Hot Rod Reunion Expected to Bring Another $4 million to Bakersfield

Times are tough and money is super tight, but rodding and racing fans are still traveling to events, which is good news
for Bakersfield and Kern County. The 17th annual California National Hot Rod Reunion, presented by Automobile Club of Southern California, is coming to town, Oct. 10-12, at Auto Club Famoso (just outside Bakersfield), and with it, another $4 million is expected to be infused into the community.

Hot Rod Reunion Expected to Bring Another $4 million to Bakersfield

Times are tough and money is super tight, but rodding and racing fans are still traveling to events, which is good news
for Bakersfield and Kern County. The 17th annual California National Hot Rod Reunion, presented by Automobile Club of Southern California, is coming to town, Oct. 10-12, at Auto Club Famoso (just outside Bakersfield), and with it, another $4 million is expected to be infused into the community.

“Advance ticket sales are strong,” said Tony Thacker, executive director of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, producers of the Reunion. “It seems folks still want to go out for some inexpensive, exciting family fun, and the Reunion certainly provides that.”

According to Thacker, for 16 years, Reunion attendees have brought their kids, their cars and, of course, their wallets to Kern County, bringing millions of tourism dollars to the area. “Our calculations show that more than $84 million has been spent in Kern County that’s directly traceable to the Reunions,” said Thacker.  “This is our 17th year at Auto Club Famoso Raceway, and the show gets better every year.  We want to thank the people of Kern County for all their support in making us feel welcome and we’re glad we’re having a positive effect on the local economy.”

As hot rodders and race teams complete their preparations for the three-day speed festival, hoteliers, restaurateurs, gas stations and local stores are among those who will get ready to count the money coming into the county.  So will the grocers who provide the picnic lunches and other supplies that the enthusiasts consume.

“Hot rodders spend a lot of money in this county,” said Blake Bowser, a member of the board of the Bakersfield Convention and Visitors Bureau and vice president of Auto Club Famoso Raceway, which hosts the annual event.  “Our merchants know this and they spread out the welcome mat.  Auto parts stores, hotels, grocers and restaurants will feel a direct impact, but the money that comes in just continues to spread throughout the county."

Thacker added that this year, due to the weak U.S. dollar abroad, there will a larger contingency of international visitors. “We have racers, fans and media from Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Canada who are attending, bringing even more tourism dollars to Bakersfield. We’ll have 300 attendees from Australia alone.”

The 17th annual California Hot Rod Reunion, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California, Oct. 10-12 at Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif., is a 3-day festival of speed, hot rods and American automotive enthusiasm.  It’s also the season finale of the inaugural NHRA’s Hot Rod Heritage nostalgia drag racing series.