Nitro Reigns Supreme At Famoso Reunion

The 33rd edition of the California Hot Rod Reunion, presented by Good Vibrations Motorsports, put an important emphasis on the word “reunion,” as it reunited the NHRA Heritage Series racing event with the Nitro Revival cackle car contingent at the historic Famoso Dragstrip north of Bakersfield.

First envisioned in 1992 by then-NHRA VP Steve Gibbs, the CHRR was created as an event where veteran racers could get together—eventually earning the nickname “A Gathering of Geezers.”

In 2000, the CHRR was highlighted by nine vintage fuel cars being push-started in the traditional manner and congregating on the track to the immense pleasure of the spectators. The term “Cacklefest” was coined by Greg Sharp, then the curator of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum (which is the event’s beneficiary). The ensuing popularity of “cackling” led to many old race cars being rescued from oblivion and restored to their former glory.

However, in 2016, NHRA’s in-house legal counsel deemed the cackle activities dangerous and threw the proverbial “wet blanket” on the endeavor. A frustrated Gibbs subsequently resigned from NHRA and, in 2017, with the help of the late Ron Johnson, staged the inaugural “Nitro Revival” event at Barona Drag Strip. After several years, it moved to Irwindale Speedway and grew annually, but the abrupt closure of the track last year created the need for Plan B. Luckily for drag racers and fans, Famoso’s Blake Bowser, Steve Gibbs, and his daughter Cindy—the spark plug of the Revival—and NHRA brought all the elements back together. All is now well in the vintage racing world. Incidentally, the CHRR serves as a major fundraiser for the NHRA Wally Parks Motorsports Museum.

Racing, of course, is an important component of the CHRR and serves as the culmination of the 2025 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series. There were 16 categories contested, ranging from Top Fuel and Nitro Funny Car through Gasser classes.

Many of drag racing’s legends, like “TV Tommy” Ivo, Don “The Snake” Prudhomme, Ed “The Ace” McCulloch, Herm Petersen, Carl Olson, and Gary Beck, along with dozens more, were on hand for Saturday’s All-Star Autograph Session.

Nearly 60 cars participated in this year’s Cacklefest, including the famed Kent Fuller-built “MagiCar,” restored and campaigned by Bill Pitts, who is credited with spearheading the movement in the early 1990s. Many cars came from various corners of the U.S., with the unofficial Long Distance award going to Greg Barta from Minnesota. He brought two cars to Famoso: the legendary “Chizler” of Chris Karamesines and the gorgeous full-bodied fueler crafted for Tom Hoover by Tom Hanna. Jack Beckman cackled “The Greek’s” car, and Bob Muravez (aka Floyd Lippencotte Jr.) did the honors in the late Tom Hoover’s entry.

The last car to push-start was Don Garlits’ early “Swamp Rat,” which was preceded by the Bakersfield fan-favorite Warren-Coburn-Miller “Ridge Route Terrors” AA/FD and the MagiCar.

Pitts received a special Nitro Revival award for all he’s done to promote the resurrection of vintage race cars. Other honorees included Pat Dixon, Greg Sharp, Mark and Brad Yuill, Bobby McLennan, the Toco & Garten team, and “Magneto Magician” Tom Cirello.

Sunday’s Eliminations saw veteran Pete Kaiser defeat Frank McBee Jr. with a 5.720 at 259.44 mph to a 5.81 at 251.51 mph. In the semi-finals, McBee scored a holeshot victory over defending NHRA Heritage Series Top Fuel champion Tyler Hilton, and Kaiser topped Bryan Hall, 5.67 to 5.77.

Unquestionably, the big news in the Nostalgia Funny Car category was Jon Capps, brother of “Big Show” driver Ron Capps. He ran 5.48 at 261.62 mph in his second-round win to become the first to eclipse the 5.50 barrier.

Shane Westerfield led qualifications with a stellar 5.51. The finals pitted Capps against Edmonton, Alberta, Canada’s Nathan Sitko, who was at the helm of the “Bubble Up”-themed car of Ron Hodgson, made popular by “240 Gordie” Bonin. Capps prevailed, 5.54 to 5.69.

The wild and woolly AA/Fuel Altereds were also part of the show, with cars limited to a 6.00-second elapsed time for the quarter-mile. The exciting final saw a pair of Arizona-based cars battle it out, with Greg Leahy using a holeshot to edge Vince Karstetter, 6.06 to 6.04.

Sean Bellemeur stepped out of the cockpit of his normal ride, the awesome Bartone Brothers TA/FC, and won A/Fuel with a 6.01 to down veteran Wayne Ramey’s 6.14. Jr. Fuel saw Alan Hull defeat Matthew Baldonado, 7.01 to 7.11.

Also contributing to the crowd’s enjoyment was the CIFC Funny Car contingent, with Tony Trimp’s Mustang downing Jim Maher in the final. Kudos go to Maher’s Good Vibrations Motorsports for its support of the event.

Other Eliminator category winners were Trimp in 7.0 Pro, Ray Padgett in A/Gas, Chris Tourek in B/Gas, Beau Dyson in C/Gas, Don Schrokosch in D/Gas, Dave Isley, Tony Citro, and Ashlee Balistreri in Nostalgia I, II, and III, Dan Rowley in Hot Rod Eliminator, and Jeremy Smith in A/FX.