The 2014 Bakersfield March Meet sure was an adventure and I’ll fill you in more on that in a different blog today. We had a great time at the event and of course thoroughly enjoyed bringing more than 50 hours of live streaming drag racing coverage to you and the 10s of thousands that tuned in to watch. It really is an honor to be there and provide a window into a place and a time many may ever have the chance to see in person. Quite frankly, one of the things I am proudest of regarding BangShift is the fact that people from all over the world who had never before seen the track stopped and checked in. Other than free beer, we’re not sure what’s better than that.
I saw every single car at the meet run at least once as I was either shooting photos on the side of the track or aiding in the video production up in our spacious scaffolding. Over the course of the four days I certainly developed my favorites and I went combing through our expansive photo galleries from the race to find good shots of them. The 15 cars below are in no particular order but they do represent my favorite iron from the 2014 Bakersfield March Meet. As you know, my tastes are wide ranging and this collection of cars certainly fits that description. I’m already counting down the days until the 2015 version of the race. Somehow they get better every year!
Click here to see all of our 2014 March Meet photos
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE MY TOP 15 CARS IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER!
This thing is spectacular. Clean as a whistle and just awesome in every way. The color leaps off the car and the finish quality is some of the best I have ever seen on an old Willys.
The Mike Sullivan AA/FA is classic and it made the final round against the Hix entry. Old school, it still is capable of running 6.20s and doing it at over 220mph. Small tire, no overhang, this is short wheelbase hellacious perfection.
This car was formerly campaigned by the famed inline engine racer Kay Sissel. Sporting a Kirby cylinder head, no wheelbase, and a propensity to launch sideways when the hammer comes down, it is fast as lightning and about as predictable. It’ll wipe the floor with V8 cars all day. We watched it happen.
This Opel Kadett has a V8 of unknown displacement and a stick in it. The thing would pull the tires multiple times per run. So good. So, so damn good.
Since I love early Vega funny car bodies and nostalgic style paint schemes, what is better than this? Not much. Stars, stripes, flames, and a character painted on the side? PERFECTION.
This big-tire, Mustang coupe was a great leaver and a strong runner. I love non-fastback Mustangs because no one gives them much credit.
This needs no explanation.
Frank Ousley’s new Crop Duster Monza had a rough debut. They blew the sucker up hard a couple of times and did not qualify. That being said, the car is absolutely awesome looking.
The last time I saw a LUV truck this clean….was never. I love this thing.
The Hall Bros. racing crew had the neatest looking Bantam altered in the joint because it sits right, the body is mounted right, and it has a blown hemi in it. The car went rounds, too.
Rough, rusty, ugly, nasty….all of the above and I don’t think I could want it more.
Just because this is a couple middle finger solute to convention and common sense. So good.
It is tough to have a stand out 1955 Chevy gasser anymore, so if you want to do it speak with this guy….he’s done it to perfection.
Tony Bartone’s dragster is exceptionally fast, mean, and wicked. It is also now a March Meet winner.
Do I really need to explain this? If I do, please leave all your belongings along with your BS/man card on the front desk as you exit.
doesn’t anyone but me like the ’59 Anglia?
….that’s not to say that I don’t disagree with any of your pics, Brian, especially that sweet Opel Kadet!
…… Jeeze ! Not a loser in the bunch ….. oh damn …. now you’ve got me going all nostalgia ……. crap … now I’ll be even more PO’d today for what drag racing has become …..
Oh for the good ole days …. when men were men … racing was racing [ and potentially life threatening * ] … somehow the women were more beautiful [ I’ll alway have a thing for the Hippie Chick thing ] … and damn if the kids weren’t a hell of a lot better behaved [ including moi ] as well
So I guess for todays post …. both Thanks …. and damn you anyway Mr Lohnes !!! 😉
* I’m a firm believer in Hemingway’s definition of ‘ sport ‘
🙂
Ha, you crack me up. From my reading of Hemingway his sport was wine and women. Not sure what he described it as.
“There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.” – Hemingway
Opal Kadet – My first car! I had that very year and model sans the killer chassis and motor combo – but I drag raced it in the 1/4 mile, factory 4 cyl 4 speed combo. (lots of blowby) – couldn’t keep oil in it but who cares? It ran ok and was a blast to drive back then) Memories… Thanks Brian. (love the Anglia too!)
Got to go with that Nash Metro Pro Mod/Top Sportsman. It was wrong in so many ways!
Great list Brian. I do love that Corvair.
Well played, but I would go with a 17 car field. Would have to include the the A Gas Henry J and the Orange 7/11 Hot Rod.
Brian, You have good taste. I really like the 55 with Buick trim down the side, sets the car off from your bread and butter 55 Gassers.
does anyone have any video footage of the crash with the nova in the first round of hot rod on sat. morning ? I really want to see it from outside the car!