September 2024 • By Tony Thacker •  Presented by H&H Flatheads

I short-sheeted a big European trip to attend the RPM Nationals Flathead Drags—one of my favorite events. Organized by Justin Baas and Russ Hare and billed as an 1/8-mile drag race for pre-’36 flathead V-8 and 4-cylinder powered hot rods and race cars, it’s held at the Santa Margarita Ranch, some 200 miles north of Los Angeles up US 101 and not far from Vandenberg Space Force Base, the launch site of numerous rockets and missiles. RPM attracts people from as far away as Europe and Japan and racers from as far away as Canada.     

Due to ongoing construction on the ranch, the races were again run from south to north. No matter, the racing was fast and furious to the very end and what was obvious, because of the lack of smokey tires, was racers once again getting to grips with the track and the business of going fast.

Obvious also was the diversity of the participants with lots of female racers and a wide range of ages proving you are neither never too old nor never too young to get behind the wheel and burn some fossil fuel while we still can. I also enjoy the diversity of vehicles everything from flathead-powered rails, belly tanks, roadsters, of course, and a smattering of historic specials including the original 1949 Willis Baldwin-Mercury Special owned by Rob Manson.

Organizer Russ Hare said, “entries were up about 30-percent over 2023, as were spectators, and one of the highlights was Jerry Chinn, a veteran of the event, who finally won V-8 modified street in his Ardun-powered roadster. Likewise young Dustin Martin who cleaned up in 4-banger street class beating all the older guys even after they gave him a T-shirt with a target on the back and still he beat them. It was priceless.”

The RPM Nationals Flathead Drags is sponsored by Anson Axles, American Hot Rod Foundation, Baron Racing Equipment, Biltwell Helmets, RE Borrmann Steel, Co., Carrillo Customs, The Fashion Parade Apparel & Clothing, CW Moss, Hanford Auto Supply, H&H Antique, Hop Up Magazine, Lee’s Iron & Metal, Pacific Quick Change, Red’s Headers, and Schnaubelt Distillery.

And the winners were:

• Full race flathead V-8: ‘Riverside’ Johnny

• Flathead modified street: Jerry Chinn

• Flathead street: Tim McMaster

• Full race 4cyl - Jesse Hernandez

• 4cyl modified street- ‘Red Bluff’ Joe Rodriquez

• 4cyl street: Justin Martin

The RPM Nationals Flathead Drags is a sister event to the RPM Barona Drags which is a similar 1/8-mile drag race held in the spring at Barona Drag Strip northeast of San Diego, California. Barona is open to early ohv-engined vehicles.

If you want to learn more visit RPMNationals.com