California Hot Rod Reunion #17
NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series
Auto Club Famoso Raceway
Bakersfield, CA
10-10 thru 12-08
Story and Photographs by Roger Rohrdanz
The 17th annual California Hot Rod Reunion, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California, Oct. 10-12 at Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif., was a 3-day festival of speed, hot rods and American automotive enthusiasm. It was also the season finale of the inaugural NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series.
In the Heritage Series included 300 race care performing in 10 Classes and a very interesting Exhibition Class. In Nostalgia Top Fuel, Troy Green from Purcell, Okla, nabbed the title over Jim Murphy, Santa Rosa, Calif. Green, who clung to a slim 5-point lead over Murphy, appeared headed for a championship-deciding final, but both were beaten in their semi-finals contests. Green lost to Rick White and Brett Harris took Murphy out, thus giving Green the title. Rick White, San Diego, Calif. then beat Harris, Kaysville, Utah, whose car broke down at the starting line, to win the Hot Rod Reunion race title. White’s winning time was 255.89 mph with a 5.819 ET.
Over 20 cars competed in Nostalgia Funny Car and Bucky Austin from Fife, Wash., hit the daily double, clinching the Hot Rod Heritage Series title and winning the Hot Rod Reunion race. In the finals, Austin (244.03 mph, 5.749 ET) defeated Kris Krabbill of Orange, Calif., who ran 245.83 mph with a 5.942 ET.
Other Heritage Series champions crowned at this finale were; A/Fuel – Kin Bates, AA/Gas Supercharged – Steve Woods, Jr. Fuel A – Scott Parks, Jr. Fuel B – Bud Hammer, and Nostalgia Eliminator l – Dave Ward.
Of coarse the Winged Express with Mike Boyd behind the wheel made another unforgettable nighttime pass. The crowd went crazy! You MUST see this event, contact the NHRA Museum for more information.
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This event packs over 30,000 fans the stands! |
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The Top Fuel semi-final saw Brett Harris (far lane) take Jim Murphy out. |
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The Top Fuel semi-final saw Troy Green loose to Rick White. |
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The Top Fuel Final had Rick White (near lane) of San Diego, CA. beat Brett Harris of Kaysville, Utah, whose car broke down at the starting line. White wins the Hot Rod Reunion race title in a winning speed of 255.89 mph and a 5.819 ET. |
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In Nostalgia Funny Car, Bucky Austin, Fife, Washington, hit the daily double, clinching the Hot Rod Heritage Series title and winning the Hot Rod Reunion race. In the finals, Austin (244.03 mph, 5.749 ET) defeated Kris Krabbill of Orange, CA., who ran 245.83mph with a 5.942 ET. |
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The A/Fuel Final saw Kin Bates (far lane) run a 6.232ET and 226.30mph to defeat Bill Wayne’s 6.568ET and 213.11mph. |
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The AA/Gas Supercharged Final saw Jirka Kaplan from Calgery, Canada, (near lane) run a 6.624ET and 207.18mph to defeat Mike Leonard from Plesanton, CA, and his 6.727ET 203.98mph |
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The Junior Fuel B Final saw Don Enriquez (far lane) win with a 7.138ET and 186.87mph over Fred Notkza from Ventura, CA and his 7.184ET and 179.89mph. |
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The A/Gas Final winner was Jimmy White of Covina, CA (near lane) beating Chris Beanes of Aracdia, CA. |
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Rick High of Havasu City, AZ. (near lane) defeats Bobby Runyon to take the large 32 car Nostalgia Eliminator 1 Class |
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Phil Featherstone (near lane) in his ’64 Fairlane Thunderbolt, wins over Steve Whitemore’s ’67 Mustang in the AFX Final. |
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Heritage Series Top Fuel champion Troy Green |
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Heritage Series A/Fuel champion Kin Bates |
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Heritage Series AA/Gas Supercharged champion Steve Woods |
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A pair of A/FX’s launch together. Cool! |
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Joel Miner of San Diego, CA. puts his A/FX ’64 Plymouth Belvedere on two wheels |
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Justyn Ruby of Visalia, CA. puts his A/FX ’65 Plymouth Belvedere on two wheels! |
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Rob Patten from Tracy, CA. is “stepin’ out” in his A/Gas ’63 Corvette. |
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The little NE l Topolino driven by Phil Lukens is showing some muscle. |
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Rich Roberts from Atwater, CA “handles” his AA/Gas ’34 Willys. |
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Rich Scebarris’s 427 Chevy powered ’69 Camaro looks a little “gnarly” when it launches |
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Greg Sharp of the NHRA Motorsports Museum “flagged started” the first pair of Funny Cars. |
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Funny Cars |
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Now here’s a pair! Mr. Explosive (far lane) against Bomb Squad |
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Heritage Series Funny Car champion Bucky Austin |
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The Winged Express with Mike Boyd behind the wheel made another unforgettable nighttime pass. The crowd went crazy! |
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