~ March Meet 2008 ~
~ 50 Years Of Racing ~
While they don't say anything about Gassers (that's why you're here
at GasserMadness!) here's what the NHRA had to say about the March Meet: BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Fifty years of racing
are officially in the books for the fabled March Meet. The 3-day nostalgia
drag racing event, which drew record crowds to Auto Club Famoso Raceway,
featured intense competition with Jack Harris winning Top Fuel and Bucky
Austin taking Funny Car.
HotRod: Sorry,
I don't really have any information available on these cars, in terms of
who won or lost. What I can tell you is that it's a pretty
interesting bracket class with a lot of very different and very cool cars!
By the way shoot me an email at
byron@gassermadness.com and
let me know how you like the gallery here. Thanks.

Gorgeous weather, big crowds, record times and speeds. The March
Meet, now a part of the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series, was a
resounding success.
"This was a March Meet that will still be talked about in 50 more years,"
said Blake Bowser, vice president and general manager of the Kern County
Racing Association, operators of Auto Club Famoso and producers of the
event. "The crowds, the racing.everything was fantastic for our 50th
anniversary. As always, the March Meet made Bakersfield shine."
Racing always shines brightest at the Meet and 500 nostalgia racers made
the trip to compete in the momentous event. At Sunday's finals "Sheriff"
Jack Harris, of Kaysville, Utah, rocked the crowd as he piloted his
dragster to a 5.568 at 263 mph for the fastest run ever in a front-engine
Top Fuel car. He followed it up by beating Brad Thompson, of Vasalia,
Calif., in the Top Fuel final. Harris claimed his third March Meet title
with a 6.064 run at 239.36 mph.
Bucky Austin
Bucky Austin took the Funny Car title by beating last year's winner,
Stephan Romanazzi of Vasalia, Calif. Austin, from Fife, Wash., won with a
time of 5.836 at 243.63 mph.
Along with celebrating a half-century of racing, the 2008 March Meet was
the inaugural race of the Hot Rod Heritage Series, the NHRA's new
seven-race nostalgia racing series. The Grand Marshals were drag racing
legends Don "the Snake" Prudhomme and Tom "the Mongoose" McEwen.
Plenty of excitement could be found in the hot rod-packed Grove, vendor
row and swap meet. Fireworks and a WWII fighter-plane fly-by sent cheers
through the stands as well as in the sold-out camping area. Throw in
picture-perfect weather and it was no surprise the March Meet drew an
estimated 35,000-plus fans to Auto Club Famoso Raceway.
Tragically, the March Meet was saddened by the death of Sacramento veteran
Top Fuel driver John Shoemaker. The 65-year old racer crashed during
Saturday's competition and was airlifted to the Kern Medical Center where
he was pronounced dead. He is survived by his wife Judee and son Jim.
"Our hearts go out to John's family and racing community," said Bowser.
"It's a terrible loss."
Shoemaker, and the 50th March Meet, will live on in the memories of all
who attended.
There's more to come, "Cruising the Pits with Dean Court", "A Fan's Eye
View" by Ron Posaidly, People Pics, Altereds & Comps, and others.
I'll try to add a page every day, but it depends a lot on my "real"
workload! Keep checking back.

AA/GS Qualifying
AA/GS Eliminations


A/Gas Qualifying
A/G Eliminations


B/Gas
B/Gas Winner

C/Gas
C/Gas Winner

D/Gas
D/Gas Winner
