21st Annual NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion
Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, CAFriday, October 19, 2012
The 21st California Hot Rod Reunion is in the books, and as in the past, did not disappoint…with several hundred race cars in the pits, including 12 Top Fuel cars, and 34 Funny cars, giving all of the nitro fans a weekend high.
In addition to the action on the track, and remember, this is a full quarter-mile race, there was a large swap meet at the top end of the track, a gathering of vintage and cacklefest cars in the pits, an auction tent packed with racing goodies and memorabilia all to support the NHRA Museum, as is the purpose of the entire event.
The ‘Grove’ as it’s known, located directly behind the pit side grandstands, was packed with hot rods, customs, vintage race cars, many with the owner/builder on hand for questions and autographs, and photographs; food booths were aplenty, everything from ‘burgers to pizza, sausages to rice, root beer to ice cream.
Take a walk with me as we start off Friday morning in the swap meet, making our way through the Grove as we head into the pits, stopping to grab some shots in the pit my son is with, Smokey’s Darkside nitro funny car, stopping at a couple of other pits including the Nitro Angel and Steve Densham’s to check out the warm-ups; if you’ve forgotten your earplugs, not to worry, as most, if not all of the nitro pits have them on hand, and pass them out before each ‘fire-up’ to those in need.
I made my way back through the Grove, on the way to the line, let’s go shoot some nitro action! As the day came to an end, as far as the racing action, I wandered back through the pits to grab a look at a couple of the vintage gassers on hand, as well as Don Edwards Golden Komotion record holding drag boat, parked with two more wild vintage boats…next up I’ll take you on the Saturday schedule…more nitro!
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