The party ended a little early when drizzle moved the racecars into their trailers and put the funny cars back on the flatbeds to head back to the racetrack.  (Darr Hawthorne photo)

March Meet, Wednesday, Feb. 29

Words by Darr Hawthorne
Photos by James Drew

Kern County, located in the heart of California’s Central Valley, is a growing community with a variety of recreational opportunities. For nostalgia racers, fans and spectators Auto Club Famoso Raceway is Mecca this time of year as the 54th edition of the legendary March Meet begins.

Before the official start, Wednesday, Feb. 29, was a day of Test-n-Tune for the entrants, and in the late afternoon the annual gathering at Chuy’s Broiler and The Road House Grill in town in Bakersfield at the NAPA March Meet kick-off party. 

On the concrete Famoso Raceway quarter mile 2010 March Meet Top Fuel Champion Adam Sorokin tested the retro-canopied Champion Speed Shot Top fuel dragster.