I will first offer an apology
for the lack of coverage of the Sunday static Cacklefest. Here's
what we have and then its onto some random people and pit shots.
Big Mac 'n Hook Sunday
AM
Tony Thacker Director
Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, Tom Compton President,
CEO - NHRA, Tom McKernan CEO - Automobile Club of Southern
California,Steve Gibbs Retired, Greg Sharp Curator
Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum.
Dave Mandella and family were
on hand with his restored Shirley championship car from 1977.
Kenny Youngblood who had the
input shaft disengage for the push start made up for it on Sunday.
Robin and Orah Mae Millar chose
the Gassers Geezers for their first annual DragCARTOONS award.
Safety Safari's Don Irvin
and the legendary Red Greth.
Part of the Speed Sport
bunch - Bill Turney, Greth and Rick Williamson.
Peter Broadribb heading back
to the pits in his Moody's Garage D/G which is the only door
car in the static Cacklefest. He was grandfathered in and rightfully
so.
Harry Hibler in the Waterman
& Hampshire heading back to the pits. Hibler and some other
cars that did the push start on Saturday came back to do the
static on Sunday.
Sonny Messner was another
double dipper.
The Addict failed to fire on
its push start so Dwight Salisbury joined the static folks on
Sunday.
Here are some random shots
from over the weekend. Some have IDs, some don't and some are
obvious.
In the memory of "Pit Crew
Pete" Starrett the Western Eng. (aka Little Fuller) was
on display.
Bill Pitts with Charles
Millikin showing off his wonderful collection of photos.
Max Romero, "Flathead
John" Bradley and Bob Brown.
Ross Preen, Pop Bradford
and Jesse Shrank
After some medical problems,
it was great to see LV out and looking well here with Dave West.
Some major history here ... Ray
Lake, Danny Dan Broussard and Dode Martin.
In the Frantic 4 pit area Norman
and the gang were doing guest fire-ups all weekend.


It was really great to see Art
Chrisman out and looking like his old self. Art, along with his
family, won the Justice Bros. Spotlight Award and shared their
booth were Chrisman was on hand to sign his book.
Dave & Charlie West
with Tim Beebe
Paula Roth in the Banshee.
The most unique hauler
award went to Rich Roberts.
Rick MacDonald was overseeing
several cacklecars over the weekend caught a well deserved nap.
Roo Man
Tom Jobe and Ross Preen
Vance & Wilma Hunt
Kenny Youngblood and
The Greek
Folks with Tarzan were with the
Hundley and Boggs Cacklefest AA/FD car. Next to Tarzan is original
owner Joe Boggs, then current owner Marty Harrison, and to far
right is builder and driver J. Ed Horton. They brought the car
all the way from Greenville, South Carolina.
Roland Kleinsorge, Ronnie Hampshire,
Tommy Allen, No ID, No ID and Sam Chastain.
Kol and Ron Johnson
Cacklefest Central. Starting
this year the Cacklefest people had their own registration and
credentials booth.
Cynthia Carpenter, Gwen
McWilliams and Sharon Muravez kept things rolling.
If you get at chance in the future,
stop and visit the mobile NHRA Motorsports Museum rig.
Blake and John Bowser
Beverly Hillbillies go
drag racing?
Standard 1320 Group

Dan "Buzz" Broussard
with part of the Bob Creitz photo collection. "Spider"
Razon in the trailer and Louie Grignetti between them.
Thursday wrapped up with a surprise
birthday party for Gwen McWilliams staged by her bud, Pam Conrad
- setting her up here.
Everybody gathered behind
Ewald's pit.
Pot luck provided a lot
of great Mexican food.
Come to find out there were several
October birthdays within the guests including Don Ewald and Cynthia
Carpenter.
Jeep Hampshire and Jack
Beckman
Norm Weekly and Roger
Lee
David Pace, Bob Gibson
and Sam Chastain
Jim Rodarmel, Mike McCarthy
and Tom Jobe
The long distance award went
to Ross Preen and family who loaded the restored "Banshee"
AA/FD onto a ship in Australia, packed their bags, got on a jet
and made a dream come true.
Brent Seaman, Mike Broome
and Jerry Ruth
Don Irvin, Monique Valadez
and Graciela Sanchez.
George "Stoneage
Man" Hutcheson
Geri Tarvin and Paula
Roth
Gary "Mr. C" Cochran
got his start in this injected roadster in 1964. It was sold
when he moved up to Top Gas and after all these years was found
a few months ago. These guys plan to completely restore it in
time for the 2012 CHRR.
WDIFL photog Ken Hughes
tries out the seat in Swamp Rat III.
Just some of the folks
from the NHRA Museum that made this happen.
Throughout the
weekend this prominent tribute to the late, great Bakersfield
Top Fuel team of James Warren, Roger Coburn and Marvin Miller
could be seen by all next to the tower.

The backdrop
banner was the work of J.R. Martinez and was open for bids, the
proceeds going to the Kern Co. Alzheimers Association.
The banner was bought for $3,200 by Mike Aaby, owner of the restored
W-C-M front engine car featured in the exhibit.
As Grand Marshall and Cacklefest
overseer, Steve "Hook" Gibbs had a full plate all weekend
but come Sunday he took the time to have some fun for himself.
As a special
surprise, John Ewald had the cowl of his Mastercar top fuel dragster
wrapped to honor Gibbs. The original plan was to have him do
the Cacklefest push start Saturday night but his cat herding
responsibilities trumped that idea. Then he was going to push
down to start the Sunday program, but that fell to tradition
when the Speed Sport roadster fired the opening salvo. However,
Sunday afternoon had more than few windows of opportunity and
that's when Steve took the leap into his firesuit.
Leaving
the staging lanes it was off to the top end.
This
says it all....
At the spot where
he sent the cackelcars down the night before, Ewald and crew
got Hook all strapped in.
Just
like an old pro, Steve hit the mag switch and big orange came
to life.
Right to the
end Gibbs went old school. He has seen drivers head back to the
pits sitting on the roll bar a thousand time, so why not put
the icing on his ride by following suit.
Steve
and John Ewald
How about the
queen of funny cars in at Top Fuel dragster? On Sunday "Jungle
Pam" Hardy chimed into the Ewald Bros. BankAmericar and
got her first fire up in a long car. In a word, she LOVED it.
Untitled Document
For those who missed this,
there will be another one. Mark your calendars for the 21st NHRA
California Hot Rod Reunion on Oct. 19-21, 2012.
 GET YOURS NOW --- FREE SHIPPING
Auto
Club Famoso Raceway 2012 March Meet Tickets On-Sale Now
2012 Expanded
to 4 Full Days of Racing!
Auto Club
Famoso Raceway in Partnership with TheFOAT.com - Bakersfield
internet site will handle all online ticket pre-sales for the
2012 March Meet.
BAKERSFIELD,
Calif. (Oct. 20, 2011) Fans looking to buy online tickets
for the 2012 March Meet (Mar. 1-4), can do so at www.TheFOAT.com. According to Blake
Bowser, vice president and general manager of the Kern County
Racing Association, operators of Auto Club Famoso and producers
of the March Meet, the racetrack has partnered with the motor-themed
internet and social web site to sell 2012 March Meet Tickets
on-line.
We used
the TheFOAT.com for last years March Meet and they did
a great job, said Bowser. They can handle the volume
of ticket sales quickly and efficiently and give the fans an
opportunity to get event tickets without waiting at the gate.
Tickets can still be purchased at the gate during the event,
but race fans can get their tickets early and avoid purchase
lines at the gate. Besides handling online tickets for
Auto Club Famoso, The FOAT which stands for The
Fastest of All Time is an internet-based motor
community site, according to Mike Hashim, the companys
president. The FOAT connects motor enthusiasts with one
another and businesses using a unique social commerce platform.
We're honored to be aligned with Blake and the iconic Auto Club
Famoso Raceway. We are excited to start helping them sell tickets
for the 2012 March Meet. Now that the race has been
expanded to four days, there are several affordable ticket options
available to fans and their families, said Blake Bowser,
vice president and general manager of the Kern County Racing
Association, operators of Auto Club Famoso and producers of the
March Meet, now in its 54th year.
According to
Bowser, race fans can purchase a Super 4-Day Event Pass
for $100 online. There are also specially priced passes for three
days (Friday, Saturday and Sunday: $75) and two days (Saturday
and Sunday:
$55).
Box office tickets
for the event will go on sale March 1 at the track. Ticket prices
are $25 for Thurs., Mar. 1; $25 for Fri., Mar. 2; $30 for Sat.,
Mar. 3; and $30 for Sun., Mar. 4. Tickets for children ages 6-12
are $10 each day and kids 5 and under get in free when accompanied
by an adult with paid admission.
Other prices
announced include, camping: $105 for all four day; VIP parking:
$50 (good for the entire event); and VIP four-day Quarter Mile
Courtyard seating: adults $165, children $105 (space is limited).
Bowser said March
Meet tickets are on line now. Race information, including down-loadable
forms for race entries, car show registration and camping will
be posted soon at www.autoclubfamosoraceway.com and the Auto
Club Famoso
Facebook page
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
Auto
Club Famoso Raceway

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