Ever wondered what it feels like to stand only two meters away from a nitro burning, tire smoking, ground pounding nostalgia nitro funny car when the driver hits the loud pedal? One thing is for sure, you’ll never forget the experience …

I’ve been to several drag racing events in England, Sweden, Germany and several big NHRA events all over America, but my first Nostalgia drag racing event, the 55TH March Meet, was different. The old track is in the middle of nowhere, originally a mile-square World War II transit airfield. Walking around is like having the past come alive, as driver legends and the early styles and classes of cars just made it feel really special, like stepping back in time. I was able to talk to icons of the sport, including such historic names as; Tom the Mongoose McEwen, Art Chrisman, Gary Densham and Chuck Worsham. The list of heroes in the pits was amazing; and there is history in every corner at the March Meet, still known as the Bakersfield March Meet, as in the 60s. The pits are an ocean of top racecars from around the country; coming out to Bakersfield in March like a migratory herd returning to their March feeding grounds. The pits have many of the top drivers from the past, mostly turned into owners and/or crew chiefs, while handing the butterfly wheel over to their youngster or sometimes NHRA pro drivers. These guys are there servicing their cars as they might have 40 years ago, just with much more complex support rigs to back up the team. Moving through the pits, there is a tidal ebb and flow of different categories of racer being called to the line for their runs, or coming slowly back from the Big End after a run, the pits is where the action is. But, from the pits to the manufactures midway, to the huge swap meet, you can shop for any of your historic interests in the sport. You can get everything including photographs and memorabilia, parts issues of classic magazines, or a rolling funny car chassis or historic dragster chassis … all available to take home if you are so inclined. For a gear head, you can get lost in the shopping, forget the racing.

Shooting trackside was incredible. The feeling of 2 nitro funny cars passing you with the throttle wide open is so intense. Your whole body is shaking, the ground vibrates and you just hold on to your camera, trying to keep the cars in frame to shoot a decent picture… It’s faster and louder like anything else you ever experienced from the grandstands… You’re able to hear the commands from the crew guys and the starter, which is pretty neat. During a run, thoughts start coming about your safety standing within feet of cars that represent the most brutal motorsport in the world … these cars are getting pushed to their limits with every rev. You start thinking “what if“ and suddenly „BOOM!!!” Some car spun the tires and popped the blower right in front of you. After a day of adrenalin surges, and just the fun of being that close to a whole day’s worth of these fuel-burning monsters, the day closes: you’re covered with rubber pickles all over your arms and face, you ears feel like 70 years old and you’ve been on your legs for over 12 hours, but you’ll recognize that you never felt so happy… and can’t wait for the chance to do it again … isn’t there a race somewhere close tomorrow?

Bookmark it: