RPM Barona Drags ’26

Apr 22

April 2026 • By Kev Elliott & Tony Thacker • Presented byFirstUpApparel.com & MicksPaint.com

Once again the Southern California vintage drag racing season kicked off with two great traditional events; The RPM Barona Drags and the Antique Nationals—both events were held back to back on the same weekend at the Barona 1/8-mile Dragstrip near San Diego.

Unlike its sister event, the RPM Nationals, held each September at the Santa Margarita Ranch north of Santa Barbara, that is exclusively for flatheads and 4-bangers, the RPM Barona Drags is for ’63 and earlier period correct Buick, Cadillac, small-block Chevy, Chrysler and Dodge Hemis, Pontiac, Y-block Ford and other early-style ohv engines as well, of course, as flatheads and bangers. Race cars must be 1940 or earlier and all parts must be period correct and appear pre-’63.

*Built, we think, in the 1940s, Lil’ Shitter was not built for drag racing, nevertheless, Kev and I had a lot of fun.*

This year, my compadre Kev Elliott and I decided to race ‘Lil’ Shitter’ my barn find ‘32 with a ‘27 Roadster body and a ‘40 flathead V-8 built by Mike Herman at H and H Flatheads. Built in the 1940s, it’s not a race car by any stretch of the imagination but having attended Rømø in Denmark, the Hot Rod Drags at Santa Pod in England and Pendine Hot Rod Races in Wales I figured why not check Barona off the bucket list? Beyond fitting a new E-Fire electronic ignition from Stromberg, and checking the oil, we did no prep and as a result we didn’t go very fast but we had a huge amount of fun which is what RPM Barona is all about.

Like most people, we made a weekend of it, arriving Friday afternoon in time for the Street Legal Friday Nights when you can just roll up and race your car with minimal restrictions and rules—they even have a limited number of helmets you can borrow. It’s just $35 to race (unlimited passes), and $15 to spectate. Camping for the RPM event is free and on Friday night they had a DJ. There’s also a car coral organized by the Hornets C.C. as well as a swap meet.

Track action got thick and heavy especially in the Overhead Street Modified class where Simon Gluckman in his blown Olds-powered ‘34 coupe took out ‘Hot Head’ Lou in his ‘41 Willys ‘Orange Peel’ only to lose in the final to Julia Vega in her gold Paxton supercharged ‘34 5-window.