When it comes to drag racing films, the 1970s was really the best time to catch them. Thanks to a tip from BangShifter Anthony Castillo, we have for you the full length film American Nitro below. This is one of the best looks into the world of 1970s funny car drag racing and it is awesome to see so many of the biggest names in the sport during their younger years. Guys like Gary Densham, Prudhomme, promoters like Bill Doner, Steve Evans, and tons of names you’ll recognize populate the film. Between the the guys wrenching on stuff in the pits, the interviews with people in the sport and a look at what life was really like for ’em back then, this is as real a look inside 1970s pro drag racing as you are ever going to get.
Today is Saturday, hopefully you have the day off or if you don’t you can stick it to your boss by watching this movie and killing and hour of their time for your own enjoyment. This film does a lot to illustrate that drag racing on this level was not the fantasy land of lollipops and sunshine that some guys want to tell you that it was. These people were grinding it out in a hardscrabble fashion. Yes, there were fans, autograph seekers, girls, and speed by the bucket, but in between those brief shining moments were hours and days of unending work, thrashing, and clawing for every dime you could get your hands on.
Damn we wish we had been there to experience it!
A lot of memories here for me, hung out at Fremont through the 70s till it closed, was probably (for sure) at this race. Miss Fremont Drag Strip. If they made the Nostalgia F/Cs look like these think they would be much more popular. Thanks BS
Damn You,Bang Shift!
My hangouts were San Fernando DS early 60s, Lyons mid 60s