. The ability of U.S. car enthusiasts to satisfy
their need for speed changed dramatically in the late 1940s as car-crazy
veterans returned home from World War II with formal mechanical training,
courtesy of Uncle Sam. This is the story of how one such veteran, an
ex-B-17 airman named Alex Xydias, established the SO-CAL Speed Shop and
helped transform hot rodding from a scruffy, underground, outlaw sport
into a defining part of postwar American culture.SO-CAL racers dominated
early salt flats racing and the shop+s products became must-have
performance parts, giving SO-CAL international name recognition. This book
traces the path Xydias took to develop performance parts, build winning
race teams, and become a leader in the early days of hot rod history.
Accompanying author Mark Christensen+s compelling narrative about Xydias
and nascent hot rod culture are period photos from notable personal
archives, as well as new color images of classic SO-CAL hot rods.
