The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a Hot Rod as a car rebuilt or modified for high speed and rapid acceleration. But my definition goes beyond speed and includes the look of the car, its posture and the passion of the owner.
Hot rodding
began in the late 1930s in Southern California, when car enthusiasts modified their cars and raced them on dry lakes northeast of Los Angeles. Even in those days, an improved hot rod could easily reach top speeds of 100 mph, such was the passion and intention of the people who built these powerful cars to meet a need when there was no money. Today, drag racing is the most popular form of competition for hot rod enthusiasts.It's a test of acceleration and speed with two cars running on a course measured from a stopped start. It's exciting, so they'll probably repeat the performance until an accident occurs or the police stop them. California, sometimes called the birthplace of “hot rodding,” has provided a shining example of the effectiveness of that attitude on the part of police officers. The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is working to bring uniformity and standardization to hot rodding across the nation. With hot rod centers of interest so dispersed, it's obvious that eventually a rather extensive field organization will be needed for NHRA to achieve its goal.
This will provide an unparalleled testing ground for amateur experimentation and research. Usually designed with an eye on beauty, these cars are popularly known as street jobs, and it is these cars that are usually presented as exhibits at hot rod shows. Hot rod clubs that have been organized for some time, and that have recently joined NHRA, receive, for the first time, a far-reaching goal, a goal with its appeal that basically rests on the perspective of friendly and sporting competition. One theory is that rod means roadster, a lightweight 2-door car that was often used as the basis for early hot rods. In conclusion, hot rods are fast cars that have been modified or rebuilt for high speed and rapid acceleration. They are popular among car enthusiasts who enjoy drag racing and showing off their cars at hot rod shows.
The National Hot Rod Association is working to bring uniformity and standardization to hot rodding across the nation.
