Nostalgia drag racing is coming to Sacramento Raceway on May 10 for the 21st Annual Fremont Reunion Drags. It is a day fans can take a walk down memory lane and see the drivers and the cars from the glory days at the legendary Fremont Dragstrip.

The Fremont Reunion Drags started at Fremont Raceway in the Bay Area and were put on by the WCTA (West Coast Timing Association) for Nostalgia Front Engine Dragsters, pre-1972. When Fremont Raceway closed and the WCTA ceased existence, Dave Smith, owner of Sacramento Raceway, wanted to keep the Fremont Reunion Drags going, so he brought them to the Sacramento Raceway.

Fremont Raceway – later known as Baylands Raceway Park – operated from 1959 through 1988 in Fremont. It was the site of the first 7-second run in 1960, and was also home to the first 6-second run in 1962, in a jet dragster.
Photographer Steve Reyes was 15 years old when he first went to Fremont Dragstrip, and spent a lot of time there in the early years.

“When I started going to Fremont, it was a very laid back place to race,” Reyes said. “Ron and Jodi Lawrence were the managers of the track and $1.50 would get you in, and another 50 cents got you in the pits. The Lawrences did a great job seeing that racers and spectators alike had a great Sunday at the drags.

“The track was wide and long, with no guardrails. Small grandstands made of wood were used on both sides. The track was well maintained and the stars of the day loved to race at Fremont. Garlits, Prudhomme, McEwen, Jim Davis, Gotelli/Milani, John Batto, Dennis Baca, Chris Karamasines and Tommy Ivo and many more looked forward to racing at Fremont.”

The whole experience clearly impressed young Reyes, who remembers every detail.

“In the summer it was warm and very dry,” he said. “The grass that lined the track was dry and yellow. Spring was nice; this is when the track was jumping with a lot of racers from So Cal and the East Coast. Fall and winter were cold and crisp and the smell of nitro hung in the air. The dragsters would always run fast and quick because of the cool air.”

This will be the first year the Fremont Reunion Drags are running A-Fuel dragsters, and legendary drag racer and engine builder Gene Adams will be bringing his car to the Reunion Drags for the first time. In 1957, Adams set the national speed record (111 mph) for B-Gas in his 1950 Olds at the Oaklahoma Nationals, and he set the national speed record (202.24) at Orange County in 1969 in his A-Fuel dragster. In 1971, his car held four records, including A-Fuel speed and elapsed time (6.85 et at 203.61 mph), then switched over to gas and set the elapsed time and speed record at Irwindale. Adams won the National event at Fremont in 1985 in an A-Altered gasoline powered roadster, and set a new class record at 7.24 et at 189 mph.

Adams now makes his home in Anderson, Calif. and is the owner of Gene Adams Performance, specializing in fuel injection flow testing and service, high performance engines, and early Chrysler Hemis.

“If I have a problem or need an answer to something in my fuel system, Gene Adams is the first person I would go to because he is so knowledgeable in that area,” Sacramento drag racer Roy Victor said.

Adams raced mostly in Southern California, but raced at Fremont occasionally. He raced in NHRA Division 7 Series.

“Fremont was located at sea level, close to the ocean where the air density is good. It was a real fast track,” Adams said.

Adams raced at Sacramento many times and said it is also a very fast track at sea level, and has the same good air density as Fremont.

Dr. Kin Bates will be driving the Gene Adams powered A-Fuel dragster. Dr. Bates owns the car and Adams built, owns and maintains the engine, with his son Dean as crew chief.

The Fremont Reunion Drags give fans an opportunity to see and meet drivers from years gone by, with dragsters from as far back as the 60s that race at speeds no one ever thought a front-engine dragster could do.

Featured racing will include Nostalgia A-Fuel Dragsters, Pro Mod, Hot Rod, Street Rod, 7.0 Pro Dragsters, Top Sportsmen and Nostalgia Eliminator 1, 2, 3 and 4. Gates open at 10 a.m. Sacramento Raceway is located at 5305 Excelsior Road in Sacramento.

For more information, visit www.sacramentoraceway.com.