Page 6 - 2019 NM Spring

Bakersfield – including Famoso. For many years, the the location of an auxiliary training base for the Army
locals have referred to the area as the oil patch. It is Air Corps during World War II. The base was named
no surprise that following the establishment of Famoso Shafter’s Minter Field, and had 2 separate runways,
Raceway in the 50’s, racers from throughout Southern both oriented north/south. There was a considerable
California began to refer to the track simply as The separation between the two runways, presumably for
Patch. equipment and service needs during the war.

The name Famoso means “famous” or “celebrated” The origins of Famoso Raceway began with the
in Spanish. Given what occurs in the area today, the Smokers, Inc., originally known as the Bakersfield
name is certainly appropriate. Originally, the area was Coupe and Roadsters Club. Jack Delaney, one of the

6 Nitro Madness Magazine Spring 2019