December 10, 2007

As most of you already know the NHRA has picked up our program with a six race series on a national basis. This, along with a series to be run in the Phoenix area at Firebird Raceway, gives us some ten dates already. Now throw in some six match-race dates and it will be a busy '08. Please remember these dates are subject to change at the whim of the sanctioning group and the promoter. Always check the web site for those changes.

TENTATIVE "LiL" Nate Schedule for 2008

February Testing at Fontana, CA

March 7th-9th 50th March Meet / Famoso Raceway - Bakersfield, CA *NHRA

April 12th-13th Fontana, CA *NHRA

May 3rd-4th Las Vegas, Nevada *NHRA 3rd - 4th DRAGFEST/ Famoso Raceway - Bakersfield, CA / Rod and Kulture magazine

June 6th-7th Indianapolis, IN - Goodguys 13th-15th National Hot Rod Reunion / Beech Bend Raceway - Bowling Green, KY *NHRA 21st Phoenix, AZ Firebird Raceway #NFCA

July 12th Phoenix, AZ Firebird Raceway #NFCA

August 9th Phoenix, AZ Firebird Raceway #NFCA TBA Boise, ID *NHRA

September TBA Fontana, CA *NHRA 20th Phoenix, AZ Firebird Raceway #NFCA

October 10th-12th California Hot Rod Reunion / Famoso Raceway - Bakersfield, CA *NHRA

December 13th Phoenix, AZ Firebird Raceway #NFCA

* Designates NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) points meet # Designates NFCA (Nostalgia Funny Car Association) points meet

Have a great holiday season and, as always, till next time, see you at the races.

October 26, 2007

16th California Hot Rod Reunion recap

Fuel to get truck, trailer and race car to Bakersfield $250.00

Entry fees for driver and crew $850.00

Food/drinks for 3 days at track $540.00

Hotel rooms for crew $900.00

Hangin' out in the pits for 2 days waiting for funny cars to make a run….

Parachute falling out of pack at 600 feet……………priceless

Well friends, fans and sponsors - that's about how it all happened. The entire crew got up to Bakersfield on Thursday evening to get parked in our pit space and checked in. Then Friday we set up the pit, unloaded the car, got caught up with all the cars and crew we hadn't seen in months and waited and watched it rain. Saturday it was back out to the track to make sure the car was serviced, do a warm up on the 'Cuda in the pits, make a parade lap in front of the fans in the stands and….wait some more. Then, finally, Sunday comes and it's our chance to race ! The East Side Gang crew is ready, the 'Cuda is ready, Nate and Bugsy are ready, everyone is anxious to go ! 18 cars line up in the lanes hoping to make the field of eight. The Lil Nate car is the third pair up. We fire it up, make the burnout and back it up, Nate launches the car and all is good until tire shake, just as Nate was shifting, shook the chute out of the pack. Nate said he knew exactly what happened as he felt the car slow and he tried to keep going just a little further, hoping that somehow he might still make 'The 8.' However, as it turned out his 7.517 second pass was nowhere near the 6.147 second bump. It's just one of those things that happen sometimes. This was the quickest qualifying group in NFCA history with only .195 seconds separating all eight ! Yes folks, that's just under 2 tenths of a second.

The good news is that we brought home a race car with all the parts in all the right places. Our newest crew member, Wade, earned his official East Side Gang nickname - Hoppy. This was Hoppy's first time EVER at a drag race and his first race with the crew. Despite the ribbing he got from everyone, he fit in just fine. Look for an article on his experience and observations in an upcoming issue of Vintage Fuel magazine. Speaking of Vintage Fuel magazine, the Lil Nate car is a 'Fuel Find' in the current Sept/Oct. 2007 issue. (check out www.vintagefuel.com for more information.) Bugsy debuted the team's new full size poster photo to the fans at Famoso. Check the Lil Nate website soon for more details on this.

So now the stage is set for 2008. The NHRA Museum made it official that there will be a 'Hot Rod Heritage' series of nostalgia races. It will begin with the March Meet and end with the California Hot Rod Reunion and the National Hot Rod Reunion will be included, as well as one or two more dates and locations yet to be announced. We also learned about a "DragFest' event in May at the Famoso track in Bakersfield. Rumors abound about numerous other dates and events and we will keep you posted as information is confirmed.

Till next time, see you at the races

September 13, 2007

Things you should know about:

If you surf the net and have stopped by Drag Racing Online you have noticed an announcement from Steve Gibbs regarding a nostalgia race series to begin in Bakersfield at the March Meet. More information regarding dates and track locations in a later post. Rumor has it that this series will have some five to six race dates.

Last week I spoke with some folks regarding running our new fuel altered body, looks as though there may be some four to six races for that.

Our buddy and NFCA web guy Mark King has just brought out a hard backed book showing the NFCA cars in action. Information can be had at www.NostalgiafunnyCarNews.com. This book is 10" wide and 8" tall. If you are a Nostalgia Funny Car fan this piece is a must have.

Well let's see, one race left this year and then it's off to the PRI show in Orlando, Florida.

2008 : New race series - five to six races, fuel altered match races - four to six races, the NFCA series - six to eight races, and three to five match races for the funny car. OK, fifteen to twenty five races in '08 without going back East. '08 could be big folks !

Till next time, see you at the races

July 7, 2007

"LiL" Nate Racing is proud to announce that it has been selected by the Mattel toy company as one of ten Nostalgia Funny Cars selected to be the next Hot Wheels ® offering beginning late this year. The 71' Cuda will be the third in a line that currently offers the Crazy Horse Mustang, of George Doty and the Pisano-Matsubara Vega of Danny Pisano. George Doty personally spearheaded this program that has taken some two years to come to fruition. Look for the rest of the selections to come out in the very near future. Our understanding is that this will be a short run of the cars so only a selected quantity will be available. These collectibles are to be available at your favorite Mattel retailer as well as from the teams themselves at the track. Lil Nate Racing will offer them as well as the Hot Rod TV DVD of the team, thru this web-site so call or email us to get yours.

Also this month Lil Nate Racing is pleased to announce a new associate sponsorship with K&N Engineering, the industry-leading innovator in automobile filter products for over 35 years. K&N, while being based in Riverside with global offices in the United Kingdom and Netherlands, continues to exist as a family owned business with an enthusiast mindset and a direct connection with motorsports that carries over throughout all levels of management and manufacturing.

We've used K&N on our personal vehicles and transporter for years and to have them on our team means another aspect of our racing operation is rock solid. I was always impressed by their commitment to the consumer and I always remember one of their statements; quality products that perform as promised.

Till next time, see you at the races…………