I WANT THIS AMERICA BACK! I hate today's society and its obsession with perversion, sex, deceit, dishonesty, brutality, social media, bullying, hateful rhetoric, fake news, propaganda, and lies. I want 27 cents a gallon gasoline, 15 cent Hamburgers, 10-15 cent French Fries, 35 -75 cents movies, 75 cent banana splits, 25 cent A&W root beers, warm sunny clear days at the beach, where it is quiet, uncrowded, and the beaches are clean and the air smells wonderful. I want to be able to buy a very good three-year-old used car for $1,500 again. That's what I paid for my 1963 Austin Healey 3000 in 1966. In California, in 1968, I bought a 1956 Jaguar XK140 roadster w/ 62,000 miles or $1,800 and it was gorgeous. Quite the car for an 18-19-year-old girl to be driving around. Yes - I want that AMERICA back - not the one we have today.

A professionally made film like this is priceless. Seeing those cars makes me crazy for the old days ('60-'70's) when race cars had a personality.

105 octane gasoline, right from the pump, possibilities limited only by your ability and imagination. Parents who somehow understood, although not always agreed to their kids plans.... My father said, " Leave your street car alone. If you want to race, build a race car and take it to the track. Thats where the racers are at." Words I'll never forget. And thats what I did. For nearly 30 years... Once you win, you are never the same. I suppose thats true of everything, but especially automobile racing. Those days are mostly gone now. It takes more than just hard work and determination. But oh what a time it was for a California kid with his mind made up!

When America was America, the best of times.

Simpler times and a different world ... great days indeed!

DAMN, THAT WAS GOOD, old school 50's engines a couple years before the 406,409, and 413 really gave the sport a kick in the ass and got the 60's era started. I was 12 in '59 and just discovering "hot rod" magazines, I didn't see my first drag race until 1964. This film was really well done and I got a kick out of some of the early travel scenes on the old Route 66.

Man, those were the days. I was 7 years old when this film was made. It all started falling apart in the 60's.

Actually, allow me to clarify my previous statement; That music makes me feel that there was no wrong in the world. It was safe, non-threatening, and was (as I see it, and yes, I do remember this type of music) meant to inspire anyone that personal effort was preferred and viewed as helping the rest of us, not ostracized as selfish, self-indulgent, and greedy.

Just two years before my hot rod days. What a great time. I raced at Westhampton NY, Islip NY (1/8th mile) and Englishtown NJ with ‘61 Chevy 348hp and 62 Chevy 409. Same time in 1962 I assisted Shacker & Pim with their A roadster and B gas dragster.

That kiss at the end would be a date with a lawyer these days.

This is a Great Movie!:) 1958 was Just two years after I was born. All the guys in the movie look like the old Pics of my Dad. And He was a Hot Rodder too:) We had an old 1930's Chevy Sedan in our Back yard for years. He never got to finish it and Mom sold it to my Cousin. I did get to ride in it though, when I was about 5 years old. I remember it like it was yesterday!:) Man I wish I had that Car now!

RIP Jim Nelson.... 84 years old and was still racing a dragmaster chassis with an LS engine last year...

This documentary is a GEM!

Loved those vintage rails. Ah, the of flood of nostalgia. And the music...no godawful rap. Thanks for the video!

Outstanding. Such 'clean' times back then.

THESE ARE THE VERY VERY BEST MUSCLE CARS OF THE 50S & 60S AND INFACT MY FATHER ALWAYS TALKS ABOUT THE 1959 CHEVROLET BISCAYNE THAT HE OWNED BACK IN 1964 HE BROUGHT IN DRESDEN ONTARIO CANADA 🇨🇦 AND WAS A 348 3 IN THE TREE AND BLACK INTERIOR SILVER BLACK AND WAS VERY STRONG AND VERY FAST.

Loved it!! Just loved it !!!!!!!!!! It takes me back to a simpler time when all kinds of sports like drag racing and surfing were coming into their own. There was alot of cross-over in those ealy days between surfers, sky divers, drag racers and other thrill-seekers. What a great time to be young. Thanks form posting.

would love to have lived back then.

17:32 Nick threw it on the ground. He don't need a trash can, he's not part of that system.

Nice, I enjoyed it..love all the old cars..😁

This was an awesome movie. I was 10 years old in 1948 and already a collector of Car Craft and Hot Rod magazine. Seems that they were twenty-five cents a copy. Still have some of those and now I'm going to see if I have the issue featuring this. Thanks so much for posting it!

If I had a Time Machine I’d go back as a teen in the 50’s, and stay, life was so simple. I was a teen in the late 60’s and grew up with the British Invasion music which was great.

16:47 GAWD, I love that sound !!! : )

A lot to like in this video: Broad western vistas and the allure of the open road. "Ohio" George Montgomery. Art Arfons and the Allison-powered Green Monster. Potvin crank-driven blowers. Wally Parks and Robert Petersen confabbing with the presidents of GM and Chrysler. That sexy Willys A/Gas coupe. And the big rig that hauled it. American post-war optimism.

Very pleasant video. Watching in 2022.

Did anyone notice: That was Art Arfons the famous landspeed record breaker!

Great old film from a period when I was beginning my drag racing career behind the wheel! Only trouble with it is that this is of the 1959 Nationals. In 1958, the Nats were held at Oklahoma City (I was on the crew of a D/Gas car from Dallas). R.I.P. Jim Nelson

Could you imagine time warping today's engines to that era,those people would freak out.

This is great.

I love it that there isn't obnoxious heavy rock `n roll blasting throughout the film. Also, note how clean-cut the men are. No beards, long hair, tattoos, or earrings. Most men were fit and good looking. Most had manners. Did you also notice that you didn't see anyone smoking at any time! Even the women were feminine and without hideous body art.

The track is still there. Abandon but there. Detroit is slowly getting better. Tearing down old buildings etc.

I supposed those hair doo's is what the Beach Boy's described as Butchy. Butchy, Bon, Bon. Great video! enjoyed a portion of my history.

OMG - LOL - @6:11 note the gasoline prices on the sign. I well remember when it was that cheap.

2020 , imagine Detroit Dragway one of the original big time tracks. I miss it.

TRIPPY,time goes so fast I'm spinning

what a great Video, greeetings from Germany where we never had a sound like this!

Just one day! Give me just one day to be there!

Acres and acres of sheet metal, heaven. Not one fire suit or fire extinguisher in sight.

Yeah, I'm old school (1949) and this was great, even the "Leave It To Beaver" music. Check @ 6:11 the 27 & 29 in the background is the price per gallon in cents for gas. Those were the days. I even remember in 1971 filling my '70 383 4 speed CUDA sometimes 3 times on Friday & Saturday nights racing from red light to red light in Orlando between Steak n Shakes on Colonial Dr, and 17-92 in Winter Park!!! YEAH BUDDY!!!!

The first time I saw 'Allison' on film ... actually an active vulcan on a cart chassis with a seat mounted in front .. which does not hurt when the drivetrain emigrates to South America ... besides the soundtrack may add to the impression of some innocuous hobby 😓

What excellent musical arrangement! A positive, upbeat happy sound! I'll take this anyday over today's "kill a cop" gangsta krap! Nothing creative has been done in music for decades!

1958 power tour

Enjoyed it, like being there in 1959!

disconnect, controller down, iPad/iPhone off and build something..... use the beautiful mind and create......

And that sums up why I race! Great movie! Got three fron the 60's myself!

NHRA should make ones these every year, how cool to see Wally Parkes at this early event. racin racin forever racin!

Great videos,Thanks!

This makes me feel great and also horrible, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE AMERICA? DETROIT??

At 18:20... Those were some damn big knots on that cam !

Looks like no PJ1 trackbite back then. Blazing the hides down 1/2 track. Cool vid from the archives.

That dragster looks almost like Grandpa's coffin dragster from the Munsters.

This is the same music they used in the early 60's for the sex ed. films....." Jonny should use a prophylactic...."

Lol at "expensive noises". Awesome video.

Ahhhh,the way it was.

look how well dressed everyone was

I sooooo wish I had been born 60 years ago.

Rick, I'm so far over the edge I can't see the edge anymore!

22:00 Herman Moser in his ram rod, the actual ramcharger car, powered with a 354 Hemi and built by Engineers at Chrysler. it was the First drag car to have altered wheel base and a high stance, copied for years but the ram charger team said it was Not such great idea.

The trophy for the farthest distance traveled to the competition sounds a lot like a participation trophy, lol.

The Green monster Wow i will never forget firsttime i saw it great vidio

sweet vid - i wasn't born for another 10 yrs after this but i even recognized some of the names :)

Great Rat Fink hat!

That music lmao,straight 50s TV

awesome video,great viewing

BBQ & gas stop in Amarillo, at around 6:08 in vid, shows 28¢ & 29¢ gas prices

Dig that groovy mid 50's Chrysler station wagon tow car. No 18 wheeler's here.

Check out 06:07, the sign (high) and behind them had gas prices; 27 and 29 cents!

When America was great...

@tabledechevet2007 i think the wheels are tucked under the fenders for more ayrodynamics, it would seem wierd to make a 3 wheel dragster back in those days

YOu have great passion the creator of this channel smiled through the video motion 69 camaro L89 427 ralley green is currantly my passion

Great movie.

Wow! under 10 sec. That wouldn't even get you in a lawn mower race these days. lol

Super good !

and for the winner the . . .KISS! @26:29 By Golly, now that was a tonsil tickler!

thnx 4 uploadin'

Hand Forged Can't beat it !

I still love drag racing. But with me I don't use nitros, blowers or super chargers or "tunes" with a pc. Pump gas and engine. Oh yeah and the trophy girls are still cute.

If you google "Detroit Dragway" there are still pics of some of these same cars.

We only needed white tee shirts back then!

The music makes me feel that there is no wrong in the world.

I believe that I was born ten years later than I should have been.

Wow look at all that smog in Detroit, and St Louis.

Very cool.

STONE,WOODS& COOK a lot of young folks of today don't know the story behind that drag racing team.

14:35 -- Possibly the inspiration for Speed Racer?

Super!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This sounds like the guy that narrated " The Cool Hot Rod " just with a deeper voice .

Lots of Ohio boys! I'm pretty darn proud!!

You are the lucky guy! Wish I could share the same comment.

now theres a haircut you can set your watch to

Lovley clips. Real life :)

Verrrry cool. Gas = 27 cents/gal. Kick ass t-shirts too.

Oh wow... Sid Davis did this? Most of his stuff was preachy school health films. I see he used the same music and cinematography though.

I pray Finigan has seen this , I could bet Fryburger has !

Pretty geeky bunch things were a little friendlier back then

Ha I new that was Oceanside! California...now Carlsbad?

I know back in the 60’s we had a lot of drag strips. I can think of 4 within 30 miles of my house. Today 0. And hell you could stand on the starting line. No fences or rail guards or anything. Safety?!?! What the hell is that?!?!? Lol 😂

Saw a 59 wagon at the start of this 1958 video...

I like the flag starters, what a cool thing to do.

The narrator sounds like Rod Serling