Fans and Racers Gearing Up for the March Meet
With 7 days to go for the famed Mar. 1-4 nostalgia drag race, motor homes and campers are already filling up Auto Club Famoso Raceway Parking Lot. Read More>>
Chattin’ with the ‘Racin’ Dixons’: 2012 March
Meet Grand Marshals Larry Dixon Sr. and Jr.
 BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Feb. 10, 2012) – “The Racin’ Dixons:” That’s how Larry Dixon Sr. refers to himself and son Larry Dixon Jr., and the name fits. After all, drag racing’s most famous father and son combo represent more than a half century of the sport. No wonder they are Grand Marshals of the 2012 March Meet nostalgia drag race, Mar. 1-4 at Auto Club Famoso Raceway.
“The Dixons are drag racing royalty,” said Blake Bowser, vice president and general manager of the Kern County Racing Association, operators of historic Auto Club Famoso and producers of the 54-year-old March Meet. “Larry Sr.’s the old school, front-engine driver who competed during drag racing’s golden era, and Larry Jr. is an NHRA Rookie of the Year and three-time Top Fuel world champion, representing modern-age racers. How cool is it for the fans to see the father and son legends together at the March Meet?”
Dixon Sr., who drove the Fireside Inn Roadster to a championship in the Comp Eliminator class during the ’68 March Meet, and Dixon Jr., who’s been coming to Bakersfield since he was a kid, share an incredibly strong bond. They talk about it and reveal some of their drag racing memories in this Q&A.
Question: How did each of you react when you found out you were co-Grand Marshals for the 2012 March Meet? What does it mean to you both?
Larry Dixon Sr.: I was in total shock and flabbergasted. I thought they were joking. When I think of the March Meet, I think of (Don) Garlits, Jimmy Nix and ‘the Greek’ (Chris Karamesines). I am so honored – it really makes me feel good, especially sharing it with Larry Jr. It makes it special. I’m glad he reminded me I won there a million years ago.
Larry Dixon Jr.: I feel very fortunate. Initially I felt unworthy because of all the great names associated with the March Meet. I mean the March Meet has such an unbelievable history. I spent my childhood here. The March Meet is like Woodstock on nitro methane.
But this is the ultimate honor ’cause I get to share it with my dad on stage. I’ll remember this for the rest of my life. I feel like I’m riding his coattails because he has so many memories and friends here. And he won here…even if I had to remind him.
Question: Larry Sr.: What was is like drag racing back in the ’60s & ’70s?
 Dixon Sr.: I started racing in 1957 at San Fernando. Back then it was like the ‘Ozzie & Harriet’ days. Everything was simpler. It was more of a laid back deal. It was a lot of fun…not as professional as today. I think that’s one of the reasons people like the nostalgia drag races. I won my first trophy in a ’55 Chevy. Years later, so did Larry Jr.
I remember Garlits’ first race in Bakersfield. Not sure if the race was even called the March Meet back then. Jimmy Nix was there and asked his girlfriend to warm up his top fuel dragster. Well, she kept driving around and around. He couldn’t get her out of the car. The joke was that if it didn’t run out of gas, she’d still be in it. Jimmy just laughed. He always had a smile.
I used to drive The Fireside Inn Roadster. I ran it in Long Beach with a small-block Chevy engine and it kept blowing up. We had lots of borrowed parts on the car. Ronnie Scrima, a chassis builder I met when I worked at B&M, put a 354 Chrysler Hemi with borrowed mags in it and it didn’t blow up anymore. That’s the car I took to the March Meet and won.
Just to let you know how important the March Meet was to me and my family, Larry’s sister Cathy was born the Tuesday before the race, and we were breast-feeding her in the tech line. That’s the Racin’ Dixons for you.
Question: Larry Jr: you were born into drag racing. What do you remember about going to races with your dad as a kid?
Dixon Jr: It was pretty cool because my dad raced on the west coast. I’d take off school on the Friday’s he’d race and drive with him to the track. It was great – he kept the race car in the garage at home. At the races, I’d help push him back from a burnout. I was 11 years old. Nowadays that wouldn’t be an option because of insurance and liability. I feel very lucky to have been able to be around my dad when he raced and help out. Drag racing is a true family sport.
I got my Top Fuel license in Gainesville with Don Prudhomme, but did test runs my rookie year at Famoso. During the last session, I ran a great number in my
first run and tried to back it up. On my third run, the tire cut and I crashed, totaling the car. I still have the cockpit in my trophy room at home.
Question: Larry Sr.: Did you want Larry Jr. to get into drag racing? How did you feel when he won Rookie of the Year and the three world championships?
Dixon Sr.: I didn’t push him into it. I told him, ‘son, it’s hard to make a living drag racing.’ Obviously that went into the weeds. Larry Jr. started at the bottom working on Larry Minor’s crew. Prudhomme notice him and sent him to driving school, which is funny ’cause Larry never said he wanted to be a driver.
Larry said, ‘dad, I’m going to get licensed in Snake’s car!’ I said, ‘did Snake tell you that?’ He said ‘no….’
Then Larry said, ‘Snake is taking me to Gainesville on Monday!’ I said, ‘did Snake tell you that?’ He said ‘no….’
After he got licensed, I asked him, ‘did you run faster than Snake?” He said, ‘yes, just a little.’
I still can’t believe the success Larry has had. I’m thrilled for him, but there was one rub. I remember the crash he had testing Prudhomme’s car at Famoso, where he blew a tire and rolled the car. I never felt so bad. It was so tough watching my little boy crash like that. I didn’t know what to do. I went down and asked if he was hurt. He said he wasn’t and told me, ‘dad, I did just what you told me to do: hold on and go for it.’
Question: Larry Jr.: When did you decide drag racing was for you?
Dixon Jr.: I grew up with drag racing and never really went away from it. Some kids wanted to be baseball players or astronauts. I always wanted to be a racer like my dad.
Like any kid, I didn’t take all the advice my dad gave me. I didn’t do anything too bad, but I did get disciplined every once in a while. But then we would go to the track. I never really argued with my dad, but he’s much more old school than me. It was Holly carbs vs. NOS. It was fun. We have this great father-son connection.
I did get my passion for drag racing from dad. We share the same name so I feel I have a responsibility to do well. It’s a pride thing. I want to make my dad proud.
Question: What are your proudest moments in drag racing?
Dixon Sr.: My son is my proudest moment. He’s so good I still don’t think I’m his real dad.
Dixon Jr.: My first win and first championship were good, but my proudest moment was after I won the Winternationals in 1998. My dad had won it 18 years earlier, in ’70, and gave me his trophy. After I won, I gave him mine. It was a big moment.
My next proudest moment was when I won Indy in 2005. My dad had throat cancer and was going through radiation and chemotherapy, but came to the race anyway. I dedicated the win to him. It was pretty emotional for me. And the best news he’s now cancer-free.
Larry Dixon Sr. & Jr. Named Grand Marshals
for 2012 March Meet Race
Father & son drag race legends are coming to Auto Club
Famoso Raceway for Mar. 1-4 event
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Jan. 24, 2012) – The fabled March Meet, now in its 54th year, has always been a family tradition passed down from one generation to another. The custom continues as legendary father and son drag racers Larry Dixon Sr. and Larry Dixon Jr. have been named Grand Marshals of the iconic race, which had been expanded to four days, Mar. 1-4, at Auto Club Famoso Raceway.
“Family is really what the March Meet is about,” said Blake Bowser, vice president and general manager of the Kern County Racing Association, operators of Auto Club Famoso and producers of the March Meet. “That’s why father and son Larry Dixon Sr. and Jr. are the perfect choices for Grand Marshals. Larry Sr. raced here in the ’60s – and won his division – and Jr., a three-time NHRA Top Fuel champ, was born into drag racing and has been coming to Bakersfield since he was a kid. They are drag racing royalty, representing almost 50 years of the sport.”
“Being named Grand Marshal of the March Meet is truly an honor,” said Larry Dixon Sr., who drove the Fireside Inn Roadster to a championship in the Comp Eliminator class here in 1968. “The March Meet has always been one of the most famous and prestigious races, and it brings back a lot of great memories. And to be honored along with my son makes it even more special.”
“Sharing March Meet Grand Marshal duties with my dad is unreal,” said Larry Dixon Jr., NHRA’s Top Fuel champ in 2002, ’03 and ’10, and the 1995 NHRA Rookie of the Year. “It really means a lot to me because it’s a place where my dad’s raced and has a ton of friends. There’s nothing like the March Meet – it’s a one-of-a-kind event draped in drag racing history. This is going to be special, and a whole lot of fun.”
 “The Dixons are a class act and crowd favorites here,” said Bowser, who can relate to the Dixon’s father/son dynamic. Bakersfield-born and March Meet-bred, Bowser has been working with his dad, John, at Famoso Raceway literally his whole life. Like John, who began is his career at the track in the late 1950s, Blake started selling race programs as a kid. The Bowsers ran the track for years, and officially became the track’s owner/operators in 2006.
The bond between Larry Sr. and Larry Jr. is incredible,” said Bowser. “Larry Sr. won the Winternationals in 1970 and Larry Jr. won it in 1998, 28 years after his dad – incredible! And now they are Co-Grand Marshals at the March Meet.”
Auto Club Famoso Raceway 2012
March Meet Tickets On-Sale Now
Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Partnership with TheFOAT.com - Bakersfield internet site will handle all online ticket pre-sales for the 2012 March Meet.
 BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Oct. 20, 2011) – Fans looking to buy online tickets for the 2012 March Meet (Mar. 1-4), can do so at www.TheFOAT.com. According to Blake Bowser, vice president and general manager of the Kern County Racing Association, operators of Auto Club Famoso and producers of the March Meet, the racetrack has partnered with the motor-themed internet and social web site to sell 2012 March Meet Tickets on-line.
“We used the TheFOAT.com for last year's March Meet and they did a great job,” said Bowser. “They can handle the volume of ticket sales quickly and efficiently and give the fans an opportunity to get event tickets without waiting at the gate. Tickets can still be purchased at the gate during the event, but race fans can get their tickets early and avoid purchase lines at the gate.”
Besides handling online tickets for Auto Club Famoso, The FOAT – which stands for “The Fastest of All Time” – is an internet-based “motor” community site, according to Mike Hashim, the company's president. “The FOAT connects motor enthusiasts with one another and businesses using a unique social commerce platform. We're honored to be aligned with Blake and the iconic Auto Club Famoso Raceway. We are excited to start helping them sell tickets for the 2012 March Meet.”
 “Now that the race has been expanded to four days, there are several affordable ticket options available to fans and their families,” said Blake Bowser, vice president and general manager of the Kern County Racing Association, operators of Auto Club Famoso and producers of the March Meet, now in its 54th year.
According to Bowser, race fans can purchase a “Super 4-Day Event Pass” for $100 online. There are also specially priced passes for three days (Friday, Saturday and Sunday: $75) and two days (Saturday and Sunday: $55).
Box office tickets for the event will go on sale March 1 at the track. Ticket prices are $25 for Thurs., Mar. 1; $25 for Fri., Mar. 2; $30 for Sat., Mar. 3; and $30 for Sun., Mar. 4. Tickets for children ages 6-12 are $10 each day and kids 5 and under get in free when accompanied by an adult with paid admission.
Other prices announced include, camping: $105 for all four days; VIP parking: $50 (good for the entire event); and VIP four-day Quarter Mile Courtyard seating: adults $165, children $105 (space is limited).
Bowser said March Meet tickets are on line now. Race information, including down-loadable forms for race entries, car show registration and camping will be posted soon at www.autoclubfamosoraceway.com and the Auto Club Famoso Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/Auto.Club.Famoso.Raceway
 The Kern County Racing Association operates Auto Club Famoso Raceway (just north of Bakersfield, Calif.) and promotes a full schedule of races year round, including the world famous March Meet, which is recognized as the Mecca of nostalgia drag racing.
ABOUT THE FOAT
The FOAT connects motor enthusiasts with one another and businesses using a unique social commerce platform. The FOAT provides social networking, free classifieds, photo and video sharing, forums, blogging and much more. The FOAT has reinvented the way online ticketing works with its revolutionary smart phone ticket scanner application and its integration with their social commerce website. http://www.thefoat.com
2012 March Meet Drag Race Expanded to 4 Days!
It's an historic change to the 54th edition of the legendary race, which will take place Mar. 1-4 at
Auto Club Famoso Raceway outside Bakersfield, Calif.
 BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Sept. 26, 2011) – What's better than three days of nostalgic drag racing? How about four days! That's exactly what the March Meet is doing for the first time in its legendary 54-year run. The new four-day program for nostalgia drag racing's premier event is set for Mar. 1-4, 2012 at Auto Club Famoso Raceway, just outside Bakersfield, Calif.
“The break with the three-day race tradition was done for racers and fans alike,” said Blake Bowser, vice president and general manager of the Kern County Racing Association, operators of Auto Club Famoso and producers of the fabled March Meet. “A four-day race program will allow us to run all the classes, which fans and racers want, plus it gives us some wiggle room in case weather becomes a factor.”
Bowser said he bounced the four-day race idea off several racers and fans, and all were unanimous: “Expanding the March Meet to four days is a cool idea and will make the event even better. I mean, what's better than four days of running nitro cars?”
 According to Bowser, there will be an open test session for Nitro cars on Thurs., Mar. 1 and Nitro qualifying on Fri., Mar. 2 and Sat., Mar. 3. First round of Nitro eliminations are scheduled for Saturday with the finals on Sunday.
Classes set to run at the March Meet include Nostalgia Top Fuel, Nostalgia Funny Car, A/Fuel, Jr. Fuel, 7.0 Pro, Nostalgia Eliminator-I, Nostalgia Eliminator-II, Nostalgia Eliminator -III, A/Gas, B/Gas, C/Gas, D/Gas and Hot Rod.
“We expect 500 race entries for this year's event,” said Bowser, “once again making the March Meet the largest nostalgia drag race in the world. And now there's an extra day for families to check out the vendors on the midway, enjoy the food and drinks and watch some great racing.”
March Meet ticket sales and prices, as well as other race information, including downloadable forms for race entries, car show registration and camping will be posted soon at www.autoclubfamosoraceway.com.
Now celebrating 54 years of racing, the March Meet has been expanded to a four-day speedfest that enthusiasts call ‘the jewel of Nostalgia Racing.' It attracts drag racers and spectators from around the world and also includes a hot rod car show, swap meet and a vendors' midway. The 2012 March Meet will be held Mar. 1-4 at historic Auto Club Famoso Raceway.
The Kern County Racing Association operates Auto Club Famoso Raceway (just north of Bakersfield, Calif.) and promotes a full schedule of races year round, including the world famous March Meet, which is recognized as the Mecca of nostalgia drag racing. You can follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/Auto.Club.Famoso.Raceway or on twitter |
