1956 Ford F-100 Pickup Truck. On loan from the Museum of American Speed, Lincoln, NE.

For decades, most race cars -- even at the top levels of racing -- were transported on open trailers pulled by pickup trucks or station wagons. Drivers and mechanics sometimes slept in their vehicles, or in inexpensive motels. It's a far cry from today, when race cars ride in huge trailers equipped as shops, and drivers travel by plane or in luxurious motorhomes.