Bakersfield, CA - October 6-8, 2006: The 15th edition of the NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion lived up to its star billing - perfect weather, record crowds, huge car counts and to say the least, exciting racing. Considering this is one of the two premier nostalgia drag racing events in the country, teams come here loaded for bear with one thought in mind - winning. Up until a couple of weeks before the event Jack Harris was focused on getting a CHRR win with Brett and the Nitro Thunder car.

That changed when Harris was contacted by John Rodeck who was a car owner who had recently split up with his partner and driver. Would Jack like to drive his car? Jack is a drag racer and even though he had turned the seat in Big Red over to son Brett, he still has an urge to drive. He accepted Rodeck's offer and all of a sudden he would be competing against his own car.

The weekend got off to a dandy start on Friday when, as the first Top Fuel car down the track, in the first qualifying session Jack ripped off a 5.953 at 230.71 in his first run ever in Rodeck's car. Son Brett followed later in the session with a better 5.915 at 260.19 (top speed of the event). With both cars pitted next to each other it didn't take long for the two teams to start melding.

On the second and last qualifying session on Saturday afternoon Brett would improve with a 5.895 at 259.51 but Jack had tire shake problems and did not improve on his Friday times. Brett was in the top half of the field while Jack landed in the # 11 spot. However, the track was so good that lane choice didn't seem to be a big factor. Both were in, both could advance to the finals on Sunday.

Round one of eliminations went off Saturday night and it proved to be one of the "ugliest" in memory. In the only "clean" and without a doubt the quickest race of the entire session but Brett Harris was nipped by Howard Haight 5.945 at 257.43 to Brett's 5.950 at 253.02. Jack dodged a bullet when his opponent, Sean Bellemeur crossed the centerline and disqualified him from a sure win. Drag racing irony - Brett runs really good and loses, Jack runs a smoking-the-tires 9.196 at just 91.75 and advances to round two. What would Sunday bring?

 

Photos and full story below.

Surprise - this doesn't start with a Top Fuel run but with Jack in the seat of "Flathead Jack's" twin engine nitro burning flat head dragster - the fastest flathead (176 MPH) in the world. It is also the quickest unblown flathead on the planet. This was an exhibition run Friday hours before the first qualifying session of Top Fuel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Qualifying Session - Friday

At 3:12 p.m. the first pair of Top Fuel cars were fired and in the left lane was Jack Harris for his first pass ever in John Rodeck's car.

Harris backs up from his burnout. Note "The Paso Posse" on the canard wings. This is not only a take off on the Utah Posse but also a reference to where the car is based - Paso Robles, CA.

 

 

 

Prior to staging everything is double checked - the data computer activated.

 

With John Shoemaker in the other lane, both drivers leave the line attempting to make the show.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This pair would prove to be remarkable as it was Shoemaker's first full pass in his new car - a stunning 5.962 at 253.02 while Harris, in his first pass ever in this car cards a 5.953 at 230.71.

 

 

 

Second Qualifying Session - Saturday Afternoon

 

Fast forward to Saturday afternoon and the second and last qualifying session. Several cars opted to sit out this session so there were cars that got singles to keep the mandatory lane switch. Harris had such a single which meant every camera in the place was on him. Results - lots of photos.

 

 

 

 

 

Harris backs up from the burnout.

 

 

Within one second of Jack jumping on the throttle the car went into violent tire shake. Take a good look at the tires in the photos below.

 

 

 

 

After pedaling a couple of times Harris pulled the plug and coasted to a 10.700 at just 71.38. All they learned on this one was the clutch to power ratio was way wrong.

 

After making adjustments from Saturday's failed qualifying attempt the crew made adjustments and warmed the car prior to the first round of eliminations that evening.

 

 

Round One - Saturday Night

As previously mentioned, the first session of Top Fuel went off at 6:43 p.m. but it was an hour later before Jack Harris would square off with Sean Bellemeur who was a heavy favorite in spite of the "weird" track conditions.

 

 

Bellemeur had a full tenth of a second advantage off the starting line and after Harris smoked the tires down track appeared to be a sure winner until he got out of the groove, spun the tires, had the cockpit fill with clutch dust and cross the centerline putting the car on one wheel. A sure rollover crash was avoided when the right canard wing set the car the car back on all fours. Another very weird race in a very ugly round of Top Fuel.

 

 

Jack Harris and the Rodeck team would come back Sunday for round two running a 9.196 at just 91.75 mph. This was a case when racing luck won out over all other factors.

 

 

 

Round Two - Sunday

 

After surviving the mess Saturday night Harris was ready for round two on Sunday morning. However he would have to get by the event favorite, Brad Thompson who had run 5.84 in qualifying and 5.85 in the round one.

 

Harris fell behind early and Thompson was pulling away hard until he popped the blower at the 600 foot mark. Harris was then ahead by half track and pulled away as Thompson was left to coast through.

 

 

 

Harris' stout 5.970 at 249.51 was more than enough to move him to the semi-finals.

 

 

 

Semi-Finals

 

In the semi-finals Harris was to meet Jason Richey who had won his previous round with a 5.897 at 241.80.

 

 

But racing luck once again dealt Harris a full house when Richey lost fire on the burnout. A broken gear drive had ended his day. Jack would have another single and advance to the final.

 

Harris left hard but the car was off on the tune-up.

 

 

 

 

By the 900 foot mark it was a dead player and Harris clicked it to a 6.933 at 161.17. Team Rodeck was going to the final but it sure wasn't on consistency.

 

 

 

Final

 

Harris would meet long time nemesis Jim Murphy in the final. Again he would be the underdog to Murphy's semi-final 5.906 at 251.74.

 

 

 

 

Backing up from the burnout Harris had to be concerned over the cars erratic numbers and its lack of response at the hit.

 

 

 

Harris puts on the bottom light - its showtime.

 

Murphy was ready for this one. He drilled Harris on the tree by a tenth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Murphy's hole shot held past the 330' mark and widened down track.

 

 

Murphy was not to be denied with a wire to wire 5.989 at 244.69 win. Harris gave it all the car had but his piston burning 6.145 at 201.92 was not even close. Jack's luck ran out but no one can deny that being runner-up your first time in a car at the biggest race of the year ain't too shabby.