Roger Coburn
Legend has it that in the early 60s members of several fuel dragster teams would post themselves on the highway between Bakersfield and LA on race dates to find out where the little blue Chevy powered Warren and Coburn dragster was headed so they could race elsewhere. Thus, was born the title “Ridge Route Terrors” proudly carried by Roger Coburn and his long-time driver/partner James Warren during their 23 seasons together. Coburn’s 6’7″ presence is punctuated by a few words, but his engines and unusual combinations did plenty of the talking for him. The team began racing in the late ’50s with an unusual rear engine Chrysler dragster; went on to a twin-engine Chrysler and Chevy combination, the Chevy fuelerthat capitalized on every bit of available tire technology to terrorize the big Chrysler’s. Coburn finally partner with Marvin Miller in a long series of “Rain for Rent Special’s” that won their prestigious hometown event, the Bakersfield US Fuel and Gas Championships, four times including three in a row! They were the first to record back up speeds 230 mph, winning four NHRA Pacific Division titles and numerous NHRA and AHRA national events before or Warren retired from driving in 1981. Although they rarely venture from Southern California, Coburn tuned machines were always considered among the toughest country.