Dry Lake Memories

VINTAGE HOT ROD AND RACING PHOTOS FROM PREWAR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

On November 26, 1937, representatives from five amateur racing clubs gathered together and organized the present Southern California Timing Association. In almost a year of operation, it has experienced many ups and downs and plenty of hard knocks. This type of automobile racing, as sponsored by the Association, means nothing from the standpoint of profit to any individual whatsoever. Many long hours of hard work have gone into the preparations for these races, and the results have been very satisfactory.

—Wally Parks, Editor, SCTA Racing News program, October 2, 1938

That statement marked the beginning of amateur hot rod racing, when Wally Parks and hundreds like him with their “hot irons” became one under the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) banner. Their individual efforts were printed in the SCTA Racing News program, which one could purchase for 5 cents. They turned their energies into breaking records, not the law. Of course, street racing didn’t go away, but running for timing tags at the dry lakes— instead of speeding tickets on the boulevard— provided a more heralded desire.

It is fair to say that every hop-up that ventured across nature’s race courses before the war had a part in the history of hot rodding that will never be duplicated. A few went on to become legends during that time—like Ernie McAfee (responsible for earning more points than any other competitor in 1939), Karl Orr, Bob Rufi, and the Spalding brothers.

Yet, a remarkable 122 average-Joe racers entered the SCTA event at Harper Dry Lake (located near Barstow) on September 10, 1939. The well-known Ernie McAfee with the Road Runners was listed at the top of the entrants list in the program, and Glendale Ramblers member Arthur Male Jr. was listed last.