CHRR from Bakersfield

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10th ANNUAL NHRA CALIFORNIA HOT ROD REUNION PRESENTED BY THE AUTOMOBLIE
CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
FAMOSO RACEWAY
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2001

CACKLEFEST 2001 HIGHLIGHTS HOT ROD REUNION

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Final qualifying concluded today at the 10th Annual
California Hot Rod Reunion presented by the Automobile Club of Southern
California with San Jose resident Gerry Steiner taking the top spot in Top
Fuel and Mike Kirby doing the same in Nostalgia Eliminator. 
        But when the racing stopped the action kicked into high gear with
Cacklefest 2001. Started at last year's Hot Rod Reunion, Cacklefest turns
the clocks back to the early days of drag racing when the cars were push
started prior to making their runs. Twenty-seven nostalgia dragsters
roadsters and coupes did just that today at Famoso Raceway.
        Included in the activities were runs by the famed coupes "Pure
Heaven" and Pure Hell" along with the Wild Winged Express driven by Mike
Boyd. Highlighting Cacklefest 2001 and the final two cars of the day were
Art Chrisman and "Big Daddy" Don Garlits in his "Swamp Rat VI". VP Racing
Fuels, the Official Fuel of the National Hot Rod Association, donated the
nitromethane and commemorative fuel jugs for all the participants.
        Steiner's pass of 5.972 seconds at 247.32 mph was the sole sub-six
second run as L. Jennings of Chino, Calif., clocked in at 6.112 seconds,
good enough for the number two spot in Top Fuel. Bill Wayne leads the
Junior Fuel class with a 7.324 second run at 183.07 mph while Mike Kirby is
on top in Nostalgia Eliminator with a 7.600 at 177.06 in his '70 Chevy.
        Other top qualifiers are Steve Woods in Pro Supercharged at 6.840,
201.11 mph; Ron Attebury of San Jose, Calif., in A-Fuel with a 6.619,
214.69; Steve Castelli and his '41 Willys in A-Gas at 7.624, 175.47 and
R.L. Walker in A/FX who ran a 9.679, 141.39.
        In a startingline ceremony, Wally and Barbara Parks were honored as
the event Grand Marshals. Parks founded the National Hot Rod Association in
1951 as the organization is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year.
Other event honorees included George Bolthoff, Roy Fjastad, Pat Foster,
Chuck Griffith, and Gene Winfield. Each on the honorees received NHRA
"Wally" trophies and portraits of themselves created by artist Cindy Gibbs.
        Eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday with gates opening
at 8 a.m.

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

TOP FUEL
1. Gerry Steiner, San Jose, Calif., 5.972 seconds, 247.32 miles per hour
2. L. Jennings, Chino, Calif., 6.112, 228.54
3. Jack Harris, Kaysville, Utah, 6.128, 244.43
4. Howard Haight, Upland, Calif., 6.140, 204.68
5. Jason Howell, Tacoma, Wash., 6.143, 237.59
6. Glenn Hutchinson, Citrus Heights, Calif., 6.147, 230.53
7. Bill Dunlap, Capitola, Calif., 6.167, 220.85 
8. Kirk Kunns, Yorba Linda, Calif., 6.203, 229.76

A-FUEL
1. Ron Attebury, San Jose, Calif., 6.619, 214.69
2. Greg Uffens, Tracy, Calif., 6.773, 204.12
3. Rick White, San Diego, Calif., 6.784, 193.46
4. Sean Bellemeur, La Canada, Calif., 6.794, 207.70
5. Jim Paul, Auburn, Calif., 6.836, 197.93
6. Mark Woods, Kingsburg, Calif., 6.931, 176.33
7. Kin Bates, Anderson, Calif., 6.990, 197.84
8. Tom Taros, San Pedro, Calif., 7.023, 184.53

PRO SUPERCHARGED
1. Steve Woods, San Leandro, Calif., 6.840, 201.11
2. Ron Nunes, Danville, Calif., 6.951, 200.84
3. Steve Wood, Merced, Calif., 7.113, 187.18
4. Dale Boomgarden, Gilroy, Calif., 7.132, 196.76
5. Mike Leonard, Pleasanton, Calif., 7.144, 192.38
6. Gary Beinero, Merced, Calif., 7.209, 191.61
7. Chris Abbey, Clovis, Calif., 7.350, 196.97
8. Tim Burns, San Jose, Calif., 7.633, 179.49

JUNIOR FUEL
1. Bill Wayne, BullHead City, Ariz., 7.324 seconds, 183.07
2. Wayne Ramay, Simi Valley, Calif., 7.327, 182.77
3. Todd Movius, Long Beach, Calif., 7.329, 185.18
4. Mendy Fry, Chula Vista, Calif., 7.366, 180.94
5. Stacy Paul, Auburn, Calif., 7.395, 178.28
6. Mike Chrisman, Lake Forest, Calif., 7.460, 179.29
7. Bob Hammer, Oxnard, Calif., 7.482, 178.32
8. Kelly Craig, Cambell, Calif., 7.488, 173.67
9. Alan Hull, Arcadia, Calif., 7.574, 176.81
10. Brett Murphy, Hillsborough, Calif., 7.597, 176.92
11. Adam Yashuk, Brentwood, Calif., 7.685, 174.55
12. Dan Fenton San Lorenzo, Calif., 7.745, 174.55
13. Mark Maxwell, Salinas, Calif., 7.815, 170.26
14. Kristin Neuman, Ventura, Calif., 8.011, 167.03
15. Brad Woodard, Oceanside, Calif., 8.083, 165.80
16. Rob Morris, Santa Rosa, Calif., 8.083, 165.80

NOSTALGIA ELIMINATOR
1. Mike Kirby, Thousand Oaks, Calif., 7.600, 177.06
2. Don Toros, San Pedro, Calif., 7.608, 164.83
3. Scott Christlieb, Leona, Valley, Calif., 7.652, 167.62
4. Larry Dixon, Paso Robles, Calif., 7.665, 179.06
5. Nick Arias, Gardena, Calif., 7.666, 178.39
6. Tony Lemmon, Gardon Grove, Calif., 7.671, 176.12
7. Gil Valencia, Tehachapi, Calif., 7.679, 174.14
8. Ed Schwanz, West Covina, Calif., 7.687, 148.44
9. Bobby Runyon, Jean, Nev., 7.696, 186.18
10. Mike Cross, Culver City, Calif., 7.712, 185.22
11. Mike Smith, San Diego, Calif., 7.800, 170.22
12. Jonny Cofer, Macdoel, Calif., 7.814, 170.64
13. Jerry Beach, Woodland Hills, 7.835, 167.75
14. Walt, Rhoades, West Covina, Calif., 7.846, 186.87
15. Rich Raymond, Knight Landing, Calif., 7.865, 177.02
16. Dewayne Sanders, Albany, Ore., 7.872, 153.06

A/FX
1. R.L. Walker, Riverside, Calif., 9.905, 140.16
2. Bill Thatcher, Glendora, Calif., 10.035, 134.42
3. Phil Featherston, Stockton, Calif., 10,.179, 133.47
4. Mike Furiani, San Dimas, Calif., 10.312, 132.66
5. Roger Vogt, Visalia, Calif., 10.483, 129.27
6. Steve Whitemore, Dixon, Calif., 10.557, 128.86
7. Mike Jackson, Montclair, Calif., 10.803, 131.65
8. Bob Shahan, Visalia, Calif., 10.708, 128.27

A/GAS ELIMINATOR
1. Steve Castelli, Windsor, Calif., 7.624, 175.47
2. John Overlouser, Selma, Calif., 7.629, 169.97
3. Don Chemello, Yucaipa, Calif., 7.735, 174.04
4. Mark Mahood, Anaheim, Calif., 7.786, 179.78
5. Ed Cooper, Yucca Valley, Calif., 7.853, 177.44
6. Butch Ranson, Reno, Nev., 8.011, 166.63
7. Tim Cruce, Ft. Worth, Texas, 8.609, 64.40
8. Bob Nevins, Tucson, Ariz., 9.099, 144.81