Drag Racing’s Rebels:
How the AHRA Changed Quarter-Mile Competition

by Doug Boyce
foreword by Don Garlits

When the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) was formed in 1951 by Wally Parks, the reasoning for the formation was to “create order from chaos” by instituting safety rules and performance standards that helped legitimize the sport of drag racing. Some organization was certainly necessary. A postwar boom in automotive enthusiasm was reaching new heights, and Hot Rod magazine and the NHRA were right in the thick of it.

The NHRA hosted its first drag racing event in 1953, and in 1955, the organization staged its first national event, which was simply called “The Nationals.” The AHRA formed in 1956 as an alternative to the NHRA, where the drivers voted on the rules (rather than sanctioning bodies and tracks), and their influence on the sport was felt almost immediately.

When the NHRA denied the use of nitromethane in 1957, the AHRA approved it. When the NHRA banned aircraft-pow­ered dragsters in 1961, the AHRA welcomed them. When the NHRA said no to the emerging Funny Car in 1965, the AHRA said yes. When fans and racers screamed for a heads-up Super Stock category in 1968, the AHRA delivered. The AHRA was called a rebel association. Some say that it was more of an association that got things done—to the delight of fans and racers. The AHRA was on equal ground with the NHRA by the 1970s, drawing enormous crowds and racer entries.

In this fascinating history, veteran author Doug Boyce tells the story of the AHRA: the rise, the competition, the events, and the eventual downfall of the organization. After AHRA President Jim Tice passed away in 1982, internal fighting for control of the association resulted in its doom. Get the whole story here, and add this wonderful volume to your drag racing library. 

Soft cover, 192 pages, 437 B&W and color photos. 

ED PINK: THE OLD MASTER

The Remarkable Life and Times of Racing’s Most Versatile Engine Builder

by Ed Pink with Bones Bourcier

Ed Pink’s gift for designing and building engines made him a motorsports icon. His handiwork has powered, among others, drag-racing superstars Don Prudhomme and Tom McEwen, Indy Car legends Al Unser and Tom Sneva, sports car heroes Bob Wollek and Brian Redman, and USAC champions Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne.

But this is not a technical book. Pink began his long-awaited autobiography with one goal: that it would be more about people than engines.

Mission accomplished, yet again, for auto racing’s Old Master.

Hard cover, 276 pp, 253 color and B&W photos. 

Roland "The Hawaiian" Leong
Drag Racing's Iconic Owner & Tuner

by Lou Hart

Foreword by Don Prudhomme

From racing the family Oldsmobile in 1960 to winning the Winternationals in 1964, read about the meteoric rise of drag racing’s greatest owner and tuner in the first-ever book about "The Hawaiian" Roland Leong. 

Soft cover, 176 pp., 311 color/B&W photos.

Vintage Speed Parts: The Equipment That Fueled the Industry

by Tony Thacker

When most people think of speed parts, they rewind a few decades and think back to the Ford flatheads that were so prevalent in the 1940s and 1950s. However, the speed-parts industry actually began way back in the Model T era. As soon as vehicles were mass produced, manufac­turers were looking for ways to make them faster. Manufac­turers, such as Roof, Rajo, Winfield, Miller, Frontenac, and Holley, made speed parts for 4-cylinder Model T engines and accomplished speeds of up to 100 mph!

In Vintage Speed Parts: The Equipment That Fueled the Industry, veteran hot rod historian Tony Thacker looks at the history of hot rodding through the eyes of speed-equipment manufacturers. Covered chronologically, the book begins with the early 4-cylinder engines. In 1932, Henry Ford introduced the flathead V-8, which was slow to be adopted as the engine of choice in racing until the parts industry caught up. Once it did, the flathead, although interrupted by the war, was the engine to run until the automobile manufacturers introduced overhead-valve V-8 engines in the late 1940s.

Chrysler’s early-1950s Hemi and Chevrolet’s small-block V-8 in 1955 spelled the end for the flattie. Both mills dominated well into the 1970s, and the speed industry was there to support all platforms in spades. During that period, every auto manufacturer made a V-8 worthy of modification, and the speed industry boomed. Eventually, the speed-equipment manufacturers grew to the point of becoming corporate entities, as mergers and acquisi­tions became the much less interesting story.

Parts covered include special cylinder heads, magnetos, camshaft and valvetrain upgrades, downdraft carburetors, headers, multiple-carburetor setups, and even superchargers. Everyone figured out how to make engines more powerful, upgrading with the type of parts that were being produced decades later, even to today. Join in the fun of reviewing the history of speed through this tale of vintage speed parts. 

Soft cover, 192 pages, 455 B&W & color photos.

Hemi Under Glass: Bob Riggle and
His Wheel-Standing Mopars

by Mark Fletcher and
Richard Truesdell

While the established stock and modified brackets are long-recognized as the heart and soul of drag racing, it was the wheel-standers that more often than not put butts in the bleachers. In that category, some of the most well-known names included Bill "Maverick" Golden's Little Red Wagon, Bill Shrewsberry's L.A. Dart and Chuck Poole’s Chuck Wagon. Most memorable of all was the Hurst Hemi Under Glass Plymouth Barracuda campaigned by Bob Riggle.

Riggle started his career in the early 1960s as a car builder and mechanic for Hurst-Campbell and eventually rose to pilot the Hemi Under Glass. When he left Hurst in 1969, the Hemi Under Glass franchise transferred with Riggle. He continued for six more years as the owner/driver of a succession of Hemi Under Glass renditions. In the 1990s he resurrected the concept of the original car―making four different versions (1966, 1967, 1968, and 1969)―and continued to thrill drag racing fans with his wheel-standing antics.

This is Bob Riggle’s story. Mark Fletcher and Richard Truesdell, co-authors of the 2012 book Hurst Equipped, say the story was easy to tell―given their unprecedented access not only to Bob but also to his vast archive of photos that reflect his ongoing popularity. Many of the photos in this book are seen in print for the very first time.

Soft cover, 176 pages, full of color and B&W photos.

MOPAR FACTORY DRAG CARS:
Dodge & Plymouth's Quarter-Mile
Domination 1962–1972

by Steve Holmes

Stock-based drag racing throughout the 1960s demanded that the cars competing on the track be genuine production models and that they could be purchased by anyone. The strict regulations dictated total commitment from the manufacturers if they were to be successful. No one was more committed than Chrysler. Chrysler attacked Stock (Super Stock) drag racing in the 1960s with the same fervor as it did the NASCAR Grand National, which itself spawned the reintroduction of the Hemi engine. Its engineers designed and produced a new factory Super Stock turnkey race car most years throughout the decade and enjoyed absolute success on the track, forever cementing its legendary performance status.

The introduction of Pro Stock in 1970 brought with it exciting heads-up racing with the expectation of producing multiple winners from a variety of brands. Instead, it resulted in total Mopar supremacy, as Hemi-powered Chrysler cars won 12 of the 15 national races throughout the first two years, prompting the NHRA to introduce weight breaks to scupper the Chrysler domination. The new 1972 regulations favored small-block-powered compact cars and were the first major step toward Pro Stock spiraling away from its roots and into the tube-frame silhouette formula seen today.

Racing historian Steve Holmes delves into this fascinating period, capturing the careers of the Ramchargers, Melrose Missile, Bud Faubel, Dick Landy, Sox & Martin, Herb McCandless, Don Grotheer, Motown Missile, and countless others, providing a blow-by-blow account of Chrysler’s factory drag car programs and the incredible cars it produced to trounce its rivals during the most epic era in Stock drag racing history.

Soft cover, 176 pages, 304 color & 102 B &W photos. S-1740 $36.95

MATCH RACE MAYHEM
Drag Racing's Grudges, Rivalries, and Big-Money Showdowns

by Doug Boyce

The history of match racing through the cars, the drivers, the events, the classes, the rivalries, and everything else that was fun about match racing during the golden era.

It’s all here, complemented by wonderful vintage photography provided by fans and professionals in attendance.

Soft cover, 176 pp., 297 B&W and color photos.

BUTCH "THE CALIFORNIA FLASH" LEAL

by Bob McClurg

Check out the first ever biography on the popular drag racer, Butch “The California Flash” Leal.

Born and raised in central California, Larry “Butch” Leal was obsessed with cars from a very early age. What began with field cars turned into hard work and new Chevrolets. This took place when the golden era of drag racing was in its infancy, and Leal joined with enthusiasm. He performed well at the track with his early Chevys and had an impressive number of wins before he was out of high school. His success brought him plenty of attention and collaboration with other big names in the sport.

In 1963, GM pulled out of drag racing on an official basis. As a result, Butch (at age 19) teamed up with Mickey Thompson and joined the Ford camp, securing a ride with the factory team and its new Thunderbolts for 1964. After his success that season, including winning the Super Stock (S/S) class at the 1964 NHRA US Nationals in Indianapolis, Chrysler came calling, and Butch signed on to race the new altered-wheelbase cars in match races for 1965, as the NHRA did not have a class for these new “funny” looking cars. While Leal dabbled again with Ford and Chevrolet later, his relationship with Chrysler lasted well into the following decades, running both Funny Cars and Super Stockers.

Penned by talented automotive historian Bob McClurg, who was there for it all, and featuring full collaboration with the book’s subject, Butch “The California Flash” Leal covers the span of his fascinating career during arguably the most interesting era in drag racing history.

Butch was an 11-time NHRA champion and 4-time recipient of Car Craft magazine’s All-Star Driver of the Year award in a career that spanned the 1960s through the 1990s.

It’s all here: the events, great vintage photography, and the stories from one of the best storytellers the NHRA has ever known.  

Soft cover, 160 pages, 275 color/B&W photos.

BONNEVILLE'S WOMEN OF
LAND SPEED RACING

by Louise Ann Noeth

At Bonneville, record holders must first earn the right to present themselves on the starting line. This requires passing rigorous safety and technical checks for driver, rider, and speed machine. Gender is inconsequential.

Through the years, more than 200 women have made the cut and donned fireproof clothing and helmets. Dozens have set land speed records—35 in excess of 200 miles per hour, six above 300 miles per hour, and one deaf female racer who roared past 500 miles per hour. Equally impressive are the women who helped propel the helmeted ones into glory. Few know how many women are skilled fabricators, mechanics, crew chiefs, and all-round land speed racing experts, all working out on a brutal, merciless, and barren sodium-soaked playa. Without question, land speed racing has more women actively participating and setting records than any other segment of motorsports in the world. 

Author “LandSpeed” Louise Ann Noeth raced jet dragsters, helped capture the 458mph world wheel-driven record, and guided the Breedlove and Fossett teams. Here she has collected images of some of the notable women in her sport.

Soft Cover, 96 pp., 149 color/B&W images.

Shirley Shahan: The Drag-On Lady

by Patrick Foster

Meet drag racing legend and pioneer Shirley Shahan, the Drag-On Lady!  As the first woman to win an NHRA national event when she was named Top Stock Eliminator at the 1966 Winternationals, Shahan blazed a trail for women in drag racing. During the golden era of drag racing, it was rare to find diversity in the sport. Shahan is what’s commonly known as a living legend.

In a career that spanned the 1950s and into the early 1970s, Shahan drove 1956 and 1958 Chevys and was one of the lucky few who was able to purchase one of the rare 1963 Chevrolet RPO Z11 Super Stockers. Later, when she was driving for Plymouth and Dodge, Shahan made the name Drag-On Lady both famous and feared. She then moved to American Motors and raced very successfully with the new SS/AMX.

From 1958 to 1972, Shahan set records and won numerous awards. She was inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, Super Stock Magazine Hall of Fame, and Mopar Hall of Fame, and she was honored with a lifetime achievement award at the Bakersfield racetrack. In addition, Shirley won the Top Stock category at the very first March Meet at the legendary Famoso Raceway track near Bakersfield, California, which made her the first person (male or female) to do so. In 1966, she was the named one of Hot Rod magazine’s Top 10 Drivers.

She raced against the best drivers during the golden age of drag racing and more often than not blew off the doors of her opponents. She had a fierce passion for winning, and in this book, you’ll feel what it was like to be behind the wheel as she steers you through her illustrious career.

Soft cover, 175 pages, heavily illustrated with B&W and color photos.

Drag Racing's Warren "The Professor"
Johnson: The Cars, People and Wins
Behind his Pro Stock Success

by Kelly Wade

Warren Johnson navigated the world of factory hot rods for more than 45 years, devoting himself to full-time racing in 1975 and relentlessly pursuing horsepower and victory from the driver's seat and the engine room. Johnson's devotion to research and development opened the door to a long-standing relationship with Oldsmobile and GM Performance, beginning with the birth of the Drag Rac­ing Competition Engine (DRCE) that is still used by every competitive team in the class.

He excelled when it came to outthinking the competition and was outspoken on matters that he deemed vital, pushing boundaries to affect change in terms of both safety and the advancement of the class, but he also knew when it was appropriate and necessary to put on a good show for the fans. Through his tireless efforts and with the support of a small crew that included his wife, Arlene, and son, Kurt, Johnson claimed two IHRA championships and six NHRA world titles, along with an astounding 97 national event wins that made him the most-winning driver of all time in the Pro Stock category.

This book, complete with photos from the family archive and striking professional images of Johnson's many race cars, dives into it all, beginning with his childhood and early days of match racing when he developed the stern frugality and fierce resourcefulness that was the foundation of a tremendously successful, though sometimes controversial, career.

Soft cover, 176 pages, 45 B&W, 362 color photos.

Drag Racing in the 1960s:
The Evolution in Race Car Technology

by Doug Boyce

In many forms of racing, the 1960s brought technological evolution. The decade began with big engines in even bigger stock chassis and ended with purpose-built race-only chassis, fiberglass bodies, fuel injection, nitromethane, and blowers.

Quarter-mile times that were in the 13-second range in the beginning of the decade were in the 7-second range by the end. New classes were formed, dedicated cars were built for them, and many racers themselves became recognized names in the sports landscape.

In Drag Racing in the 60s: The Evolution in Race Car Technology, veteran author Doug Boyce takes you on a ride through the entire decade from a technological point of view rather than a results-based one.

Covered are all the classes, including Super Stocks, Altered Wheelbase cars (which led to Funny Cars), Top Fuelers, Gassers, and more.

Soft cover, 176 pages with 374 photos, including never-before-published vintage photography.

Chrysler's Motown Missile: Mopar's Secret Engineering Program at the Dawn of Pro Stock

by Geoff Stunkard

Relive Mopar's skunkworks racing team and its rise to dominance in this fascinating history!

The drama of 1970s Chrysler Pro Stock drag racing unfolds in this new book, which focuses on the racing and technological evolution of the legendary Motown Missile and Mopar Missile racing programs from 1970 to 1977. Unequaled by any other drag racing development program, this was a huge undertaking in terms of time, money, and effort.

The 1970s saw great change in Detroit and in auto racing, with Pro Stock being a huge draw for fans. Chrysler racing historian and author Geoff Stunkard presents a chronological recollection, drawing from many interviews and summaries of the actual technical efforts that the factory accomplished and includes both rare/unpublished technical and personal images from the team members and some of the most dramatic images taken by the sport's best photographers.

From the earliest days of owner/engine builder Ted Spehar, factory engineer Tom Hoover, and driver Don Carlton, the narrative is a colorful look at the team's inner workings, programs, victories, and even defeats. Set against a backdrop of characters like Bill Grumpy Jenkins, Dandy" Dick Landy, and Dyno Don Nicholson, Carlton's driving prowess had few equals. Indeed, called by one period scribe as a cyborg, the likeable pilot would pay the ultimate price as a drag racing driver. From the Challengers and `Cuda to the Demons and Colts, the book showcases the cars that made Chrysler so much a part of this racing era, as well as Ted Spehar's never-before-revealed information on the 1970s Pro Stock engine program. 

Soft cover, 176 pages, 400 photos.

Chevy Drag Racing 1955 - 1980

by Doug Boyce

Relive the glorious first 25 years of Chevy drag racing in this comprehensive and nostalgic history. With the introduction of Chevy's OHV V-8 in 1955, the brand's domination on the drag strip immediately snowballed. Drag racers loved the compact V-8. It was lightweight, revved high, and responded like no other engine previously produced. Chevy saw a record year in sales in 1955, thanks to a combination of a restyled body and the new mill.

It was the age of ingenuity, and those who could get their hands on the new engine were swapping it into engine bays that once housed other weaker motors. Ford's flathead, one that had dominated for so long, was rendered obsolete almost overnight.

Chevrolets gave rise to such stars as Bill Grumpy Jenkins, Jungle Jim Liberman, Sneaky Pete Robinson, "Dyno Don" Nicholson, Sox & Martin, Dick Harrell, Dave Strickler, and many more. World champs and fan favorites all drove Chevys.

The success showed in the record books. No brand has won more races and events or has set more national records than Chevrolet. And unlike the other manufacturers, Ford and Chrysler, it was done with little to no factory support.

Soft cover, 176 pages, 214 color, 99 B&W photos. 

COOL CARS SQUARE ROLL BARS

Photos and Recollections of Fifties Hotrodding in New England

edited by Bernie Shuman

Reprinted courtesy of Mr. Shuman and the North East Motor Sports Museum, this is the authoritative history of hotrodding in New England in the 1950s.

Chock full of old-time coupes, roadsters, and dragsters – any early race or hot rod fan will appreciate the timeless beauty of these cars, whether they were built to race straight or on ovals.

100s of B&W photos and a true classic.

Soft cover, 240 pp.