Hot Rods and early racing in Los Angeles

From the Los Angeles archives:



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<TD vAlign=top>Participants and spectators view the entrants at a Hot Rod Show at a school. A stripped-down hot rod sits next to a Ford F-100. A poster for the C.R.A. 50 Lap Championship Race is partially visible on the right. The photo caption reads: "And here's a cl***y ch***is with all the trimmin's [sic]. Dorothy Brown admires the work of Bruce Frederickson, (at wheel) and Bob Jackson. The Hot Rod Show is really a serious thing at the school - a program to show that not all hot-rodders are maniacs. These youngsters are doing great things for the auto industry". Photo dated: Nov. 25, 1953.

*Check out those rear wheels





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<TD vAlign=top>A delegation places a Green Cross Safety sticker on a hot rod as the hot rodders look on in the background. The photo caption reads: "The first Green Cross Safety sticker of the National Safety Council is shown here being placed on a[n] experimental engineering car when members of the National Timing ***ociation were inducted into the Green Cross for Safety Mobilization yesterday. Left to right are Capt. Roger E. Murdock, Los Angeles Polic; Capt. Otto Bauer of California Highway Patrol; Jim Bishop, presiden tof the Greater Los Angeles Chapter, NSC; Akton Miller, president of the Timing group; and Judge Roger Pfaff of the Los Angeles Municipal Court". Photo dated: Sep. 20, 1948





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<TD vAlign=top>Habitual traffic violator gets a sticker on the window of his hot rod. This sign brands cars of Los Angeles drivers who break auto safety laws. Officer L. Samson decorates the windshield of Richard Warden, one of 98 who preferred the sticker to jail on July 23, 1947. </TD>



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<TD vAlign=top>A large group of young hot-rodders mill through jail doors are they are processed after sentencing. The photo caption reads: "35 "Hot-Rod" drivers get jail sentences. Shown above are some of the 35 young "hot-rod" driving enthusiasts who were sentenced today to five days in jail each. All of the drivers lost their licenses for 30 days. Officer Harold Nenny, background, holds the drivers' suspended licenses (arrow). The young drivers were accused of holding regular weekly "meets" along Sepulveda boulevard near San Fernando road". Photo dated: Mar. 11, 1948. </TD>



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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right>Description </TD><TD vAlign=top>Drag racing on back roads was illegal and highly dangerous. Three boys are shown here with T-shirts reading "Burbank Prowlers." </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top noWrap align=right>Subjects </TD><TD vAlign=top>1954




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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right>Description </TD><TD vAlign=top>Members of the "Throttle Queens" competed against male-driven cars at the San Fernando Drag Strip 1956




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<TD vAlign=top>Hot rod and motorcycle enthusiasts using legal drag strip in Pomona, which included safeguards such as crash helmets, fire extinguishers and roll bars. 1954


<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right>Description </TD><TD vAlign=top>A mechanic drives the car owned by racer Harry Hartz prior to the 250 mile race held at the Los Angeles Speedway in Culver City. Harry Hartz (1896-1974) was an active racer in the 1920s, but was badly injured the year this photograph was taken. He subsequently retired from racing to become a team owner and chief mechanic, only to completely leave the industry in 1940. Photo dated: March 6, 1927



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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right>Description </TD><TD vAlign=top>Crowds look on as drivers prepare to begin the 100 mile race at the Legion Ascot Speedway, located on Soto Street in Los Angeles. Photo dated: February 6, 1927. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
ENJOY!
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Awesome pictures !

 

Really nice pics...thanks

 

Ryan,

You need a time machine to go back in time to "Spread the gospel to those hoodlums"

 

cool pics

 

I grew up here in Los Angeles, and i've been told many ah stories from the veteranos (oldtimers) but seeing them pictures puts a whole other perspective to them golden days.

 

damn,,,those pics are ****in great!

look at the pic of the guy getting the "TRAFFIC VIOLATOR" sticker...his freinds are busting up! haahaha,,,,priceless!


thanks for posting those!

 

"Check out those rear wheels"

looks like someone fabbed up some nifty pressure plates to slip inside an artillery wheel for knock-offs and pin-drive. they look spiffy!

 

Wow, a nickel in the pen for racing!?

Got any more of these?

 

Great stuff in there, thanks for sharing.

 

does anyone have any info on the "burbank prowlers"?

i took my 48 buick roadmaster to the roadkings show last year - an old timer walked up to me and asked me if i was in the prowlers, i said no then he told me that they all had buick fastbacks and were gangsters... truth?

 

I wonder what the violation was for ? LOL!! 'laughingboy' in the back ground looks really amused...

 

Check out the battery strapped to the framerail! The car getting the green safety cross is Bob McGee's roadster. Very cool pictures, thank you!

 

I want one of those "TRAFFIC VIOLATOR" stickers for my coupe.

 

hahaha me too! great pictures I bet that battery did not last long against the exhaust ?

 

Great pictures! thanks!

 

Probably got the tickets just for having that rolling wreck out of his driveway!

 

Didn't you get one of those, recently? LOL Hoodlums!

 

nice pics, i was at Barnes & Noble last night flipping through books and i came across this one, looks like a good read with tons of old pics...
http://www.amazon.com/City-Speed-An...bs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200865988&sr=1-1

 

To me,that looks like a sprint car back end ,in fact the whole rear veiw looks to be ex dirt car . i can see tubes for nerf bar mounts and the steering box and wheel are ross speedway items aren't they? wouldn't i just love to find one of those!!!

 

there was a time that I would have worn that "Traffic Violator" sticker with pride, not so much any more,,,,, who am I trying to fool. Where can I get one of those stickers?

 

Heres one for Ryan (from the same archives);

" A customer confers with a repairman at Barrows Speedometer Shop in Hollywood. Photo dated: October 2, 1929."

Alex.

 

was indian larry working there...that looks like his trade mark question mark on that board

 

She's still a dirt car in that photo, the body is off to right of the car and a CRA oster in the drivers seat.. They used to swap bodies for roadster races and sprints, Nice car! Wish mine was that nice

 

Wow! How cool is that? Good eye Kev!

 

Anyone notice the knock offs on the rear of the first picture.........great pictures, thanks for sharing.....Lucky

 

Love them great old pics.

 

Keep those old photos comin......nice shots..

 

Great Pics. Thanks.