Nitro Madness AA/FA
It is a fantastic race. I will be back out there one day soon. bp
Bill Pratt
Draglist.com - Crowdsourced drag racing history.
Headlines and Results: http://www.draglist.com/
Drag Lists: http://www.draglist.com/draglist/draglist.php
Draglist.com - Crowdsourced drag racing history.
Headlines and Results: http://www.draglist.com/
Drag Lists: http://www.draglist.com/draglist/draglist.php
-
Rapid Randy Baker
- Posts: 8075
- Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2006 9:05 am
- Location: Des Moines, Iowa
- Contact:
The 2007 CHHR--Rapid's Weekend Story
2007 CHHR AT BAKERSFIELD
I have been lucky enough to be at some very cool drag races in my life. If you added them all together they would be hard pressed to compare to the event I just returned home from that happened at Bakersfield California. I guess it is fitting that the event that rates on one of the finest I have ever attended is held at a town that has my last name in it.
All my life, I {and every other gearhead in the world} have wished to live the “California Dream”. The sunshine, the beaches, Hot Rods, bikini girls, cruising the drive-ins, hanging out everyday at places like Ed Pinks, Pisano’s, Keith Blacks, Brad Anderson’s, Valley head service the list never ends. To us Midwest guys, all the cool stuff came from CA. I grew up reading Hot Rod, Car Craft on long winters reading about events that were going on while we stared out at the snowbound landscape. Finally I was able to make the trip. It was the big one, Nostalgia at its finest and it was in sunny CA.
When a bunch of buddies of mine decided to have a gathering, we wanted to have a great time together and combine it with the California Hot Rod Reunion. I think everyone knows Laura and Mike go with me whenever I go racing, we go as a family. I asked Laura if she wanted to go? She said, “Are you driving anything there, or are you going to be just talking Nitro and tech stuff with the guys all weekend?” I told her I didn’t plan on driving right now, but would if asked. I went on to say that yes, talking Nitro all weekend was the plan. Her response came quick and easy, “Have a nice time honey, I am sitting this one out.”
Time to head out, somehow in some universe I am sure it makes sense to fly to Cincinnati from Iowa to get to CA. But, I just don’t get it. I had a lovely 3-hour layover in Cincinnati to think about it though. Arriving at LAX, then off to Enterprise for the rental. About 2-blocks into the trip I rounded a corner to find “Randy’s Doughnuts.” No time to get the photo, but made a mental note to get it on the way back if there was time. On to the 405 North and discover what all the other West Coasters know, the freeway is 4-5 lanes wide and every one of them is stop and go. I check the time, 7:45PM and the traffic is stop and go? That is just crazy. Within about a ½ hour it is dark but the traffic is less and the rental is climbing the grapevine. I wished I could see the landscape but it is just plain too dark to see anything but freeway. Since I had never driven this road, I didn’t really know what was coming, but at what I thought must be the top of the grapevine, it was confirmed by the smell of asbestos brake dust in the air. I had been running around 80 MPH since the traffic cleared, but now the little car was picking up speed and kept trying to go way past 90. Funny how fast you come up on the other cars and trucks at 3-times their rate of speed. As I came into Bakersfield I got my chance. The first time ever to have an In-Out burger! Trust me, they are as good as everyone tells you. I had a Double-Double and a glass of ice. The only down side is they serve coke, so I used their ice and my Pepsi,,,,oh yeah, LIFE IS GOOD! Then it was on to the motel to meet up with Dick Mosley, Leon, and Lippy.
Next thing I know Dick, who was rooming with me is saying, “Rapid, it is 6:00AM. The Rapid One’s response, “SO?” Since he is my ride to the track, I figure I better get ready or get left. The boys all wanted breakfast so we went to Milt’s diner. It turned out to be the first of many meals at that super place to eat. I guess lots of racers go there and judging by the crowd Dick must have woken everyone up at this godless hour of the day. You might have noticed, O’l Rapid isn’t a morning person, nor a breakfast eater. All that changed for the next 4-days.
I am not going to bother going into all the details of the racing, there have been lots of that already told by others. Just imagine 150 Nitro cars on the grounds, and about 80-of them running at the same time for a cracklefest! I met a ton of people, missed meeting a ton more and had the time of my life at a race. I actually got to watch a bunch of racing, any of you who race know what I mean. When we go racing I am always busy with our car, no time to go watch the others run. Standing on the starting line while all the Nitro cars were running was so cool. Every car was running a big % and giving their all to lay down a great number. Here I had the days to myself and could come and go in the pits or watch the races. I helped a couple of teams, but mostly tried to fit in, and not be in the way of their routine. Sometimes extra help,,,,really isn’t all that great to have. I was shocked by the amount of people who were familiar with me out there. Whenever I was introduced, it was, “Rapid, hey I read your what I did last weekend stories” or you drive the Nitro Madness car or something. I can’t even begin to tell you how many of the guys I have looked up to for a long time, were there and happy to take to time to chat with me for a while. The one thing I will say, when it comes to running Nitro, California is the breeding ground. Another thing I noticed with all those cars running the Nector of the Gods,,,very little real carnage. It was pretty impressive. I can tell you for sure, I am ruined. The Nitro Needle is in deep and flowing like a Waterman fuel pump at 50% overdrive!!! I knew it was a lost cause when the AA Supercharged cars were running over 200 mph right in front of me and a FED came idling by on a big load of Nitro and I watched it rather than the cars flying by me.
All too soon the weekend was over and time to leave for home. There had been a bad crash on the Northbound 405 and there was a lot of talk about how to get back to LAX. I got up extra early on Monday planning a round about route, only to discover the 405 was back open a few days early. We hit Milts one last time and I was on the road. I still can’t wipe the grin off, and I swear I can still smell Nitro whenever I take a deep breath.
The March Meet can’t come soon enough. I am making plans to go back for that and plan on stealing a ride from someone so I can race at Famoso like all the big hitters have throughout history. Since I raced at the 50th annual World Series of Drag Racing at Cordova, I don’t want to miss racing at the 50th March Meet.
I hope you liked my “What I did Last Weekend Story.”
Rapid
I have been lucky enough to be at some very cool drag races in my life. If you added them all together they would be hard pressed to compare to the event I just returned home from that happened at Bakersfield California. I guess it is fitting that the event that rates on one of the finest I have ever attended is held at a town that has my last name in it.
All my life, I {and every other gearhead in the world} have wished to live the “California Dream”. The sunshine, the beaches, Hot Rods, bikini girls, cruising the drive-ins, hanging out everyday at places like Ed Pinks, Pisano’s, Keith Blacks, Brad Anderson’s, Valley head service the list never ends. To us Midwest guys, all the cool stuff came from CA. I grew up reading Hot Rod, Car Craft on long winters reading about events that were going on while we stared out at the snowbound landscape. Finally I was able to make the trip. It was the big one, Nostalgia at its finest and it was in sunny CA.
When a bunch of buddies of mine decided to have a gathering, we wanted to have a great time together and combine it with the California Hot Rod Reunion. I think everyone knows Laura and Mike go with me whenever I go racing, we go as a family. I asked Laura if she wanted to go? She said, “Are you driving anything there, or are you going to be just talking Nitro and tech stuff with the guys all weekend?” I told her I didn’t plan on driving right now, but would if asked. I went on to say that yes, talking Nitro all weekend was the plan. Her response came quick and easy, “Have a nice time honey, I am sitting this one out.”
Time to head out, somehow in some universe I am sure it makes sense to fly to Cincinnati from Iowa to get to CA. But, I just don’t get it. I had a lovely 3-hour layover in Cincinnati to think about it though. Arriving at LAX, then off to Enterprise for the rental. About 2-blocks into the trip I rounded a corner to find “Randy’s Doughnuts.” No time to get the photo, but made a mental note to get it on the way back if there was time. On to the 405 North and discover what all the other West Coasters know, the freeway is 4-5 lanes wide and every one of them is stop and go. I check the time, 7:45PM and the traffic is stop and go? That is just crazy. Within about a ½ hour it is dark but the traffic is less and the rental is climbing the grapevine. I wished I could see the landscape but it is just plain too dark to see anything but freeway. Since I had never driven this road, I didn’t really know what was coming, but at what I thought must be the top of the grapevine, it was confirmed by the smell of asbestos brake dust in the air. I had been running around 80 MPH since the traffic cleared, but now the little car was picking up speed and kept trying to go way past 90. Funny how fast you come up on the other cars and trucks at 3-times their rate of speed. As I came into Bakersfield I got my chance. The first time ever to have an In-Out burger! Trust me, they are as good as everyone tells you. I had a Double-Double and a glass of ice. The only down side is they serve coke, so I used their ice and my Pepsi,,,,oh yeah, LIFE IS GOOD! Then it was on to the motel to meet up with Dick Mosley, Leon, and Lippy.
Next thing I know Dick, who was rooming with me is saying, “Rapid, it is 6:00AM. The Rapid One’s response, “SO?” Since he is my ride to the track, I figure I better get ready or get left. The boys all wanted breakfast so we went to Milt’s diner. It turned out to be the first of many meals at that super place to eat. I guess lots of racers go there and judging by the crowd Dick must have woken everyone up at this godless hour of the day. You might have noticed, O’l Rapid isn’t a morning person, nor a breakfast eater. All that changed for the next 4-days.
I am not going to bother going into all the details of the racing, there have been lots of that already told by others. Just imagine 150 Nitro cars on the grounds, and about 80-of them running at the same time for a cracklefest! I met a ton of people, missed meeting a ton more and had the time of my life at a race. I actually got to watch a bunch of racing, any of you who race know what I mean. When we go racing I am always busy with our car, no time to go watch the others run. Standing on the starting line while all the Nitro cars were running was so cool. Every car was running a big % and giving their all to lay down a great number. Here I had the days to myself and could come and go in the pits or watch the races. I helped a couple of teams, but mostly tried to fit in, and not be in the way of their routine. Sometimes extra help,,,,really isn’t all that great to have. I was shocked by the amount of people who were familiar with me out there. Whenever I was introduced, it was, “Rapid, hey I read your what I did last weekend stories” or you drive the Nitro Madness car or something. I can’t even begin to tell you how many of the guys I have looked up to for a long time, were there and happy to take to time to chat with me for a while. The one thing I will say, when it comes to running Nitro, California is the breeding ground. Another thing I noticed with all those cars running the Nector of the Gods,,,very little real carnage. It was pretty impressive. I can tell you for sure, I am ruined. The Nitro Needle is in deep and flowing like a Waterman fuel pump at 50% overdrive!!! I knew it was a lost cause when the AA Supercharged cars were running over 200 mph right in front of me and a FED came idling by on a big load of Nitro and I watched it rather than the cars flying by me.
All too soon the weekend was over and time to leave for home. There had been a bad crash on the Northbound 405 and there was a lot of talk about how to get back to LAX. I got up extra early on Monday planning a round about route, only to discover the 405 was back open a few days early. We hit Milts one last time and I was on the road. I still can’t wipe the grin off, and I swear I can still smell Nitro whenever I take a deep breath.
The March Meet can’t come soon enough. I am making plans to go back for that and plan on stealing a ride from someone so I can race at Famoso like all the big hitters have throughout history. Since I raced at the 50th annual World Series of Drag Racing at Cordova, I don’t want to miss racing at the 50th March Meet.
I hope you liked my “What I did Last Weekend Story.”
Rapid
Last edited by Rapid Randy Baker on Thu Oct 18, 2007 7:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
NITRO PILOT
[url]http://.www.rapidrandy.net[/url]
[url]http://.www.rapidrandy.net[/url]
-
Rapid Randy Baker
- Posts: 8075
- Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2006 9:05 am
- Location: Des Moines, Iowa
- Contact:
Raced the Patch back in the 70's myself. -
Rapid Randy Baker
- Posts: 8075
- Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2006 9:05 am
- Location: Des Moines, Iowa
- Contact:
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