Nevada

In this evocative image from The Milt Mallory Photo Collection, a group of hot rod enthusiasts gather around a custom-built roadster at the Cal-Neva dry lake races in the early 1950s. The desolate backdrop and the camaraderie captured here exemplify the spirit of early hot rodding, where resourcefulness and creativity drove the quest for speed. The collection, marked simply with "Nevada," offers a rare glimpse into the formative years of this American cultural phenomenon. Photo from The Milt Mallory Photo Collection.

Rory Forbes' 1927 Ford Model T Roadster was orginally a track roadster from the late 1940s, modified in 1958 by Al Morris, painted by Joe Bailon and striped by Tommy the Greek. It was put in storage in 1959 and brought out in 2019.

Glenn Johnson's 1937 Ford Coupe of Las Vegas, Nevada. The build was started in 1947, and completed it in 1951.

Ron Courtney's 1951 Ford of McMinnville, Oregon was restyled by Ron between 1954 and 1956. The car was known as the X-51, and it was the only custom Ron ever built. The car was once a part of the Harrah Collection at the National Auto Museum in Reno, Nevada.

Edgar Smith's Custom Roadster of Fallon, Nevada. The lowslung and hand-built roadster was created sometime between 1948 and 1964.

Chris Rusbach's 1956 Ford Crown Victoria of Stanhope, New Jersey. Rusbach, who is a member of the Certs Jersey car club bought the car already customized in the summer of 2019. He was told that it came to the East Coast from West Nevada around 2016 - 2017.

Racing at the Cal-Neva Dry Lakes

The Cal-Neva Dry Lakes, located near the California-Nevada border, were a significant site for hot rod racing during the 1940s and the 1950s. Organized by the Cal-Neva Timing Association (CNTA), these races attracted car enthusiasts from all over the region. Participants, including notable car clubs such as the San Francisco Ramblers, would gather to test the limits of their custom-built vehicles among other notable figures such as Gene Winfield. These events were characterized by the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the racers, who often modified their cars using whatever parts they could find. The races were not just about speed; they were about the camaraderie and culture that defined the hot-rodding community.