Street racing has been known to be illegal everywhere in the world. It is very dangerous to the driver and people bystanders. Many racers have either been killed during racing or been arrested by the police. In the early 1900's many people moved to California to get a better life. Many people owned automobiles, and street racing became very popular. Drag racing was the next form of horse racing. The infamous drag racing has been around since horse racing. Society took it as a bad habit and police started hunting down racers. Racing took place on the streets that I agree is illegal but the racers had nowhere to race. This made hot rods very popular.
Hot rods are very fast and did not take much to build. It attracted young people who love automobiles and speeding. Finding a place to race being difficult for the drivers. People wanted to engage in something fun and a way to enjoy their weekend. After the world war, people had a lot of money, and there was not very much activity in the country. In the 1940's, America had just survived Great Depression and WWII so there was a lot to cheer for, and people needed to do something that their generation will be remembered for. My idea of street racing is using exotic cars and speeding like there is no tomorrow. Interestingly enough, this documentary showed street racing similar to be as similar as I thought. Hot Roding is different from the street racing. They were fast, and they did not need to be on the streets, they needed strips.
In 1945, Hot Roding became the new form of drag racing. Drag racing evolved from using real cars to hot rods that were much easier to build, and they were faster. California was the home to hot rods and drag racing. The 1945generation loved cars, and creating hot rods gave them control over cars. Racing and speeding were some of the proofs to show that a man has control over a machine. In Santa Ana, California drag racers had strips were they race every weekend. This showed how passionate racers were about their cars. They were rebellious, and they brought families and friends to watch some of the racing.
One of the things that turned drag racing into a big spectator event was going mainstream. I believe hot rod racers took the right step by attracting people and showing them that racing is fun. Hot Roding became a family activity and a getaway event for the weekend. They attracted spectators and drivers from many states and the media help spread the news. Drag racing left the streets into a more harmless environment for both the spectators and the racers. Using airfield strips were a good idea because racers needed a long and straight road where they could speed and show off their hot rods. Hot Roding was changed from Illegal Street racing to a competitive and fun activity for racers and spectators.
Hot Roding became more organized and legitimized by Wally Parker. Wally had a passion for cars, and he did the right thing by finding a way to preserve hot Roding. Wally did the right thing by coming up with rules for Hot Roding by starting rules and regulations for racers and how to organize races. A major turning point for Hot Roding was its legalization and it had all the rights and protection that it needed. I believe Wally changed the infamous Hot Roding into one of the most spectators attracting event in 1950. I think the formation of the NHRA (National Hot Roding Association) was the best thing that happened to the sport. I believe that the NHRA not only became a protection for Hot Roding, but it also opened a limitless opportunity for the sport. The NHRA now paid it racers, people lived off racing, and the spectators loved it. The NHRA created jobs for people who designed new Hot Rod models and engines. The NHRA also took Hot Roding to Europe and attracted more spectators.
Drag racing is now a worldwide event with spectators from all over the world. Drag racing started off as an illegal activity in California into a worldwide event. I believe that the passion of the racers and the love for cars is what made drag racing a worldwide event. People like Wally Parker changed drag racing into a worldwide sport. This documentary changed my perspective on how drag racing was taken from the streets into a safe location where people from all around the world now enjoy.
