Ingenuity In Action - NHRA Hot Rod Film (1959)

Made for hot rod fans; explains how to prepare and enter a car show; also serves as an ethnographic account of the "nomadic tribe of hotrodders".

[@faerieSAALE]

I WANT THIS AMERICA BACK! I hate today's society and its obsession with perversion, sex, deceit, dishonesty, brutality, social media, bullying, hateful rhetoric, fake news, propaganda, and lies. I want 27 cents a gallon gasoline, 15 cent Hamburgers, 10-15 cent French Fries, 35 -75 cents movies, 75 cent banana splits, 25 cent A&W root beers, warm sunny clear days at the beach, where it is quiet, uncrowded, and the beaches are clean and the air smells wonderful. I want to be able to buy a very good three-year-old used car for $1,500 again. That's what I paid for my 1963 Austin Healey 3000 in 1966. In California, in 1968, I bought a 1956 Jaguar XK140 roadster w/ 62,000 miles or $1,800 and it was gorgeous. Quite the car for an 18-19-year-old girl to be driving around. Yes - I want that AMERICA back - not the one we have today.

[@nixjag1]

A professionally made film like this is priceless. Seeing those cars makes me crazy for the old days ('60-'70's) when race cars had a personality.

[@tonymazz9912]

When America was America, the best of times.

[@dwalker399]

Except for that music!

[@Cheva-Pate]

MAGA!

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

Now its just, 'Merica.

[@JohnJohn-zn8ib]

@@dwalker399 bit better than having some loud rock noise which seems to be the thing these days with the dumb producers.

[@dwalker399]

@@JohnJohn-zn8ib Very Very True.

[@frankdalla]

105 octane gasoline, right from the pump, possibilities limited only by your ability and imagination. Parents who somehow understood, although not always agreed to their kids plans.... My father said, " Leave your street car alone. If you want to race, build a race car and take it to the track. Thats where the racers are at." Words I'll never forget. And thats what I did. For nearly 30 years... Once you win, you are never the same. I suppose thats true of everything, but especially automobile racing. Those days are mostly gone now. It takes more than just hard work and determination. But oh what a time it was for a California kid with his mind made up!

[@tomshiba51]

Actually, allow me to clarify my previous statement; That music makes me feel that there was no wrong in the world. It was safe, non-threatening, and was (as I see it, and yes, I do remember this type of music) meant to inspire anyone that personal effort was preferred and viewed as helping the rest of us, not ostracized as selfish, self-indulgent, and greedy.

[@rickb9238]

That kiss at the end would be a date with a lawyer these days.

[@Rikitocker]

Simpler times and a different world ... great days indeed!

[@lescobrandon3047]

I remember well the flag guy sending us off. When we raced in the streets, the prettiest girl would drop her hanky. 👩🏼‍🔬

[@markmark2080]

DAMN, THAT WAS GOOD, old school 50's engines a couple years before the 406,409, and 413 really gave the sport a kick in the ass and got the 60's era started. I was 12 in '59 and just discovering "hot rod" magazines, I didn't see my first drag race until 1964. This film was really well done and I got a kick out of some of the early travel scenes on the old Route 66.

[@DonBishopDonSongs]

This is a Great Movie!:) 1958 was Just two years after I was born. All the guys in the movie look like the old Pics of my Dad. And He was a Hot Rodder too:) We had an old 1930's Chevy Sedan in our Back yard for years. He never got to finish it and Mom sold it to my Cousin. I did get to ride in it though, when I was about 5 years old. I remember it like it was yesterday!:) Man I wish I had that Car now!

[@ianmangham4570]

COOL

[@lescobrandon3047]

Just two years before my hot rod days. What a great time. I raced at Westhampton NY, Islip NY (1/8th mile) and Englishtown NJ with ‘61 Chevy 348hp and 62 Chevy 409. Same time in 1962 I assisted Shacker & Pim with their A roadster and B gas dragster.

[@smokeynewton]

Man, those were the days. I was 7 years old when this film was made. It all started falling apart in the 60's.

[@ianmangham4570]

YUP

[@tonyhurd5697]

That’s funny because I was born seven years after this film , in Ypsilanti Michigan. About 28 miles down Michigan ave from Detroit. I grew up by the old bomber plant . It made war planes and tanks in the early 40’s and your right those were the good ol’ days .

[@Convoycrazy]

This documentary is a GEM!

[@stevenpatterson5782]

Outstanding. Such 'clean' times back then.

[@hoffbug]

RIP Jim Nelson.... 84 years old and was still racing a dragmaster chassis with an LS engine last year...

[@BigTex347]

Loved it!! Just loved it !!!!!!!!!! It takes me back to a simpler time when all kinds of sports like drag racing and surfing were coming into their own. There was alot of cross-over in those ealy days between surfers, sky divers, drag racers and other thrill-seekers. What a great time to be young. Thanks form posting.

[@terrymcgee3504]

Loved those vintage rails. Ah, the of flood of nostalgia. And the music...no godawful rap. Thanks for the video!

[@garysmith5781]

Nice, I enjoyed it..love all the old cars..😁

[@ddreamberry2]

17:32 Nick threw it on the ground. He don't need a trash can, he's not part of that system.

[@jwyche]

This was an awesome movie. I was 10 years old in 1948 and already a collector of Car Craft and Hot Rod magazine. Seems that they were twenty-five cents a copy. Still have some of those and now I'm going to see if I have the issue featuring this. Thanks so much for posting it!

[@zachjacobs3337]

If u are not dead respond to this comment

[@georgie4728]

would love to have lived back then.

[@ianmangham4570]

Good food and cleaner air

[@filthylucreonyoutube]

Most of us who did remember it fondly, the downside is we're all really old now... 🤓

[@mred5998]

I started racing in 1965 at Skyline Speedway , Ohio , Been racing something till 2015 ....Loved it .

[@faerieSAALE]

I DID! good times mostly until the start of the VIETNAM disaster.

[@johnschnellbach986]

Easy. Live today like it is yesterday. Get an old hot rod Don't cuss, drugs and all of today's crap Put down the phone Mind your manners Build something. Actual not virtual

[@VinnyDaQ]

16:47 GAWD, I love that sound !!! : )

[@andyharman3022]

A lot to like in this video: Broad western vistas and the allure of the open road. "Ohio" George Montgomery. Art Arfons and the Allison-powered Green Monster. Potvin crank-driven blowers. Wally Parks and Robert Petersen confabbing with the presidents of GM and Chrysler. That sexy Willys A/Gas coupe. And the big rig that hauled it. American post-war optimism.

[@rtkl13]

Potvin.....that's the name I couldn't remember it....cool thks for the remind

[@johnmilner7603]

If I had a Time Machine I’d go back as a teen in the 50’s, and stay, life was so simple. I was a teen in the late 60’s and grew up with the British Invasion music which was great.

[@philstall6262]

THESE ARE THE VERY VERY BEST MUSCLE CARS OF THE 50S & 60S AND INFACT MY FATHER ALWAYS TALKS ABOUT THE 1959 CHEVROLET BISCAYNE THAT HE OWNED BACK IN 1964 HE BROUGHT IN DRESDEN ONTARIO CANADA 🇨🇦 AND WAS A 348 3 IN THE TREE AND BLACK INTERIOR SILVER BLACK AND WAS VERY STRONG AND VERY FAST.

[@dwightcole6989]

Very pleasant video. Watching in 2022.

[@1951RKP]

This is great.

[@normangensler7380]

What excellent musical arrangement! A positive, upbeat happy sound! I'll take this anyday over today's "kill a cop" gangsta krap! Nothing creative has been done in music for decades!

[@spheresector]

Did anyone notice: That was Art Arfons the famous landspeed record breaker!

[@johnhand871]

Art Arfons, Akron Ohio. Ran Green monsters, which were aircraft gas engined dragsters. Then was one of the first if not the first to fit in a jet engine.

[@ianmangham4570]

TRIPPY,time goes so fast I'm spinning

[@KillbillySpeedshop]

Just one day! Give me just one day to be there!

[@trihalogen]

what a great Video, greeetings from Germany where we never had a sound like this!

[@totalrecall8385]

Could you imagine time warping today's engines to that era,those people would freak out.

[@xxRamD3yruxx]

This makes me feel great and also horrible, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE AMERICA? DETROIT??

[@lakeprairieag]

Progress... That's why this was not a film about a chariot race

[@MrCtsSteve]

There were many factors in Detroit's demise . You guys are a trip . Democrats and negros . Wake up ... Christ

[@TheTmshuman]

@@MrCtsSteve You must not be too keen on history. The party of John Wilks Booth, Jim Crow, and the KKK etc. where exactly responsible for any lack of assimilation concerning any perspective minority group. We are awake, and seen a pattern sweeping across all major democratic strongholds. Identity politics. You know, the same kind used to persecute the jews? Nice try though.

[@TheBandit7613]

@@TheTmshuman Wow, you hit the nail on the head a year ago.

[@TheTmshuman]

ChrisNVegas To be fair, Joe McCarthy saw it happening 70 years ago...

[@RobertBrumley60]

I supposed those hair doo's is what the Beach Boy's described as Butchy. Butchy, Bon, Bon. Great video! enjoyed a portion of my history.

[@markkraus3598]

Great videos,Thanks!

[@Hooli22]

NHRA should make ones these every year, how cool to see Wally Parkes at this early event. racin racin forever racin!

[@whorayful]

Acres and acres of sheet metal, heaven. Not one fire suit or fire extinguisher in sight.

[@Rockandroll3118]

Great old film from a period when I was beginning my drag racing career behind the wheel! Only trouble with it is that this is of the 1959 Nationals. In 1958, the Nats were held at Oklahoma City (I was on the crew of a D/Gas car from Dallas). R.I.P. Jim Nelson

[@Drutato]

Connell, the drags in Oklahoma in this film appear to be at the Oklahoma City State Fairgrounds. Is that also where the 1958 Nationals were held?

[@duckman195]

Yeah, I'm old school (1949) and this was great, even the "Leave It To Beaver" music. Check @ 6:11 the 27 & 29 in the background is the price per gallon in cents for gas. Those were the days. I even remember in 1971 filling my '70 383 4 speed CUDA sometimes 3 times on Friday & Saturday nights racing from red light to red light in Orlando between Steak n Shakes on Colonial Dr, and 17-92 in Winter Park!!! YEAH BUDDY!!!!

[@edwardchascsa4191]

2020 , imagine Detroit Dragway one of the original big time tracks. I miss it.

[@mikewashere01]

The track is still there. Abandon but there. Detroit is slowly getting better. Tearing down old buildings etc.

[@cmsracing]

And that sums up why I race! Great movie! Got three fron the 60's myself!

[@stu460]

awesome video,great viewing

[@Yimaj]

thnx 4 uploadin'

[@rodracer38]

1958 power tour

[@generallee5100]

This is the same music they used in the early 60's for the sex ed. films....." Jonny should use a prophylactic...."

[@59cadcoupe]

Enjoyed it, like being there in 1959!

[@faerieSAALE]

OMG - LOL - @6:11 note the gasoline prices on the sign. I well remember when it was that cheap.

[@ericdolby1622]

I sooooo wish I had been born 60 years ago.

[@CaptDesmo]

disconnect, controller down, iPad/iPhone off and build something..... use the beautiful mind and create......

[@steve1967gila]

The Green monster Wow i will never forget firsttime i saw it great vidio

[@WesTurly]

Super good !

[@PoeRacing]

Lol at "expensive noises". Awesome video.

[@bash5995]

That dragster looks almost like Grandpa's coffin dragster from the Munsters.

[@paradisemace1]

At 18:20... Those were some damn big knots on that cam !

[@aureliobrighton1871]

The first time I saw 'Allison' on film ... actually an active vulcan on a cart chassis with a seat mounted in front .. which does not hurt when the drivetrain emigrates to South America ... besides the soundtrack may add to the impression of some innocuous hobby 😓

[@Ticklemytummy]

sweet vid - i wasn't born for another 10 yrs after this but i even recognized some of the names :)

[@jerrykelley4470]

Ahhhh,the way it was.

[@douglasadams6024]

look how well dressed everyone was

[@superinnovated]

YOu have great passion the creator of this channel smiled through the video motion 69 camaro L89 427 ralley green is currantly my passion

[@sbrunnstrom]

Lovley clips. Real life :)

[@bohdi316]

Great Rat Fink hat!

[@jwyche]

Rick, I'm so far over the edge I can't see the edge anymore!

[@PhaseConverterampV]

Looks like no PJ1 trackbite back then. Blazing the hides down 1/2 track. Cool vid from the archives.

[@Hassebilder]

Love this to!

[@LFMotorhead]

Great movie.

[@socal57chevy]

Very cool.

[@Mercmad]

22:00 Herman Moser in his ram rod, the actual ramcharger car, powered with a 354 Hemi and built by Engineers at Chrysler. it was the First drag car to have altered wheel base and a high stance, copied for years but the ram charger team said it was Not such great idea.

[@ianmangham4570]

Great Intel,THANKS

[@ianmangham4570]

That music lmao,straight 50s TV

[@1967willem]

Super!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@faerieSAALE]

and for the winner the . . .KISS! @26:29 By Golly, now that was a tonsil tickler!

[@THRASHMETALFUNRIFFS]

Hey, ur on HalfA$$ Kustoms chat a lot, right?

[@Gunny426HemiPlymouth]

Lots of Ohio boys! I'm pretty darn proud!!

[@ianmangham4570]

Good folk from OHIO,make great soldier's.

[@richardrice40]

Dig that groovy mid 50's Chrysler station wagon tow car. No 18 wheeler's here.

[@FantasticMRmike]

@tabledechevet2007 i think the wheels are tucked under the fenders for more ayrodynamics, it would seem wierd to make a 3 wheel dragster back in those days

[@faerieSAALE]

I love it that there isn't obnoxious heavy rock `n roll blasting throughout the film. Also, note how clean-cut the men are. No beards, long hair, tattoos, or earrings. Most men were fit and good looking. Most had manners. Did you also notice that you didn't see anyone smoking at any time! Even the women were feminine and without hideous body art.

[@charlesmadison1384]

BBQ & gas stop in Amarillo, at around 6:08 in vid, shows 28¢ & 29¢ gas prices

[@MrStrollerisme]

I still love drag racing. But with me I don't use nitros, blowers or super chargers or "tunes" with a pc. Pump gas and engine. Oh yeah and the trophy girls are still cute.

[@chrisholcombe137]

Hand Forged Can't beat it !

[@MrRonnieG]

Check out 06:07, the sign (high) and behind them had gas prices; 27 and 29 cents!

[@smartass6071]

Wow! under 10 sec. That wouldn't even get you in a lawn mower race these days. lol

[@learningtocrash4030]

The trophy for the farthest distance traveled to the competition sounds a lot like a participation trophy, lol.

[@tomshiba51]

You are the lucky guy! Wish I could share the same comment.

[@telsport]

Was colonial Rt 50 out to Bithlo and the space port? Ran there in 76 and later. Tom in Utica. NY

[@robertkilgore4687]

If you google "Detroit Dragway" there are still pics of some of these same cars.

[@bsteven885]

14:35 -- Possibly the inspiration for Speed Racer?

[@GasserGlass]

NEAT AS HELL

[@foreverpinkf.7603]

When America was great...

[@Shaker223]

Verrrry cool. Gas = 27 cents/gal. Kick ass t-shirts too.

[@shaunsiz.itsbetterbytube2858]

When did the transition happen from smoking the tires all the way down the track to burnouts in the start lane

[@thomaskeegan7802]

We only needed white tee shirts back then!

[@tomshiba51]

The music makes me feel that there is no wrong in the world.

[@93sundance]

Wow look at all that smog in Detroit, and St Louis.

[@afterthought3341]

I pray Finigan has seen this , I could bet Fryburger has !

[@rtkl13]

Dang did ya see the base circle on that cam ?

[@tomshiba51]

I believe that I was born ten years later than I should have been.

[@Threetails]

Oh wow... Sid Davis did this? Most of his stuff was preachy school health films. I see he used the same music and cinematography though.

[@mdsd77]

Ha I new that was Oceanside! California...now Carlsbad?

[@fritzprothro5770]

STONE,WOODS& COOK a lot of young folks of today don't know the story behind that drag racing team.

[@BillyKnockout]

This sounds like the guy that narrated " The Cool Hot Rod " just with a deeper voice .

[@93contender]

Do you know name of some good movie with dragsters? Thanks for your answer.

[@THRASHMETALFUNRIFFS]

Hot Rods from Hell