LastRites I am not opposed to anything honoring Rick Mears, he really was the first famous spectacle beside Buck Owens to be proud to call Bakersfield his home, he stayed here until around 1991 when he moved to Florida and most all of the Mears still live here. I think we should do more to honor those that are PROUD to call Bakersfield the hometown but those that leave and never come back, well I don't feel the same.

I hear you on honoring those PROUD enough to call Bakersfield home. But let's not forget that Harvick's hacienda rests off of the shoreline of beautiful Lake Norman in North Carolina. I'm not bothered by him moving to be closer to his job. I just don't want Lake Norman to name a street Harvick Lane before Bakersfield or Oildale does it. Just like I don't want a retirement villa in Florida claiming to be the home of 4-time Indy 500 champ Rick Mears, while Bakersfield argues about guys that are still racing or throwing a football or tackling RBs.

Of course, we could take a cue from Tampico, Dixon and Eureka, Illinois. Tampico is the birthplace of Ronald Reagan, Dixon is the hometown of Ronald Reagan and Eureka is the college town of Ronald Reagan. All have prominent signage when you drive into town.

Harvick is a good driver.  When he does win it is in spite of a bad car.  Usually his car will not run with the faster one for qualifying or racing. I agree that Rick Mears should come first. how about Frank Gifford.  He still claims Bakersfield as his home town even while living where the work is. If you are looking for a person who has done a lot for Bakersfield in racing I would pick Marion Collins.

It would be kinda hard to commute daily to Lake Norman from Bakersfield for Kevin, hell you can barely get a flight to Sacramento and that might end soon. Harvick truly loves Bakersfield his family is still here, I am not slammin Rick Mears but he didn't leave Bako until after he retired, I know he is proud of the town but why leave? LR tell me what Rick Mears has done for Bakersfield besides being the first to give us recognition in the racing world? What has he done that is significant for this community?

I know Kevin is young in his career, but he hasn't abandoned his roots, he is still giving back big time and let's face it besides Joey Porter he is really the only one that is helping the community ala his Alma Matter..

Where is David Carr, Rick Mears, Frank Gifford, Robert Swift, Jeff Buckey, Members of KORN, Merle Haggard, Brock Marion and so on... When is the last time you heard about these folks coming back to help their high school or the locals kids or anything.Maybe it is a little early for Harvick but he keeps Bakersfield in the spot light because of who he is and what he does.

I heard Merle still has detention time to makeup at high school,

LastRites -

I agree 1000% about Rick Mears... 

I've been trying (in vain) for over a decade to get something - anything named after Rick Mears.  I have appeared at Board of Supervisors meetings, City Council meetings any venue I thought might help to no avail.

Twelve men have walked on the face of the moon but there have only been three four-time Indy-500 winners!  In this town, it doesn't matter if more men have walked on the moon than have won the Indy-500 as many times as Rick has,  he doesn't get recognized. However, if you wanna name a (flawed) freeway interchange after a former city council member - that's perfectly acceptable.  Hell, here in Bakersfield, not naming it after Mark Salvaggio would be a waste of a perfectly good off ramp! 

Until this city honors the achievements of Rick Mears I will consider the local politicians of this city to be nothing more than self-serving, small-time,  petty potentates more interested in furthering their political fortunes than honoring real honest-to-God achievement.

PureAmerican, let's make sure we compare apples to apples.

Your argument is that because Kevin Harvick still calls Bakersfield home but lives in North Caroliina, we should honor him. But we shouldn't name a street after Rick Mears because he moved away after he retired from racing.

I talked with Mike Griffith, who covered 3 of his 4 Indy 500 wins about this, and he was quick to point out that Rick Mears lived in Bakersfield during his entire racing career. He had an estate in the Seven Oaks area. Mears' mom and dad still live here, so he hasn't abandon his roots. That's presumptuous to say that Rick has abandoned his roots. Rick did celebrity races in the 80s at Mesa Marin. Charity events, silent auctions weren't big business in the 80s, like they are now. So giving back to the community is difficult to reference.

LR - Let me clear something up, I did not intend to argue that Rick does not deserve to be recognized for his great accomplishments, I am a huge Rick Mears fan and have always been. My point being is that Bakersfield tends to forget about those that bring positive influence to our great city. I did not intend this to be a Rick Mears bashing, it just kind veered that way. Maybe Kevin should accomplish more before giving him honors in the city, but if someone don't start putting the bug in someones ear he will be forgotten.

And to Curt Daltons point, he's right, Salvaggio was a teacher of mine in Jr High and what a poor excuse of a teacher. He has an interchange named after him? I guess if the interchange is flawed then it is probably fitting!

A politician that did nothing but cater to anyone that stuffed his own pockets.

I think a Rick Mears blvd would be cool................I remember watching him race on tv when I was a little one.......When I moved to Bakersfield in 1980 the only thing I knew about this town was that Mears was from it................

I am a big Harvick fan but I agree that it is too soon in his career to be naming anything after him...........But If he continues to give back to bako like he has then yes I do think one day he Will have a street named after him......But first he's got to pay his dues.....

PA, I knew you weren't disrespecting Rick. I hope I'm not coming across as disrespecting Kevin, either. Having lived in North Carolina for three years and moving to Bakersfield, I know all about NASCAR.

I'm just in favor of honoring Kevin after we honor those who came before him. Let's not forget our past in hopes of remembering the present.

Of all the local high profile athletes, the one's whose names pop up most often are Harvick and Joey Porter. those guys should be honored in say 5-10 years. For now, let's stick with Rick. Since everyone races on Rosedale Hwy (when not stuck moving 5-8 MPH), let's change it to Rick Mears Bvld. Wouldn't it be cool to see the corner of Buck Owens and Rick Mears?

There is a street in Olive Park (NW Bakersfield) named Harvick. That is plenty.

John Burns Sucks Avenue. There would be a Hooter's (naturally). A used car dealer. A gym. No churches.

I think there should be a "The Rest of Us" Street.  To celebrate the little people who've done so much for this city.

There are no"liyyle people" except in fairy tales. 

First of all Kevin Harvick lives in Kernersville which is 1 hour from Lake Norman. 2nd of all why would you want to name a street after someone who just started doing for his hometown.  If he does not have a relationship with his dad for something stupid he would be more than willing to turn his back on Bakersfield.  Kevin's Loyalty is in NC with his wife and her family.  He would never move home so why reward him.  There are way too many other people worthy to have a street named after them.  Let's face it in the 10+ years he has been racing what has he done for Bakersfield?  I guess recently but that does not warrent a street.  Respect the parents, respect the hometown reward him.  He has given way more to the Kernersville and NC area.  So let them give him a street.

lalisa, I'll leave those comments alone. I try to stay away from family riffs. Kind of like the Florez, Parra situation. Just let the family's deal with it.

LETS GET IT RIGHT PEOPLE....YES RICK MEARS SHOULD HAVE  A STREET ,DALTON SAID IT ALL.YES RICK IS RETRIED AS A DRIVER,BUT FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DONT KNOW RICK STILL WORKS FULL TIME FOR PENSKE RACING AND IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE WHOLE STOREBUY RICK NEW BOOK THST JUST CAME OUT LAST WEEK.TITLE...RICK MEARS THANKS THE STORY OF THE MEARS GANG  GOOD BIO,,,,WORTH THE PRICE (GOT MINE FREE]

lalisa do you watch nascar?

YEA THE MEARS GANG AS THEY ARE CALLED  MADE BAKERSFIELD A RACING PLACE AND GAVE IT A NAME BUT BEFORE THEM WAS A GUY NAMED TONY WATERS I KNEW HIM HE HAD A ROASTER WITH A BLOWN DESOTO IN IT AND HE TORE UP THE DRAG STRIPS,HE EVEN BEAT BIG DADDY GARLITS,THEN THERE IS DARREL JENKINS IN DRAG BOATS HE WAS THE FIRST TO PUT A CADDY V8 IN A BOAT AND BEAT THE FLATHEAD FORDS,HOW ABOUT GEORGE SNYDER FROM BAKERSFIELD ALSO HE DROVE SPRINT CARS AND ALSO DROVE FOR A J FOYT

WELL KEVIN MOVED BACK TO NC BECAUSE THATS WHERE NASCAR IS,HE IS STILL A BAKERSFIELD BOY.OH THERE WAS ANOTHER CALIFORNIA BOY THAT MOVED BACK TO NASCAR COUNTRY HIS NAME IS ERNIE ERVAN

MAYBE THEY WILL NAME A STREET AFTER YOU CALLED NO NAME