Snap, cackle, pop: yes, it's Cacklefest
time again at the 15th annual NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion (CHRR), Oct. 6-
8. Cacklefest, held on Saturday night, Oct. 7, is one of the many highlights
for fans during the 3-day, fun-fest of nostalgic dragsters and hot rods at
Bakersfield's historic Auto Club Famoso raceway.

Cacklefest will feature more than 40 historic dragsters, push-start old-school,
front engine dragsters at the center of the drag strip and firing them up,
creating a 'cackling sound'. "At the last Cacklefest, the event was surreal,"
said, Greg Sharp, Reunion director and curator of the Wally Parks NHRA
Motorsports Museum, producers of the event. "Seeing these retired cars firing
up together brought the crowd to tears of joy."


Snap, cackle, pop: yes, it's Cacklefest
time again at the 15th annual NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion (CHRR), Oct. 6-
8. Cacklefest, held on Saturday night, Oct. 7, is one of the many highlights
for fans during the 3-day, fun-fest of nostalgic dragsters and hot rods at
Bakersfield's historic Auto Club Famoso raceway.

Cacklefest will feature more than 40 historic dragsters, push-start old-school,
front engine dragsters at the center of the drag strip and firing them up,
creating a 'cackling sound'. "At the last Cacklefest, the event was surreal,"
said, Greg Sharp, Reunion director and curator of the Wally Parks NHRA
Motorsports Museum, producers of the event. "Seeing these retired cars firing
up together brought the crowd to tears of joy."

"Cacklefest is about reliving the glory and an opportunity to show that these
historic dragsters have not been neglected to sit in a garage somewhere,"
said Steve Gibbs, former vice president and current board member of the
Parks Museum. "These are race cars, and their home is on the strip. This year
we anticipate the return of a rich assortment of legendary cars to the strip,
including several restored entries making debut appearances. There is a good
possibility that Bakersfield's own James Warren and Roger Coburn's 'Ridge
Route Terrors' restored front-engine dragster will make an appearance. In
addition, Chris 'The Greek' Karamesines' Chizler will highlight the field of many
other notable entrants."

According to Gibbs, a few of the scheduled cars to appear include CHRR's
Grand Marshal Roland Leong with "The Hawaiian," owned by Ted Guth and
driven by Larry Reyes;  Sam Chastain's "Iron Horse" dragster, with the original
Salt Lake City-based team of Dan Richins, Rex Pearmain and Al Pehrson; Art
Chrisman's "Hustler 1"; and Jerry "The King" Ruth. Norm Weekly will be driving
the "The Frantic Four"; Jeep Hampshire in "Magicar"; Kenny Safford in "Sour
Sisters"; and behind the wheel of the Petersen and Fitz car will be former
NHRA World TF Champion, Rob Bruins. The Beebe and Mulligan car will be
driven by Dave West, and the Greer, Black and Prudhomme car will be driven
by Steve Davis.