Recreated Dragster Debuts at Bakersfield Cacklefest

A historic 1964 unblown dragster returns to the track after being rebuilt by hand.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Car Culture

Recreated Dragster Debuts at Bakersfield Cacklefest

Live Poll

Do you believe restoring historical machinery is a valuable way to preserve local heritage?

Ernie Manoleas recently debuted a full recreation of the legendary Logghe-Marsh-Steffey dragster at the Nitro Revival Cacklefest in Bakersfield. The project honors the 1964 world record-holding vehicle, which was previously lost following a crash in Florida.

Why it matters

The reconstruction preserves a significant piece of drag racing history that was otherwise gone. By utilizing original photos and archival technical knowledge, the build allows enthusiasts to witness a vehicle that once set the standard for unblown dragster performance.

The recreation features a 389 cubic inch small-block Chevrolet engine and a Studebaker crankshaft forging modified by Moldex. The original vehicle famously recorded a 7.92-second elapsed time at 187 mph in 1964.

The players

Ernie Manoleas

He is the enthusiast who commissioned the reconstruction of the vehicle to honor the legacy of his friend John Logghe.

John Marsh

He is the son of original driver Jim Marsh and contributed technical labor to the recreation project.

Andy Gemmete

He is a fabricator who used his extensive experience to rebuild the dragster chassis from historical photographs.

The details

Fabricator Andy Gemmete reverse-engineered the chassis using vintage photographs to ensure structural accuracy. John Marsh, son of original driver Jim Marsh, assisted with the build by completing the fuel injection, machining, and welding work required to bring the car back to life.

The original dragster achieved an 8.14-second run in 1963.
The vehicle held the record for the fastest unblown dragster in 1964.
Original driver Jim Marsh passed away in 1999.
The recreation debuted at the Famoso Dragstrip in October 2026.

Roadmap

This project highlights a growing trend in the automotive hobby where enthusiasts prioritize the revival of historically significant machines through digital archival and custom fabrication. It demonstrates how modern technical skills are successfully bridging the gap between lost racing heritage and present-day car culture.

Fans visiting the Famoso Dragstrip can now see the restored machine in action during future exhibition events. Enthusiasts looking to undertake similar projects can expect significant investments in specialized machining and custom chassis fabrication.

The takeaway

Preserving automotive history often requires a blend of archival photography and modern precision engineering to overcome the loss of original components. Fans of vintage drag racing can support these efforts by attending grassroots revival events that showcase these reconstructed legends.