Funny Car fans attending the final season round for NHRA’s thriving co-production Hot Rod Heritage Drag Racing Series got quite a treat during the 2017 California Hot Rod Reunion event.

The iconic event, which was hosted for the 26th time at fabled Auto Club Famoso Raceway, located just north of Bakersfield CA., featured a dream field on nitro-burning nostalgia cars.

A particularly healthy car count total of 30 machines attempted qualifying laps for that category and after three sessions they did produce the quickest 16-car field in AA/FC class history at a 5.830 secs bump.

The event was led from start to finish by California’s Bobby Cottrell, who is a new designated driver this year for Bucky Austin’s very formidable Bardahl/Buckey’s Auto Centre 1969 Camaro based from Washington state.

(Driving for team owner Bucky Austin – Bobby Cottrell lead start to finish for the 2017 CHRR AA/FC event title)

Cottrell, qualified #1 with a 5.563 secs and then rattled off low ET of the event (at a record quick 5.528 secs!) – while proceeding past the field during eliminations – to ultimately win decisively. In the final round Bobby beat another Chevy Camaro, a ’70 model driven by Florida’s Matt Bynum, for the title winning a 5.670 secs 253.61 mph to 5.744 secs 258.62 mph decision.

Bynum, who had qualified 3rd, was credited with a 263.05 mph terminal speed during eliminations – another record for the AA/FC category.

“It was a busy weekend I’m so thankful for my crew,” said Cottrell, who is from Whittier, CA. “We did hurt some parts and every single round we had to change stuff — my crew worked their tails off. To get the win here in front of my family and my kids and stuff is pretty special.”

(The all Chevy Camaro AA/FC final saw Cottrell – far lane – run 5.670 secs 253.61 mph to beat Matt Bynum’s 5.744 secs 258.62 mph)

The event also produced huge news for Canada, when during eliminations action mid-Sunday the overall season championship title for the class category was determined. For the very first time that honour will reside north of the 49th parallel and with the highly formidable Hodgson/Papirnick “Pacemaker” Chevy Camaro grabbing the prestigious honour and season bragging rites.

(The highly skilled Hodgson/Papirnick Pacemaker Funny Car team made history. With their semi final round finish at the CHRR event – they clinched the 2017 Hot Rod Heritage Series World Championship!)

Team driver Ryan Hodgson (from Edmonton AB) qualified #4 and advanced to the “final four” on Sunday to clinch it while his closest points competitor – 2X former series champion Jason Rupert, (from Yorba Linda CA) unexpectedly was disqualified after oiling the track during three consecutive qualifying runs.

“This championship is all about teamwork and surrounding yourself with good people that make good decisions and that all get along,” said Ryan Hodgson.  “That’s really what powers this car and team forward.”

(Canadian Tim Nemeth – Chilliwack BC — ran well at the CHRR finale – he qualified 9th (5.718 secs) with his “Iceman” Firebird before losing a close one to eventual winner Bobby Cottrell in round two)

(2015 Heritage Series National Champion Stephen Densham – advanced to the “final four” in AA/FC eliminations at this years event)

Post and photos by Bruce Biegler