RACING
Speed reigns in Kern
A
A region that produced speedway favorites such as four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Mears and Daytona 500 champion Kevin Harvick has to be the place to see auto racing at its finest. Five unique Kern County speedways offer a chance to see just about anything built for speed. Many a racing legend earned his stripes on the clay surface of Bakersfield Speedway (5001 North Chester Extension, Bakersfield; 661-3933373), billed as the “West’s Fastest 1/3 Mile High Banked Clay Oval.” The speedway celebrates its 65th year in 2011 with the promise of dirt track action in a family-friendly atmosphere. Here you’ll find winged sprint cars, midgets, mini dwarfs, late models, modifieds, street stocks and hobby stocks trading paint throughout the year. Late models highlight the annual Memorial Day Classic in May, and the Bud Nationals dominate an action-packed October. Low gate fees keep the stands full on race nights, and camping (no hook-ups) is available. If burnouts, wheelie bars, and quarter-mile speeds up to 275 miles per hour thrill you, pay a visit to Auto Club Famoso Raceway (33559 Famoso Road, McFarland; 661-399-2210). Famoso boasts a year-round schedule of events, including the world-famous March Meet drags. The three-day speedfest attracts racers and spectators from all over the world to witness amazing racing and enjoy a hot rod show, swap meet, and vendors’ midway. The 2011 event is scheduled for the third weekend of March. National Hot Rod Association sponsors the California Hot Rod Reunion each October at Famoso. The weekend is filled with street rods, customs, and muscle cars. Lighting up the night during the reunion is the sensational “Cacklefest” as historic race cars line up side-by-side and ‘cackle’ simultaneously. Camping (no hook-ups), is available during
72
March Meet at Auto Club Famoso Raceway
2 0 1 1 K E R N C O U N T Y V I S I TO R S G U I D E • V I S I T K E R N .C O M