March Meet Reporter’s Scrapbook

Words and photos by Darr Hawthorne

Often at a big drag race like the March Meet, there are photos that tell a story on their own, some that are not directly related to the race itself.  We all get a chance to see friends and at the recent March Meet there were a lot of faces and people from the rich history of our sport. 

Often these kinds of photos are lost among the thousands that our DRO Photogs take and submit to the editors for consideration into our race reports, well here are a bunch of shots taken at the Patch, candid’s, posed, celebs and future celebs who took the time to attend a great drag race and party.

Click to enlarge » I’ve seen a lot of Grand Marshals for drag racing events, but co-Grand Marshal and three-time NHRA Top Fuel Champ Larry Dixon Jr. impressed me with his complete lack of attitude, showing his true love of the sport.  He showed up at dawn for an interview with KERO TV 23 reporter Elaina Rusk encouraging local viewers to get out to Famoso Raceway. 

Of the March Meet Dixon said, “Man, I am having a ball and I get to spend some time with my dad, like the way we used to do it.  This is so much fun.”  Dixon was everywhere at Famoso Raceway, signing autographs and posing for photos with his legendary dad and a great smile.

Mike Halstead also arrived before dawn to explain the meaning of the name of McCain’s “Nitro Angel” nitro funny car to the early morning TV audience, after a great article on the car that was published in the previous day’s Bakersfield Californian by Mike Griffith.

Click to enlarge » My son Zak and I spent most of Saturday and some of Sunday chasing the multiple Replay XD High Definition cameras we had borrowed from the company.  Our videographer Les Mayhew is still cutting all the footage together.

Unfortunately I managed to push the wrong combination of buttons on the tiny camera and shot a beautiful Hi-def sequence of stills of the High Speed Motorsports Top Fuel Dragster with Tom Shelar making final adjustments to the fuel injection system. 

The High Speed team made the competition debut of the new billet forged Donovan 417, developed and refined by Shelar along with Donovan engineering.  Based upon the improvements to the classic engine, it is hopeful that this version will sweep through the AA/FD ranks as the blocks roll off the newly programmed CNC machine at Donovan’s.

Click to enlarge » Another face that is getting familiar around Heritage-type nitro racing is the legendary Austin Coil who found his spot on the Famoso concrete guard wall at the water box for each session and into eliminations on Sunday.  When is someone going to take a chance on this talented drew chief to turn their AA/FC operation around?

Click to enlarge » Former teacher and current Big Show owner/driver Gary Densham seems to be having a great time racing with his wife, Joanne, and son Steven in the Heritage Series running their “Teacher’s Pet” Camaro.  He also splits the pit and transporter with Jason Rupert, our 2011 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series AA/FC Champion.