It’d be disingenuous to claim that Robert E. Petersen founded HOT ROD in 1948 for any reason other than to capitalize on advertising for the burgeoning speed-equipment marketplace, but when he did so, HRM quickly became the largest and loudest voice to help sell products. Companies like Edelbrock existed many years before HRM began, but many pioneers have credited Petersen for making their business thrive, which led to more companies springing up. So, while HOT ROD didn’t create the industry, it certainly made it huge and mainstream.
HOT ROD’s first editor, Wally Parks, was hired in 1949, and made it his mission to lend legitimacy to hot rodding in general, leading to work with local police departments and even placement in TV shows such as Dragnet. This alone helped the marketplace. In 1951, Wally founded the National Hot Rod Association from within the HOT ROD offices and used the magazine as its bugle, to the near exclusion of any other organizer after NHRA held its first drag race in Pomona in 1953. Today, NHRA remains the single largest drag racing sanctioning body.
This story is from the January 2021 edition of Hot Rod.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 2021 edition of Hot Rod.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
What Is Pro Street?
You know it when you see it.
Pro Street in Pure Vision
Builder Steve Strope weighs in on the Pro Street look and what he would build today.
THE GAS ERA LIVES ON
These vintage race cars chart the evolution of technology in the early days of drag racing.
MOTOR HEAD FOR LIFE
Scott Sullivan is one of the original Pro Street pioneers. He still builds cars today out of a small shop in Dayton, Ohio.
BRINGING BACK PRO STREET!
David Freiburger and Roadkill Garage built a Pro Street Nova.
SWEET ASPIRATIONS
Jerry and Matthew Sweet added an 800ci Pro Stock mountain motor to chase HOT ROD Drag Week's Pro Street NA Record.
Making Bad Decisions Badder
Bradley Gray's 1970 Nova is a Hybrid! It's a streetable Funny Car.
ART PROJECT
This Rad Rides by Troy-built '63 split-window Corvette went from restaurant prop to ripping up the street!
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
THE PRO STREET ERA PEAKED IN THE '80S. ARE WE IN THE BEGINNING OF A RESURGENCE?
Making Connections
Project T-top Coupe: We install a Terminator X Max for big power.