52nd San Diego Antique Drags

Sports Illustrated contributing photographer Robert Beck traveled to San Diego to check out an unconventional tradition, the San Diego Antique Drags. In their 52nd race year, the Drags attract people and cars from all over the country who gather on the Barona Reservation to race their antiquities down the 1/8 mile track. Scroll below to see portraits of the racers and their rides from this years event.
52nd San Diego Antique Drags
52nd San Diego Antique Drags /

52nd San Diego Antique Drags

Ed Emerson and Gary Wilcken

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Robert Beck

Car owner Ed Emerson stands with his cousin Gary Wilcken who works under the car. The car is a 1970 Pontiac Firebird that Ed's owned since 1976. He drives it to the track then swaps out the tires and a few other pieces to make it worthy of the 1/8 mile track. The gold? Hand painted by Ed.

Gary Wilcken

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Robert Beck

Gary Wilcken taking a break from working on his cousin's 1970 Firebird.

Doug Welch

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Robert Beck

This is Doug Welch with his cherry 1955 Bel Air. He's owned the car for sixteen years but this is the first time he's brought the 500 horsepower monster out to race. The retired industrial salesman told photographer Robert Beck on the side, "My wife thinks I'm at a car show."

Chuy Vargas and Daniel

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Robert Beck

Chuy Vargas of El Cajon, CA has run all of the tracks in SoCal from the 1/4 mile Orange County International Raceway to Carlsbad Raceway (both now closed) to Barona. He's running a 1974 Vega and has hit 115 MPH on the 1/8 mile Barona track. He's got his son, Daniel, in tow with him. Daniel is in from Texas to learn the ropes from Pops.

Michael Lyons

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Robert Beck

This is 70 year old Michael Lyons on the left with "crew member" Bill Brown working over a breakfast burrito before the start of the race day. Michael bought this 1937 Plymouth in 1979 for $150 but has "broke the bank account a half dozen times" to keep it running. The former pipe fitter calls it a "labor of love." He's got a Chevy LS1 aluminum engine under the hood right now and has hit 125 mph on the track. By the way, it was Bill's birthday the day of the race. He's been bumped up to "crew chief." Enjoy the burrito!

Jerry and Kristy Keller

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Robert Beck

This is Jerry and Kristy Keller in front of their '63 Dodge. It took Jerry two years to build. It took Kristy driving it 126mph to win the Lipton's Ice Tea Challenge at Palmdale Raceway in 2011. Jerry's been trying to catch up ever since. His best is 124mph.

Dan Bodell

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Robert Beck

Attorney Dan Bodell has been racing out here for two years. And driving is all he does. "Do attorneys know how to use a wrench?" His father in law (Mark Willis) built this 1934 Ford Pick up. He's hit 90 mph on the track....and on the way to the office.

Steve Zimmerman

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Robert Beck

Steve Zimmerman (green shirt closest to the camera) has been the safety tech out here for 13 years. Here he gives the drivers the run through before racing starts. "Cars faster than 6.39 have to have a diaper on 'em." 'Know what that means?

Darryl Whitaker

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Robert Beck

That's Darryl Whitaker under the hood of his 64 1/2 Plymouth. What? "Yeah, it's a '64 from the doors up and a '65 from the doors back." All I know is a lot of folks were checking it out. Out of Warner Springs, Darryl has been running in the San Diego Drags since the '70s.

Rich Wood, Allan Barber and "Nines"

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Robert Beck

Believe it or not, this is a mutant 1927 Model T with a Chevy 468 dropped under the hood. L-R is Driver Rich Wood, Allan Barber and "Nines."

Craig Barnett

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Robert Beck

This is 70 year old tool maker Craig Barnett. He bought his Chevy Nova new off the showroom floor in 1968. He hasn't raced since 1984 but he's got the bug to roll down the track again. And probably fairly quickly...he's got a 350 horse 327 under the hood.

Tim Neuhaus

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Robert Beck

Tim Neuhaus drove this 1949 Chevy to high school way back when. He's retired from the San Diego Police Department but not from racing.

Kevin Bisbee

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Robert Beck

52 year old Kevin Bisbee grew up in San Diego but now calls Yuma, AZ home. He makes it to the drags in Barona about once a month where his '73 Duster has topped 102 mph.

Butch Calkins

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Robert Beck

Butch Calkins is double checking the tire pressure in his '41 Willy's pick up. The 55 year old has owned the truck for 31 years...it took him 12 years to get it race worthy.

Lindsay Stubbs

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Robert Beck

Lindsay Stubbs is a rocking' her new Bell Bullitt bucket to go with her 1965 Ford Falcon Futura. It's her first time racing the wagon. She hopes to hit....50! Better get the groceries out of the back!

Scott Stubbs

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Robert Beck

That's husband Scott Stubbs in the '65 Falcon Futura Sedan staying just ahead of wife Lindsay Stubbs in the 65 Ford Falcon Futura wagon.

Scott Hodges

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Robert Beck

Encinitas local Scott Hodges was pretty embarrassed his '37 Chevy ran out of gas his way back to the pits. You's think a guy who bought his first car when he was EIGHT YEARS OLD (a '53 Austin English) and TWO '57 Chevys when he was 12 years old would know better. We'll cut him some slack for owning more cars before most of us could ride a Stingray.

Orlando, Noel Cuevas, Gustavo Aguirre and Sammy

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Robert Beck

Noel Cuevas (seated) lives in Tijuana and works for the city of San Diego. He's made it up to Barona for every race since 1999. "Team Mexico" consists of cousins Sammy (red shirt) and Orlando (far left) Miramontes and their cousin Gustavo Aguirre (green shirt). They've got that '71 Camaro small block Chevy to turn a 5.90 on the 1/8 mile track.

Amanda, Lindsay and Scott

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Robert Beck

The First Family of '65 Ford Falcon Futura racing. The Stubbs (L-R daughter Amanda, Mom Lindsay and Dad Scott) take turns at the wheels of the Falcons...one a sedan and the other a wagon. They have the smallest engines out on the track (170 CI) and they are the most quiet....and slowest. "It's all about the reaction time." They were hoping to break 50mph. Combined?

Joe Perez

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Robert Beck

Joe Perez is a Kumeyaay Indian racing out here on the Barona Tribal land. He started racing at the Carlsbad Raceway with a '55 Chevy. Now he's running this true 1970 Chevy Nova SS packing a 396.

Larry Jensen

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Robert Beck

Larry Jensen last raced a '69 Chevelle wagon. Now he buzzes the track on his custom scooter and is the "crew chief" for Bill Ketterman and his 1950 Plymouth Business Coupe.

Cole Bezio

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Robert Beck

That's 3 year old Cole Bezio on the left. His Dad Dave is out on the track trying to earn his NHRA license. Buddy Azzarella's Dad owns the car Dave is running. Get it? "Oh never mind. Let's get some more snacks."

Russell Staley

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Robert Beck

Russell Staley rolls this nasty '71 Nova. In two days he retires from a 20 year Naval career....more time to improve on the 6.64 /104mph. Thanks for your service Russ!

Dennis Jauregui

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Robert Beck

Dennis Jauregui and his big tire equipped shoebox Chevy.

Matt Timms

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Robert Beck

Matt Time may not have been the fastest driver with his '63 Comet but I'm pretty sure he was the tallest...and he had the most laid back one person crew in Taylor Tryon...shorts and sandals. Not sure they were fire retardant.

Taylor Tryon

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Robert Beck

Girlfriend and "Crew Chief" Taylor Tryon pushes Matt Timm's '63 Comet down to the start line....in sandals no less!

Jon Ohnstad

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Robert Beck

52 year Jon Ohnstad is a teacher at Aliso Viejo High School in Orange County during the week. On the weekend he races his 1967 Plymouth Satellite...and wears a very tight helmet.

Keith Wilson

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Robert Beck

That's Keith Wilson in the driver's seat of the Pro Mod Supercharged Witch Doctor. He and his crew squeezed a track record 3.97/180mph out of it before it blew a rod through the block.

Larry Jensen

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Robert Beck

Larry Jensen last raced a '69 Chevelle wagon. Now he buzzes the track on his custom scooter and is the "crew chief" for Bill Ketterman and his 1950 Plymouth Business Coupe.

J. Little, Tim Naylor and Alex Conger

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Robert Beck

Driver/owner J. Little (far left) has run this '66 Shelby 114 mph on the 1/8 mile track and 148 on the 1/4 mile. His first car was a '67 Shelby! That's crew chief Tim Naylor in the middle and plumber Alex Conger on the right. "Every crew needs a plumber."

Chris Kurz

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Robert Beck

This '57 Caddy has been in the Kurz family for 30 years. Chris graduated from Long Beach State (civil engineering) painted the hunk of metal purple and started running it on the track.


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