{"product_id":"drag-racings-rebels-drag-racing-funny-cars-2-book-set","title":"Drag Racing's Rebels \u0026 Drag Racing Funny Cars (2 Book Set)","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhen the \u003cstrong\u003eNational Hot Rod Association (NHRA)\u003c\/strong\u003e was formed in 1951 by \u003cstrong\u003eWally Parks\u003c\/strong\u003e, 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 \u003cstrong\u003eHot Rod magazine\u003c\/strong\u003e and the NHRA were right in the thick of it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe NHRA hosted its first drag racing event in 1953, and in 1955, the organization staged its first national event, which was simply called \u003cstrong\u003e“The Nationals.”\u003c\/strong\u003e The \u003cstrong\u003eAHRA\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen the NHRA denied the use of \u003cstrong\u003enitromethane\u003c\/strong\u003e 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 \u003cstrong\u003eFunny Car\u003c\/strong\u003e in 1965, the AHRA said yes. When fans and racers screamed for a heads-up \u003cstrong\u003eSuper Stock\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this fascinating history, veteran author \u003cstrong\u003eDoug Boyce\u003c\/strong\u003e tells the story of the AHRA: the rise, the competition, the events, and the eventual downfall of the organization. After AHRA President \u003cstrong\u003eJim Tice\u003c\/strong\u003e 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\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSince the early 1960s, dealer-sponsored \u003cstrong\u003eSuper Stockers \u003c\/strong\u003ebattled for supremacy on the \u003cstrong\u003equarter-mile\u003c\/strong\u003e and in the dealer showrooms. Evolving into the \u003cstrong\u003eFactory Experimental class\u003c\/strong\u003e, these wild steel-bodied, altered-wheelbase monsters were stuffed with massive fuel-injected and supercharged engines that attracted crowds to the dragstrip! Legendary pioneers \u003cstrong\u003e\"Dyno\" Don Nicholson, Jack Chrisman, Bill Shrewsberry, Butch Leal, Dick Landy, Arnie Beswick, Phil Bonner, Gas Ronda, Don Gay, Sox \u0026amp; Martin, Richard Petty,\u003c\/strong\u003e and many other\u003cstrong\u003e A\/FX stars\u003c\/strong\u003e were instrumental in the development of the funny car as it morphed from a heavy production car into seven-second 250mph aerodynamic fiberglass, tubular chassis missile. The popularity of funny cars led \u003cstrong\u003e\"Jungle Jim\" Lieberman, Bill Lawton, Lew Arrington, Bill Flynn, Norm Kraus,\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003e\"Big\" John Mazmanian\u003c\/strong\u003e to become household names. \u003cstrong\u003eTom \"Mongoose\" McEwen, Don \"Snake\" Prudhomme, Tom Hoover, Kenny Safford, Terry Capp, John Force, Kenny Bernstein, Jake Johnston, Larry Reyes, Richard Tharp, Roland Leong, Randy Walls, Jess Tyree, Rich Siroonian \u003c\/strong\u003eand others who achieved success racing funny cars are all featured in over 300 incredible color \u0026amp; b\/w photos.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MidlifeClassicCars.com","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47248338977048,"sku":"KIT9781613257661\/B03807","price":57.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0057\/9813\/3831\/files\/kit9781613257661b03807.jpg?v=1772254528","url":"https:\/\/www.midlifeclassiccars.com\/cs\/products\/drag-racings-rebels-drag-racing-funny-cars-2-book-set","provider":"MidlifeClassicCars.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}