The Antique Nationals is the original nostalgia drag race. The 45th edition was hosted by the Forever Four Cylinder Club and held at the Auto Club Dragway at Fontana.

The weather was overcast but it was hot on the track for more reasons than one with the temperature  peaking out at 101 degrees.

The 100+ drag race cars fit into 10 classes. They had to be older than 1954 and the show & shine cars had to be 1974 or earlier. Race cars had to pass tech inspection requiring seat belts and helmets in all cars. Open cars running 13.99 or quicker had to have an NHRA approved roll bar and arm restraints.

The fastest class was Competition Flathead, the winner ran 11.61et.  The slowest was the Vintage Motorcycles, blistering the quarter mile in 30 seconds.

This has to be the largest single day drag racing event for antique cars in the country. Many of 250+ vehicles are shown only at this annual event. The pits were packed; the gathering included Ford four bangers, flatheads and inline engines. The unique brands on-hand were Studebakers, Hudsons, Crosleys, Nashes and a nice mix of Ford model Ts, and As. The event was as much about having a good time and visiting with fellow enthusiasts as the competition.

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Winners of the 10 classes:

Top image, Bracket 1: Dustin Lee, ’53 Ford Ranch Wagon (Palmdale, CA).

Bracket 3: Not pictured, Wiylan Colluer, ’55 Ford F-100 (Ontario, CA).

Street Flathead: (not pictured) Frank Hainey, ’40 Ford Coupe (Fallbrook, CA).

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