Everyone knows that the California Hot Rod Reunion is the place to be in October. But why do the drivers love coming to this old track in the middle of farmland in McFarland, CA? For most of them, it’s for the nostalgia; knowing that the big hitters of early drag racing made their way up the “Grapevine” to race in this sacred location. Many drivers remember coming to the dusty valley when they were kids and watching their favorite drivers from all over the country to compete at Famoso.
 
The California Hot Rod Reunion began as a one-time event in 1992 by former NHRA Vice President, Steve Gibbs. It was supposed to be an event to bring people from around the country to celebrate the early pioneers of the sport. It has now grown into one of the biggest spectacles of the year for drag racers with hundreds of cars ready to relive the excitement of the early years at the drag strip in Famoso.

Everyone knows that the California Hot Rod Reunion is the place to be in October. But why do the drivers love coming to this old track in the middle of farmland in McFarland, CA? For most of them, it’s for the nostalgia; knowing that the big hitters of early drag racing made their way up the “Grapevine” to race in this sacred location. Many drivers remember coming to the dusty valley when they were kids and watching their favorite drivers from all over the country compete at Famoso.
 
The California Hot Rod Reunion began as a one-time event in 1992 by former NHRA Vice President, Steve Gibbs. It was supposed to be an event to bring people from around the country to celebrate the early pioneers of the sport. It has now grown into one of the biggest spectacles of the year for drag racers with hundreds of cars ready to relive the excitement of the early years at the drag strip in Famoso.
 
This weekend brought together many different drivers from championship winners to part time racers who love to participate in quarter mile drag racing from time to time. When asked how does it make them feel to be racing or attending the historic event like the California Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield, they were so excited to be a part of history.
 
“For people like me who have been in this sport for 40 years, this is the most hollow ground in all of drag racing. Everywhere you look and everywhere you turn, peers and heroes surround you. And to have the opportunity to be here is exciting and to race here is a big thrill. To have a trophy from Bakersfield is like the best thing that has ever happened to me outside of my family and kids. It’s history. It’s history in the making. We are honoring the history of this sport. I was here in 1992 with Steve Gibbs and committee to start this event so to still be apart of it and to race at it and to see what it has become is one of the greatest things I have been involved with in drag racing.”
-Mike Lewis, Senior Vice President at Don Schumacher Racing
 
“It’s so cool for any drag racing fan, but especially a guy like me coming from the East Coast. When I was growing up I read about Bakersfield. It’s probably the biggest gathering of who’s who in drag racing. I tell my friends if you want to do anything with this sport you need to come to Bakersfield especially for the Friday night induction ceremony which is so cool.”
-Bob Frey, former track announcer for NHRA
 
“There is something really special about running under the lights and to come sit in the rooms at the induction ceremonies. These are the people who were out there and making news in drag racing. It is hard to put into words for me, but it is just one of the more special moments of the year for me.”
-Jack Beckman, Funny Car driver for Don Schumacher Racing
 
“This is my favorite track and I came here for the first time in 1962. I saw it from the golden era of Top Fuel back when they used to push start and watching legends like Chris “the Greek” Karamesines go down through here. It’s this old beat up piece of asphalt that has been here since World War II but the Bowser family really fixed up a great track. I can go on and on about Bakersfield.”
-Kenny Youngblood, artist and founder of Fuel Coupe Magazine

“This is my 20th Hot Rod Reunion. Every year you come to the front gate and you look at all the history and the guys walking around. Every year you look at it and say this is huge and the next year it’s even bigger! It is unbelievable. I do all the NHRA races of the year and this is my favorite race of the year; this is the best one to go to.”
-Mike English, NHRA announcer
 
“It means a lot to me and I really enjoy the old guys of drag racing. To have seen them run when I was kid and now they are having fun with the cackle fest. Now that we get to perform in front of them is really a special deal for me.”
-Jason Rupert, 2014 IHRA Nostalgia Funny Car Champion
 
“It’s exciting and reminds of me when I was kid coming out here racing with my dad. All the people and all the cars are out here having a good time and getting to race. It’s very enjoyable.”
-Del Worsham, Funny car pilot for Kalitta Motorsports
 
“It’s the best and there is so much history at this track. I love it. You feed off all of the adrenaline and excitement. Racing down this track with all the history of it, it is really cool to be a woman racing at the California Hot Rod Reunion.”
-Eily Stafford, Nostalgia Eliminator One and 7.0 Pro pilot
 
“Coming from New Zealand to be here and to be apart of it is really special to see all the guys you hear about. To see all the nostalgia cars and the cackle cars and the race cars actually race is really exciting. I like some of this better than the big show races. It’s more for the racers; people coming out here with their dads and kids. It’s just a lot of fun I think.”
-Grant Downing, mechanic for Worsham Family Motorsports and former NHRA funny car driver
 
“It’s definitely a hallowed ground place. When you pull in here, you got the smell, you got faces you’ve seen in magazines, you’ve got the cackle cars that make up the history of drag racing and you have the top 30 Nostalgia Funny Car drivers in the country. How does it get any better than that?”
-John Hale, Nostalgia Funny Car driver
 
“I have been very successful and have won a lot of races here. The track is always tip-top. This track is as a good as a NHRA national event track. And the weather here is always very consistent. The air pressure, temperature, and humidity stay very consistent, which makes it easy to run these cars (Nostalgia Funny Cars).”
-Cory Lee, Nostalgia Funny Car driver
 
“The Hot Rod Reunion brings together all the guys who have started the sport and who have been something in the sport. To be able to be out competing against all these great cars is just a dream come true, especially to drive a Nitro Funny Car.”
-Kris Krabill, Nostalgia Funny Car driver

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