Hot Rod Roots: A Tribute to the Pioneers - Hardcover

Dain Gingerelli

9780760328187: Hot Rod Roots: A Tribute to the Pioneers

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0760328188 ISBN 13: 9780760328187

Publisher: Motorbooks International, 2007

Here are the real pioneers of Hot Rodding racing lakes in mid-century, breaking records, and by sheer ingenuity transforming discarded car bodies, flathead V-8s, four-bangers, and even aircraft fuel tanks into the cars of myth and legend. In essays by the most respected hot-rodding journalists of today, the icons of early days come alive, and the full history of hot rodding unfolds in all its gritty glory! Complementing the writing are never-before-seen photographs from the American Hot Rod Foundation, sure to be as interesting as the writing itself: Robert Genat explores the symbiosis between the US military and hot rodders in World War II; Pat Ganahl delves into the birth of the belly tank and it s effect on the sport; Greg Sharp looks at hot rodding s effect on the development of circle-track racing; Gingerelli examines how sanctioning quarter-mile drag racing increased hot rodding s growth; Ken Gross documents the growth of hot rodding media, and it s impact in the Motorsport world; Mark Morton shows why hot rodding will always remain close to it s roots, and Alex Xydias, the founder of So-Cal Speed Shop, writes a specially commissioned introduction

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review:

I bumped into one of the members of the American hot Rod Foundation in 2005 and the concept of what they were doing stuck with me. Here was a well-spoken Englishman in America helping compile a tape, video, and photographic archive of the pioneers of the sport. In principle, it's not dissimilar to the East Coast book ( and includes a chapter by Schulman on the East Coast), but benefits from higher production values and budget. Also, being such an evocatice concept, it has managed to secure editorial input from some of the UK's best known hot rod historians - Robert Genat, Ken Gross and Greg sharp, among others. Almost entierly in black and white it covers the period from the 1920's to the 60's, but with a heavy 50's focus - buy this book and support a worthy cause. My guess is this will be the first in what is sure to become a very collectible series from the AHRA --Custom Car Magazine June 2008

An excellent choice for all ages who have an interest in the early development days of hot rodding --StreetScene

if no-one in your family has expressed enough love for you to buy this book, take back whatever junk they bought you and buy it yourself. It's waht they should have done --Ol Skool Rodz

Deftly edited by Dain Ginerelli, 'Hot Rod Roots: A Tribute To The Pioneers' is profusely illustrated with images selected from the more than 20 photographs and thousands of hours of videotaped interviews with the people and cars that broke records on drag strips and in dry lake beds with their ingeniously adapted motor vehicles that transformed discarded car bodies, flatheads, and four-bangers into the American automotive phenomena that would become universally recognized as the 'hot rod'. Comprised of informed and informative essays by seven experts, 'Hot Rod Roots' covers such diverse issues as hot rodding and World War II, belly tanks and other speed related changes, track roadster racing, and drag racing, the spreading popularity of hot rods through magazines and car shows. Of special note are A. B. Shuman's essay 'From Out of the East' and Mark A. Morton's 'Hot Rod Heritage'. Simply stated, 'Hot Rod Roots' is a 'must read' for anyone who has every owned --Midwest Book review

it's the perspectives offered by its individual contributors that lend this book a particular air of authority. From Alex Xydias' foreword-including his observations of what the postwar hot rod landscape was like-this book takes off. Seven writers (Robert Genat, Pat Ganahl, Greg Sharp, Dain Gingerelli, Ken Gross, A.B. Shuman, and Mark Morton, in order of appearance) tell the story of an equal number of subjects (postwar context, lakes racing, dirt-track roadster racing, drag racing, media exposure, East Coast happenings, and pop-cultural cross-pollination). While it's the original or rarely seen photos that make this book so compelling for even the most jaded among us, it's the way it's delivered that makes this book a must-have for any new study earnestly interested in learning rod history. Each editor supplies information with the kind of familiarity and context exclusive to hard-core enthusiasts and historical studies. More than just tell you what happened when, for example, they establish a context based on time, culture, and prior achievements. Whenever it's applicable, they reveal what influence a particular event or accomplishment had on generations to come. With the surge of interest the historical hot rod world has enjoyed in the first years of this millennium, we've seen our fair share of novel and original books that plot our collective gas-powered roots. Few of those books, though, are the archival and expressive tour de force that Hot Rod Roots is. Each of these photos-and there are many in these 175 pages-is a gem. And, by showcasing the many subtle facets within those photos, the historians and enthusiasts who give these photos context create rich arrangements. --Street Rodder

Synopsis:

Here are the real pioneers of Hot Rodding - racing lakes in mid-century, breaking records, and by sheer ingenuity transforming discarded car bodies, flathead V-8's, four-bangers into the cars of myth and legend. In essays by the most respected hot-rodding journalists today, the icons of early days come alive, and the full history of hot-rodding unfolds in all it's gritty glory. Complementing the writing are never-before-seen photographs from the American Hot Rod Foundation, sure to be as interesting as the writing itself: Robert genat explores the symyiosis between the US military and hot rodders in World war II; Pat Ganahl delves into the birth of the belly tank and it's effect on the sport; Greg Sharpe looks at hot rodding's effect on the development of circle-track racing; Gingerelli examines how sanctioning quater-mile drag racing increased hot rodding's growth; Ken Gross documents the growth of hot reodding media, and it's impact in the Motorsport world; Mark Mortron shows why hot rodding will always remain close to it's roots; and Alex Xydias, the founder of the So-Cal Speed Shop, writes a specially commissioned introduction.

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