Age of Hot Rods

The late Albert Drake was professor emeritus of English at Michigan State University. He wrote widely in automotive magazines and was the author of a dozen books. He lived in Portland, Oregon.

“a wealth of historical information”—Cruzin’ Magazine; “offers a wealth of historical information and insights. The wonderful writing illuminates the people, machines, movies and cultural events that shaped hot rod culture”—Good Guys Gazette; “rich in detail...a very good addition...recommend[ed]”—SAH Journal; “think of this as candy for your car-nut soul”—Street Rodder; “Drake continues to interview ‘old timers’ with his dogged determination to collect and protect the history of the old car hobby. Get a copy for your home library today”—Street Scene Magazine; “something for everyone...authentic”—SpeedReaders.

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgments      Introduction      Prologue: Watching Traffic      Roots: Exhaust Cutouts and Wire Wheels      1932 Lincoln      George Riley      Car Pooling      The War Effort      Street Scene, Los Angeles      Gordon M. Buehrig, 1904–1990      War Surplus      Roots      Growing Up      The Service Station      Ed Almquist      Hot Rod Citroën      Iron Mountain Meal      American Gothic: Hollywood Hubcaps and Duals      The Search for Truth      What’s in a Name Anyway?      Synesthesia      American Gothic      Old Customs Never Die      Henry Gregor Felsen      Let Us Now Praise Famous Men      Love of a Fine Car      Racing the Reaper      Simple      Yard Art      Small Wonders      Girls and Rods      Haney’s Hot Rod      Our ’40      The Fabulous Fifties: Chopped and Channeled      In the Garage      Luke the Drifter: Hot Rodders’ Troubadour      Oregon Original      The First Ticket      Traffic Court      The Minister’s Sons      The Original Fonz      Bonneville Speed Week, 1955      Summer 1955: A Sunday      1956: The First Portland Roadster Show      Cruising on a Vespa at Midcentury      Scooters on Campus      Records      Bud’s Beanee-Weenee      Class Angle      The Genuine Artificial Zebra Skin Interior      Odd Balls      Incident      The Mild Custom      X-51      The XM-800 Dream Car      Trophies      The Zen of Nostalgia: Reflections in a Bullnose Strip      Hot Rodding 101: Back to Basics      The Slo Poks Celebrate 50 Years      Stan Mott and the Cyclops Saga      Dave’s ’37      Celebrating the Low Buck and Beater      Thanks, Tex      The Pacific Gunsight Special      Mystery      A la Recherche du Temps Perdu      Hot Rodding Down Under      In Praise of Originality      Bruce Geisler and the Chipmunks      The Zen of Nostalgia      A Classic Memory      False Memory      The Glenn Johnson Coupe Revisited      Bridge to the Fifties      The Great Unwashed Deuce      James Dean Run      The Pan Draggers Reunion      Coming Home: Back to the Fifties      Coming Home      Les Amis de Route 66      Dale Moreau: Ace Photographer      The Amazing Story of Tad Winiecki’s Safercycle      CTA Reunion      Going, Going, Gone!      Mr. Motor Manners      The True Meaning of Christmas      Aussie Hot Rodder Finds Good Tin      Hot Rods as a Belief System      Old Dogs and New Tricks      The Suicidals Car Club      Wendover      Tyler’s Tales      Swap Meets      Road Angels Redux      The Outsiders      A Letter to a Young Hot Rodder      Hill Autotorium      Iggy      Living the Fabulous Fifties—Again!      Linda Vaughn: First Lady of Motorsports      My Brush with Greatness      Cruisin’ the Neighborhood      Cruising with the NW Speedsters      The Spirits of Hot Rodding      Sunraycers      Index