The Antique Nationals: Drag Race and Car Show Fontana Dragway, CA

The Antique Nationals have been put on by the Four Ever Four Cylinder Club for 47 years. The event was held at the spacious Auto Club Dragway, Fontana, CA. on May 13 2017 and provided a day full of exciting racing with a variety of unique high-quality builds. For the first time the drag race vehicles must be older than 1959 and the show and shine cars must be 1974 or earlier. Considering their antique status, all the race cars go through mandatory tech inspection.

This has to be the largest single-day drag racing event for antique cars in the country. Many of 120+ vehicles are shown only at this annual event. The weather couldn’t have been better, clear and sunny at about 75 degrees. The “Show and Shine” area was full of fine-looking vintage rods. The pits were packed. The gathering included Ford four bangers, flatheads and inline engines. The unique brands on-hand were Studebakers, Hudsons, Datsun, Buick, Crossleys, Nashes and a nice mix of Ford model T’s, A’s, and B’s.

The pits are open to the spectators. A day full of exciting racing provided by high-quality builds. This is a must-see event. The mood was laid-back, because this event was more about having a good time and visiting with fellow enthusiasts. The totally relaxed atmosphere meant crowds hung around all day.

This was the first year the drag race cars must be older than 1959…

Many of 120+ vehicles are shown only at this annual event

… unique brands on-hand…

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Results

Top Eliminator

Winner: Don Ferguson, Wilmington, CA., ’71 Woody dragster/nitro fueled straight
7.872et 170.39mph

Comp Eliminator

Winner: Fred Hulton, Meadow Vista, CA., ’23 Ford Altered, injected Flathead
11.466et 116.22mph

Runner Up: Rex Soulsburg, Palmdale, CA., 27 T Coupe, small block Chevy powered
11.254et 119.82mph

Bracket 1 – 00.00 -12.99 et

Winner: Bill Freeman, L.A. CA., ’57 Chevy, 406 Small Block Chevy
10.918et 122.00mph

Runner Up: Mike Reynolds, Joshua Tree, CA., ’37 Chevy Coupe,
12.35et  107.54mph

Bracket 2 – 13.00 – 14.99 et

Winner: Chris Lee, Phelan, CA.
13.161et  96.98mph

Runner Up: Bill Walker, Perris, CA.
14.286et  101.54mph

Bracket 3 – 15.00 – 16.99 et

Winner: Chuy, Moreno Valley, CA.
15.633et  83.70mph

Runner Up: Tom Spencer, Santa Clarita, CA., ’47 Chevy Suburban, Chevy powered
14.617et  93.56mph

Bracket 4 – 17.00 –  +et

Winner: Geo. Gerberick, West Covina, CA., ’37 Buick Century
17.704et  80.58mph

Runner Up: Ken Jones, Long Beach, CA., ’50 Hudson, stock power
18.196et 74.84mph

Vintage 4 Cylinder – Street legal vintage 4 cylinders

Winner: Clark Crump, Alta Loma, CA., ’30 Ford, stock 4 banger
20.015et  61.87mph

Runner Up: Tom Scardina, Pebble Beach, CA., ’29 Ford, stock 4 banger
22.093et  49.39mph

Motorcycle – All pre- ‘59

Winner: Keenen Tarro, San Diego, CA., ’42 Harley-Davidson, stock power
16.911et  75.42mph

Runner Up: Steve Peterson, Mesa, AZ., ’50 Schwinn Whizzer, stock power
24.087et  56.14mph

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Editor’s Note: A version of this article first appeared in the September 2017 print issue of the Drive Magazine.