October 2021 • Photography Tony Thacker

Fuel Altereds, Funny Cars, Pro Mods and Top Fuel dragsters fight it out at the 29th California Hot Rod Reunion.

At the invitation of Ron Hope and Rat Trap Racing we tagged along to Famoso Raceway, one of the oldest continuously operated drag strips in the nation and home of the Bakersfield Fuel & Gas Championships now known as the March Meet.

It was the 29th edition of the California Hot Rod Reunion and it didn’t disappoint, that said, it appeared much smaller than previous years with 300 race cars, down from highs of 600 or more. In the nitro classes there were 10 AA/Fuel Altereds, 19 Funny Cars and 9 Top Fuel dragsters. And, despite plenty of oil downs the racing was fast and furious.

The next nostalgia drag will be the Good Vibrations March Meet: March 3-6, 2022: AAAFamosoRaceway.com/March-Meet/