Author Archive: Darr Hawthorne
The 15th Ventura Nationals – Roadsters, Coupes, Bikes, Lead Sleds, Trucks & Low Riders On The Beach
(Photos by Darr Hawthorne) There are so many Labor Day traditions, some of them being a car shows and cruises. The tradition of the Ventura Nationals, held at Seaside Park on the beach in Ventura,...
Pro Stock’s Allen Johnson Calls It Quits After 2017 Season
(Photos Bob Wingfield, Jeff Burghardt, Mike Burghardt and Mopar Motorsports) One of the last remaining non-Chevrolet NHRA Pro Stock racers, Allen Johnson, has carried the Mopar flag for his entire...
Nitro Funny Car Gypsy Lays Down Odds For The 46th Pepsi Nightfire Nationals!
(Photos by Dyan Lover, Jeff Burghardt, Bob Snyder, Darr Hawthorne) In what is shaping up as an outstanding assembly of nitro racecars, the 46th Pepsi Nightfire Nationals will be a shootout for most...
Introducing Project 2 Timer; BANGshift Resurrection Altered Wheelbase Chevy II!
(Words by Darr Hawthorne – Photos by Zak Hawthorne, Nick Licata & Darr Hawthorne) With recycling in so many parts of our lives, it surely extends into classic cars and repurposing hot rods...
Bobby Cottrell And Bucky Austin Power Win UNFC Seattle Invitational!
(Photos by Dyan Lover, Frank L. Smith & Jim Doyle) It took a couple of record setting performances, but the Bucky Austin-Mike O’Brien “Northwest Hitter” Bardahl-backed Camaro driven by...
Danny Gerber’s Consistency Wins First Of Two UNFC Northwest Invitationals!
(Photos by Kim Fuller) This year, United Nitro Funny Cars has stepped-up the competition on the west coast by holding two Invitational drag races in the Pacific Northwest, one at Spokane County...
Jim Murphy Wins Top Fuel At NHRA Holley Hot Rod Reunion And Takes Points Lead!
(Photos by Bryan McTaggart – Words courtesy of NHRA Communications) Regional rain couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the 2017 NHRA Holley National Hot Rod Reunion at Beech Bend Raceway...
Crawling With Bugs – HOT VW’s At Irwindale Drag Day!
The yearly gathering of Volkswagens is a southern California tradition for VW Bug junkies and it’s been going on for decades, dating back to the long gone Orange County International Raceway way...
NAPA Auto Parts Ignitor Features Tough Nitro Funny Car Field And A First Timer
The oldest major event in the Pacific Northwest, the NAPA Auto Parts Ignitor Opener returns to Boise, Idaho this weekend, May 5-7. This year’s Ignitor commemorates 50 years of racing at Firebird...
Event Photos: NMCA WEST-West Coast Spring Nationals at Auto Club Dragway
(Words and Photos by Darr Hawthorne) The NMCA WEST kicked off their West Coast Spring Nationals over the weekend at Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, California. The pits were full with all kinds of...
Three-Time Top Fuel Champion Larry Dixon Returns To NHRA Competiton With IHRA Backing!
Two of drag racing’s marquee events will come together with one of the sport’s most decorated champions this weekend at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway Three-time NHRA world champion and IHRA...
IHRA Prez Mike Dunn Adds Three Nitro Drivers To New Professional Competition Advisory Board!
For 2017, the International Hot Rod Association has morphed into a Sportsman racing series, shelving their Nitro Funny Car, Nitro Harley, Mountain Motored Pro Stock and Jet show for now. The vacuum...
Strong 8-Car Field Of Top Fuel Dragsters Vie For Good Vibrations March Meet Title!
(Words by All American Fuel Dragsters – Photos by Chris & Tera Graves and Darr Hawthorne) Mendy Fry and High Speed Motorsports Run Career Best Quickest Elapsed Times in Top Fuel Victory....
