Author Archive: Darr Hawthorne
John Force Racing Is Back In SoCal And Holding A Wednesday Open House At The RaceStation!
(Phoenix testing photos by Gary Nastase Photography) Years ago, John Force Racing moved from their remodeled luxury car dealership in SoCal’s Yorba Linda heading for new headquarters with...
Irwindale Drags Open For Special Friday Night Thunder This Week!
We’ve got a hidden treasure here in Southern California, and it just keeps grinding out timeslips week after week, year after year. The Irwindale Event Center is a workhorse in SoCal, home to a...
Brighten Up Your Man Cave With One Of These ‘Legends Of Nitro’ 2017 Calendars!
Every year our friends at Stith Printing and Legends of Nitro compile some of the best photography available to create real, old school, wall-hanging printed calendars. In previous years, owner Kevin...
Heritage/Nostalgia Drag Racing – Lots To Do In 2017!
Three-time IHRA and three-time NHRA Heritage Series Champion Jason Rupert (Photos by Jeff Burghard, Mike Burghardt & Darr Hawthorne -Words by Darr Hawthorne) 2017 is transitional year for...
Top Fuel Pilot, Nostalgia Pioneer Dan Horan Sr. Passes Away
(Photos by Tim Marshall, Keith Burgan, John Ewald and Jeff Burghardt – Words by Darr Hawthorne) Dan Horan Sr. has passed away, he was a cool guy who was a diehard dragster racer...
More Action! Opening The Archives Of Street Car SuperNationals Past!
(Photos by James Drew, Tim Marshall and Darr Hawthorne – Words by Darr Hawthorne) The Street Car Supernationals hit its twelfth year at the Strip at Las Vegas; it wasn’t possible for me to...
Finally A Champion; Ron Capps Is Your 2016 Funny Car Champ!
Ron Capps and the NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team, led by crew chief Rahn Tobler, delivered Capps his first NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championship after being...
Capps Closes In On 1st NHRA Funny Car Championship at NHRA Finals!
Ron Capps‘ dream season, as he characterized it, has been dominant in 2016. Capps is looking at his best shot ever for the NHRA funny car championship after four #2 points finishes. His five wins...
Nitro Gypsy Lays Down Funny Car Odds At California Hot Rod Reunion XXV!
It’s a given that the California Hot Rod Reunion attracts some of the best racecars in North America every year and the 25th edition of this event (October 20 – 23) is no exception. The...
The 14th Ventura Nationals – Lead Sleds, Coupes, Sedans, Trucks & Bikes – No Trailers!
(Words and photos by Darr Hawthorne) The Ventura Nationals, across the street from the surfing beach at the Ventura Fairgrounds has grown. Since its inception, this event gave locals a place to...
Kris Krabill Scores 1st NHRA Heritage Championship As Jason Rupert 3-Petes IHRA Nitro Funny Car Title!
(Words by Darr Hawthorne – IHRA photos Courtesy of IHRA Communications) Kris Krabill and the Austin & O’Brien “Northwest Hitter” Firebird nitro funny car team wrapped up the 2016...
Gassers 3 – Over Eighty Straight Axle Coupes, Sedans And Madness Expected!
The Automobile Driving Museum is one of the lesser-known museums of Southern California, yet in the past few years has been adding more cars to the collection and hosting more visiting automobile and...
Protect The Harvest NHRA Northwest Nationals Nitro Winners Will Be Decided This Weekend At Brainerd!
(Photos by Mike and Jeff Burghardt) After record runs and multiple rain delays NHRA officials announced the Funny Car final round between Del Worsham and Ron Capps and the Top Fuel final round...
Two Extreme eBay Nitro Dragster Finds, You Pick ‘Em!
(Photo courtesy of Jon Asher – Words by Darr Hawthorne) – Recently a friend sent an eBay link to one of my all time favorite SoCal dragsters, the restoration of the legendary Warren...