EVENT RESULTS EVENT NOTEBOOK			EVENT GALLERY

 

SUNDAY NOTEBOOK - IT'S RACEDAY AND WE LOVE IT

WINDS-ARE-BLOWIN' TOO MUCH - When a racer made an exhibition run and ended up rolling his dragster, the subsequent clean-up was enough to delay competition long enough for a nothern-moving storm to set in and force postponement until Monday. The delay wasn't due to rain but rather high winds which threatened the safety of the competitors.

SEMIS

A NEW CHAMPION – In a head to head match of Nostalgia Top Fuel champion hopefuls, Adam Sorokin defeated five time series champion Jim Murphy to win his first crown.

On the burnout, Murphy zinged the engine on his dragster sky high on the burnout and never appeared to recover from the incident.

As it turned out, Murphy would have needed every ounce of horsepower he could must to run alongside Sorokin’s low elapsed time 5.634, 252.03 pass.

On the other side of the ladder, Brett Harris defeated Rick McGee.

THE CHAMPION TO THE FINAL – Leah Pruett-LeDuc continued her championship swagger with a 5.823, 241 to beat Claude Lavoie. On the other side of the ladder, Mark Hentges defeated up and comer Steven Densham.

QUARTER-FINALS

ATTABOY GIRL, YOU’RE THE CHAMP – Leah Pruett-LeDuc had an easy ride to the final leg of her first-ever Nostalgia Funny Car championship when Mike Halstead smoked the tires at the hit during the second round.

The newly christened champion drove to a 5.891 at 237.78.

THAT’S GONNA LEAVE A MARK – Tim Boychuk took a double whammy in the second round of Funny car eliminations. One run after watching his slim championship hopes dashed by Leah Pruett-LeDuc, he rolled the beams early with a .021 foul start and wasted low elapsed time of the event with a 5.780 at 249.03.

THE KID IS HOT TODAY – Second-gen Funny Car racer Steven Densham continued his impressive first Bakersfield event. He used a 5.840, 239.42 to beat an engine-expiring Paul Romine who slowed with a 6.348.

DOWN TO THE WIRE – The Nostalgia Top Fuel championship will go down to the wire during Sunday’s eliminations.

Adam Sorokin set up a head-to-head battle with current point leader Jim Murphy by knocking off third-ranked Brad Thompson in their second round match.

Sorokin entered the event two rounds behind Murphy and used a 5.816 elapsed time at 249.72 to beat Thompson’s competitive 5.829, 252.10 run.

Murphy set up the battle of heavyweights by running a 5.842 to beat Troy Green.

Sorokin will have lane choice in the semi-final match against Murphy.

KRABILL ELIMINATED – Low qualifier Mark Hentges continued his march through the field by eliminating Kris Krabill in Sunday’s second round of Funny Car eliminations.

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SATURDAY NOTEBOOK - LONG LIVE THE CACKLEFEST!

CACKLE-RIFFIC - The experience was emotional and overwhelming. Under the Bakersfield darkness, 48 vintage dragsters and roadsters performed one of the most incredible displays of old school horsepower for legions of drag racing gearheads.

 

CAREER BORN AGAIN - Jim Murphy won’t deny he was apprehensive about returning to drag racing. Now he couldn’t imagine being away.

Murphy first joined the Nostalgia Top Fuel movement in 1996 at the request of Jim Herbert.

“This series is unbelievable and still a lot of fun,” Murphy said. “I raced both nitro classes starting in 1972 and raced full time for four years. I didn’t exactly enjoy that lifestyle.”

Murphy raced the NHRA’s big show off and on until about 1993.

“I was like most every one of the low buck racers, I was holding out for that big sponsor,” Murphy admitted. “The big show was so expensive back then. It’s really expensive now. Now it’s off the charts almost.”

Murphy tried his hand as a crewman for friend Jim Head but eventually he’d had his fill of modern day drag racing.

“I was just through with drag racing, I was tired,” Murphy said. “Shortly after that Herbert called me to drive his car. I really didn’t want to do it.”

Herbert’s persistence inspired Murphy to at least try it on a limited basis. Murphy made it clear that he was only driving temporary.

“I told him three races and that was it,” Murphy recalled. “I was doing it as a friend although Herbert kept telling him that this was fun drag racing. He pointed out that it was just like it was in the old days. The comraderie and spirit. After some time, I realized he was absolutely correct.”

Herbert passed away in 1999 from an aneurysm in the days leading up to the Bakersfield March Meet.

“We came down and raced the car anyway though we didn’t know much of what we were doing,” Murphy explained. “We had the deer in the headlights thing going on. Jim was such an integral part of the car.”

Murphy and the team came together in a scene similar to a Hollywood script by Sunday’s eliminations.

“We ran low elapsed time in every round and won one of the most emotional races I’ve ever experienced in my career,” Murphy said.

Murphy eventually purchased the team from Herbert’s widow and many of those original crew members are still with the team.

“We do it and have a lot of fun with it still,” said Murphy. “Some people go fishing, hunting or play golf, we go racing.”

Murphy has done well for himself in his nostalgia time winning multiple championships dating back to the time when the Goodguys sanctioned the major events before the NHRA created their Heritage Series.

He currently leads the points for the 2010 Heritage Series headed into the final day of the season. Murphy was the low qualifier and received a bye run in Saturday’s first round of eliminations when John Weaver couldn’t make the call due to a Friday crash.

“We want to win the race this weekend and if we do that, the points will take care of themselves,” Murphy explained.

To clinch his title he must outlast second ranked Adam Sorokin, who is less than a round behind. Brad Thompson is two rounds behind.

“It should be a great day on Sunday, we are plenty happy with the way the car has been running this year,” Murphy said.  

Murphy ran the second quickest elapsed time winning the first round. If he wins his second round race with Troy Green on Sunday, he’ll face the winner of the Sorokin versus Thompson match. A semi-final win could clinch his fifth career championship.

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’ - Paul Romine, a multi-time IHRA Top Fuel champion, has learned the secret to drag racing with no pressure.

“We’re having a lot of fun because this is a hobby,” said Romine, who races Nostalgia Funny Car on the NHRA Heritage Series. “There’s no pressure out here and the guys we are racing with, we’ve raced together for many years. There were a few guys with me back when we ran the CARQUEST Top Fuel dragster. We’ve all been to the big show and we’re having fun. There are no big expectations other than just racing and doing the best you can. We’re not looking for some big sponsor to go racing on the big show. That makes it fun. Plus, we pack as much beer as we do oil.”

Romine was the fourth quickest qualifier and won his first round in eliminations during the 19th annual California Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield, Ca.

Romine is scheduled to race a tough opponent in Steven Densham during the second round. He’s got one of the more consistent cars on the tour.

“All of the guys on the crew are retired fuel guys,” said Romine. “[crew chief] Mikie [Cavaleri] does a great job doing the tuning. We almost tune by committee. Right from the get-go, the car did well. Anyone who has been around racing long enough knows you never get a handle on it. You might think you do. But, the car is running consistent.”

Romine believes his advantage comes from running in the natural conditions close to his Indianapolis base where high heat and humidity are king. Racing in Bakersfield is almost a dream come true.

“We race in the Midwest where there’s 108 – 110 grains of water,” said Romine. “The air is terrible and we are limited to a 21-gallon pump and a little supercharger. When we come out here, and the air is better, even though it was a little hot, it’s almost like a vacation. You don’t put holes out here. We like racing out here because there are fast cars and to be one of the dogs you have to race with them. They bring out the best in us.”

The Mustang Romine is racing is built from a plug created from the car he originally raced in 1979.

“Found it down in Louisville [Kentucky] a few years ago,” Romine proclaimed. “I brought it back to Indy and took it to [chassis builder] Mike Spitzer and the two of us made the plug for it.”

Romine has two semi-final finishes in NHRA Hot Rod Heritage competition, once at the Bakersfield March Meet and most recently in Boise, Idaho.

“We’re getting there but not quite there yet,” Romine admitted. “We are nipping at it. That’s fun for us.”

And best of all, there’s no pressure.

IT’S A PERMANENT SMILE - Gordie Bonin doesn’t even try to mask his happiness. As he puts it, he would do a terrible job if he tried.

“It’s pretty obvious, huh?” Bonin said, as he walked through the pits at Auto Club Famoso Raceway searching for a legends photo shoot at the California Hot Rod Reunion.

The former nitro drag racing legend, nicknamed 240 Gordie for his 1970s Funny Car exploits, is back racing, kinda sorta. He’s with the same team where he got his first big break behind the wheel of a modern day replica of the Jr. Fuel car he raced in 1971. The car participates in cacklefest events on the NHRA Heritage Series.  

Bonin, along with past team owner Harold Fjallman, are showcasing the dragster which created Bonin’s first big break in fuel racing.

“I am having a blast out here. I’m reborn again … again … again,” Bonin continued. “That Jr. Fuel car is what got me noticed and got my Funny Car career started.”

The latest comeback for Bonin began about two years ago when Fjallman attended the California Hot Rod Reunion and got hooked all over again.

“Fudd [Fjallman] contacted me and told me that he needed to either find his old car or recreate it,” Bonin said.

According to Bonin, the original car was located in Spokane and while one price was discussed, once the owner found out the reason for wanting to purchase the car – the price increased.

It was just as well they built a new car according to Bonin.  

“You probably wouldn’t notice that I no longer weigh 125 pounds,” Bonin said with a smile. “You remember those relaxed fit Levis? The top frame rail on this car is kicked out two inches. Now I fit in it.”

Bonin would love to run the car in competition but isn’t disappointed they don’t.

“We may talk him into that in the next few years,” Bonin said. “He has a lot of money in this and he’s going through some tough things in life. This car has kept him busy and that’s good.”

Bonin, a dyed-in-the-wool Funny Car racer, has been an excited onlooker with over 32 nostalgia cars in attendance for this weekend’s event. While he appreciates and cherishes his time in the class, he’s content watching them for now.

“Shaking hands and kissing babies works well for me,” Bonin said. “I’ve watched Twig Zeigler running all over the country driving his car up and down the track and blowing stuff up. I stay clean doing what I do.”

But, according to Bonin, 14-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force has an offer on the table.

“He told me that he knew I never went 300 and if I ever wanted to do that, we’ll take a car out to a private test session and make a few test runs,” Bonin confided.

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE TEAM - Ronny Young knew he wanted to build a tribute to the legendary Blue Max team and his options were wide open. However, those options closed with a personal request from the man himself, Raymond Beadle.

“I was going to do a Plymouth Arrow and Raymond talked me into doing the yellow/blue version of the car,” said Young, a former Blue Max driver in 1988 and 1989.

The blue/yellow Blue Max car ran in 1978 and was Beadle’s first year as a team owner away from Harry Schmidt.

“It seemed like a good idea and I went along with it,” admitted Young.

Young hasn’t ruled out another version of the Blue Max, namely the all blue versions of the Arrow run in 1979 and 1980.

He tows his tribute funny car in a trailer formerly owned by Beadle in the 1980s and used in the last few years of his drag racing participation.

Young works in the trailer business and had kept tabs on the Blue Max trailer over the years. The trailer was actually four miles from his home when it was purchased by Gordon Mineo upon Beadle’s departure. Mineo and his wife were killed and that opened the door for Young to acquire the unit.

Having the trailer completes an important piece in the puzzle of doing a proper tribute of the Blue Max.

“With Raymond here, Dee Gant and Dale Emery … the whole deal … you have to have everyone here to do this justice,” Young said.

It was important to Young that he drive the tribute car.

“It is different [in driving this car]. I guess the older you get the more different it is,” Young said. “I enjoy it. I’ve always loved being associated with the Blue Max team. That’s the way it’s always been. I know there’s a cliché of living the dream. I did it then and wanted to do it again before I got too old for my kids and grandkids to experience what we did back in the day. It had to happen.”

DREAM COME TRUE - Keith Burgan beams when discussing his dragster.

The race car fabricator and part-time journalist who immigrated to the United States from Australia a little over twenty years ago is in touch with his nostalgia side.

“The old-timers call my car a Double A/FD [AA/FD],” Burgan explained. “It’s NTF, but to us old guys it’s still the king of the sport.”

Burgan is racing this weekend at the California Hot Rod Reunion at Auto Club Famoso Raceway outside of Bakersfield, Ca, in the nostalgia Top Fuel division. Unless something changes, his race this weekend behind the wheel of the Dan Horan dragster will be his last. He doesn’t fret the situation, understanding he’s in the third race of three-race agreement.

Burgan befriended Horan three years ago when the team owner relocated to the Midwest. Horan, a five decade veteran of drag racing at 70, crashed his dragster at the 2009 Bakersfield March Meet.

“After he recovered from the accident, I called him to pitch an idea,” Burgan recalled. “I proposed to build a Top Fuel car in exchange for getting my license and getting to race at Bakersfield.”

Burgan first came to the U.S in 1984 on a three-month vacation. The experience was so enjoyable that he returned in 1988 and has been here ever since. He’s been a legal citizen for 23 years.

Burgan has converted a good measure of his business into building new versions of the nostalgia cars even though he’s not against helping out a low buck modern nitro racer in need.

“I’m good friends with Johnny West and we’ve worked together on some fabrication deals,” Burgan said. “I’ve also done some work with Dexter Tuttle too. Primarily nostalgia stuff is what I do now.”

Getting to drive a Top Fuel car, even if it is a nostalgia version, fulfills a lifelong dream for Burgan.

“And I have Dan to thank for that,” Burgan added. “To drive one of these cars and to get to do it at Bakersfield, that’s as good as it gets.”

Unfortunately for Burgan, his race weekend ended on Saturday afternoon at the hands of championship-contender Adam Sorokin.



LOVING IT FROM ANOTHER ANGLE - There are those who wonder why Gary Densham would build and campaign a Nostalgia Nitro Funny Car.

“Two reasons …,” Densham answers with a smile. “They’re c-o-o-o-l, really neat and a lot of fun and number two, the people associated with this are really good people.”

Densham believes the nostalgia tour finally enables him a legitimate chance to race with his son Steven for the first time. Friday in Bakersfield Steven drove to the provisional pole position in Funny Car qualifying.

“He’s been gunning for my job since he was 16,” Densham revealed. “I kept telling him for years to find money and he could have it. We’ve had a great time together doing this.

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s still expensive. It’s still probably a little more than we can afford. But, it’s still a lesser expense than the NHRA’s big show. You don’t need 10 to 12 guys to work on these cars to go out and be competitive.”

This style of racing, Densham confirms, is just like it was back in the day.

“Nobody is an island here, and you have to help one another,” Densham explained. “We all hang out and have hot dogs at the end of the races. We still sit around and enjoy one another’s company. Unfortunately NHRA’s big time racing has gotten to where you have the Schumacher, Force, Kalitta and Bernstein islands. Those guys racing on the NHRA tour are great people but now in today’s corporate environment the crew chiefs are ankle shackled to the trailers. That’s where they end up living for the weekend.

“I miss those days when we could have the time to get together and share those stories and hang out.”

Densham believes racing nostalgia has essentially extended his racing career by many years.

“No doubt about it,” Densham confirmed. “This thing [the current nostalgia car] was originally built for my son. Gary Seaward essentially did all of the work for me.”

Densham began moving in the classic direction while he was racing as a hired driver for John Force Racing. He prepared a car for Steven to race on the California Injected Funny Car Association circuit.

“I had an old Plueger chassis that we couldn’t use any more,” Densham said. “We had just a bunch of old junk parts basically. The thing I found the most amazing was how old parts could still run 7.50.”

The problem of being too busy chasing the rat race of modern day drag racing prevented Densham from racing many dates with his son. When he did gain the opportunity to race with Steven, his nature as a drag racer was to make the car run quicker. It wasn’t long before they outgrew the CIFCA’s 7.50 index.

The Denshams found a home for their alcohol-burning nostalgia car in West Coast eliminator, a style of drag racing that combines altereds, dragsters and funny cars. The 6.30 index was more to their liking.

The nostalgia Funny Car was the next progression. The elder Densham was skittish on making the jump until Steven brought his dad to the CHRR several years ago. The atmosphere reeled him in, hook, line and sinker.

“Saw a lot of friends out there participating,” Densham recalled. “These were old friends I hadn’t seen in a long time. We went back and Steven sold the body and alcohol pieces off of the 6.30 car and that was enough to buy a new one from Donnie Reeves.”

Steven was originally supposed to drive the car but logistics kept him on the outside watching dad drive the car. The car was finished a week prior to last year’s CHRR but time constraints prevented Steven from gaining his license.

“Yayyyy, dad got to drive it,” Densham proclaimed with a broad smile.

The license upgrade was planned over the winter. However, a group from Australia saw the car and requested Densham bring it down for some exhibition runs.

“It looked just like the car I ran down there back in the day. Dad got to drive it again. We got back the day before the March Meet and Dad got to drive it again!”

Steven finally procured his license on the day after the Vegas NHRA event.

“We have had a great time doing this as a family,” Densham said. “Unfortunately dad doesn’t get to drive it this weekend.”

But, Steven’s Friday performance was enough to leave Densham with a smile. That’s fine with him because he’s doing what he always wanted to do – have fun drag racing.

The Denshams led Friday qualifying at the 19th annual California Hot Rod Reunion event before ending up the fifth quickest after the second session. Steven beat another second-generation driver when he topped Mike Smith in the first round of eliminations.



TOP FUEL TITLE HEADS INTO SUNDAY - The top three racers in the Nostalgia Top Fuel championship all survived the first round of Saturday's elimination round. Point leader Jim Murphy ran a 5.761 to advace to the quarter-finals when his opponent John Weaver was a no-show. Second place Adam Sorokin outran Keith Burgan. But it was Brad Thompson, two rounds behind and in third place, who fired the most potent shot. Thompson ran a 5.710 to secure low elapsed time of the round in winning. On Sunday, Sorokin races Thompson while Murphy meets Troy Green. The winners will meet in the second round. 

IT'S AN ALL FIVES FIELD - For the first time in the history of the Nostalgia Funny Car movement, a 16-car field of five second Funny Cars was achieved. A total of 37 nostalgia Funny Cars competed in the 19th annual California Hot Rod Reunion resulting in a record bump spot of 5.955 seconds.

Washington state Funny Car racer and former Top Alcohol standout Mark Hentges ran the only 5.7-second run in the class with a 5.786 elapsed time to claim the No. 1 spot during Saturday’s final qualifying session.

Dennis Swearwgen anchored the record-setting field with a 5.955 elapsed time. A testament to the competitive nature of the event, three five-second floppers were relegated to alternate status.

The trio of Dale Van Gundy [5.956], Tim Nemeth [5.968] and Todd Lesenko [5.986] were those unlucky drivers.

Steve Gibbs, the director of the NHRA's Hot Rod Heritage Series, knew it was a matter of time before the Nostalgia Funny Cars fielded their first all five-second field.

"We knew it was going to happen sooner or later," said Gibbs. "With the number of cars showing up and the intensity of competition it was a natural progression. It was great that it happened here and our fans got to experience it."

Gibbs was at the 1983 NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indy, the site of the first five second Funny Car  show in drag racing history.

"I was the race director at that event, so I remember it well," Gibbs said. "It's always great when you are able to produce a new milestone. It was just as great today as it was back then."

STILL NO. 1 - Longtime nostalgia Top Fuel racer Jim Murphy remained atop the Top Fuel field on the strength of his 5.801 elapsed time from Friday evening. The largest gain in Top Fuel's final session was made by Rick McGee who ascended to third place in the field with a 5.823 elapsed time.

TOUGH BREAK - Roger Garten, driver of the War Horse Mustang Funny Car, experience both ends of the emotional spectrum during Saturday's final Nostalgia Funny Car qualifying session. He was able to crack the tough 6.05 bubble with a 6.05 elapsed time but in the process snagged a cone disqualifying his pass.

NOT THE RIGHT KIND OF EXHIBITION – Day two of the CHRR began on time at 8 AM with the intention of keeping the event on or ahead of schedule. However, 30 minutes into the exhibition vehicles, a major oildown by one of the cars put the event down for 60 minutes of clean-up. The oildown cost the exhibition cars their third run for the day. Likewise the AFX and A/Gas divisions were cut short a run in an attempt by race officials to bring the event back on schedule.

Veteran Auto Imagery photographer Dave Kommel was in the right spot to capture John Weaver's incredible Friday incident. As bad as Weaver's fate appears to be in this shot, he managed to keep the dragster upright.

MORNING AT THE PATCH

To get the full Bakersfield effect, you must arrive in time to witness the sunrise and the activity coming to life in the pits and the swap meet. The Attitude's CompetitionPlus.com team arrived a little after 6 AM.

 

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FRIDAY NOTEBOOK - AND WE'RE UNDERWAY AT FAMOSO RACEWAY

HEAD OF THE CLASS - It’s been a while since a Densham led Funny Car qualifying but for second-generation drag racer Steven Densham, the timing was perfect on Friday.

Densham, the son of Funny Car legend Gary Densham, was the provisional AA/Funny Car low qualifier after one session at the 19th annual California Hot Rod Reunion at Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, Ca.

“I'm surprised it held,” said Densham of his 5.855 elapsed time at 235.97 miles per hour. “There were some others behind us who could have run a lot faster. We figured we would be at least fourth at the worst.”

The 5.85 represented a personal best for Densham by almost a tenth of a second.

“I drove it out a lot further than I usually do on the shift,” Densham admitted. “I could definitely feel the car was on a run. I’m pretty happy because I didn’t hit anything. This was the first time I had ever raced this car here at Bakersfield. I was most happy the car went to the finish line under power.”

ATTENTION IN THE PITS - The annual drag race in Bakersfield led to one of drag racing’s more prolific announcing careers. The combination of opportunity and a pair of hungover announcers opened the door of opportunity for John Lundberg.

Lundberg, now 70, is in town for this weekend’s 19th annual California Hot Rod Reunion at Auto Club Famoso Raceway. Walking through the gates is enough to evoke the Hall of Fame announcer’s emotions.

“This is where I got my start,” Lundberg confirmed.

Lundberg first came to the facility in 1963 as a ride-a-long with a pair of drag racers who had built an Oldsmobile-powered AA/Modified Fuel Roadster hoping to beat the Speed Sport roadster.

“I had a gas card and nothing to do, so I got to ride along,” Lundberg recalled. “I spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday running around a tent on a platform that the old Smoker’s Club used to use, listening to Bernie Mather and Al Caldwell announcing this event.”

Lundberg’s opportunity was made possible by an annual Saturday evening gathering of the Smokers at a local restaurant known as the Wool Growers.

“These people made their own wine in the basement and served it to you during your dinner,” Lundberg recalled with a smile on his face. “It’s not a polite wine, either. It’s serious stuff. To make a long story short, Bernie and Al overindulged a bit.”

Needless to say, the microphone men were hurting the next morning.

“Most of their personal rods were hanging out of the block,” Lundberg said with a smile.

Lundberg was taking in the experience of hearing every word they spoke while pacing the bottom of the tower. Then his chance came.

“Mather opens the window and leans out, ‘Lundberg, you gotta get up here and help us because we are in trouble,” said Lundberg is his best raspy, hangover voice impersonation.

Lundberg said both left at 10 AM leaving him to announce solo until 4 PM. The experience was enough to leave a lasting impression on him.

“I got to speak to a packed house of excited fans,” Lundberg beamed. “Every hero I had read about for ten years leading into the event was there. It was just like being the last man standing on American Idol. It was am-a-a-a-a-zing and it changed my life forever.”

Lundberg is quick to point out the experience was enough to convince him that drag race announcing was to be his profession. Almost five decades later, the most veteran of announcers credit Lundberg with coining the bass-voiced ATTENTION IN THE PITS call to the staging lanes.

“I found out very early in my career that most track operators didn’t invest a lot of money in public address systems,” Lundberg noted. “That was not high on their priority list. Besides most drag racers in the pits don’t have much time to listen to the guy on the microphone yapping his jaws. We needed to get their attention so they would show up on time. I learned very quickly if that was going to happen I needed to drop my voice an octave and increased the push – then they’d pay attention and come to the pits.”

And for Lundberg, who announced Nostalgia Top Fuel qualifying on Friday of the event, the phrase was uttered several times with a smile.

“You know, there are some from the old school, who will still greet me with that,” Lundberg said with a smile. “I’m sure there are those bystanders who all think we are crazy.”

If they only knew Lundberg’s story, they’d know it was confirmation a kid with a dream was still living it.



HAVING FUN AGAIN - Dale Pulde measured, mixed and siphoned out a sample of nitromethane from the tank of his nostalgia nitro Funny Car. He then picked up a five-gallon jug to pour more fuel into the tank before a qualifying run at the 19th annual California Hot Rod Reunion.

This is a procedure the drag racing veteran has performed many times over during his career at the drag strip outside of Bakersfield, Ca.

This weekend he’s racing in the three-day event filled with drag racing and memories galore.

“It’s getting heavier with each passing year,” Pulde as he prepared to pour. “They just get heavier and heavier. I guess it’s a sign you’re getting older, I guess.”

Pulde first came to Bakersfield in 1967 as a crewman/go-fer for Larry Dixon Sr. The fun and comraderie experienced over the weekend was more than enough to convince Pulde that drag racing was where he needed to be, even if he did miss their memorable victory.

“I had so much fun partying and all of that stuff that they won the race and I wasn’t even awake to see it,” Pulde said, pausing to smile at his youthful exuberance.

Pulde still drag races though not at the breakneck pace he once kept. A four-decade veteran of drag racing, Pulde has retreated to a competitive existence on the NHRA’s Heritage Series and races a Firebird much like the kind he campaigned in 1977 albeit with the modern safety advances.

He’s parked his 18-wheeler in favor of a 36-foot gooseneck trailer towed by a duallie truck. Pulde would prefer some of the modern day convenience but staying true to yesteryear is more important to him this weekend.

“I miss my 18-wheeler, it was so much more comfortable,” Pulde admitted. “It was always a good thing, if you wanted to go back and lay down in the lounge. I like to keep it like it was.”

Pulde had a Firebird he ran last year which was more like a modern day car than the original car it was intended to depict.

“When a car is given to you to run, you can’t throw that in their face,” Pulde explained. “Now I see a lot of cars out here that are a lot worse. No one complains about it so what the heck?”

Pulde says this kind of racing is intended to be fun and was a large harbinger in his inspiration to return. He grew tired of modern drag racing and the burnout pushed him to other avenues to experience the original fun and rush that lured him in.

“I try to have fun every time I come out here,” Pulde said. “If the same problems plaguing [modern drag racing’s] professional classes would stay away from here we’d enjoy it a lot more. But I see them coming. If we don’t watch it, we will get into the same hole.”

NOSTALGIA TOP FUEL CRASH – John Weaver crashed his dragster during the first qualifying session. Apparently Weaver crashed prior to the finish line yet still recorded a 6.832 elapsed time at 186.95 miles per hour. He was uninjured.



  

VISITING THE BEACH – Funny Car racer Dennis Swearingen’s 5.96 elapsed time run came at a cost. He visited the Famoso beach, running off the top end. Swearington exited the car uninjured.

Paul Romine made the most of his one run on Friday landing second in the field with a 5.86 behind Steven Densham.

NOT ONE DROP – With 37 nostalgia Funny Cars in attendance, there were no major oildowns and according to one race official, the bit of oil which was spilled measured only two drops.

IT’S INTERNATIONAL - Racers and fans who have traveled to Bakersfield from around the globe include a team from Alaska and 12 from Canada. Swedish nostalgia nitro Funny Car "Tre Kronor" (Three Crowns) recreated by Johnny Nilsson with driver Erik Wallinder and crew chief Jeff Gaynor are in Bakersfield along Aussie Roly Leahy’s dragster. Roly’s sons Greg and Peter are running the car in memory of their father. A caravan of nine motor homes and 40 Aussie’s are coming to celebrate the Leahy’s Reunion tradition.

FRIDAY MORNING - 11:00 AM, PST

IT’S AN A/GAS, KINDA SORTA – The A/Gassers opened the 19th annual California Hot Rod Reunion. However, the excitement was put on hold as one of the first cars left a sizeable puddle of oil in their lane following the burnout. After some grease sweep and a few zamboni runs, action resumed 30 minutes later.

Jim Ferren claimed the early lead in qualifying with a 7.608 elapsed time against the 7.60 index with his 621-inch, Chevrolet-powered 1967 Nova. Ken Ratzloff was second, only .002 behind in his ’53 Studebaker.

There are 19 cars entered this weekend for the 16-car field.

FULL QUALIFYING RESULTS

THE HEAT IS ON – Before 10 AM, the mercury had already risen to 84-degrees and promises to go well into the mid-90s by the afternoon.

AND THERE ARE 37 – That’s the number of Nostalgia Funny Cars on the grounds at Auto Club Famoso this weekend.

 

 

 

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a d v e r t i s e m e n t

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a d v e r t i s e m e n t

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a d v e r t i s e m e n t

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