Research Center Drag Racing Photographs Collection
The Research Center Drag Racing Photographs Collection contains 10 black-and-white 8x10 inch photographic prints taken by photographers for Hot Rod Magazine during National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) events held between 1955 and 1963.
Biographical / Historical Note
The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) was founded in 1951 by Wally Parks, whose aim it was to take drag racing from the streets and into a safer environment. Staging its first official race in 1953, the NHRA later held its first national competition,...
MoreThe National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) was founded in 1951 by Wally Parks, whose aim it was to take drag racing from the streets and into a safer environment. Staging its first official race in 1953, the NHRA later held its first national competition, known as "the Nationals," in 1955 in Great Bend, Kansas. Over 50 years later, the NHRA has over 35,000 licensed competitors and 140 member tracks around the country.
Hot Rod Magazine was founded in 1948 by Robert E. Petersen, who was integral in establishing the first hot rod show held at the Los Angeles Armory that year. Later, Petersen created dozens of other magazines related to the automotive world. Eric Rickman, one of the photographers Petersen hired for the magazine, documented many of the inaugural events in drag racing, including the 1955 NHRA Nationals and the first Bonneville Speed Week in 1949.
Note content adapted from the following sources:
- “NHRA history: Drag racing’s fast start.” Online article accessed on 25 May 2015 at http://www.nhra.com/nhra101/history.aspx
- “Robert E. Petersen, Founder of Hot Rod, Passes On at 80.” Online article accessed on 25 May 2015 at http://www.hotrod.com/news/hrdp-petersen-passing/
- “Remembering Eric Rickman.” Online article accessed on 25 May 2015 at http://www.hotrod.com/features/history/stories/hrdp-0807-eric-rickman/
Scope and Content Note
The Research Center Drag Racing Photographs Collection contains 10 black-and-white 8x10 inch photographic prints reprinted from the original negatives, circa 1985. The original photographs were taken by Eric Rickman and Bob D’Olivo for Petersen Publishing...
MoreThe Research Center Drag Racing Photographs Collection contains 10 black-and-white 8x10 inch photographic prints reprinted from the original negatives, circa 1985. The original photographs were taken by Eric Rickman and Bob D’Olivo for Petersen Publishing Company’s Hot Rod Magazine. The prints are organized chronologically by year, and then in alphabetical order by subject.
The collection also contains a small amount of background information on the photographs assembled by Bob Casey, former Curator of Transportation at The Henry Ford, and Zach Waske an intern at The Henry Ford in 2006 and 2007.
LessCollection Details
Object ID: 2006.54.0
Creator: Rickman, Eric
Inclusive Dates: 1955-1963
Size: 0.2 cubic ft. (1 box)
Language: English
Collection Access & Use
Item Location: Not Currently On Exhibit
Access Restrictions: The collection is open for research.
Credit: From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Digitized Artifacts From This Collection
In many cases, not all artifacts have been digitized.
Contact us for more information about this collection.
Art Arfons and Wally Parks with the Trophy for Top Speed, NHRA Nationals, Detroit Dragway, 1959
Details
Art Arfons and Wally Parks with the Trophy for Top Speed, NHRA Nationals, Detroit Dragway, 1959
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
circa 1985
Summary
Wally Parks organized some of the first hot rod shows, served as the first editor of Hot Rod magazine, and -- in 1951 -- founded the National Hot Rod Association. Illegal street racers gave hot rodding a bad reputation, but Parks's NHRA legitimized drag racing with competition rules, safety regulations, and off-street drag strips. Parks turned hot rod races into family entertainment.
Object ID
2006.54.10
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Art Arfons and Wally Parks with the Trophy for Top Speed, NHRA Nationals, Detroit Dragway, 1959
What is The Henry Ford?
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Official Start of First NHRA Drag Racing Meet, Great Bend, Kansas, 1955
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
circa 1985
Summary
The National Hot Rod Association, established in 1951 to govern drag racing, held its first national championship meet in 1955. The event took place on an airport runway in Great Bend, Kansas. Drag races run like tournaments. Two cars at a time face off, the winner advances, and the loser is eliminated. The last remaining driver earns the grand prize.
Keywords
Object ID
2006.54.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Official Start of First NHRA Drag Racing Meet, Great Bend, Kansas, 1955
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Sign for the SRCA Drag Strip, Great Bend, Kansas, 1955
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
circa 1985
Summary
The Sunflower Rod and Custom Association -- named for its home state of Kansas, the Sunflower State -- was formed in 1954 and joined the National Hot Rod Association a year later. The NHRA established competition rules and safety regulations for drag racing. It sanctioned races at its member drag strips, like the SRCA's facility in Great Bend, Kansas.
Keywords
United States, Kansas, Great Bend
Racetracks (Automobile racing)
Object ID
2006.54.6
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Sign for the SRCA Drag Strip, Great Bend, Kansas, 1955
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Car at the Starting Line of the NHRA Nationals, Great Bend, Kansas, 1955
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
circa 1985
Summary
Drag races are run like tournaments. Two cars face off in each race, with the pairings usually based on the cars' qualifying times. The winner advances to the next round while the loser is eliminated. The driver who wins each of her or his races wins the championship trophy and earns the title of Top Eliminator.
Object ID
2006.54.4
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Car at the Starting Line of the NHRA Nationals, Great Bend, Kansas, 1955
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Sign for the SRCA Drag Strip, Great Bend, Kansas, 1955
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
circa 1985
Summary
The Sunflower Rod and Custom Association -- named for its home state of Kansas, the Sunflower State -- was formed in 1954 and joined the National Hot Rod Association a year later. The NHRA established competition rules and safety regulations for drag racing. It sanctioned races at its member drag strips, like the SRCA's facility in Great Bend, Kansas.
Keywords
United States, Kansas, Great Bend
Racetracks (Automobile racing)
Object ID
2006.54.5
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Sign for the SRCA Drag Strip, Great Bend, Kansas, 1955
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Connie Kalitta at the NHRA Nationals, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1963
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
circa 1985
Summary
Michigan native Connie Kalitta started drag racing in the 1950s and, within a decade, he ranked among the sport's best. He kept a "most wanted" list of drivers he intended to beat, and then crossed off their names when he did so. The habit earned Kalitta the nickname "Bounty Hunter." He won ten NHRA national events between 1967 and 1994.
Keywords
United States, Indiana, Indianapolis
Racetracks (Automobile racing)
Object ID
2006.54.9
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Connie Kalitta at the NHRA Nationals, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1963
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Calvin Rice at the NHRA Nationals, Kansas City, Missouri, 1956
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
circa 1985
Summary
Drag races are run like tournaments. Two cars face off in each race, with the pairings usually based on the cars' qualifying times. The winner advances to the next round while the loser is eliminated. The driver who wins each of her or his races wins the championship trophy and earns the title of Top Eliminator.
Object ID
2006.54.7
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Calvin Rice at the NHRA Nationals, Kansas City, Missouri, 1956
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Cal Rice and Mickey Thompson at the Start of Their Heat, NHRA Nationals, Great Bend, Kansas, 1955
Details
Cal Rice and Mickey Thompson at the Start of Their Heat, NHRA Nationals, Great Bend, Kansas, 1955
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
circa 1985
Summary
Drag races are run like tournaments. Two cars face off in each race, with the pairings usually based on the cars' qualifying times. The winner advances to the next round while the loser is eliminated. The driver who wins each of her or his races wins the championship trophy and earns the title of Top Eliminator.
Object ID
2006.54.2
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Cal Rice and Mickey Thompson at the Start of Their Heat, NHRA Nationals, Great Bend, Kansas, 1955
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
A "Bean Bandit" Dragster at the NHRA Nationals, Great Bend, Kansas, 1955
Artifact
Photographic print
Date Made
circa 1985
Summary
Drag races are run like tournaments. Two cars face off in each race, with the pairings usually based on the cars' qualifying times. The winner advances to the next round while the loser is eliminated. The driver who wins each of her or his races wins the championship trophy and earns the title of Top Eliminator.
Object ID
2006.54.3
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
A "Bean Bandit" Dragster at the NHRA Nationals, Great Bend, Kansas, 1955
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
