Where were you in '62?

I went to the 20th California Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield October 22.

As a gathering with a meet, the reunion has always been unique in its presence as the get-together of get-togethers.

So many racers who haven’t gone to another race for decades come to this one for one reason: to see their compatriots. I can recall too many times, guys saying “I never go to the drags anymore, but I come here to see my old buddies and see the cars we used to race back then.”

Even with a recession, the reunion somehow always manages to draw wall-to-wall people and cars. People come from far and near. Nearly every state in the union is represented and there are always fans from dozens and dozens of countries around the world.

Oz Cheek who lives near Carson City, Nevada drove down in his blown Chrysler-powered ’32 Ford three-window coupe and said, “This reunion gets better every year; the racing gets better; more cars show up; and I always connect with old friends and meet new ones.”

If you want to stay closer to home and still see some drag racing history, plan on attending the Don Prudhomme Racing Open House “Celebrating 50 Years Drag Racing”

Saturday, November 5 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1232 Distribution Way, Vista, Calif. 92081

Admission is free. For more information, go to

http://www.SnakeRacing.com.