Words by Darr Hawthorne
Photos by Mike & Jeff Burghardt and Rob Gibson
The final of two Good Vibrations Saturday Night Nitro events finished over the weekend at Auto Club Famoso Raceway with over two-dozen nitro cars in the pits for Fan Appreciation Night.
The single day event has become a favorite for fans and racers; reminiscent of the local nitro shows from decades ago with sixteen California-based nitro funny cars attempting to qualify for the eight-car, Chicago-style shootout.
Leading the funny cars was recent Salt Lake Heritage Series winner Richard Townsend in his “Nitrohaulic” ‘69 Camaro running 5.807 elapsed time at 248.71 mph, tuned by Kevin Pointer (above).
Four previous Saturday Night Nitro winners followed him in qualifying; Dan Horan’s “Patriot” Mustang 5.824 at 246.89 tuned by John Stewart sat second (above), Mendy Fry drove the “Darkside” ‘79 Challenger into third with a 5.909 and Cory Lee, in the Ronnie Swearingen tuned “California Hustler” ‘77 Firebird, took the fourth slot with a 6.031 ET at 248.84 mph.
#3 Good Vibrations Saturday Night Nitro Qualifier Mendy Fry
The quickest eight funny cars then met for round two, where the quickest winning elapsed time of the second round takes the $3000 cash payout. In the quickest match of the evening, new “California Hustler” driver Cory Lee left first against #5 qualifier Alex Miladinovich’s “Hot 4 Teacher” Mustang. Lee carded a 5.893 ET with top speed of the meet at 249.30 mph to the Mustang’s 5.988, his first time inn the 5.0’s.
Final Round of Nitro Funny Car from Bako Motorsports Hour
Veteran funny car shoe Lee said of the win, “I know how much effort this team has put in over this season and I am truly grateful to have been invited to drive the California Hustler for two races. With as many test runs we were able to complete in two days, this was an important win for us going into the California Hot Rod Reunion. I really want to dedicate my part of this win to the memory of my friend Roger Garten.”
In the remaining nitro classes, for the second time this summer Top Fueler Bill Dunlap zoomed ahead of Rick White the winner-take-all Mastercam Top Fuel Shootout in Bakersfield during Saturday Night Nitro.
By virtue of his .044-second reaction time in the “High Speed Motorsports” machine, Dunlap launched ahead of the always-powerful “Neal & White Racing” dragster and was not to be caught.
Top Fuel Final round video by Greg Reagan
“I didn’t see him until I pulled the parachutes and he blasted by me,” Dunlap said. “So I knew it had to be close.”
Dunlap’s 5.754-second elapsed time with a top-end speed of 240.34 mph was inferior to the 5.734 that engine maestro Chuck Neal provided for his driver. Despite Dunlap’s holeshot, White never gave up, as evidenced by his 247.88 top end speed.
Adam Sorokin driving the beautiful Champion Speed Shop entry was in test mode for the upcoming 24th California Hot Rod Reunion.
In the 6.0-second index fuel altered category, James Generalao Jr. driving the “Impatient” ’23 Ford took home the cash with a solid 6.101 win over Jeff Utterback driving Big Ray Gandy’s “Black Sunshine” altered who ran 6.336 in a close race.
AA/Fuel Altered Final video by Greg Reagen
Jeff Utterback driving Big Ray Gandy’s “Black Sunshine” Fuel Altered
Shawn Van Horn driving the “Choo Choo Mama” AA/Fuel Altered
Nitro Harleys also raced at Saturday Night Nitro.
Don Hudson’s new Firebird entry ran a best of 6.298 elapsed time at 229.55 mph in the competition debut, getting ready for the Reunion.
Rian Konno drove the “Kazanjian Lemon & Konno” Nitro Funny Car, but missed the eight car field with his 6.519 elapsed time during the single-shot qualifier.
John Weaver’s “Dream Weaver” qualified eighth for the tough eight car field with a 6.300 elapsed time.
Past winner James Day drove Gary Turner’s “Pedaler”, missing the quick eight field.
Pete Peterson’s 6.050 elapsed time in the Van Gundy & Clark “Quarter Pounder” Monza qualified sixth with his 6.050/231.71 mph pass.
#5 qualifier Alex Miladinovich’s “Hot 4 Teacher” Mustang carded his first 5.0 second pass with a 5.988 in his match with event winner Cory Lee.
