Who put the Bake in Bakersfield?
The week-end in Bakersfield reminded us of that 60’s song “Who put the bomp in the bomp dah, bomp dah, bomp by Barry Mann.
Friday the temperature topped out at 97 degrees and cooled down a bit on Sat. and Sun. Regardless of the heat, everyone had a good time.
A variety of things were happening throughout the weekend. Like 2 buildings with commercial exhibits, NSRA safety inspections, Women’s World, the ladies tea, kids coloring contest, a swap meet, and Nick Donovan’s Rockin’ Road Show broadcasting music throughout the fairgrounds all weekend. Both Friday and Saturday nights Captain Morgan and the Fish N Crew provided the evening entertainment.
As always, visiting with friends and making new friends, while checking out the cars was the highlight of the show. And there were some nice cars present.
There were a lot of rat rods on display.
As in past years, timingtower.com was honored to give one of the NSRA awards. We think we found a very unique car and will have a feature story on the car in the next few days. This 1949 Ford Coupe is owned by Octavio Chavez of Tehahappi, CA and is the timingtower.com pick for 2023.
So many great cars/trucks were on display, it was difficult to see them all – but we tried.
There is no better way to spend Sunday morning than looking and all the fine cars/trucks sitting in the winners’ circle.
Below are photos of all the cars/trucks that took home a coveted NSRA trophy from the Western Nats in Bakersfield, CA this past week-end.
Kern County Fairgrounds Pick
29 and Below
Pro’s Pick
Cool custom
Rep./Safety Pick
Rep./Safety Pick
Long Distance Award. This car was driven to the Show from Vermont.
After the awards were all presented, the super-prize giveway got underway. In addition to the many product prizes, three $2,000 cash prizes were given out. Along with Mike Adams, the NSRA Event Director, are the three cash prize winners – Ron McCabe, Michael Torigiani and Kevin Black all from Bakersfield.
Not sure what this is – but it’s nifty.
This was a great event with 1,127 attendees. Next year the show will be held on April 26, 27, and 28 in the Kern County Fairgrounds. Mark your calendar now.
The show did have to end.
WESTERN STREET ROD NATIONALS -SATURDAY APRIL 29, 2023
Saturday is typically the big day for both cars/trucks and spectators and this year was no exception. The Kern County Fairgrounds came alive with the rumble of big horsepower, the whine of blowers, and the lope of big camshafts.
Vehicles came in all shapes and sizes. Some with fat fenders –
and some with no fenders.
No matter how you like your car or truck – square, round or on the ground, it was there.
Tomorrow the show wraps up with the 44 award-winning cars sitting in the winners’ circle in the morning for all to see, followed by the award ceremony, with the super prize give-away bringing the show to a close.
We’ll post info and photos from the entire event on Monday evening.
WESTERN STREET ROD NATIONALS -FRIDAY APRIL 28, 2023
Today was a great day in the Kern County Fairgrounds in Bakersfield, CA. If today was any indicator, tomorrow the Fairgrounds be full of cars and trucks. The sky was blue, the air was calm and the temperature was maybe a little too warm, all of which made for a great day to look at cars.
Here are a few we came across:
We even saw a few fire fighting vehicles.
What’s wrong with this picture ….. did Henry Ford put disc brakes on a 1913 Model T?
Not every vehicle was shiny, but every vehicle was unique and interesting to look at.
And for as long as we can remember Mike Scharatel has been at the Western Nats working his pinstriping magic.
Check back tomorrow evening when we’ll have more photos posted.
The 46th Annual Street Rod Nationals, Bakersfield, CA.
The 46th Annual Western Street Rod Nationals will kick off on Friday April 28th and run through Sunday April 30. As always, it will be held in the Kern County Fairgrounds. Vehicles 30 years and older are welcome. A lot will be going on throughout the week-end: Commercial Exhibits, Swap Meet, Women’s World, Friday and Saturday night Live Entertainment and Cruising, Kid’s Games and Coloring Contest, and an All Denomination Church Service.
Also the The Streets of Rods will feature specialty cars with tropies given in each category, 29 and Below will also have an individual tropy and vehices will be selected throughout the week-end to take home a coveted NSRA trophy. All trophy winners will be in the Circle of Winners on Sunday morning.
Registration will take place at the Doubletree Hotel, 3100 Camino Del Rio Court in Bakersfield as follows: Thursday, April 27th from 12 noon to 6pm, Friday, April 28th from 9am to 6pm Saturday, April 29th from 9am to 2pm. Spectator gates will be open on Friday and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 8: p.m. and on Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Adults: $19
Children (6-12): $6; Children (5 & under): FREE.
The NSRA Safety Inspectors will be on-hand:
Timingtower.com will be there the entire week-end and will post on Friday and Saturay nights. An article about the entire event, with photos will be posted by Monday, May 1.
