In a upwardly spiking movement that defies current trends in drag racing participation -- and the economy in general -- officials for the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series are reporting a record number of AA/Funny Cars at this weekends 18th California Hot Rod Reunion at Famoso Raceway, just north of Bakersfield.

When time trials for the vintage nitro-burning coupes begin on Saturday at 4 pm, as many as thirty-two machines will take to the track to will vie for a mere eight spots, with these quickest contestants participating in Sunday’s final showdown.  Indeed, qualifying for the last race this year in the NHRA Heritage Points Series promises to be ruthless, with a legion of fuel floppers duking it out in a field defined by quality as well as quantity. Among those entered: Heritage Series Points Leader, Garrett Bateman in the stout Plueger & Gyger Mustang; 2009 March Meet champ Bucky Austin and his vintage Northwest Hitter machine;  Kris Krabill in bicycle magnate Gary Turner’s Pedaler; Mark Sanders’ Mr. Explosive Nova, and AA/Funny Car’s mistress of the motorway, Mendy “Nitro Kitty” Fry.  In addition to those stalwarts, former NHRA Funny Car champ Cruz Pedregon will debut his just-finished Joe Pisano ‘77 Arrow tribute funny car.

In a upwardly spiking movement that defies current trends in drag racing participation -- and the economy in general -- officials for the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series are reporting a record number of AA/Funny Cars at this weekends 18th California Hot Rod Reunion at Famoso Raceway, just north of Bakersfield.

When time trials for the vintage nitro-burning coupes begin on Saturday at 4 pm, as many as thirty-two machines will take to the track to will vie for a mere eight spots, with these quickest contestants participating in Sunday’s final showdown.  Indeed, qualifying for the last race this year in the NHRA Heritage Points Series promises to be ruthless, with a legion of fuel floppers duking it out in a field defined by quality as well as quantity. Among those entered: Heritage Series Points Leader, Garrett Bateman in the stout Plueger & Gyger Mustang; 2009 March Meet champ Bucky Austin and his vintage Northwest Hitter machine;  Kris Krabill in bicycle magnate Gary Turner’s Pedaler; Mark Sanders’ Mr. Explosive Nova, and AA/Funny Car’s mistress of the motorway, Mendy “Nitro Kitty” Fry.  In addition to those stalwarts, former NHRA Funny Car champ Cruz Pedregon will debut his just-finished Joe Pisano ‘77 Arrow tribute funny car.

Because of the look, sound and fury of these wicked machines, Pedregon is champing at the bit to mix it up this weekend with the old-style plastic fantastics. He was quoted in the Bakersfield Californian as saying, “I came to this thing (the Reunion race) about five or six years ago and saw a couple of Funny Cars run and the sound and look ... the hair on my arms was standing up and I had to build one.” He added, “These cars look like a Funny Car should, in my opinion... They sound like '70s cars... They're a little louder than what we race today, a little more of a prominent sound to them idling.”

In addition to the record number of Nitro Funny Care entries, this weekend at Famoso drag racing aficionados can expect over a dozen Nostalgia Top Fuelers, as well as a healthy complement of Fuel Altereds, Supercharged Gassers, Classic Super Stock, Hot Rods and others. Racers and race fans can also give props and pay homage to Reunion’s Honorees Danny Broussard, Don Moody, Steve Reyes, “Jet Car Bob” Smith and Walt Stevens, as well as Grand Marshal Jess Tyree. And in an eye-watering and deafening coup de gras, over 60 vintage Top Fuel dragsters will simultaneously ignite in a “Cacklefest” to be staged at twilight on Saturday.

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