This color film showcases the 1959 National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Nationals at the Detroit Dragway, focusing on the Masters Dragmaster racing team as they travel from California to compete against “hot rodders” from across the country. After meeting up with the Dragliner racing team, the caravan stops to compete in Oklahoma before arriving in Michigan. You’ll see dozens of classic hot rods, exciting races, and hundreds of men with flat top haircuts. Written by Haile Chace, directed by Sid Davis and Haile Chace, a Sid Davis production presented by Hot Rod Magazine.
Hot rods are typically old, classic, or modern American cars that have been rebuilt or modified with large engines for more speed and acceleration. Most often they are individually designed and constructed using components from many makes of old or new cars.
The NHRA, founded by Wally Parks in 1951, is a drag racing governing body which sets rules in drag racing and hosts events all over the United States and Canada. NHRA’s first Nationals was held in 1955, in Great Bend, Kansas. The NHRA U.S. Nationals are now held at Lucas Oil Raceway in Brownsburg, Indiana.
00:14 TITLE CARDS 00:57 Aerial view of downtown Detroit, Michigan, from Windsor, Canada side of the Detroit River 01:08 Plane buzzes Detroit Dragway (Brownstown Township, MI) 01:28 Busy parking lot at Detroit Dragway 01:47 Masters Dragmaster being pushed by drive team 01:53 Starting line banner 01:56 Crew readies Dragmaster to race 02:03 Dode Martin sits in driver’s seat, mechanics Tom Nelson and “Lefty” work on engine 03:01 Jim Nelson assembles engine 03:41 Cadillac station wagon pulls Dragmaster on trailer 04:09 Dragmaster team meets up with Masters Dragliner team 05:22 Caravan moves through desert mountains 06:06 Teams stop at Underwood’s Bar B-Q Cafeteria, Amarillo, Texas 06:27 Parker brothers’ hot rod “Gran-Ma” unloaded from auto transport carrier 07:30 Drag racers compete in Oklahoma regional meet; “Gran-Ma”, Dragliner and Dragmaster in action 08:16 Woman presents trophy to Martin, Jaime Parker 08:28 Teams relax in Capri Motel swimming pool, Oklahoma City 08:42 Caravan leaving for Detroit, at Turner Turnpike toll booth 09:23 Crossing Veterans Bridge (now Martin Luther King Bridge), St. Louis, Missouri, into Illinois 10:07 Dragmaster unpacked and cleaned 10:48 Technical inspection at Detroit Dragway 11:37 Dragliner weighed in 11:55 Dragmaster pushed to pit area, tuned up 12:19 Hot Rod magazine editorial secretary Barbara Livingston 12:40 Dragmaster, “Gran-Ma”, Dragliner, other hot rods perform test runs 14:19 Aerial view of Detroit Drag strip on race day 14:43 Race teams work on their vehicles 15:11 Coca-Cola refreshment stand 15:18 Dragmaster, Parker teams prepare for first races 15:57 Racer Chuck Jones and Sidewinder crew 16:13 Dragmaster arrives at starting line; race officials in announcement booth, timer set 16:31 Announcer calls race 16:38 Flagman signals engines to rev 16:44 Dragmaster takes off, sets new elapsed time record of 9.12 seconds 17:08 Gasoline inspected, Dragmaster pushed back to pit area 17:30 Dragmaster engine disassembled, camshaft removed and inspected 18:53 Elimination races begin; A/G, Four banger, sports car class, sedan class, street roadster, altered coupe, modified roadster, competition coupe races shown 20:27 Dragmaster assembled for race 20:50 Races continue; Art Arfon’s “Green Monster”, “Miss Fire III” 21:39 Dragmaster loses final race; races continue 23:16 NHRA president Wally Park, Chevrolet General Manager Ed Cole, Hot Rod Magazine publisher Robert Petersen, Chrysler president Lester Lum “Tex” Colbert 23:30 Grand prize DA Lubricant Company Chevrolet El Camino 23:35 Final races 24:32 Awards presented 25:36 Dragmaster crew presented trophy for safest constructed car, lowest elapsed time 25:53 “Green Monster” crew presented trophy for top speed record on gas 26:07 Meet-winning AA/Dragster, Rodney Singer presented with trophy, El Camino 27:00 Empty dragway 27:11 THE END
