RPM Nationals
Barona Drags ’24
May 2024 • By Tony Thacker & Kev Elliott • Presented by HandHFlatheads.com
We’ve made the pleasant trek from Los Angeles to Barona, California, for the annual RPM Barona Drags several times and enjoy the two hour-plus drive to this throwback 1/8-mile strip tucked into Wildcat Canyon on the Barona Indian Reservation near San Diego.
Unlike the RPM Nationals, held each year in September at the Santa Margarita Ranch north of Santa Barbara, that is exclusively for flatheads and 4-bangers, the Barona Drags is for 1963 and earlier period correct Buick, Cadillac, small-block Chevy, Chrysler and Dodge Hemis, Pontiac, Y-block Ford and other early-style ohv engines as well, of course, flatheads and bangers. Race cars must be 1940 or earlier and all parts must be period correct and appear pre-’63.
If you arrive on Friday for the pre-event party there’s plenty in store including excellent free food provided by Hornets Car Club member and chef John King and his team. Live music was provided by banger racer Jesse Hernandez and The 1/8 Milers. If you like a night out in the mountains away from the city, Barona is the place to be.
The weather at Barona is typically nice and racers come from as far away as Colorado and even Canada to race the eighth. There’s even a car coral sponsored by The Lifters as well as a swap meet. If you want an authentic day out at the drags then the RPM Barona Drags is a must.
There are 9 classes (the first six being the same as the RPM Nationals):
4 cylinder flathead street car F/S: Winner Justin Martin
V8 flathead street car V/S. Winner Rob ‘Jobs” Sepe
4 cylinder flathead street car with power adder such as ohv or blower F/S: Vic Garcia
V8 flathead street car with power adder such as ohv or blower: NA
4 cylinder flathead full race such as rails, sprint cars, belly tanks, etc F/R: Max Herman
V8 flathead full race such as rails, sprint cars, belly tanks, etc: Davis Finch ‘Nitro Agenda’
Up to 1964 ohv classes:
Street car O/S: Marshall Pennington
Street car with blower O/S Modified: ‘Hot Head’ Lou Stands
Full race V/M: Dustin Scaplo
For more info on RPM Nationals go to: RPMNationals.com
All the way from Colorado Mike Scaplo against his son Justin in the left lane.
