RPM Nationals

May 13

Barona Drags ’25

May 2024 • By Tony Thacker & Kev Elliott • Presented by MicksPaint.com & USAutomotive.co.uk

For two ex-pat Brits the annual RPM Barona Drags ’25 was a bit like drag racing in the UK where it can often be cold, damp and misty. Despite the forecast, racers such as Justin and Mike Scaplo came from as far afield as Colorado and Steve Chaffin came all the way from Idaho. Heck, Kev and I came from England—but that was a few years ago.

For us it was just a two-hour drive from Los Angeles to this old-school, 1/8-mile strip tucked into the beautiful Wildcat Canyon on the Barona Indian Reservation just 30 miles north east of San Diego.

Unlike its sister event, the RPM Nationals, held each September at the Santa Margarita Ranch north of Santa Barbara, that is exclusively for flatheads and 4-bangers, the Barona Drags is for ’63 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.

Camping for the event is free and on Friday night they have a welcome band. There’s also a car coral sponsored by The Lifters as well as a swap meet.

There were several new cars in attendance this year including new ’34s from Stacie Depner and Brit Simon Gluckman. White with a gold stripe, Stacie’s flathead-powered Roadster was built by Jay Dean at Nostalgia Ranch, while Simon’s blown-Olds-powered Model 40 coupe, ‘The Dog’s Bollocks,’ was built with the help of his buddy Troy Ladd at Hollywood Hot Rods.

For 2025, RPM was scheduled the day before the annual Antique Nationals. Unfortunately, because of the weather, that event had to be cancelled but should it have panned out what and double date that would have been, Hopefully, it will come together next year.

If you want an authentic day out at the drags then the RPM Barona Drags is a must.