Hot Rod Pioneers: The Creators of the Fastest Sport on Wheels [Hardcover]

Ed Almquist (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2000

'Hot Rod Pioneers' covers the golden age of the sport - the years immediately following World War II (when the term "hot rod" was coined), and hot rodding's explosion in popularity during the 1950s and 1960s. The story is continued through the gas-crisis downturn in the 1970s and the emergence of a new generation of hot rod enthusiasts in the 1980s and 1990s.

Almquist provides intimate profiles of the fascinating personalities who built this dynamic sport and industry. Readers will find many previously-unknown facts about the pioneers who significantly influenced the performance, safety, and appearance of today's automobiles.

From the 1940s through the 1990s, the stories of over 200 pioneers, including:

- "Big Daddy" Don Garlits
- Craig Breedlove
- Eddie Hill
- The Granatellis
- Don Prudhomme
- George Barris
- Mickey Thompson
- Wally Parks
- Ed Roth
- Dan Gurney
- Vic Edelbrook
- Smokey Yunick

Himself a hot rod pioneer, Ed Almquist tells the story of the history of the sport through profiles of over 200 innovators and legends.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...Spotlights the motorsports world and the innovations that improved the...performance of the cars that you and I drive today." -- "Big Daddy" Don Garlits

About the Author

Ed Almquist wrote the world's first widely circulated hot rod how-to manual in 1946 and became the mail order icon of hot rodding from the 1940s through the 1960s. Today, many of Almquist's inventions - such as Sparkomatic plugs, floor shifters, and wear-proofing lubricants - are still in use on both road and track.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 408 pages
• Publisher: Society of Automotive Engineers Inc (June 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076800232X
• ISBN-13: 978-0768002324
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 9.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #478,679 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Hot Rod Thrill Ride..., May 11, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Hot Rod Pioneers: The Creators of the Fastest Sport on Wheels (Hardcover)

Wow, did this book take me back. If you consider yourself a hot rod guru, how can you not have this book on your shelf. Ed Almquist (to whom the industry owes a great debt of gratitude) gives a first-hand account of the men and events that shaped hot rod history. Big Daddy Don Garlits writes a great Intro. And I noticed it was published by the Society of Automotive Engineers -- who better to publish a hot rod book?

It only took me about a week or two to get (even though it said something like four weeks). Hundreds of photos of the most memorable rods in American history. You should really see for yourself and let me know what you think.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hot Rod Pioneers, October 24, 2008

By 

Daryl the reader (Wi) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hot Rod Pioneers: The Creators of the Fastest Sport on Wheels (Hardcover)

This is a must read for anyone who wants to know the hot rod industries early leaders and pioneers, and the names behind the names. Very informative, and a true hand-me down to the next generation of hot rodders.