rail with the wheels up.

Mike James brought his fresh B/Gas Henry J from Winnemucca, Nevada. Where the heck is Winnemucca?

Phil Lukins puts the "Blair Speed Shop" Topolino through its paces in front of the appreciative crowd.

A tiny bit from 3 days of track action.

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