Forgive us for being out of order, but on this one we are. Last week we featured the classic tune Hot Rod Lincoln here. That tune is actually an answer song for this one and sung from the perspective of the kid driving the hopped up Lincoln wearing a Ford Model A body. This will all make a lot more sense when you listen to this song all the way through. Like Hot Rod Lincoln, this song tells the story of a race that seems to span incredible distances are a Ford and a Mercury take off from San Pedro, California and race far and wide, “making grease spots out of many good towns.”
This is a standard of the rockabilly genre and for good reason as it has great automotive subject matter and that plucky guitar sound that has long been a signature of that style of music. It combines good gearhead stuff with some humor and it is catchy as hell. We’re sure the Chevy lovers will poke some fun at the line, “We were Ford men and we likely knew that we would race until something blew….”
PRESS PLAY BELOW TO HEAR THE PREQUEL TO HOT ROD LINCOLN, CHARLIE RYAN’S 1955 TUNE – HOT ROD RACE
Grew up in LA with all of the amazing radio stations. Am now 66 and thought by many to be more than an average “expert” on geezer oldies. But I had never heard this before. It’s hard to believe that a prequel to Hot Rod Lincoln existed and I’ve been unaware of it until today. Thanks a million for this great post!