BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Hot rods and cool cars return to Bakersfield for the 24th annual California Hot Rod Reunion presented by Automobile Club of Southern California®, Oct. 23-25 at Auto Club Famoso Raceway. Thrilling nostalgia quarter-mile nitro drag racing, meticulously restored hot rods and a celebration of the history of drag racing will take place during the three-day event. The event has become a can’t miss tradition in the area and has become one of the finest events in Kern County during the year.
A yearly highlight of the event is the famous Cacklefest® taking place on Oct. 24 and will end Saturday night’s event with a thundering conclusion. Dozens of nitro burning dragsters and Funny Cars will fill the night sky with flames leaping from the pipes and the smell of nitro filling the air. The Cacklefest® is tribute to the men and women who made these machines into some of the finest racecars that graced dragstrips across the country. As the machines roar to life and fill the night air with the sound of high-powered motors it will be a testament to the history of drag racing.
The nostalgia filled weekend opens at 8 a.m. Oct. 23rd, as vintage race cars, hot rods and customs of all types pour into the facility from throughout the United States and beyond. The rows of immaculate machines harkens to the early days of hot rodding when no combination of car, motor, paint or accessories was too much for the owners.
The on-track action gets into gear also at 8 a.m. with qualifying and exhibition runs in each of the categories. The facility will come alive with the sound of nitro racing at 11 a.m. when the first round of Nostalgia Funny Car and Top Fuel dragster qualifying takes to the track. Fans of these nitro powered machines will also be able to see these cars on track at 3 p.m. Watching the cars streak down the track transports those in attendance back to when going to the drags was the main thing to do on a weekend night.
Legends of the sport of drag racing will be feted during the California Hot Rod Reunion Honoree Reception-taking place at the Double Tree hotel at 7:30 p.m. in Bakersfield, California. After the honorees are recognized, the festivities move outside under the stars with hot rods and vintage race cars on display. The evening concludes with a fiery demonstration by several of the nitro-burning dragsters that will be racing and on display all weekend.
On Saturday, the activities continue on and off the track during the course of an action packed day. Nitro qualifying continues starting at Noon with Nostalgia Top Fuel followed by Nostalgia Funny Car. Eliminations in both categories will begin on Saturday starting at 4 p.m. with Top Fuel taking to the track first.
The history makers of the sport will be honored during the course of the day on Saturday in in many functions including the honoree presentation and twilight memorial at 5:30 p.m. on the starting line. Grand Marshall Jim Dunn and honorees Paul Althouse, Cub Barnett, Don Gaide and Don Ratican, John Jodauga and Doug Kruse will all be honored during the presentation.
The famous Cacklefest® will bring the end Saturday night with a thundering conclusion.
On Sunday, Oct. 19th, the California Hot Rod Reunion presented by Automobile Club of Southern California concludes with crowning champions in each of the racing categories. Pre-race ceremonies begin at 10:45 a.m. followed by a self-start Cacklefest® display and the continuation of eliminations in each of the categories.
The California Hot Rod Reunion presented by Automobile Club of Southern California is produced by the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum and benefits the facility located in Pomona, Calif. The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is a 501c(3) non-profit institution and collects, preserves, exhibits and interprets the vehicles, stories, and artifacts that represent the influence of, automotive speed and style in all its forms.
• SCHEDULE: The event begins at 8 a.m. each day with racing beginning at 8 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 23; Racing starts at 8 a.m. on Saturday Oct. 18; And 8 a.m. on Sunday Oct. 19.
• TICKETS: Single day tickets are only $25, $75 at the gate for a three-day ticket, and children 15 and under are free accompanied by paid adult.
• ON THE WEB: For more information on the California Hot Rod Reunion presented by Automobile Club of Southern California, please visit www.nhramuseum.org.
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