44th San Diego Antique Drags, Barona Eighth Mile

It was a hole-shot day of racing at the 44th San Diego Antique Drags. The eighth-mile strip in the open lands along Wildcat Canyon Road waved the flag for American power and dirt-floor ingenuity.
Breathe deep the octane-enhanced ethyl. There were old-timers and new-timers, families, friends and fans.

The twice-a-year event is open to all cars from 1975 and older, and damned if there wasn’t just every class of fuel-burning four-wheeler in the pits – and some two-wheelers. Every house of worship was there, from an Avanti to a ’23 Model T rust bucket with a straight six to a Pro Mod Mopar-powered short-wheelbase Fiat that silenced the crowd in a blaze of beautiful noise. (Watching the Witch Doctor isn’t nearly as dramatic as hearing it fire up – and me jumping in fright at the sound, but you’ll get the idea here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-WEDutjVYc.)

There also were several AF/X factory re-creations, like “Old Yeller,” the ’61Ford (Holman Moody) Starliner, a 427 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt and the “Pouncin’ Poncho” GTO.

Watch for the next run of antique drags here: www.BaronaDrags.com.

Tach it up!

Track time. www.Barona.com

Lunch break.

Jim Signorelli of Ramona piloting his Duster.

Color me gone.

Fans can get up close in the staging lanes.

’68 Firebird warming up.

Patterson lights it up. Gets down the lane in 5.09 seconds with a top speed of 144.4.

Warm up.

Checking height of the wheelie bar.

Barona Eighth Mile Drags co-owner Duncan Patterson in his ’68 Camaro.

Love the factory group.

Good ol’ grudge matches.

The “Witch Doctor” is out.

Just getting our attention.

The Mopar-Fiat screamer made the run 4.24 seconds and, at 171.18 mph, almost beat the track record of 172.

Pro back-up girl,
‘chute packer and fearless, Leeann Stover helps the team with “Witch Doctor.”

“Witch Doctor.” Walla walla bing … bang!

Tubbed Nova.

427 Camaro.

No old dog.

Looks almost streetable.

Factory Ford.

… in dad’s Chevelle.

Start ’em young …

FordnStein.com, from Poway Transmissions.

Straight pipes!

Aero disc wheel treatment.

Olds powered.

Isn’t there at least one at every race?

Ranchero, with some tight rear rubber clearance.

MoonEyes

A wicked quick Chevelle.

The 350 V-8 in Sonya O’Day’s International pickup was a little outweighed by that wicked-quick Chevelle, but she won by default. The Chevelle red-lighted.

Sonya’s family helps out.

Sonya O’Day at the wheel of her 1940 International, a frequent flyer at Barona.

Another of the many Chevelles today.

Cleared for takeoff.

Original wheel?

Buick “Special.”

Great wood-grain paint.

An aerodynamic advantage?

“Woodie” wagon.

Built for speed.

Gentle Ben. Really?

Just Sunday drivers.

Track time. “Run whatcha brung. And hope you brung enough,” Barona’s motto!

Two women running a nicely styled roadster pickup.

Daily driver?

Clean 1961.

Jon Ohnstad drove his 440 1967 Plymouth Satellite from Oceanside. He’s owned the car since 1995 and swapped out the 318. The interior still looks stock.