Hot rodding’s public perception in the early 1950s was not good. Movies were made about marauding bands of kids in hopped up Fords, news stories filled the papers about gruesome wrecks that killed scads of people, and the police were constantly chasing hot rodders around on the street and writing them tickets. Then something happened. Guys like Wally Parks, CJ Hart, and others realized that this was not a social problem but a burgeoning industry that needed to be harnessed. With the creation of dedicated drag strips, organizations like the NHRA, and the promotional powers of groups like the S.C.T.A., it became more of a badge of honor for hot rodders to win on the track than to be the “fastest guy on the street” of their small town or city. This video is about that evolution and it is absolutely awesome. We can’t believe that we haven’t watched it before!
The lead character in this film is a rich kid named Mel. He’s driving like a big jerk, harassing people, getting tickets, and being that person that no parent would want their daughter to be with. After Mel gets shown up by some guys in a “jalopy” he follows those guys to a drag strip where they promptly kick his ass and humiliate him. As the process goes, he gets his hands on a hot rod, learns to wrench, and shockingly he becomes friends with the jalopy guys who whooped up on him.
Other than the amazingly 1950s voice over and music, the best part of this film is the action video from Santa Ana and El Mirage. You want to see what a real traditional hot rod looks like? This video is FULL of the bastards! No rat rods, not themed rods, hot rods doing what hot rods have always done…..racing. The film is only 12 minutes long but it really is 12 minutes well spent. The footage is AWESOME!
PRESS PLAY BELOW TO SEE “ROAD RUNNERS” A 1950S FILM DESIGNED TO GET KIDS TO THE TRACK AND OFF THE STREETS!
