Wally Parks

Wally Parks is often credited as the founder of organized drag racing and was instrumental in shaping the sport as we know it today.

Wally Parks, born in 1913 in Goltry, Oklahoma, is often credited as the founder of organized drag racing and was instrumental in shaping the sport as we know it today.

Dry Lakes Racing and the Road Runners

His family moved to California in the early 1920s, where Parks developed an early interest in cars and attended his first dry lake speed trials event in the 1930s. This event sparked his fascination with performance vehicles, leading to him becoming one of the founders of the Road Runners Club in 1937.

SCTA and the Speed Week

After serving in World War II as a military tank test-driver for General Motors, Parks helped organize the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) in 1947. Parks, who at the time lived in Downey, California, became the secretary for the newly established association. Later on, he would become its general manager. Under Parks' leadership, the SCTA organized the first Speed Week at the famous Bonneville Salt Flats in 1949. This event marked a shift in racing culture, as it was here that drivers began running "against the clock," focusing on acceleration rather than simply top speeds.

Hot Rod Magazine and NHRA

In 1950, Parks became the editor of Hot Rod Magazine, a position that gave him a platform to further shape and promote the sport of drag racing. Utilizing this influence, Parks founded the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) in 1951 with the goal to "create order from chaos" by instituting safety rules and performance standards. The NHRA held its first official race in 1953 and its first national event, "the Nationals," in 1955.

Custom Cars Magazine

Wally Parks was the first editorial director of Custom Cars magazine when it was first published in September 1957.

National Roadster Hall of Fame

During the 12th annual National Roadster Show, held February 22 - 28, 1960, nine pioneers in the creative building field were awarded the first members of the newly created National Roadster Hall of Fame. The nine pioneers were Joe Bailon, Ezra Ehrhardt, Romeo Palamides, Gordon Vann, Harold Casaurang, Robert E. Petersen, George Barris, Wally Parks and Walt Moron.

Throughout his career, Parks worked tirelessly to legitimize the sport and move it from the backroads of America to professional racetracks. The work of Wally Parks has left an indelible mark on the world of motorsports, and his legacy continues to impact the sport of drag racing today​.