Here’s a neat film from 1952 that tells the story of Mel, a street speeder who gets a ticket, then loses the girl when he tries to recover his manhood by racing a jalopy, and loses, at CJ “Pappy” Hart’s original drag strip in Santa Ana, California. Mel then hits Evans Speed Shop, buys a roadster, reads Hot Rod magazine to learn how to work on it, gets help adding nitro from the Road Runners car club, and eventually runs 151 mph at El Mirage dry lake.
You’d think it could not get more historic, and it can’t, but it’s also really corny. In a great, 1952 kind of way, of course. At the end, we are told it’s trophies instead of traffic tickets for Mel, and he’ll never spped on the highway again. It’s must-see video. Ring in the new decade with action from 58 years ago.
Thanks for the tip, BangShift.com member 67prostreet!
