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.

Fast and Loud.

So pretty looking, so mean on the track.

’56 T-bird.

Stacked.

Alcohol powered by a 1949 Merc 296 cubic-inch with early Hilborn injection. Owned and driven by Dimitri Lazaris of Murrieta, Calif.

The Antique Doll has been racing in various forms since 1958.

Overnourished ’57 Chevy.

Just the family sedan.

Falcon four-door.

Catalina convertible!

Staging lanes.

Monster Mopar.

AF/X Thunderbolt re-creation leaves the garage area.

Crower Cam’s sling.

’60 Chevy.

Henry J.

T time.

Cheater slicks?

’23 T, old-school body work.

Beats the four cylinder it came with.

In the spirit of Henry Ford.

1923 Model T with a straight six.

These guys bailed me out when my Suburban tipped over off-road.

A different type of recovery service provided by Millers of El Cajon. The photo is from the old shop along I-8 at Ocotillo.

Miller’s motto.

Air cooled.

Clean work space in this South Town Chevy.

Brick on the run.

Dick Sappington in his Flyin’ Brick.

1958 Chevy.

There were several Vegas, including this Kammback.

Dump the clutch.

… or NoCar

Mopar …

Getting enough air?

Jim “Old Man” Taylor in his GTO.

Delivering the goods.

’55 Chevy panel delivery.

Buddy, gonna shut you down.

Tach it up …

Tracktime. www.Barona.com

. Lunch break.

Nissan Leaf. Go all-electric for about $22,000.

Kilowatt Cars
KBB.com names 10 Best Green Cars of 2013

In a tribute to Earth Day, the editors of Kelley Blue Book www.kbb.com, have tested and evaluated their top 10 nominees for eco-friendly driving.
Green cars have gone mainstream, according to this automotive site for consumer research of new and used vehicles. More and more of the best-selling cars in the country are being offered in hybrid, diesel or even pure electric form, which gives buyers the ability to drive the car they want with the powertrain they prefer, said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com.

The nominees:
1. 2013 Nissan Leaf
Nissan reduced the Leaf’s starting price by $6,000 for 2013, so after the $7,500 federal tax savings, you can go all-electric for about $22,000.

City/highway/combined mpge*: 130/102/116
Range: 75 miles
Starting prices: $29,650 to $35,690 (before any federal or state incentives)
*mpge = miles per gallon equivalent. Example: The Fit EV could travel 132 miles in the city on 33.7 kWh of electricity, which the EPA equates to a gallon of gasoline.

2.

Tesla S: Among the coolest cars available, electric or otherwise.

2013 Tesla Model S
With blistering acceleration, distinct but tasteful styling, abundant interior space and an EPA-estimated 265-mile range, the Model S is among the coolest cars available, electric or otherwise.

City/highway/combined mpge: 88/90/89
Range: 265 miles
Starting prices: $61,070 to $106,570

Focus EV: A long list of convenience features..

3. 2013 Ford Focus electric

City/hwy/combo mpge: 110/99/105
Range: 76 miles
Starting price: $39,995

4. 2013 Chevrolet Volt
The Volt is an all-electric car for the first 38 miles after a full charge, then a gas engine kicks in to deliver the next 344 miles. The Volt is the clear choice for those who want more electric range than a typical plug-in hybrid, but more total range than an all-electric.

First 38 miles: 98 mpge combined
Next 344 miles: 37 mpg combined
Starting price: $39,995

5. 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-in
With a combined mpg rating of 50 mpg, it beats the standard Prius hybrid and qualifies for solo-occupant carpool lane access in some states.

First 11 miles: 95 mpge combined
Next 529 miles: 50 mpg combined
Starting prices: $32,760 to $40,285

6. 2013 Ford C-MAX Energi
Currently the most affordable plug-in hybrid on the road, the Ford C-Max Energi has a 21-mile all-electric range before switching to its motor generator.

First 21 miles: 100 mpge combined
Next 599 miles: 43 mpg combined
Starting price: $33,745

7. 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid
A 3-in-1 car – 1, It’s a gas-electric compact sedan that is fun to drive; 2, returns 45 combined mpg; and 3, starts at less than $26,000.
City/highway/combined mpg: 42/48/45
Starting prices: $25,790 to $31,975

8. 2013 Honda Fit
Though only 1,100 copies will be produced, the lease-only Fit EV impresses as one of the most powerful and energy-efficient EVs available.

City/hwy/combo mpge: 132/105/118
Range: 82 miles
Starting price: $37,415

9. 2013 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
Redesigned for 2013, its gas-electric hybrid powertrain puts Avalon soundly in the 40 mpg club. Its interior is luxury class in convenience, materials and accommodations.
City/highway/combined mpg: 40/39/40.
Starting prices: $36,350 to $42,195

10. 2013 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
The Lincoln MKZ Hybrid is a modern technological powerhouse, from its hybrid powertrain to the MyLincoln Touch infotainment system to the coupe-like profile. Lincoln’s gas/electric midsize sedan is as contemporary a vehicle we’ve seen from the automaker in a long time.
City/highway/combined mpg: 45/45/45
Starting price: $36,800

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Read the report: 
http://www.kbb.com/car-reviews-and-news/top-10/10-best-green-cars-2013/.