I'm travelling from San Fransisco to Bakersfield on th Thursday so will miss some of the first day unfortuneately but i need a bit of help with some things. Firstly i'll probably stay at the best western, is there another way of getting to the track apart from driving? public transport like buses? I don't really want to have to hire a car but if theres no transport then i'll have to. Also what is the daily schedule? I haven't found daily start and finish times. Any info is greatly appreciated and if theres any other aussies reading this please let me know. thanks
Mate,
First good on ya, you will have a ball. No, there is no public transpost to the track and once you get here you will understand why. Which Best Western are you staying at??? There is a BBQ Friday Nioght in the pits that you are invited to, Chassis man in Hot Rod throughs a huge Bash and many of my Aussie friends attended. I am the track announcer and have been the Video Presenter on the SUMMERNATS about 10 years ago,so where do you live in Oz and I will send you an email of a Aussie who has been to the March Meet before and you can sus up a skeem.
John Matijasic THE DOC in Australia and Majicman here
Just saw you are in Brisbane. Do you know the Leahy Mob? They have been here almost every year, but I do not think they are coming this year. There also will probably be a fair number of Aussies from Bris here, so I will inquire and let you know hwo is coming.
still have to book the accomadation but it will hopefully be the best western crystal palace. do you know of any hire car places in bakersfield? the bbq sounds great and i would love to go. i live in wellington point about 20klms from brisbane cbd. any info you can pass on is greatly appreciated.
Well, the first and most important thing is to get to the track early, no matter what day. I will be leaving my home, 19 minutes away, at about 6am or earier to make an 8am first call. There is a (Best Western) in Wasco, CA, which is a straight line shot to the track. You might try staying there, especially if you hire a car. There all the usual car hire companies at the Airport either LAX or Bako. We closed the gates at the last year's Hot Rod Reunion, because we had hit apapcity on what is a pretty damn large place and have done that a March Meets, as well. The pits and grove area will be chock a block with every kind of car and racing personality you will ever want to see or meet. Come up to the tower for a hello and any other specific questions, please ask.
Yes...on Friday night I'll be hosting the BBQ again.... we'll start around 7pm....or soon after last cars down the track. The Black Widow Aussies last year seemed to enjoy themselves. Our "little" BBQ has turned into a quality can't miss!.....so your more than welcome to join us for some good ole home cookin.
My pit is down by the swap meet area....it will have a ploe with flashing LED lights runing up and down it.
This will be our 24th consecutive March Meet we've raced at....and the 4th year of our BBQ.
accomadation is booked, we are staying the the best western on buck owen way i think it's called? recomended by a mate that's been to the last 4-5 march meets. when is the official schedule being announced? info like start and finish ttimes for each day and times each class are running. is it worth buying tickets now or at the gate? can't wait for the bbq aswell. i've done business with peter leahy before, he shipped some parts for me but i know friends of his, one of them will be crewing for gary densham. anything happening in town at the same time? thanks
This is not the official event schedule, but from the past....
Gates open 7am with racing starting at 8am. bracket cars till about 9:30 (hot rod) then index cars till noon-ish (7.0, N1, N2, N3, AG, BG, CG, DG) then top fuel (fc-fed), then heads up (a/fuel, jr fuel), then back to HR or TF, depending on the day.
Racing usually stops around 5 ish. We can really go until the track cools and have gone well into the dark, but usually the track cools off around 5 (as soon as the sun sets) and we call it quits for the day.
There will be racing all 4 days of the event and a open test session on wednesday from 11am to 4pm. Gonna be a long week for some of us, but an amazing event for sure.
John spoke the truth about getting there early. Esp on saturday and sunday. By 7am the line to get into the place can be crazy. check out the picture on the website. http://www.famosoraceway.com/bakersfield-march-meet-2012/2010_MG_0879.jpg . At the top of the picture is Hwy 46. The cars parked out there extend 1/2 mile in each direction (left and right). This is what 20,000 plus people look like at the track.
Glad you are making a pilgrimage to famoso raceway. There is no event in the world like the march meet and i suspect that you will have the time of your life. We have drag racing fans from all over the world come to this holiest of places. The event is amazing, the participants are some of the nicest people you will ever meet, the racing is pretty awesome, the weather.. well MOST of the time it is perfect. And the grounds here have many memories from racing pioneers from the past. The birthplace of the sport and mecca to all those who call themselves drag racing fans.
The photo does indeed.......now add about that same number of race car haulers to the bottom of that photo, the swap meet area to the end of the grand stands, and a packed camping section to the right side of the photo.......
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Thread posted: 01/03/2012 at 02:02:am
