Racing fans from around the world, including Australia, Germany and France, are gathering at Famoso Dragstrip for the California Hot Rod Reunion, a three-day event featuring multiple drag races and a weekend of loud, fast reunions.
Now in its 34th year, the California Hot Rod Reunion is billed as a three-day stretch of “non-stop action, non-stop racing and non-stop fun” at the Famoso Dragstrip.
Promoter Blake Bowser described the event as a chance for racers, fans and officials to reconnect and reflect.
“It’s just a big get-together of all legendary racers, and fans, and everybody involved, officials, and all that. Get together and just reminisce over what took place over the year and, obviously, remember those we’ve lost this year,” Bowser said.
The racing includes high speeds, particularly in the nitro classes. An Orange County couple is competing with Eily Stafford in Nitro Funny Car and James Day in Nitro Fuel Altered, a class that can be extremely dangerous.
“There really is only a select few of psychopaths that drive these cars and that’s what makes it fun. It’s a man’s ride, it’s tough. You never know what this thing is going to do. It’s going to go left, right, up, down, backwards. It might go over the guard rail and it’s all on me,” Day said.
Beyond the racing, organizers say the weekend also includes shopping, entertainment and time to visit with other fans and competitors.
“It’s three days of solid drag racing, shopping, entertainment, visiting, reminiscing, the whole thing. So, we’re going to be here all three days and looking forward to it,” Bowser said.