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A California Classic Conclusion Oct 27, 2016 // Nostalgia FC Updates // editorThe 2016 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Drag Racing Series concluded it’s season with a fantastic edition 25th Anniversary celebration California Hot Rod Reunion event at fabled Famosa – located just north of Bakersfield.
That event featured a record setting and dramatically attended nostalgia Funny Car program which highlighted the event’s activities.
The event’s overall champion was Jason Rupert of Yorba Linda, CA., who powered to the event victory with a 5.592 secs at 250.32 mph in his ’69 Camaro over world champion Kris Krabill’s 7.494 secs at 116.19 mph in his ’78 Firebird in the final round. Rupert was the event’s No. 1 qualifier and also posted the category’s lowest E.T.
(Jason Rupert (far lane) defeated Kris Krabill in the CHRR Funny Car final round)
For Rupert, who was also the recently crowned IHRA series World Champion for 2016, this win was his first at the marquee Bakersfield facility. In earlier rounds he had taken decisions over Rick Rogers, John Weaver and James Day.
Krabill, of Tacoma, Wash., entered the California Hot Rod Reunion as the 2016 Nostalgia Funny Car world champion after clinching that title at the most recent NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series event at Bakersfield in September.
Nitro Nostalgia Funny Car racing at Auto Club Famoso was a record setting quick affair with 32 machines vying for the elite 16-qualifying slots. Those racers produced an all time quick bump spot of 5.875 secs.
Event winner Rupert anchored that program with a low ET of the meet run of 5.605 secs and Canadian driver Ryan Hodgson (who qualified #2 at 5.611 secs) was credited with top speed overall of the race at 261.42 mph racing his Hodgson Motorsports Pacemaker Camaro from Edmonton AB.
(Edmonton’s Ryan Hodgson – the defending 2015 event champion – set top speed of the meet at a whopping 261.42 mph!)
Please do check out our expanded and extensive event photo galley below!
(Tim Boychuk’s Happy Hour/NitroMoose Camaro qualified #10 with a season’s best 5.764 secs)
(BC’s Tim Nemeth – who has a history of running well at Bakersfield — qualified #12 and went to the second round)
(Washington’s Mark Sanders was a surprising DNQ at Bakersfield)
Canada’s Nathan Sitko ran a rewarding 5.968 secs – but that fell short of the event’s super swift bump
(John Weaver had a strong event performance racing his Dodge Omni)
(Barry Young qualified the Down Under Thunder Camaro #11)
(NHRA TF tuner/crew chief Richard Hartman entered his great looking Chevy Camaro)
(John Hale hikes the wheels of his “Texan” Camaro during a qualifying run!)
(Some truly legendary Ford brand nitro Funny Cars from the past were on display at the CHRR)
(Don Hudson just missed qualifying his Firebird – his 5.882 secs run was #17)
(Chicagoland’s Mark White had this rather dramatic top end incident in round one – he was uninjured)
(James Day – who qualified on the bump and who has won at Bakersfield before – lost out to winner Jason Rupert in round #1)
(The all green Fighting Irish Camaro – driven by Rick Rogers – was a fan favourite and final four finisher during the CHRR event)
(Kris Krabill – who had already clinched the NHRA Heritage Series Championship prior to the event – was the #3 qualifier)
(Indiana’s Paul Romine had a rough weekend – his best qualifying run was thrown out due to an oil down violation)
(The “Hot for Teacher” Mustang raced by Alex Miladinovich was another fan favourite entry)
(Arizona’s Jim Maroney had his super cool Candies & Hughes tribute Barracuda entered)
(Chris Davis leaves the starting line in his 1977 Arrow bodied car)
Richard Townsend does his burnout in the “Nitroholic” Camaro
Matt Bynum came all the way in from Michigan to race this impressive looking Matthews Motorsports ’69 Mustang.
All Images by Bruce Biegler & Dave DeAngelis
editor has written 624 articles for NitroFCCanada
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