California Hot Rod Reunion - Friday from Bakersfield

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10th ANNUAL NHRA CALIFORNIA HOT ROD REUNION PRESENTED BY THE AUTOMOBLIE
CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
FAMOSO RACEWAY
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2001

OWENS UNHURT AFTER HORRIFIC CRASH

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Don Owens of Boise, Idaho, walked away from his '41
Willys A/Gas Coupe after an incredible crash on opening day of qualifying
at the 10 Annual NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion presented by the
Automobile Club of Southern California. 
        Owens looked fine as he lined up at the famed Famoso Raceway
startingline but got out of the grove about the 1000 foot mark and flipped
several times before coming to a stop in the dirt field on the opposite
side of the guardwall. Owens was checked out by medical staff on site and
released.
        In other qualifying action, Bill Wayne of Bullhead City, Ariz., was
the top qualifier in the Junior Fuel class with a pass of 7.324 seconds at
183.07 mph. Mendy Fry qualified in the fourth spot at 7.366, 180.94 mph.
Fry is one of four females running in the class this weekend with Kelly
Craig sitting in the number seven spot while Kirstin Neumann is thirteenth.
Stacy Paul did not make a run in the first qualifying session.
        Don Taros took the early lead in Nostalgia Eliminator with a pass
of 7.608 at 164.83 mph while Craig Gustafson is number one in A/FX with a
9.581 at 144.27
        If anything looks to top the excitement that Owens created today it
will be the return of Cacklefest 2001, which is scheduled for the end of
Saturday's action. Cacklefest will recreate the 1960's with nearly 25 front
engine Top Fuel dragsters being pushed started and lined up on the
startingline all at one time. Headlining the group is "Big Daddy"  Don
Garlits and his "Swamp Rat VI" and Chris "the Golden Greek" Karamesines in
his "Hustler 1".
Qualifying continues on Saturday at 8:30 a.m.  Gates at Famoso Raceway open
at 7 a.m. For more information call the track, (661) 399-2210.

        The following are Friday's qualifying results from the 10 Annual
NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion presented by the Automobile Club of
Southern California. 

JUNIOR FUEL
1. Bill Wayne, BullHead City, Ariz., 7.324 seconds, 183.07
2. 2. Wayne Ramay, Simi Valley, Calif., 7.336, 181.26
3. Todd Movius, Long Beach, Calif., 7.344, 181.74
4. Mendy Fry, Chula Vista, Calif., 7.366, 180.94
5. Mike Chrisman, Lake Forest, Calif., 7.482, 179.35
6. Bob Hammer, Oxnard, Calif., 7.511, 177.40
7. Kelly Craig, Cambell, Calif., 7.521, 173.91
8. Brett Murphy, Hillsborough, Calif., 7.597, 176.92
9. Alan Hull, Arcadia, Calif., 7.673, 172.57
10. Adam Yashuk, Brentwood, Calif., 7.710, 175.02
11. Dan Fenton San Lorenzo, Calif., 7.778, 170.294
12. Mark Maxwell, Salinas, Calif., 7.815, 170.26
13. Kristin Neuman, Ventura, Calif., 8.011, 167.03
14. Mike Estrada, Templeton, Calif., 8.155, 166.08
15. Jim Moore, Watsonville, Calif., 8.174, 163.75
16. Rob Morris, Santa Rosa, Calif., 8.221, 164.14

NOSTALGIA ELIMINATOR
1. Don Toros, San Pedro, Calif., 7.608, 164.83
2. Mike Kirby, Thousand Oaks, Calif., 7.639, 165.83
3. Mick Arias, Gardena, Calif., 7.666, 178.39
4. Tony Lemmon, Gardon Grove, Calif., 7.671, 176.12
5. Ed Schwanz, West Covina, Calif., 7.687, 148.44
6. Mike Cross, Culver City, Calif., 7.712, 185.22
7. Jerry Beach, Woodland Hills, 7.835, 167.75
8. Mike Smith, San Diego, Calif., 7.853, 164.56
9. Bobby Runyon, Jean, Nev., 7.860, 183.74
10. Brendan Murry, San Jose, Calif., 7.920, 179.46
11. Woody Duke Jr., Pacific Palisades, Calif., 7.926, 163.93
12. Dave Sammons, Carlsbad, Calif., 7.964, 176.60
13. Dewayne Sanders, Albany, Ore., 8.112, 168.88
14. Sidney Payne, Bakersfield, Calif., 8.178, 175.06
15. Rick Rogers, San Diego, Calif., 8.344, 142.72
16. Gregg Scott, El Cajon, Calif., 8.511, 172.28

A/FX
1. Craig Gustafson, Encinitas, Calif., 9.581, 144.27
2. R.L. Walker, Riverside, Calif., 9.905, 140.16
3. Bill Thatcher, Glendora, Calif., 10.035, 134.42
4. Phil Featherston, Stockton, Calif., 10,.179, 133.47
5. Roger Vogt, Visalia, Calif., 10.483, 129.27
6. Steve Whitemore, Dixon, Calif., 10.557, 128.86
7. Jess Tyree, Canyon Lake, Calif., 10.708, 128.27
8. Mike Jackson, Montclair, Calif., 10.803, 131.65