Life in High Gear

 For over half a century, hot rods have been a part of American history, right up there with sock hops and poodle skirts. OK, maybe it was beer bottles and leather jackets. At any rate, hot rodding was eventually labeled a valid sport. Some sources place the beginning of hot rod racing, or drag racing, as early as the 1920s.



In 1932, Ford developed a V-8 engine that increased a cars power. New technology allowed vehicles to top speeds over 100 miles per hour, making it a pivotal moment in the history of the rod. The Ford Model T and the Model A Roadster were the first examples of this type of transportation. Back in the day they were called Soup Ups, or gow jobs. Stripped down for aerodynamic edge, tires raised for optimum speed, a few tricked out features and a new trend was born.

In the early stages, building these vehicles took skill, imagination and a little luck. Parts werent exactly easy to come by. Mechanics often swapped gear to custom fit their cars needs (www.hotrodparts.com certainly didnt exist). Rolled-up cigarette sleeves and black leather boots didnt come along until a little later, but the souped-up vehicle was definitely a trend that was sticking around.

The beginnings of hot rod racing took place in Sunny California. Cars could go long distances at top speeds on the states flat terrain, making it prime racing territory. One of the favorites, Muroc dry lake, was ideal for testing the dexterity of these cars. About a hundred miles out of Los Angeles, the lake was 10 miles wide and 22 miles long. It was one big open stretch that fulfilled the need for speed. The retail industry that helped hot rods grow further soon followed.

Speed shops posted bulletins offering sponsorship to cars willing to abide by general safety measures. Large crowds soon began to amass to see these mean machines race. The first real meet took place in 1931. This is when the validity of this sport began to take shape. Thousands attended, proving just how popular hot rodding had become. Entries had names like The Road Runners, Sidewinders and Gophers. Safety concerns amongst these enthusiasts sparked a motion to form committees to monitor and regulate the races. These were the people who opened the doors to the pro racing circuit.

In 1937, the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) was formed. SCTA was the first actual racing organization that implemented a more professional approach to the sport. These committees inspected the vehicles, timed the races, enforced spectator safety guidelines, and scouted new locations. The prizes were minimal in these races, but that didnt matter. The thrill of racing your car was plenty reward. The sport, however, took a nearly fatal blow when World War II became a reality. The armed forces kidnapped 80% of the countrys able bodied young men, and hot rods were put on the back burner. The SCTA s membership dropped to less than a hundred members.

Once the war ended, hot rods made their resurgence back into the population in a big way. Mechanically inclined military men returning from the war and high-spirited youth wanted something more exciting then the average car. So they took to their garages and built what we now refer to as classics.

With better tools, more elaborate designs and lightning-fast speeds, hot rods became an icon of the 50s. However, the mainstream public did not favor these shined out cars. Hot rods carried the stigma of an atypical lifestyle. You know: the slicked back greaser with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. Tattoos, booze and dirty girls. Im not quite sure how these associations make you a bad person per se, but the conservative, narrow-minded populous of the 50s tried to hamper the development of racing. Serious or fatal accidents were common, damaging hot roddings image even further. Mainstreamers referred to the racers as Jalopy Heads. Judges proposed laws that impounded these cars, and local authorities were given permission to soup up their own vehicles to catch alleged offenders.

In 1948, Hot Rod magazine was introduced. This magazine had a mission: to promote hot rodding as a legitimate sport. It wanted to break the cars away from their jaded image and become accepted by the general public. The magazine formed a group of committee members that included law enforcement agencies, known as the AHRC (American Hot Rod Conference). This organization attempted to define drag racing, and set the tone for future races.



By 1952, hot rod racing was beginning its peak. Hot Rod magazine was a major contributor by helping fund and organize what is now known as the National Hot Rod Association. This organization helped ease hot rods into the main stream. The club soared to 15,000 members and almost 3,000 clubs across the nation. Various associations and zines would follow, but the NHRA was the founding element that made hot rod racing what it is today. In the 21st century, classic hot rod cars are as popular as ever. Competition shows are held through different associations, depending on the year and make of the car.

The National Street Rod Association breezed through Tampa recently, and I decided to attend. The event was the 2001 NSRA Division Nationals, and all cars were pre-1950. I thought it would be interesting to see what the scene was like and wanted to take pictures of some of my favorites. When I entered the Street Rod show, I wasnt sure what to expect. Actually, you could spend all day looking at the cars in the parking lot alone.

look at this hot number ( the car is nice too )

I spoke with Mike Hall, from Venice, Fla., who owns a 1939 Chevy Coupe. I asked him how he got into hot rods and he said it goes way back to high school. He purchased his vehicle 28 years ago, and still comes out to shows and modifies his car on a regular basis. The Coupes hues have changed from green to blue to yellow, to its current color: red. Hall boasted about his journey of bringing the car from a heap of junk to a sweet classic ride. I mentioned that I had read a lot of the owners have their cars towed in for the shows, and that they are rarely driven. Hall snickered, Oh, you mean Trailer Queens? He proudly explained that he drives his car everywhere and believes thats where the enjoyment comes from. A lot of the older hot rod owners prefer to show them off and keep them stored away otherwise.

Some 70 years after their invention, hot rods are still a huge and integral part of American culture. There is a wide range of people who own these vehicles, for an equally wide range of reasons. Some like to compete for trophies, other like to the thrill of hot rodding on the open road. But there will always be the common factors: the hard and fast love these owners feel for their rods, and the pride of owning a piece of Americas car culture.

Eva Dark

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