(Photos by Charles Wickam) – The nostalgia drag racing world has developed some cool rituals and traditions over the years but in our eyes the coolest is clearly the famed Cacklefests that first took place at the California Hot Rod Reunion and now take place at nostalgia drag races big and small across the country. What started out as a one time deal at Bakersfield has spawned the restoration, recreation, or replication of some of the sport’s most famous chariots. At Bowling Green, close to 50 cars were involved from ancient top gas dragsters which have an awesome lumping sound all their own, through some early rear engine dragsters like the Terry Capp driven Wheeler Dealer from 1973. This is a gallery highlighting the beauty and fury of these cars. Some guys think that Cacklefests are lame and that these machines should be racing down the course. They don’t really get what it is about though. Largely, these cars have put in their time. This is about seeing history live. Triggering memories by seeing machines that normally sit at rest make the sights and sounds that have attracted so many to drag racing as fans. There’s a reason that lots of people get weepy during these things and it isn’t directly related to a snoot full of nitro fumes.

In short, these are the most beautiful time machines the world has ever known. Hit the link and see Charles’s awesome photos. We’re working on scratch and sniff versions.

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