This was the 43rd annual Antique Nationals held at Irwindale Speedway, in Irwindale, CA.
1/8th mile drag racing , car show and a small swap meet area all had one thing in common, vintage. We’ve been attending this event for the past 4 years and always look forward to the next one. Now this event doesn’t cater to your typical all-out muscle car big-block Chevy and Mopars. But if your altered T has a Hemi, by all means bring it out! This drag race event has a stronger presence from the Four Ever Four Cylinder Car Club which has been running strong in Southern California since 1954. Not-so-stock Winfield or Miller Hi-Speed Performance parts for the super old school 4 bangers hit the 1/8th mile here without any problems.
This event is for pre-1954 cars, trucks and motorcycles. If you scratch built a dragster with wire wheels or some original sheetmetal, and can pass the tech inspection, they’d let you run it. There were some interesting homemade rail jobs out there and that always adds to the interest of what a gearhead can make with the parts laying around in his garage. Model T’s, A’s, roadsters and RPU’s are in attendance for either the drags or the small car show area. Other cars racing included inline 6 and 8’s which would include the neat Hudsons and Buick’s and the like of most pre and post-war heavy weights. If you wanted to see just what your V12 powered Lincoln Zephyr could pull on the track, all you need is a helmet, seat belt and an inspection at the tech booth and you’re set. I almost forgot to mention the straight axle group of Willy’s and Chevys putting on a great show at the starting line.
The motorcycle group this year consisted of a couple Triumphs, an Indian, a Mustang and a few Whizzers. Not sure what happened to the Harleys or the BSA’s.
The folks who organize this event are welcoming and laid back. No attitude and there’s always plenty of space to park your car and check out all the vintage tin in the pits. A big thanks to Dan Eubanks and his crew for organizing this neat drag race event. We’ll be back next year.