The Wally Parks/NHRA Motor-sports Museum's most prestigious event is the California Hot Rod Reunion, sponsored by the Automobile Club of Southern California. Held in October at Kern County's historic Old Famoso/Bakersfield Raceway, the event annually draws the finest vintage drag race machines and vintage racing talent from all across the nation.
Recently referred to by the media as a "one-of-a-kind American car lover's dream," seasoned CHRR insiders irreverently refer to the California Hot Rod Reunion as the annual Gathering of the Geezers!
Regardless of what this annual tribute to drag racing's glorious bygone days is called, the California Hot Rod Reunion is drag racing history in motion, with nostalgic drag racing action trackside and famous racecars and drag racing personalities pitside!
This year saw the 14th edition of the event. It began the morning of September 30, 2005, when CHRR-XIV quietly rolled into the sleepy truck-stop town of Bakersfield. However, as the pits began to fill early Friday morning, the event generated momentum. By Saturday, the sleepy attitude that usually typifies Old Famoso in October quickly evolved into a full-blown and frenzied hot rod happening!
Highlights from the Hot Rod Reunion included three days of the best in NHRA-sanctioned nostalgia drag racing, including Nostalgia Top Fuel, Nostalgia Junior Fuel, and Blown Nostalgia Gassers, with the finals culminating Sunday afternoon, October 2. Also, Famed drag racer/tuner/innovator "AA" Dale Armstrong was selected as CHRR XIV's Grand Marshall, along with honorees Leon "Pure Heaven" Fitzgerald, Chrysler star "Dandy Dick" Landy, NHRA's first female national event winner Shirley "Dragon Lady" Shahan, Safety Equipment pioneer Bill Simpson, chassis-builder Dave Uyehara, and former San Fernando Drag Strip publicist Dave Wallace Sr.
A racer's night held Friday, September 30, at Bakersfield's nearby Doubletree was the place where CHRR's honorees were officially introduced. The social bench racing, which usually includes igniting two Top Fuelers under the hotel's front foyer, lasted into the wee a.m. hours.
Saturday evening's highly touted Cacklefest had a total of 46 nitro burners lighting 'em up in front of a full-capacity crowd.
CHRR IV was also the site of the Leslie Lovett Memorial Photo Contest, where veteran drag racing photographers exhibit their photographic masterpieces from drag racing's illustrious bygone era. And, of course, there was plenty of drag racing throughout the entire weekend.
But you can't race if you can't get to the track, and no CHRR event would be complete without a huge sampling of vintage race-car haulers and street rod trucks. Here's a sample of the vintage trucks that worked and played during the weekend that saw hot rod history return to Old Famoso.
The Wally Parks/NHRA Motor-sports...
The Wally Parks/NHRA Motor-sports Museum's Safety Safari trailer and a '54 Dodge station wagon tow vehicle served as the centerpiece for an area known as Reunion Central. This huge tent area was the meeting place for the barbecue, photo contest, goody bag pickup, and Sunday morning church service.
A black primer '34 Ford roadster...
A black primer '34 Ford roadster pickup greeted us outside the reunion tent area. The truck featured a full-house '48 Merc flathead, '48 Mercury pie-pan wheels, hubcaps, and "Woodlights."
The black satin, Halibrand-equipped...
The black satin, Halibrand-equipped '32 Ford pickup and '29 A roadster pickup/race car combination was another of the attractions we found in the pits at Old Famoso on Saturday.
This two-tone gray and maroon...
This two-tone gray and maroon '38 Ford COE featured a late-model Ford truck chassis, Ford F-1 rear fenders, and custom truck bed. It was a real looker.
We saw this big-block-powered...
We saw this big-block-powered '64 Ford F-100 known as the Lead Sled. It competed in the Exhibition III class. The truck is sponsored by Bakersfield's P&P Customs.
Wild West racer Lynn Park...
Wild West racer Lynn Park towed his ex-Walt Zavaruka "Samurai" Don Long-chassis Chrysler AA/FD to Bakersfield with his trusty Nailhead Buick-powered '56 Ford F-100 just like he's done for the past four years.
Taft, CA's Troy Stacey rolled...
Taft, CA's Troy Stacey rolled up in his 400ci blown Chevrolet-powered, Viper Red '51 Ford F-1. Believe us, this rig can light the tires at 70-plus mph on the freeway. Incredibly, we've seen it!
Although this '54 3100-Series...
Although this '54 3100-Series Chevrolet 1/2-ton appears stock, it featured a later-model small-block Chevrolet V-8 underneath the hood and a vintage Powell motorcycle in the pickup bed. Very cool.
This two-tone yellow and black...
This two-tone yellow and black '36 Ford pickup featured small-block Ford power and drivetrain.
Another regular at the CHRR...
Another regular at the CHRR events is this orange and white scalloped '32 highboy pickup from the Imperial Valley.
We found this ultra-slammed...
We found this ultra-slammed '54 Studebaker down in the pit area alongside the finish-line grandstands. The truck featured many '50s custom treatments, along with airbag suspension and a built small-block.
This vintage '32 Ford pickup...
This vintage '32 Ford pickup and '34 Ford sedan delivery were just two of the hot rod haulers we found pitside on Saturday.
As is customary, the Automobile...
As is customary, the Automobile Club of Southern California rolled out its immaculate '35 Ford 2-ton wrecker, powered by a late-model Ford engine.
Roadster pickups were all...
Roadster pickups were all the rage at CHRR IV. One of our favs was this yellow '30 A-Bone with Halibrand wheels.
The motto of this early-'60s...
The motto of this early-'60s Chevy: "Have push bar, will travel!"
Mooneyes always has an interesting...
Mooneyes always has an interesting display. This year the company's '58 Ford F-100 was joined by the Mallicoat Brothers' former record-holding Willys BB/GS, which has recently been rediscovered.
This early-'50s GMC looked...
This early-'50s GMC looked pretty nice parked in the pits in the early morning Saturday sunlight.
Another vintage hauler which...
Another vintage hauler which drew more than a first glance was this blue '56 Effie.
We're not sure what you would...
We're not sure what you would call this, but the name Stude-A-Mino immediately comes to mind. This Studebaker Lark "truck" was built using a Studebaker Lark station wagon.
There appeared to be lots...
There appeared to be lots of vintage haulers for sale at Famoso, some with a racing history and some without.
Radoumis and Moore's chopped-top,...
Radoumis and Moore's chopped-top, blown big-block '41 Willys pickup is another one of the CHRR regulars making the scene at Bakersfield 2005.
Shades of flatbeds. This '32...
Shades of flatbeds. This '32 BB was built on a late-model GM truck chassis and featured all the right stuff. We just love these old full-size haulers.