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bananaxbee · 6 years

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That’s Not On Chipotle’s Menu | Larry Stylinson

Pairing: Larry Stylinson

Summary: In which Harry and Louis go out to lunch after not seeing each other for a long time and Harry accidentally lets something slip.

Length: 2K

Also on my Wattpad + AO3 accounts:

Wattpad: 1D_HarryStyles_1D

AO3: xdistorted_cliffordx

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Seeing someone that you haven’t seen in over a year was something that caused high anxiety. You had to make sure that you looked like your life was well put together (even if it was quite the opposite). You had to look good. Like you couldn’t wear your usual t-shirt and raggedy joggers - you had to dress up in a flouncy blouse, freshly pressed skinny jeans, and your best pair of dress shoes or Chelsea boots. It was almost like you had to rebirth yourself so you could impress the socks off of whoever it was that you were meeting with.

If that wasn’t enough stress, it didn’t help that you had been feeling very strongly for that specific friend that you’re going to be meeting with. Especially if you didn’t know for sure what their sexuality was. Especially if you used to have romantic relations with them throughout your time working together.

That was Harry’s case. It was something that was never really put to rest in Harry’s mind. He had always had feelings for Louis, even after the way things had ended. He tried not to let it bother him, just so nobody would be suspicious of anything. They were part of the world’s biggest boy band. Their every move was under the world’s largest microscope at all times. After they had gone on hiatus in 2015, the band had made it a recurring thing that they meet up and hang out with each other at least once a month. It worked well throughout the year, but tapered off towards the end of November 2016 because of scheduling mishaps. Louis and Harry were the only ones that really made the effort after that, only meeting up twice between November 2016 and June 2017. That was the last time that the two had been together.

And the feelings Harry had for him had grown significantly.

He had tried his best to move on from the attraction - he had even tried to start relationships, but they had never gone further than a few dates. He kept comparing them to Louis and reminiscing on the love that they used to share with each other. When Harry took off on his first small venue tour as a solo artist, he gave up on trying to forget him. All of the songs that were on his album were literally all about Louis. It made him think of him more and made him miss him even more. It also didn’t help that Louis was releasing music either. Harry could just have read into it, but he was sure that Miss You was about him. But he was also supposedly back with Eleanor. While the fans came to conclusions that it was just for PR because he was still under a branch of Modest!, Harry was weary that it was real. When they had been together during One Direction, Louis had always shown a type of attraction. Harry wasn’t sure it was a romantic attraction (he hoped that it wasn’t), but the two clicked. They got on really well together and if Harry hadn’t known that it was just a PR stunt to downplay the fans’ suspicions, he would’ve believed that what they had was actually real.

Along with all of the interviews that Louis had done. The seriousness that was in voice when he talked about Larry and how it was basically bullshit...either he was a really good actor or he was being truthful. Harry felt hurt when he would see his responses to the questions. It was as though he was completely forgetting what they had once had together. As if it was just a memory that he wanted to forget. He wouldn’t blame Louis if he wanted to forget part of it. It did hurt to remember certain events that had happened, especially how things had crumbled at the very end. But to be so sour at the mere mention of it? That was what saddened Harry because he valued all of the good memories and his time that he had gotten to spend with Louis.

Harry took a deep breath, shaking himself out of his thoughts. He didn’t want to think about it anymore, especially before he had to see him. He wanted to be happy and excited when they saw each other again - not disgruntled and upset. He went over to the mirror next to the closet and straightened out his outfit one more time and gave his short hair a quick fluff with his hands. He thought he looked good, but he was missing one thing. He went over to his vanity and grabbed the tube of Posie K liquid lipstick, applying a swipe of it to his upper lip before rubbing them together. While he didn’t really care for the Kardashian-Jenner clan that much after the PR stunts, he did enjoy their cosmetic lines. Posie K was the closest to his lip color, but gave off the idea that he was actually wearing makeup.

His phone started to vibrate on the end table with a text. He flipped it over, Louis’ name popping up on the screen with a message beneath it: almost to your place :) xx. Harry’s heart fluttered as he read the signature. It had been so long since he had really texted Louis and when they had set up this lunch date, Harry had been sent into orbit with the amount of feelings and happiness that Louis conjured out of him. If anything, Harry was beyond scared how he was going to act around Louis in person again. He felt like a fangirl meeting her idol for the first time.

Harry grabbed his cologne from its place and gave himself a few extra spritz. He was wearing his favorite pink blouse and he felt like a prince. This was going to hopefully be the best day of his entire life.

There was a series of knocks on the door, causing Harry to prance downstairs from his bedroom and nearly break into a full sprint to the door. However, before he opened it, he let himself pant for a minute and straightened out his blouse once again before twisting the bronze door knob. When he saw the man on the other side, he had to will himself not to squeal or say something that he knew that he would regret.

“Hey, ‘Arry,” Louis greeted with his beautiful smile.

“Hey, Louis. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” Harry said, trying to make the words sound casual. “Come in, come in.”

Harry moved out of the way, letting Louis into the penthouse. He watched as he looked around, taking in his surroundings. He turned to Harry, an impressed expression on his face. “You’ve changed the place since the last time that I was here.”

“Eh, it’s mostly just more cleaned up since the last time I had you over,” Harry chuckled.

“Please, you’re the cleanest person I know,” Louis teased.

The two caught up with each other a little bit more. Harry paid close attention to Louis, hanging off his every word as though it would change his life forever. He missed talking to him. There was just something about Louis talking that made it feel like he was telling a story and you were so intrigued, even if he was just telling you what the weather was. There wasn’t any mention of Eleanor, much to Harry’s surprise. He was relieved about it, but he still wasn’t positive if they were together. It was quite selfish of him, he hoped not.

They were seated in Louis’ car, driving through the streets of Los Angeles like it was nothing. It was definitely a different place than London. It didn’t feel homey at all. It felt busy and crowded and most of all, fake. Harry didn’t like that really. The only reason that he had a home there was so he could get out of London when he got annoyed of it there or when he wanted to work with other artists.

“So, where would you like to go for lunch? You’re dressed to the nines and I look like a hot mess compared, so nowhere too fancy,” Louis chuckled.

Harry laughed along with him. “I’m not too picky. I’m not really in the mood for a big and fancy meal if I’m honest. It feels almost superficial to me if we’re just catching up with each other.”

“Ah, yes. That is true,” Louis agreed. Suddenly, his face lit up like he had an idea. “I know a place we can go. I think you’ll like it.”

“Where is it?” Harry wondered.

“You’ll have to wait and see,” Louis smirked. “You like Mexican food, yeah?”

“I’m afraid to answer that, but yes…” Harry said cautiously.

They drove the rest of the way in silence. Harry was excited because Louis hadn’t taken him on a surprise lunch/dinner date since…well, since they were in a relationship. It brought back memories for Harry, ones that he was certainly fond of. And for a moment, it felt like old times. He couldn’t help but wonder if Louis was feeling the same way.

Louis took an exit that led into the less uppity part of town. It was a part of town that Harry didn’t go to very often. Not because it wasn’t what people would consider his “class,” but because he didn’t go out that much in L.A. He usually only went to recording studios or agreed to go out to dinner with an artist or someone from his band/management, who always chose to go to expensive and exclusive restaurants. Harry would be just as happy with a dinner from Olive Garden rather than a forty dollar steak that was as big as a baby’s fist.

He slowed down and drove into a parallel spot. Harry looked out the window at the establishment they were parked in front of, quirking his brows. “We’re eating at a tax office?:

Louis rolled his eyes jokingly. “Yes, Harold. We’re going to crunch some numbers. No, we’re going down two buildings.”

Harry giggled and then looked down the walk, his eyes landing on a sign that read “Chipotle.” He shrugged, alright with the choice. While he had never eaten there, he was interested in what they had to offer. “I’ve never eaten there.”

Louis looked at him with wide eyes. “You’ve never eaten here?!”

“Nope. I’ve heard of it, but never got around to trying it,” Harry admitted.

“Well, Haz, we’re going to pop your Chipotle cherry,” Louis encouraged, using his old nickname.

The two got out of the car and walked down the sidewalk until they got to the establishment. Thankfully, they were the only ones in the restaurant. Last Harry heard, the restaurant was always packed and there was always a line/wait for your food. It was a nice surprise. At least they wouldn’t be mauled while they munched on their burritos. Louis motioned to the worker that they were going to need a minute and they both looked up at the menu. However, Harry couldn’t help but look at Louis out of the corner of his eye. There was a small hint of a smile on his face, which made the butterflies in Harry’s stomach flutter furiously. He looked so well rested, so much happier than the last time that Harry had seen him. It was something that was so beautiful.

“What do you want?” Louis whispered to Harry.

Without thinking, Harry blurted in a loud whisper: “You.”

Louis’ head snapped over to him, a look of confusion washing over his intricate features. “What did you say?”

“Uh, I said fondue,” Harry stammered, feeling his cheeks heat up.

Louis snorted. “I don’t think they serve fondue here.”

Way to be subtle, Styles.

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sunshinedjh · 7 years

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Phan fluff: The concert

'Dan are you ready yet?' Louise called. 'No! I'm not even taking that long, Zoe was only done a few minutes ago!' Louise sighed at Dan's comment because of how much of a lie it was. Dan seemed to care more about his appearance then either of the girls did. It was just the three of them, Dan, Zoe and Louise, they were at Zoe's house getting ready to go to a concert for the night and they were all just as excited as each other. Dan had been friends with the two for as long as he could remember. Even since before he was old enough for people to tell him that it was a bit strange for him to only hang around with girls. It didn't bother him though. He'd just never really thought about trying to befriend a boy before, they all seemed to scary and hard to talk to and Dan really didn't have the courage for that. 'I've been ready for ten whole minutes actually Dan, now come on!' Zoe complained. 'Alright alright I'm coming, let's go to the car' Dan said, dashing out of the bathroom. 'How do I look?' He asked, standing in what he thought was the most confident looking position possible. 'Woah, Zoe gasped 'you look...' 'Very handsome' Louise cooed. He was wearing a white button up shirt, with some kind of intricate pattern adorned on it, a pair of black skinny jeans (which he rarely took off actually) and black stud earrings to match. His hair was wild and curly with slightly shaved sides, it looked so crazy and unkept but still managed to look like he'd spent a lot of time on it. 'Thanks' he replied shyly, a slight tinge of red appearing on his cheeks. 'Now let's go before we miss the whole damn thing!' It didn't take long for them to get there. They were greeted with the sound of flashing cameras and screams as they joined the cue. Dan looked up and saw the name of the act they were all here to see in lights above the venue door. 'Philip Lester' it read. Dan knew that name well. Phil was Dan's favourite singer, he wasn't sure if it was because of his looks or his mesmerising voice but Dan definitely wouldn't have come out to see anyone else. 'Hey Dan, we're allowed in now' the girls giggled at him as he still had a gormless expression on his face and was staring up at the sign. 'Wha...' He'd been too busy daydreaming to even notice the hoards of people that were now piling into the theatre. Zoe took Dan by the hand and the three friends stepped inside. 'Tickets please' 'Oh uh one second' Louise struggled, one trying to hold her things while the other was trying to fumble around in her bag to find the tickets. 'Here you go sir' 'Thank you very much, have fun guys!' The wait seemed to last ages. Dan sat in his chair, huddled between Zoe and Louise (at the very front none the less) gazing up at the stage. 'Ladies and gentlemen...' a loud booming voice echoed around the room. 'Ahhhhh! He's coming, he's coming!' Dan, Zoe and Louise squealed to each other. 'Philip lesterrrr!' 'Eeeeee!' Everyone was cheering and screaming. Dan was pretty sure that his screams were louder than anyone else's. The young man came and walked out onto the stage and as he cleared his throat silence fell across the theatre. 'Hello everyone' he beamed before bracing for the impact of the screaming crowd as it started back up. 'He's just as dreamy in real life' Zoe whispered. 'Before we begin I have an announcement to make' Phil said into his microphone 'at the end of the show I will be giving away a free backstage pass to one lucky audience member, and the winner will get to come and hang out with me after the show's finished' Dan couldn't hear himself think after all the noise that sentence caused around the room. 'Wooooo' Louise shouted, particularly loudly. Then quietly said to Dan 'you could win that you know' as she nudged him on the shoulder. 'Yeah right, like anyone ever picks me for anything, let's just sit back and enjoy the show' And that's exactly what they did. The three of them had never danced so much in their lives, they laughed and jumped around as Phil's singing echoed around the room. Although, Dan did spill his drink at one point, somehow managing to get it all over Louise's dress, which he was nothing but apologetic about. But Louise assured him that it was okay and they continued to dance the rest of the night away until the very last song had finished. 'Alllright then folks' Phil started speaking after he'd finished singing his 17th (or was it eighteenth?) song. Dan had lost track of how long the night had been to be honest but it had without a doubt been the most fun he'd ever had. 'It's time, to chose the lucky winner!' Phil stated in a fake dramatic voice. He clambered down off the stage then and began walking through the audience. 'Hmmm, but who to pick?' He questioned with a mischievous grin in his face. He walked round looking at the crowd, clearly taking his time to choose. Dan kept his eyes on Phil the whole time, watching him as he searched, he was coming closer and closer and Dan was still looking at him and then Phil returned the gaze. Dan froze with shock. He had no time to process anything at all though. 'You! You there, would like like to come backstage with me?' Phil came waltzing over beaming as he looked down at him, seemingly not even noticing how much he was dying inside from the shock. 'I err, I'd love to...' 'Alrighttt, lets go' Phil took Dan by the hand then and led him back the way he'd came. 'Bye guys!' Dan called to Zoe and Louise behind him, he didn't turn around to see the looks on their faces but he imagined they would be just as shocked as his. Everything seemed like a blur to Dan then, he was touching Phil Lester of all people... and they were holding hands! He couldn't believe his luck, nothing good ever happened to him... Once he was up on he stage he stood there and listened as Phil spoke. 'Okay then everyone, I would like to thank you all for coming...' Dan wasn't really listening, his mind was still racing with adrenaline. He looked out into the crowd and saw Zoe and Louise. They were both waved and smiling wildly at him and he was pretty sure he sure Louise mouthed 'You lucky shit!' 'What's your name then?' Phil asked turning to face him. Dan felt so flustered. He hadn't even noticed that Phil had finished speaking and that the crowd of fans was now piling out of the theatre. He felt slightly like he had been strangled but somehow he still managed to form words. 'I'm er, Daniel. Daniel Howell' Phil chuckled. 'Well, hi there I guess' He blushed as he spoke which made Dan a little curious. 'I really love your music you know, this is so cool!' Phil blushed even harder. 'Thanks... you know, you're kinda cute' What?! Had Phil just? Did he just? Dan thought he was actually going to drop the floor and faint. What kind of over obsessive fangirl was he? He had to pull himself together. 'Oh er, thank you... are we gonna go backstage then?' 'Right! Yeah' 'So, this is Larry' Phil gestured over to a tall important looking man wearing headphones 'he's our sound guy' 'Hi' Dan introduced himself. 'He can't hear you, you know, headphones' Phil laughed grabbing Dan's arm and dragging him down a corridor. It was a lot bigger behind the stage than Dan thought, he felt overwhelmed by how much there was to look at. A large burly looking man walked past them then. 'Oh this is Drake, he's my bodyguard' 'Um, hello' Dan felt slightly intimidated until the man caught him by surprise and smiled at him' 'Hello' he said. 'He may look tough, but he's actually he big softie' Phil exclaimed. They walked round for what seemed like hours, and well it might have been for all they knew. They were both having so much fun, they seemed to have connected so easily. Dan didn't feel like just another crazed fan to Phil and Phil didn't feel like an obnoxiously self centred celebrity to Dan. The two had become friends almost automatically. They walked down another corridor and Phil spoke up. 'Hey, what do you say we grab some food and chill in my dressing room? As much as I'd love to show you round more I'm literally going to die of hunger if I don't eat' Dan giggled. 'Sure' Phil came to a halt outside one of the doors. 'Okay, so we're not strictly supposed to go in here... but I saw some great looking cakes and sandwiches through that door earlier' 'Well then its a good thing I'm feeling a little rebellious' Dan smirked at Phil. 'Alright on the count of three we'll run inside and nab as much food as we can, then follow me and we can sneak it into my dressing room.' 'Sounds like a plan' 'Okay. One... two... three!' The two boys darted though the door, (luckily no one was inside) and grabbed the food that had been nicely laid out on the table. Then they sprinted back out and Dan followed suit as Phil ran down the corridor and into one of the other rooms. They were practically gasping for breathe then. 'It seems you share my physique' Phil joked after catching his breath a little. Dan looked up. 'Yeah... exercise is overrated' As he looked around he saw that they were in a rather fancy looking room, lit up with bright lights and scattered with mirrors. 'Woah this is your dressing room?' 'Sure is' Phil replied proudly. They tucked into the food right away after that. Phil was right, the it tasted amazing. There were sandwiches of all different kinds, cakes that tasted heavenly and about five different and if soda. 'I'm really living the pop star life now, huh?' Dan said, sat crossed legged on the carpet. 'Yeah, well you got food on your chin Mr Pop Star' Phil laughed. 'I do?' Dan blushed. 'Come here' Phil scooted closer to him and wiped his chin with a napkin. Dan was a little surprised when he didn't scoot to his previous position, he stayed sat close, right in front of Dan. Dan felt a little awkward eating when they were sat so close so he put down the sandwich he was holding. Phil was looking at him still. It wasn't a normal kind of look though, there was something longing about it that made Dan want to look right back at him. As he did he could see Phil's eyes up close. They were quite beautiful, he'd seen them before on various posters and in magazines but the were so much prettier, so much brighter in person. 'You're very cute, you know that Dan?' Phil said again, he seemed so transfixed by Dan's gaze. 'You've said that already' Said Dan laughing. 'Oh I have... sorry' 'No no it's okay, good to know that celebrities are human too and that they aren't perfect' 'I really do hate the word celebrity' Phil confessed thoughtfully. 'Yeah?' 'Yeah, it makes it sound like we're above other people just because we got lucky. But we're just the same as everyone else' Dan paused at this comment, he thought for a moment. For some reason it didn't feel like the two his just met. They felt so close already, like they'd known each other forever. 'You're not the same as everyone else Phil' Dan said. 'Dan...' 'And for the record I think you're cute too' Phil stretched out his hand and placed it under Dan's chin as they continued to hold each other's gaze. 'Oh really? What kind of cute?' 'I er... don't know how to say' Dan's cheeks glowed with scarlett. He began to lean in closer to the other man. Phil closed his eyes. 'Then show me...' Dan kissed him then. Feeling like he was going to explode as he did so. Phil was kissing him back, wrapping his arms around him and gripping his shirt gently. Dan could feel Phil's breath against his lips. They pulled away eventually, each other's eyes still solely focused on each other. 'That kind'

#phan fluff #phanfic fluff #phan #dan and phil #phandom #phanfic #phanfiction #danisnotonfire and amazingphil #dan howell and phil lester #danisnotonfire #amazingphil #daniel howell #phil lester #phancakeshowell #phancakeshowellfluff

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itsworn · 6 years

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Cackling Nitro Cars Hit Escondido, Barona, and Bakersfield!

Cackle cars coat the eyes, ears, noses, and throats with liquid horsepower.

Nobody is ambivalent about nitromethane. Upon initial exposure to an idling fuel motor, bystanders either sprint away from the sudden assault on eyes, ears, noses, and throats or rush like moths toward the rumble and smell spewing from flaming weedburners and zoomies. Thanks to a curious, noncompetitive activity called cackling, clouds of the stuff are hanging over more places than at any time since drag racing’s golden age a half-century ago—no dragstrip necessary. While supertracks are pricing too many young, impressionable prospects out of the national events that hooked their fathers and granddads, cackling brings tears of joy to the masses at nostalgia meets, neighborhood car shows, and even the SEMA Show. Admission ranges from cheap to free. Even small people can get right up close. Accessibility and proximity depend on how long one can hold one’s breath. (Gas masks are cheating.)

Nitroholics never get enough of the magic juice, though some addicts were seriously tested three times last fall in California. HOT ROD witnessed fuel cars rolling through downtown Escondido one night, push-started on Barona Drag Strip the next day, then cackling and racing at Famoso Raceway three weeks later. Though only one event involved actual competition, this much pop hadn’t gone up in flames in a single month since three rival organizations staged the United Drag Racers Association “Winner” Nationals, American Hot Rod Association Winter (two words) Nationals, and NHRA Winternationals on successive weekends in the mid-1960s. Many of the same drivers, car owners, engine builders, and a legendary announcer who made those Lions, Bee-Line, and Pomona meets so memorable were back on the scene, acting more like rowdy kids than septuagenarians and octogenarians.

This was especially evident at Barona, whose small crowd was top-heavy with heroes. At times, there were more autograph-signers in tents than fans in the ’stands (e.g., grand marshal Bruce Crower, Gary Beck, Jim Brissette, Gary Densham, Larry Dixon Sr., Mendy Fry, Marvin Graham, Red Greth, Rich Guasco, Tom Jobe, Tommy Ivo, Roland Leong, Don Long, Dode Martin, Ed McCulloch, Tom McEwen, Bob Muravez/Floyd Lippencott Jr., Bill Shrewsberry, Joe Schubeck, and Richard Tharp). Retiring announcer Jon “Thunder Lungs” Lundberg, 80, picked the Escondido-Barona double feature as his swan song and miraculously worked night and day without once losing the “Voice of Drag Racing.”

The oldest and youngest of the events were connected by much more than old heroes, old race cars, and old-fashioned loads of 98-percent pop. The newcomer, Steve Gibbs’ inaugural Nitro Revival, owed its existence to the controversial 25th edition that saw him resign his familiar official’s role as the 2016 event opened rather than be forced to enforce the cackling restrictions suddenly ordered by organization headquarters. Shortly thereafter, NHRA’s longtime competition director ended a 48-year relationship by rejecting a consultation contract that “was almost an agreement to stay out of the way,” Gibbs told HRM. “The reunion had become increasingly under the control and operation of the mothership. That all led to what happened in 2016. People came out of there mad, so Ron Johnson and I decided to do something else. Some guys made the choice to go to one, and not the other. A few did both. I didn’t strong-arm anybody.

“You know, the first Cacklefest was an afterthought,” Gibbs continued. “It wasn’t on the 2000 schedule. Greg and I could come up with different things. Everything didn’t have to have the blessing of the mothership. We told the guys that we’d try it if we had time. We pushed off eight cars that Saturday night. It touched a nerve. People started looking for their old cars or building new ones just to cackle. Since then, almost 250 different cars have push-started at some meet or show. Greg and I created a set of rules for them, requiring protective apparel, keeping things reasonable, and fun. I understand NHRA’s concerns, but I think it got to the point where if something might happen, you can’t do it. There’s always an element of risk, and if you can’t try to manage that, then you’re in the wrong business. You don’t want anything to go wrong, but at the same time, it’s motorsports.”

Again this year, Escondido’s Nitro Night and Barona’s Nitro Revival will run back to back on September 28–29, 2018, followed three weeks later by NHRA’s October 19–21 California Hot Rod Reunion. “The reunion was the center of the universe for this group of people for quite a while,” said the guy largely responsible for it. “Now, I’m not sure where that center is, but there needs to be one.”

One thing is for sure: Nostalgia drag racing and the cackle cars it spawned are giving nitroholics everywhere a second golden age of eye, ear, nose, and throat irritation, with no end in sight through that low-hanging, sweet-smelling cloud.

Unlike Civil War reenactors or Renaissance Fair goers, authentic hardware is operated by many of the very same drivers, tuners, and crewpersons who used it in the 1950s and especially the 1960s. Not many 81-year-olds are fit enough to wiggle into—and out of, with some help—a slingshot’s confines, but “TV” Tommy Ivo leaps at opportunities to whack the throttle of Ron Johnson’s reproduction “Barnstormer.” The long-lost original was among fewer than a dozen slingshots built by Rod Pepmuller at the short-lived Ivo Chassis Company.

All kinds of wheeled contraptions come together on Escondido’s Grand Avenue, in turn attracting kids of all ages to a welcoming downtown.

The quantity, quality, and variety of area cruisers far exceed a first-timer’s expectations. Beyond the split-window and Hertz Shelby is Grand Avenue, along which spectators were setting up chairs before noon.

As the supply of surviving slingshots dried up and prices shot up, Ron Johnson—onetime Minnesota Dragways publicist, action photographer, and partner in the Big Wheel fueler—made cloning acceptable by faithfully reincarnating not one, not two, but three of his all-time-favorite 1960s slingshots. Behind the scenes, he’s been instrumental in bringing cackle cars to Escondido and, for the first time this year, to Barona Drag Strip a day later. He was also a two-time cancer victim and one tough hombre, checking out of hospice long enough to enjoy both events. Ten days after hugging Gloria (Mrs. Steve) Gibbs on Grand Avenue, Johnson passed away at home.

Reproducing a particular, personal-favorite car is so commonplace that two clones now exist of the same Surfers’ slingshot, albeit in early versus late iterations. In the course of acquiring period-correct parts to recreate the earliest version, builder Bob Higginson and sole-surviving Surfer Tom Jobe unknowingly obtained what Hilborn identified as the company’s first four-port injector. Jobe reproduced the distinctive scoop. Beyond, sit Ron Johnson’s clones of the Schubert & Herbert Chevy fueler and Ivo’s Barnstormer.

Ironically, the king of making flames for fun is a retired fireman. Bill Pitts (left) decided to make a 392 Chrysler functional to liven up the MagiCar’s static display at early California Hot Rod Reunions. Event directors Steve Gibbs and Greg Sharp invited Pitts to idle the car in the background while announcers read the names of racers and friends who died in the past 12 months. More owners built motors and, boys being boys, lobbied to put their high-gear drivelines to use. Thus did an unscheduled, one-time exhibition accidentally invent the now-trademarked Cacklefest.

Even from behind a restaurant’s glass storefront, side-by-side fuel motors will rattle eardrums. Sarah Beaubara loves her hometown’s annual Nitro Night, but the twins seem undecided.

History’s hottest traditional hot rods are invited to play in the street with dragsters once each year. The Sacramento-based Burkholder brothers hung onto and revived a Chrysler-powered Fiat remembered as one of the north state’s fastest AA/Fuel Altereds.

Canadian Wendy Williams hauled her late father’s famous Top Gasser the length of the West Coast in his original, canvas-topped trailer. Amazingly, the 392 is the same bullet last run by Jack Williams. In the distance are the tower and concession stand. Named for the Barona Band of Mission Indians that owns the reservation property outside Lakeside (San Diego County), eighth-mile Barona Drag Strip was carved out of surrounding hills in layers.

Steve Gibbs, ex-NHRA racemaster turned independent cacklemaster, directed the first commercial gathering of real drag cars at a real dragstrip where no real drag racing occurred. He foresees a profitable future for the Nitro Revival concept here, and possibly at interested venues elsewhere.

With entrants not only allowed but encouraged to push-start or light off fuel motors at will, there wasn’t much quiet time for catching up with old pals. Rich Guasco (left) and Tom McEwen have been shouting over blown fuel motors for six decades.

The newly formed Cacklecar Owners Alliance came up with a new/old twist for Barona’s grand finale, recreating the side-by-side, on-track push-downs that heightened the drama of match-race duels between Chris Karamesines and Tommy Ivo.

As Ron Johnson looked on from the golf cart beside daughter Connie, son Kol Johnson and friend Mark McCormick pulled Ron’s two hobby cars to the line for a side-by-side exhibition launch that closed the single-day Barona program to applause.

Three weeks later at the California Hot Rod Reunion in Bako, on-track practice was offered for drivers of cackle cars and push vehicles, some of whom had never met their respective match. The customized F-100 has just fired the Syndicate Scuderia gas dragster with Wendy Williams aboard.

Unlike either of the single-day, noncompetitive San Diego County shows three weeks prior, Bakersfield’s reunion delivered three full days of for-real fuel racing. Adam Sorokin in the mouse-motored Champion Speed Shop streamliner dropped a close semifinal match to eventual runner-up Jim Murphy, the newly crowned NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series points champ.

John Hertzig’s Fiat-bodied AA/Fuel Altered demonstrated why a class that NHRA dropped four decades ago not only survives but thrives. By the time photographer Dave Kommel turned to shoot his first downtrack frame, the front tire was already smoking from abuse. Rookie pilot Kurt Cruise somehow kept the shiny side up by repeatedly whacking the throttle—until the right-front wheel and suspension mercifully snapped off, angling the “Awful-Awful” into the right-side wall and a long, grinding halt.

The look on little Crew Young’s mug suggests that nitromethane flows through the veins of father and son. Daddy Jim Young came from Wisconsin to defeat the world’s best modern slingshots and set Top Speed for the breed at 261.78.

Nostalgia Funny Cars ain’t what they used to be just a few short years ago, but there are still a lot of them. More than 30 shooting for 16 spots included Brad Thompson’s swoopy, droopy 1969 Camaro facsimile, which fell in round 2. Photographer Dave Kommel had a clear shot of the front end until the driver’s fiancée, Jana Treur, got in the way, dang it.

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