Drag Racing: America's Booming Sport - History Documentary Films

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNosIIVH8Hs

Drag Racing is a type of motor racing in which bikes or cars compete, generally two each time, to be first to go across a set surface line. The race follows a brief, straight course from a standing beginning over a measured distance, most commonly 1/4 mile (1,320 feet (402 m)), with a shorter 3/16 mile 10 feet (1,000 ft (305 m)) for nitromethane powered Top Fuel dragsters and amusing cars, while 660 ft (201 m) (1/8 mi) is also popular in some circles. Digital timing and rate noticing systems have actually been made use of to record race outcomes since the 1960s.

Drag racing has existed in both road racing and regulated motorsport kinds since motorcycles and cars were created. The street racing form, which is prohibited, is covered elsewhere; this article covers the lawful sport.

Before each race (commonly called a pass), each driver is enabled to carry out a burnout, which warms the driving tires and lays rubber down at the beginning of the track, boosting grip. Each vehicle driver then align (or stages) at the beginning line.

 

Old School Drag Racing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hTfbcwQVzg
by lacville78

 

The Hot Rod Story Drag Racing by King Rose Archives
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcslCXecPG8

Hot Rods had a bad reputation in the 1950s. What started as a way for young guys to have some fun testing their home made cars on the dry lakes was growing and spilling over into street racing.

The press, preachers and politicians were up in arms and people were getting killed. Something had to be done. Bob Petersen, who ran Hot Rod Magazine, worked with one of his editors Wally Parks, to launch a national effort to get the kids off the streets and on to drag strips. They formed the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and the new sport of drag racing took off.

Necessity is the mother of invention. This traces the path they took from amateurs racing at the dry lakes to professionals competing at the drag strips. What a journey.

 

Drag Racing 1964
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGIxBjpMO4g

 

Drag Racing 1963
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jQsd1fZV8k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sZ-UV67h4M

 

Part 3 1963-1965

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlDXRBPbYiM

 

Part 5 1966-1968
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyoTH4SKmwA

 

Part 6 1966-1968
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AOiycsEQCo

 

part 7 Don Garlits interview 1966-1968
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwEIrmqdRWE

 

part 8 1966-1968
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrjqVMWSq_Y