Re-live the golden era of Ford drag racing with this comprehensive and nostalgic history book.
In the early days of prewar hot rodding (before organized drag racing on sanctioned quarter-mile tracks), nearly all racing activities took place on the dry lake beds of the Southwest. Ford had a stranglehold on the fledgling performance markets with its flathead V-8 because no other affordable, mass-produced V-8 was available at the time. The flatheads simply dominated the scene during that era.
Fast-forward to postwar racing, and other manufacturers began to challenge the dominance of the flathead V-8 with overhead-valve designs (OHV) of their own. By the mid-1950s, many powerful options were available, and organization was necessary. The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) was formed, and sanctioned competition began.
In this book, veteran author and drag racing historian Doug Boyce covers this era, as Ford responded to those challenges at the track. The flathead was replaced by the Ford Y-Block engine, and the Y-Block was replaced by the FE engine. The 385-series engines replaced the previous powerplants, as the 427 SOHC, Boss 429, and 351 Cleveland engines won races and set records.
Ford gave rise to such stars such as Bill Lawton, Gas Ronda, Hubert Platt, “Dyno” Don Nicholson, Al Joniec, Dick Brannan, Phil Bonner, “Ohio” George Montgomery, Gapp & Roush, Mickey Thompson, Connie Kalitta, Bob Glidden, and many more. Fords and Mercurys won championships and set records in the Stock, Super Stock, Factory Experimental, Pro Stock, and Funny Car categories. Ford’s Total Performance effort emphasized commitment and excellence in all racing forms. Factory production cars, including the Ford Thunderbolt, long-nose Mustangs, flip-top Comets, and Cobra Jet Mustangs, backed up that commitment with the hardware for success.
Whether you are a hardcore Ford fan or just enjoy learning about the history of drag racing during the golden era, this nostalgic look at Ford drag racing history is a welcome addition to any racing library.
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1: A Reputation Built on Speed
Chapter 2: Building Blocks and Performance
Chapter 3: Stock, Super Stock, and FX
Chapter 4: The Mid-Eliminators
Chapter 5: Pro Stock: A Decade of Winning
Chapter 6: Home of the Funny Car
Chapter 7: Ford-Powered Dragsters
Epilogue
Appendix
1-800-551-4754 
