The 26th annual California Hot Rod Reunion® presented by Automobile Club of Southern California returns on Oct. 20-22 to Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif. The three-day event is a festival of speed as well as the perfect way to pay respects to the history of the legends of racing.
The action-packed weekend provides drag racing fans with nostalgia quarter-mile nitro racing and a full display of California hot rod culture. The event also serves as the final race of the 2017 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Drag Racing Series season. Racers in Nostalgia Top Fuel and Funny Car will be vying for a win at one of the most unique tracks in the country.
During the course of the busy weekend those who helped further the sport of drag racing will be honored at the venue. Grand Marshal Rick Stewart, who is a Bakersfield native, will be feted for his decade’s long involvement with NHRA. Also recognized during the event will be Pete Eastwood, Bill Holland, Bob Lambeck, Bob Panella, Sr., and Jimmy Scott.
The legends will take part in events during the week including the Hot Rod Reunion Honoree Reception at the DoubleTree Hotel in Bakersfield on Friday at 7:30 p.m., admission to the reception is free. They will also be recognized during the honoree presentation and twilight memorial on the track Saturday morning.
Saturday evening will also feature the famous Cacklefest® which originated with the 2000 California Hot Rod Reunion and will continue to feature the crowd-pleasing push starts and display of dozens of nitro-burning machines of the past. For this season the Cacklefest® will return to a format familiar to the fans and participants. Adding to the excitement, the California event will include the popular exhibition push starts throughout each day that were part of previous events.
The NHRA Motorsports Museum is continuing its efforts at implementing safety and operational improvements in anticipation of the 2017 California Hot Rod Reunion. As part of this initiative the museum is working with Auto Club Famoso Raceway on enhancements to the return road that will benefit all participants and allow for push starts to take place during the Cacklefest®.
For those who restore and maintain these magnificent machines the event will allocate more pit space to allow an even greater number of spectators to see and hear the cars up close as they are readied for their Cacklefest® appearances.
The Hot Rod Reunions are a series of events produced by the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum. The events are part of the museum’s “living history” philosophy, which works to bring to life the sights, sounds and people who made history in the early days of drag racing, land speed racing and the golden age of American car culture. Proceeds from the Hot Rod Reunionsbenefit the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum.
Tickets may be purchased before October 9th at a discount price of $65 for a three-day pass or $25 for a single day. AAA Members save even more! Children 15 and under are free with a paid adult. For more information visit www.nhramuseum.org and click on ‘Reunions’ or to purchase tickets call 1-800-884-NHRA or online at: NHRA.com/hotrodreunion.