NHRA

Nostalgia Madness

Monday, January 11 2010 15:24 Tony Thacker

Photos by Marc Gewertz

They say it was the biggest ever, and they came from all over the world to participate in the 18th annual California Hot Rod Reunion presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California. They came with Funny Cars — 32, I’m told. They came with 16 Top Fuel dragsters, Fuel Altereds, race cars, muscle cars, street machines, rat rods, customs and even a 9-cylinder drag bike. They came like pilgrims to the West Coast mecca of drag racing: Auto Club Famoso Raceway near Bakersfield, Calif., for one of nostalgia racing’s biggest events to race and pay homage to the sport’s heroes including, “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen, “TV” Tommy Ivo, Don “The Snake” Prudhomme and so many more who came to recapture the glory days of quarter-mile drags.

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Cacklefest Phenomenon

Monday, November 30 2009 16:35 Tony Thacker

Back in 1991, after attending the funeral of veteran Bonneville and drag racer Joe Pisano, NHRA Vice Presidents Steve Gibbs and Bernie Partridge decided that drag racers, friends and fans from years past should have a reason to get together under more pleasant circumstances.

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NHRA Winternationals

Thursday, August 13 2009 09:24

A California Tradition

By Tony Thacker

While the rest of the world is probably digging itself out of snow and such, here at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorports Museum in sunny Pomona, CA, we're celebrating the 49th running of the NHRA Winternationals sponsored by Kragen O'Reilly Auto Parts. Despite snow-capped San Gabriel Mountains as a backdrop, the asphalt in Pomona is usually red hot with teams trying out new combinations for the forthcoming season and this year will be no exception.

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Four Brothers Racing

Wednesday, February 10 2010 04:38 Tony Thacker

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Some years ago I was working at the SO-CAL Speed Shop when we were working with Holley and dabbling in the import business selling NOS. I really enjoyed the experience because it gave us an insight into a whole different group of hot rodders who were doing exactly to Hondas what previous generations had done to early Fords.

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5 Things to See and Do at the California Hot Rod Reunion

Wednesday, September 23 2009 13:12 Tony Thacker

The 18th Annual California Hot Rod Reunion presented by Automobile Club of Southern California is scheduled for the weekend of Oct 16-18 at Auto Club Raceway Famoso - more commonly known as Bakersfield. High on anybody's bucket list, the reunion is a great weekend of vintage drag racing, the finals of the NHRA Heritage Series and a cool time for the family.