California Hot Rod Reunion

Ryan Horan throws the chutes to slow his Nostalgia Funny Car after a hard run down the Famoso quarter-mile on Thursday at the California Hot Rod Reunion. The car features a tribute to longtime family friend Chris Raschke, who passed away in August.

 Tom Macht / For The Californian

The original premise of the California Hot Rod Reunion when it first began in 1992 was to honor the people and machines from the early days of drag racing.

Shortly after land speed racer Chris Raschke lost his life in a crash at the Bonneville Salt Flats on Aug. 5, Dan Horan knew he had to do something to honor his good friend.