Local Heros Serving up Some Fun at the Western Street Rod Nationals

Western Street Rod Nationals, Bakersfield CA, Photographed by Jessica Mullich

April 26 kicks off the National Street Rod Associations 35th Annual Western Street Rod Nationals to be held at the Kern County Fairgrounds. More than 2,000 of the nations coolest hot rods will be gathering together at the fairgrounds to compete for prizes, sponsorships and an article in Street Scene magazine. Many of the National Street Rod Association’s sponsors accompanied by local vendors will be setting up booths and exhibits at the event held here in Kern County.

Hot rods are cars built somewhere between 1930 and 1980, that have been modified for performance and speed. In 2009 the NSRA created what is known as the 30 year rule for all show cars, meaning the cars must be at least 30 years old to compete.

Bakersfield’s finest firefighters will be once again be serving up delicious fool and icy margaritas to raise proceeds for the Bakersfiel City Relief Association Local BFD enineer Jason Johnson has recruited local firefighters and their families to fill, pour, and serve at this weekends event.

Two-time volunteer, my father Bakersfield City Fire Captain Jeff Mullich said, “The first year out at the car show, we had a difficult time finding enough volunteers to come out. When the show returned the following year word had gotten out about how much fun everyone had and we’ve had a packed house ever since. It’s always cool when we can all get together with our family and friends.

For more than 30 years the Bakersfield Relief Associtation and its many volunteers have been dedicating time and resources to mutiple charities such as Relay for Life, The Bakerfield FireFighters Burn Foundation, Make A Wish and “Fill the Boot” for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

“We look forward to this event every year. It’s a great opportunity to interact with the people in our community and to see some really cool cars. It’s amazing the transformations these cars undergo. They’re all so unique and different. It’ll be interesing to see what’s new this year, said Johnson.

Opening Day will be Friday, April 26 and will continue through the weekend to Sunday April 26. The gates will open at 8:30 Fridaya and Saturday and at 8 on Sunday. Event parking cots is $3. General admission for adults 12 and up is $14, admission for children 6 to 12 is $5 and aadmission for under 6 is free when accompanied by an adult. Senrior citizen and veteran discounts are available upon purchase of admission. No outside food or drinks permitted.