The name of veteran drag racing photo-journalist Roger Gorringe will be known to most readers.  Roger makes frequent trips to the USA taking in as many of the major meetings as he can.  It is filthy work standing trackside with endless Top Fuel Dragsters and Funny Cars thundering past you but someone has to do it.  Fortunately Roger has very kindly offered to share his experiences with us in his illustrated meeting reports.


 

 

The twenty-second annual California Hot Rod Reunion again welcomed fans from all over the world and some racers from overseas to add to the zest.  At times you were left wondering if the Cacklefest machines on Saturday evening would ever stop appearing as there was supposedly around seventy - but who was counting?  The same could be said regarding the fabulous amount of Funny Cars as they kept coming around from the pairing lanes to attack the track, according to the qualifying sheets there were around thirty-three - heaven on earth!  It was just a shame there was only two qualifying sessions then a sixteen car eliminator.  A bigger and longer event must be on the cards for the future!

Adam Sorokin made it to his first CHRR Nostalgia Top Fuel event win when he ran a blower popping 5.912/216 defeating a centre line crossing Denver Schutz in the final.  Sorokin qualified number six then got by Jim Young who broke in round one, a 5.905/209 got the ticket.  Rick White was the next victim, oiling the top end en route as Sorokin ran a great 5.671/247 for round two and in the semi final Rick McGee was on the losing end as Sorokin’s 5.770/226 lit the win light to the losing engine damaging 7.100/121.


Adam Sorokin Nostalgia Top Fuel winner

Denver Schutz made it to the Top Fuel final against Sorokin and managed the runner-up place, a seriously crossed up top end charge took out the finish line blocks disqualifying his attempt.  Schutz had earlier run a 5.689/244 first round bye then another 5.6, an oiling 5.671/255 got shot of Bill Dunlap’s slowing 6.429/167 before catching and passing a better leave from Brett Harris whose 5.766/246 was chased down and beaten with a 5.696/246.


Denver Schutz Nostalgia Top Fuel runner-up

Jim Murphy managed to secure the NHRA Heritage Series Nostalgia Top Fuel Championship when he got through round one of eliminations. Murphy’s luck went away in round two when he went out to Brett Harris, 6.018/233 win to a losing 6.265/225.


Jim Murphy NHRA Heritage Series Nostalgia Top Fuel champion

John Hale ended up winning the Funny Car trophy in the Mike Burkhart ’69 Camaro SS.  There were thirty-three runners in this stunning class led by Canada’s Tim Nemeth on a 5.693/253 pass.  Hale managed to get his wins by ousting John Powers, 5.838/249win to a losing 5.907/241 in round one, then in two a 5.869/246 saw off a somewhat somnolent leave by last year’s winner, Mike Lewis whose 5.771/245 were to no avail.  Jason Rupert went out in the semis with a 5.691/257 as Hale won with a 5.702/249.  The final was a Championship decider, as Hale took out Dan Horan in a great race edging out Horan in both the race and championship, 5.685/251 win to a 5.744/256 lose.


John Hale Funny Car winner

Dan Horan running his stars and stripes wrapped ’65 Mustang got the event Funny Car runner up as he fought for both win and championship.  A first round win over Mark Sanders, then a 5.768/255 saw off the holeshot 5.903/239 from James Day. A 5.713/257 solo got Horan through to the final where if he had won the championship was have been his.


Dan Horan Funny Car runner-up


Ex-pat Brit Bazz Young

Jason Rupert became the NHRA Heritage Series Nostalgia Funny Car Champion when Dan Horan was knocked out of the final by Hale.  From number two qualifier Rupert went round with wins over Rian Konno in one, Brad Thompson in two before being beaten by event winner John Hale in the semis.


Jason Rupert NHRA Heritage Series Nostalgia Funny Car champion

Ron Hope driving the Rat Trap AAFA clinched the top numbers in the hugely popular demonstration Fuel Altered class.  A 6.35/219 was ahead of the remaining five others including, the Winged Express, the Bradford’s Topolino and High Heaven and Pure Hell.


Ron Hope Demonstration Fuel Altered winner

Dan Myers took the Nostalgia Pro Modified win after qualifying fourth with a 5.979/255 clocking.  First to fall to the power of Myers clean looking ‘Nitro A Gogo’ ’69 Camaro was John Sclalpi then a 5.927/251 over a red light from Jeremy Hanger got him into the semis.  A below par 7.304/135 secured a final roun place as Marc Meadors limped in second.  The final had Myers take a better light and with a 5/958/250 beat Tim Krupa’s 6.672/229.


 Dan Myers Nostalgia Pro Modified winner

Tim Krupa wound up runner-up in the Nostalgia Pro Mod wars in his good looking ’53 Corvette. A 5.829/247 got him third in qualifying then a solo in one as opponent Rob Moore broke.  Round two again was a lone pass as this time Mike Henry had problems.  A good leave in the semi kept Krupa ahead of Mike Maggio and in a close race the 5.794/250 got the nod over the better but losing 5.772/257.  It all ended in tyre shake for Krupa in the final as he bowed out to Myers.


Tim Krupa Nostalgia Pro Modified runner-up

Ryan Davenport took the A/Fuel win after the Canadian was behind Kin Bates in qualifying, 6.361/213 to a 6.240/222.Davenport got by Jerry Kumre who red lit allowing the 6.191/216 the win.  Round two Bill Wayne’s great leave was chased down as the 6.294/213 beat the 6.394/213 and in the semi a bye run got Davenport to the final.  Opponent for the final was Kin Bates who lit the tyres giving Davenport an easy 6.256/214 win.


Ryan Davenport A/Fuel winner

Kin Bates took pole then went on to beat Bobby Cottrell in round one of A/Fuel followed by a solo that took him into the semis where a 6.212/225 got the better of Darrell Waters 6.394/218.  Bates Air Force machine surprised all by smoking the tyres and losing to Davenport.


Kin Bates A/Fuel runner-up

Don Enriquez had it all his way throughout the weekend in Junior Fuel, from top qualifier at 7.159 to class winner.  He made his way through the pack with a bye in round one followed by a 7.386/151 defeat of Mike Chrisman’s 7.363/181.  The semi final produced a great leave for Enriquez and with the 7.344/149 beat the 7.181/185 from Wayne Ramay.  On the money run a better leave coupled with a 7.317/155 beat the 7.511/143 from JD Zink.


Don Enriquez Junior Fuel winner

JD Zink managed runner-up place in the Junior Fuel ranks after qualifying third with a 7.093.  Dealing out Dan Fenton in round one followed by a 7.061/187 win over a broken Odie Coker gave Zink a single to the final.  A much better leave by Enriquez got the better of Zink in the final.


JD Zink Junior Fuel runner-up

Mike Smith qualified down in twelfth spot in the 7.0 Pro category then proceeded to plough his way to the final.  His good looking ‘Killer Crower’ dragster met the black ’63 Corvette of Steve Faller in the money round, a neat .000 light coupled with a 6.973/197 got the better of the red lighting ‘Vette.


Mike Smith 7.0 Pro winner


Steve Faller 7.0 Pro runner-up

Jason Barta took the Nostalgia Eliminator 1 trophy, a 7.609/171 win over Alan Hull who runner upped with a 7.568/174.


Jason Barta Nostalgia Eliminator 1 winner


Alan Hull Nostalgia Eliminator 1 runner-up

Tom Fowler wrapped up the win in A/Gas in his ’70 Camaro, a 7.614/176 beat the 7.625/170 from Al White’s ’65 GTO.


Tom Fowler A/Gas winner


Al White A/Gas runner-up

Cacklefest had an amazing seventy-odd cars all trying to outdo one another in the cackle and flames festival.

Chris Mazany the Kiwi certainly almost bust a gut in readying the car for the Reunion and did quite well for a new machine, qualifying number twenty overall on a 7.134/203 putting him then third in the 7.0 Pro B category.  A semi final loss to Dewayne Sanders ended Mazany’s weekend, 7.014/182 to a losing 7.102/206.

 

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