John Bowser (1943 - 2024) ran the Famoso dragstrip for many years. After he passed away, his son Blake took over operations. Famoso, a World War II airstrip, starting as a club racing event for the Smokers Car Club of Bakersfield in 1951. It is best known for the March Meet, originally the U.S. Fuel and Gas Championship, which began in 1959 and California Hot Rod Reunion.  19