One hundred and thirty years ago in October the big guns of the gunslinger era gathered at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, AZ. In October, 2011 the big guns of the nitromethane era gathered at Famoso Raceway for the 20th Annual Hot Rod Reunion.
Nitro filled the air for three days — five of the eight classes running at the Reunion were burning nitro and added to the racers were the 50+ nitro-burning cacklefest dragsters. The 182 racers at the event raced in Top Fuel, Funny Car, A Fuel, Jr. Fuel, NE 1, Pro 7.0, A Gas, and A/FX.
Wheel standers are always popular
Even though the racing was non-stop there was still time for some exhibition runs.
Gray Baskerville's Rollin Rice Bowl now owned by Bob Vacca and Don Tubbs
Although Steve Gibbs was the Grand Marshal for this event, he still had to do all the hard work of ensuring that this event was the best Reunion ever. While Gibbs gave us Cacklefest in 2000, this year he showed he still had a few aces up his sleeve. He invited a group of six gassers from the Midwest to run exhibition throughout the week-end. Watching these old gassers run was a delight. The group included 2 1940 Willys coupes, 2 1941 Willys coupes, 1 1941 Willys pickup and a 1937 Chevy coupe. The cars are period correct in appearance with consideration given to safety. They all run on gas. The Geezer Gassers took home the newly created Pete Millar award. Millar was a well-known drag racing cartoonist.
Another new addition to the Reunion was a line-up of well-known race cars from the past, including Wild Willy AA/FC, Willie Borsch’s last car, Shirley Muldowney’s Top Fuel car, Childs and Albert AA/FD Addict, K.S. Pittman AA/Gas 1933 Willys and the reconstructed Chris Karamesines, Chizler AA/FD. Along with the 2011 Cacklefest award winner, a recreation of Don Garlitz Swamp Rat III, these cars and more were at track side for the opening ceremony. These cars all fired up as Red Greth’s legendary speed sport coupe fired its engine and returned to the track to kick off the first round of nitro funny car racing on Sunday.
As the final round of eliminations played out, conditions at Famoso were good with an air temperature of 88 degrees and track surface temperatures between 108-116 degrees.
The crew gets Nitro Thunder ready for another run
Brett Harris in Nitro Thunder ran 5.725 ET/255.73 MPH to take the win in Top Fuel. At the 2010 Reunion Harris also took home the win with a 5.748 ET at 248.48 MPH. Harris won this race this year at the line with a reaction time of 0.075 to Bartone’s.0.108. Although giving up the win to Harris, Bartone set the ET and MPH records of 5.693 and 269.29. Harris ended first in the Hot Rod Heritage points race for the season.
John Hale, the number 13 qualifier, driving Mike Burkhart’s Funny Car, prevailed over the number 2 qualifier Kris Krabil in the Pedaler. Hale ran the quickest and fastest pass in nostalgia funny car history with an ET of 5.589 traveling 255.97 MPH to Krabil’s 5.783 ET/248.75 MPH. Krabil ran 5.783 ET at 348.75 MPH. The Funny Car field held 33 tough entrants.
The number 1 A Fuel qualifier, Kin Bates with his 468 ci Chrysler overpowered Jeremy Sullivan’s 460 ci Chev motor. Although Sullivan was first off the line, Bates overtook him for the win with an ET of 6.261/222.25 MPH. Sullivan finished with a 6.717 ET/195.65 MPH.
A Fuel Jerry Kumre waves to the crowd after a great burnout
Ronnie Lennon took the win in 7.0 Pro (this class runs on a 7.0 index) over Greg Howland. Lennon ran 7.014 ET/197.97 MPH while Howland broke out with an ET of 6.993 at 200.38 MPH.
The number 1 qualifier Bob Lander came in ahead of the number 3 qualifier Don Enriquez in the Jr. Fuel class. Although Enriquez was first off the line with a reaction time of 0.027, Lander overtook him at half-track. Lander finished with an ET of 7.115 and 186.69 MPH to Enriquez’ 7.238 ET/185.21 MPH.
A Gas, which runs on a 7.6 index, was won on the line as Dean Hall got the hole shot with a 0.012 reaction time to Rob Patten’s 0.061. Hall ran an ET of 7.664 at 167.53 MPH to Patten’s 7.625 with a speed of 178.33 MPH.
A race to the finish in A Gas
Tim Brown, the number 2 qualifier, driving Gruzen’s Fiat the Merciless Mouse, ran an ET of 7.782 at 159.78 MPH to take the win. Runner-up Dan Schrokosch qualified at number 17 and finished the race with an ET of 8.008 and MPH of 157.54.
Tim Brown in the Merciless Mouse gives a wave coming off the track after winning NEI
A/FX was a dial-in class with class winner Joel Miner dialing in at 10.25. Runner up Lynsi Martinez had a dial-in of 9.0. Miner and Martinez had nearly identical reaction times of 0.066 and 0.060, respectively. Miner had an ET of 10.302 traveling 130.40 MPH to take home his third Reunion championship. Martinez had an ET of 9.063 crossing the line at 148.17 MPH.
A nice 1939 Ford in the Grove
In addition to three full days of racing, the Reunion was host to more than 40 exhibition cars.
Jack Chrisman's sedan on exhibit
As usual the grove overflowed with hot rods, rat rods, and classics and the show car parking was expanded to the pit area. Even though there was almost no lull in the action due to oildowns or breakdowns, the vendor and swap meet areas were busy all the time.
The 20th Hot Rod Reunion was quite different from the first, but it’s a good thing Gibb’s pronouncement “we’re only going to do this once” didn’t come to pass. The 21st California Hot Rod Reunion is scheduled for October 19-21, 2012. For the latest Reunion information contact www.museum.nhra.com. Mark your calendar for the next big race at Famoso Raceway – the March Meet, March 1-4, 2012.
The "old" - an exhibition gasser lines up behind the "new" - the NHRA Top Fuel car of Steve Chrisman
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