The RPM Nationals is a throwback to the early days of drag racing, back when street cars and race cars competed head-to-head to see whose garage had built the faster car. 

The event takes place at the beautiful Santa Margarita Ranch just a bit northeast of San Luis Obispo. This was the 3rd year of this event and was happy to see that it hadn’t changed much from last year, apart from maybe a slightly larger spectator presence.

There are 6 different racing brackets competing head to head for cars built in the style of 1955 or earlier, street classes for 4 cylinder and V8s, modified 4 cylinder and V8s and full race 4-cylinder and V8s. All the classes are restricted to running period speed equipment.

Santa Margarita Ranch is one of the oldest continually operated cattle ranches in California. The ranch was established in the late 1700s. The ranch now hosts a wide range of events including weddings, fundraisers, and festivals. There are some old barns and narrow-gauge railroad also on the premises. The racing takes place on what looks like it was or maybe still is used as an airstrip. It really is a beautiful location.

Once you get inside the gates there is a really cool car show of period-correct hot rods. Tons of patina and no billet parts were the order of the day here. One car had an interior made out of a few old pairs of denim jeans and another had its makeshift roof made from pieces of bamboo. Very creative people these old hot-rodders! There was also a pretty good size swap meet, and just like everything else here only had period-correct parts for sale. There were also a few food vendors that were reasonably priced.

The racing is about as old school as you can get…

The racing is about as old school as you can get with the cars lining up in two lines as they work their way to the starting line. Once they get up to the starting line there is no Christmas tree, just a flag person. The flag person then points the flag to each racer to make sure they are ready. With a jump in the air and a wave of the flag, the racers are off – down the strip!

The racing is pretty much nonstop until the lunch break. I didn’t see any schedule posted. I thought it was pretty funny, there was just a guy on a beach cruiser riding through the pits yelling at the racers that their group was coming up next. Just another example of what a laid-back grassroots sort of event this is.

The racers themselves were a very diverse group ranging from a 19-year-old, to those that probably built their cars themselves back in the 1950s. There were a few ladies also racing out there that were really holding their own against the gentlemen racers.

The racing continued after the long lunch break as the elimination races started. I didn’t stay to the end to see who the winners were, and they don’t post the winners on their website. I really don’t think this event is about winning and losing it’s more about going, having a good time in your car, and enjoying the camaraderie of likeminded people.

The racers themselves were a very diverse group…

I am not really a hot rod guy. Historic sports car racing is my true passion, but this event is so much fun it is now on my list of don’t-miss events for the year.

Perhaps this event has had more of an influence in my taste in cars than I thought, as I have recently acquired a 1953 Lincoln Capri that I hope to be driving to next year’s RPM Nationals.  – DP

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