By Ken Wagner
October 19, 2009

This was a weekend of many things for this wag as I had planned to take my grandsons to the Nostalgia Drags at Bakersfield like last year. It seemed as though they had other things to do, so I was up early and on my way solo by 8 AM. There must have been a lot of rain in the area because on arrival, some of the parking places were way wet and too muddy to even bother without a 4 wheel drive vehicle. My Vette didn’t even allow me to take one of the muddy paths that had some promise of a space, but I eventually found a slot, got parked and and began the long walk to the entry ticket counter.

For my pics of Bakersfield Click Here. For my pics from Victorville Click here. For Walt Stevens induction and history Click here.For Doug Allen's best Click here.

Drag races always alert you by the loud noise when you get near the dragstrip, and this place is no different. Once inside the area, you walk right behind the starting line where cars get pushed up the many chutes until they get to the that point where they fire and run. I arrived when some of the supercharged smaller class cars were going off so I watched some of the hot cars that appeared all colorful and ready.

I spent the next two hours walking around and taking a lot if pics. The old fueler dragsters and fuel altered always get my attention, but it’s still hot to me as my brain was dazzled like normal taking in this scene of speed and beauty form the past. I just walked up when one of the hemi fuel altereds fired up and with its weed blower style down headers, he cleared a big path every time he rapped the motor. With the sweet, sweet sounds of power, and a little nitro in the air, what could be more fun today? I could tell many interested observers had never been this close to this much horsepower!

I didn’t know at the time, but I somewhere early in my walk, my camera got set wrong, so I ended up with less than 20% usable stuff of the over 800 photos I shot, much to my dismay. I got some neat stuff only to see it was bad when I got home. Nevertheless, I was on my way around oblivious to this malady, just shooting away. It made me remember an old friend of mine in high school who used to get down on the football field to take pics of the cheerleaders with no film in the camera, but he knew better, just wanted to be closer to the action. When the fuel cars changed to hot rods and restored antiques along the way, I still found plenty to take shots of. I could hear the cars on the strip going faster as I wandered, but I wanted to record before I watched the racing. I worked my way into the pit area where the dragsters and funny cars were everywhere. I just methodically walked aorund taking a lot of lame pics, bt enjoyed the views.

Many famous cars were getting worked on while I wandered past. I found the High Speed pit area where Walt Stevens hangs out, and found out he was with the car in the chutes as they were about to make a qualifying run. I headed back to the grandstand area and noticed right away, there were no seats for me to sit in, at least none I was willing to climb and find, so I found a narrow slot on the fence and watched as the top fuelers were making their runs. The grandstands were packed! It was pretty hot, but I had my hat on and arms covered, so I was OK at this point. When the last pair came up, the High Speed entry made their pass at 5.97 something and were seeded about 4th of the 20 cars in house. Pretty good for the defending champion team. They were runner-up on Sunday when they ran a stron 5.90 but the winner went his quickest ever at 5.77.

As I walked away from the fence, I felt a familiar feeling that happens occasionally at Perris when I get too hot and haven’t had my Gatorade. Yes, I needed my fix and so wobbled over to a seat and sat down. I did have a bottle of what was now lukewarm water with me so I chugged that and continued to relax and cool down a bit. I waited what I thought was an appropriate time and stood up to go, but set aback down with the dizzy’s, I was still overheated. In time I was ready for a rerun when Alan Ballard spotted me and came over to chat. He told of his Modified car he built and was running that he blew the motor in recently, so was a little stumped for a ride. I thought he did god in the Stansberry ride, but since that didn’t work out, he had no ride and used the Modified to get his racing fix. After he wandered away, I took off to find my electrolytes. As I found the entry to the sales area, I saw someone drinking a Gatorade. He showed me a dispensing machine that I would have walked right by because I thought it was all soda’s and I scored, and immediately began feeling better. I didn’t have my mule and cooler nearby, but I should have known better. Next time.

Now I went back to see Walt Stevens, who had been inducted in the NHRA Drag Racing Hall of Fame the night before, that I planned to go to, but unfortunately missed my travel window and didn't make it. He was off running around, so I hung a bit until I knew I needed to get cooled off again. I headed to the car and met one Rick Johnson along the way in the fire up chutes. He was helping the famous Jerry Hudson back in the day and we found we had a lot in common. We talked Lions Drag strip, Ascot and many more places we both had been too. Anyway I made the trek to my car and as soon as I got in and turned on the air, drank a Gatorade, and ate a cool ham sandwich I brought, I was feeling a lot better, but I figured I had enough walking and decided to drive home. I knew I was going to miss the cacklefest, but thought next year I’ll have a cart and a cooler and be a little more prepared for the long walking ordeal.

As I drove towards Bakersfield, the thought struck me, I had time to stop at Victorville, just a little out of the way, on my way home. So I steamed that direction and landed in front of the fairgrounds hopeing I hadn’t missed the main. I was spied by several and realized they were not running the final yet. I got up in the grandstand and relaxed as the “meet and Greet” portion of the night was happening. This is where the race cars come from the pits to park in front of the grandstands, and they open the gates and let em’ in to visit with their favorites. A neat deal! I visited with several who noticed the polka dot hat and before long the race was going.

Lovely Heidi Tresler took the lead of the 30 lap race and pulled away as Seth Wilson was trying to come from 4th to get to her. Behind them the Williams Brothers Cody and Austin began their search for the front. Austin passed Cody and headed by Seth into 2nd, but somehow backed it into the turn one wall and stopped. He climbed out and checked over the car, then got back in and roared back up to 6th at the end.

Meanwhile, rookie Johnny McCall, driving a John Aden backup car was pressing to the front and passed the lady for the lead about halfway into the race. Behind him came Cody and he pressed for the lead, but in the end he finished 3rd behind Seth and ahead of Aden. Ronnie Gardner came from the back to get 5th as the race was fun to watch.

The action was not over as the winner Johnny McCall was pulling to a stop just off the track in front of the grandstands when I noticed two things. The car was on fire and he was desperately trying to get out of it. He kept rising up a few inches, but couldn’t make it as several officials watched him for seconds too long. Finally one came over and tried to help, but I am sure he was getting burned himself and then the fire guys showed up with extinguishers and put out the fire. Unfortunately, he had 2nd and 3rd degree burns and was shuttled off to a nearby burn center. It was one of those scary deals, but it finally got handled. It was slow reaction by the fire guys, but I don’t know where they were parked, so they may have been on their way. It just points out what all tracks have learned and fire is nothing to fool with. Or they should have water extinguishers in every corner at least.

I chose not to wear my worn out body any more this day by going to the pits, and instead hit the road for home, arriving at nearly midnight with many memories from the day.

See ya at the Trophy Cup in Tulare this week!