{"product_id":"drag-racings-rebels-early-funny-cars-1964-1975-2-book-set","title":"Drag Racing's Rebels \u0026 Early Funny Cars 1964-1975 (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\u003eBlast through the evolving early years of Funny Car drag racing when door slammers morphed into flip-top rail monsters. The era features historic mounts from Arnie \"the Farmer\" Beswick, Al “the Flying Dutchman” Vanderwoude, \"Jungle\" Jim Liberman, Don “the Snake” Prudhomme, and many more!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe metamorphosis from door slammers to fiberglass flip-top dragsters wasn’t ever a cut and dry plan. As drag racers pushed the envelope for more speed, a series of innovations quickly evolved and refined the genre.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFunny Cars cut their teeth in the A\/Factory Experimental (A\/FX) and Experimental Stock (X\/S) classes in 1964 with the 2-percent Mopars that looked funny with their axles moved forward. However, it was Jack Chrisman’s supercharged, nitro-fueled 427 Supercharged Factory Experimental (S\/FX) Comet Caliente that trailblazed the class on which the NHRA turned its back and the AHRA fully accepted. Showmanship became the draw in the dawn of Funny Car with half-track burnouts and flame-throwing headers that packed fans five deep at the fence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy 1969, the NHRA had no choice but to create a class for these nitro-breathing, flip-top-sporting rail bruisers, indoctrinating the Funny Car (F\/C) class at the Winternationals with 40 cars vying for 16 places in the field. The rest, as they say, is history!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e• This is the most comprehensive book ever on the early \u003cbr\u003eyears of Funny Car\u003cbr\u003e• Funny Cars are the most popular variation of drag cars\u003cbr\u003e• Tens of millions of fans have seen Funny Cars race\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MidlifeClassicCars.com","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47248338944280,"sku":"KIT9781613257661\/9781613256985","price":62.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0057\/9813\/3831\/files\/kit97816132576619781613256985.jpg?v=1772253873","url":"https:\/\/www.midlifeclassiccars.com\/cs\/products\/drag-racings-rebels-early-funny-cars-1964-1975-2-book-set","provider":"MidlifeClassicCars.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}