The dates have been announced for the 53rd running of nostalgia drag racing’s premier event, the 2011 March Meet. The three-day event will take place March 18-20, 2011 at Auto Club Famoso Raceway, just outside Bakersfield, Calif.
 
"Traditionally, the March Meet is held the first week of March", said Blake Bowser, vice president and general manager of the Kern County Racing Association, operators of Auto Club Famoso Raceway and producers of the fabled March Meet.
 
“We decided to hold the March Meet later in the month for a few reasons,” Bowser explained. “The first and second weekend of March may be too close to the NHRA Winternationals. Traditionally the Winternationals is held in early February.  In 2011 the Winternationals will be held the last weekend of February. A lot of our local race fans want to attend both, but it gets difficult for them when they are held only a few weeks apart. Also, thanks to the NHRA, we use the Winternationals as a promotional springboard to help kick-off the March Meet. The extra few weeks give us more time to get the word out.”

53rd edition of the legendary race will take place Mar. 18-20 at Auto Club Famoso Raceway outside Bakersfield, Calif.
 
The dates have been announced for the 53rd running of nostalgia drag racing’s premier event, the 2011 March Meet. The three-day event will take place March 18-20, 2011 at Auto Club Famoso Raceway, just outside Bakersfield, Calif.
 
"Traditionally, the March Meet is held the first week of March", said Blake Bowser, vice president and general manager of the Kern County Racing Association, operators of Auto Club Famoso Raceway and producers of the fabled March Meet.
 
“We decided to hold the March Meet later in the month for a few reasons,” Bowser explained. “The first and second weekend of March may be too close to the NHRA Winternationals. Traditionally the Winternationals is held in early February.  In 2011 the Winternationals will be held the last weekend of February. A lot of our local race fans want to attend both, but it gets difficult for them when they are held only a few weeks apart. Also, thanks to the NHRA, we use the Winternationals as a promotional springboard to help kick-off the March Meet. The extra few weeks give us more time to get the word out.”
 
Bowser also said that many NHRA racers such as Robert Hight, Ron Capps, Gary Densham, Cruz Pedregon and Jack Beckman enjoy competing in and/or attending the March Meet every year.  “The fans love it too when the NHRA stars attend. The way the 2011 NHRA schedule falls, there’s no NHRA race the third week in March, so there’s no conflict. Everyone wins.”
 
Weather is also a factor in the move, Bowser said. “Typically, as the month of March goes on, we see warmer weather, which can only help.  It will make for better racing conditions. Plus, Daylight Savings will have already taken place. This will give us an extra hour of sunlight which will let us run a bit later under good conditions.”
 
Lastly, Bowser said the move to later in the month has some luck involved: luck of the Irish. “The Thursday before the March Meet is usually when we have our kick-off party,” he said. “In 2011, the Thursday before the March Meet is St Patrick's Day (Mar. 17).  How fun can that be?”
 
March Meet ticket sales and prices, as well as other race information, including downloadable forms for race entries, car show registration and camping will be posted soon at www.autoclubfamosoraceway.com.
 
Now celebrating 53 years of racing, the March Meet is a three-day speedfest that enthusiasts call ‘the jewel of Nostalgia Racing.’  It attracts drag racers and spectators from around the world and also includes a hot rod car show, swap meet and a vendors’ midway. The 2011 March Meet will be held Mar. 18-20 at historic Auto Club Famoso Raceway
 
The Kern County Racing Association operates Auto Club Famoso Raceway (just north of Bakersfield, Calif.) and promotes a full schedule of races year round, including the world famous March Meet, which is recognized as the Mecca of nostalgia drag racing. For more details, visit www.autoclubfamosoraceway.com.

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