Drag Racing in the 1970s - Paperback

by Doug Boyce (Author)

Re-live the 1970s with this book that covers a sensational and unique decade of drag racing history!

In the 1950s, drag racing was in its infancy. The sport made incredible technological advancements in the 1960s, and that technology was streamlined and refined with a sense of professionalism in the 1970s. It became more difficult for a local, homebuilt, shoestring-budget team to compete at the national level. These teams were priced out of the top classes by larger teams that had more sponsorship money. So, the low-budget teams dropped to less-expensive classes or simply sold their gear and stopped competing.

However, drag racing in the 1970s was fascinating in its own right. There was still a significant amount of development as well as new classes to celebrate. Funny Cars morphed from altered-wheelbase doorslammers in the early 1960s to full-blown, tube-chassis, flip-top fiberglass-bodied beasts by 1970. This led to the creation of the Pro Stock class, which was a popular child of the 1970s, with its rivalries and connections to the Detroit manufacturers. In the interest of safety, Top Fuel cars became mid-engine beasts, and they turned out to be faster as well. By the end of the decade, Funny Cars nearly became full-bodied versions of the Top Fuel cars. Many of these developments are still evident in NHRA racing today.

In Drag Racing in the 1970s, veteran racing author Doug Boyce takes you chronologically through the entire exciting decade, covering the cars, the classes, and the future hall-of-fame drivers who raced them. The transition to professionalism, the big-money sponsors, the many sanctioning bodies, the rivalries, and even the lower classes (such as Modified Eliminator and Super Stock) are chronicled in this illustrated tribute. Add a copy to your drag racing library today.