Tehachapi News

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Among the things Tehachapi is known for, such as apples, mountains, and clean air, few outside the motor-sports community would suspect that as many as eight locals are active in the American Nostalgia Racing Association. One of the most active and successful car owners-drivers is Tehachapi resident Mike Brock.

Brock, who drives a '37 Fiat Topolino, powered by a 500-plus HP big block Chevy 427 in the Nostalgic Eliminator III class, started nearly 12 years ago as a crew member for another driver. Brock eventually bought the car and has been racing for the last two years in the American Nostalgic Racing Association. Brock's car is sponsored by Pirate Insurance and IMTT.NET (a specialized weapons combat training facility).

In the NE III class cars race side by side trying to finish the quarter-mile as close to 9.60 seconds without crossing the line under the “dial in time.” The race is often won at the start line where a driver's reaction time is the difference between victory or loss.

Brock and the rest of the Tehachapi drivers recently raced in the ANRA Spring Nationals at Bakersfield's Famoso drag strip. He won his first side-by-side run with a time of 9.66 seconds in the quarter-mile. Brock ran the same time in his second run but the other car was faster eliminating Brock. Earlier this year Brock won the Dragfest held in May at Famoso and he was the runner up in March. Brock finished tied for 5th in a field of 25 racers in 2008.

For Brock, racing is a family affair, his wife, Vickie, daughter Vanessa and son, Shaun spend the race weekends at the track acting as his pit crew. The same goes for the other Tehachapi-based racers who mix family and a weekend of racing. Brock is assisted in the pits by Ken Berkowitz and Steve Archuleta, who also drives a ‘67 Camero. Other local racers include Rodney Michael, junior and senior, Danny and Joe Valencia, and Rod Mortimer, Larry Wiggins Jr. and Sr.

Brock and the rest of the Tehachapi drag enthusiasts will be running again at Famoso in the Summer Nationals on Aug. 15 & 16.