Words by Michael Hollander
Photos by Zak Hawthorne and Ron Lewis
10/9/04

On a clear, warm day at Famoso Raceway, Rick McGee won his first Top Fuel race as the 13th annual NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion came to a successful conclusion. Other winners included Jon Haire in Jr. Fuel A, Kin Bates in A/Fuel, Sean Renteria in A/Gas Eliminator, Mike Austin in A/Fuel Blown, Howard Anderson in AA/Gas, Kent Specht in Nostalgia Eliminator, Don Enriques in Jr. Fuel B and Joel Miner in AFX.

While racers took to the track, street rodders and hot rodders took to the swap meet and the vendor areas to snap up shirts, hats, parts and historical artifacts related to hot-rodding.

"We're happy to provide the chance for hot rodders to pass their passion on to the next generation," said Sam Jackson, Executive Director of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, which organizes the event. "By bringing fans together with their heroes, we bring the Museum to life for a new group of hot rodders." Those hot rodders took to the track over three days of racing, as always to determine who was quickest.

As the competition on the track heated up, legendary country music star Buck Owens, 75, made a rare public appearance. Owens, "The Baron of Bakersfield," whose sprawling ranch is near the track, spent time mingling with other racing fans and signing autographs. Asked why he came to the Reunion, the former "Hee-Haw" star said, "I love old cars and pretty women.

Rick McGee in the seat of the Tedford-McGee Donovan-powered AA/FD won the event with his 6.134/227.15 in the final over Sean Bellemeur. (Zak Hawthorne photo)

"The Reunion brings a lot of people here and sells a lot of rooms," he said. Talking of the economic impact of the Reunion on Kern County, Owens said, "The Reunion is a legend and this place (Famoso Raceway) is a legend. The Reunion means everything to Bakersfield, because Bakersfield is a fun town." Owens should know. He's the man who rescued the "Bakersfield" sign from near oblivion and placed it at the entrance to his own building complex. The Kern County Board of Supervisors declared Oct. 1-3 as "California Hot Rod Reunion Days" in the county. Virtually every hotel room in the county was occupied for the festivities.