SCTA 70TH ANNIVERSARY EXHIBIT
One of them, Wally Parks, who went on to found the National Hot Rod Association in 1951, helped organize the unorganized racers into a group called the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA). Formed in November 1937, the SCTA held its first race in 1938 and has been sanctioning races at El Mirage dry lakes and at the Bonneville salt flats ever since.
To help celebrate the SCTA's 70th Anniversary, The Automobile Club of Southern California agreed to underwrite an exhibit at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, presented by the Auto Club of So. Calif.
Opening to the public on Nov. 7, 2007 at 3:00 p.m., (with a media and VIP reception at 1:00 p.m. the same day) the exhibit will comprise a number of milestone land speed racing vehicles. They'll include Stuart Hilborn's Ford-powered streamliner—the first hot rod to go 150 mph; Al Teague's Spirit of '76, the first single-engined, wheel-driven car to go 400 mph; Kugel & LeFever's Pontiac Firebird, the first stock-bodied passenger vehicle to exceed the 300 mph barrier; and, finally, the Toyota Prius Greensport hybrid which went 130.74 mph at the Bonneville salt flats in 2004.
SCTA 70th Anniversary Exhibit Opens Nov. 7 at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum
Even before the term was coined, hot rodders were racing across the dry lakes of southern California in the1930's.
One of them, Wally Parks, who went on to found the National Hot Rod Association in 1951, helped organize the unorganized racers into a group called the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA). Formed in November 1937, the SCTA held its first race in 1938 and has been sanctioning races at El Mirage dry lakes and at the Bonneville salt flats ever since.
To help celebrate the SCTA's 70th Anniversary, The Automobile Club of Southern California agreed to underwrite an exhibit at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, presented by the Auto Club of So. Calif.
Opening to the public on Nov. 7, 2007 at 3:00 p.m., (with a media and VIP reception at 1:00 p.m. the same day) the exhibit will comprise a number of milestone land speed racing vehicles. They'll include Stuart Hilborn's Ford-powered streamliner—the first hot rod to go 150 mph; Al Teague's Spirit of '76, the first single-engined, wheel-driven car to go 400 mph; Kugel & LeFever's Pontiac Firebird, the first stock-bodied passenger vehicle to exceed the 300 mph barrier; and, finally, the Toyota Prius Greensport hybrid which went 130.74 mph at the Bonneville salt flats in 2004.
In addition to all the high-speed exotic speed machines, the exhibit will include rarely seen memorabilia from the private collection of Wally Parks and other land speed racers, including minutes from the first SCTA meetings, early programs, photographs, clothing and other SCTA-branded
artifacts.
"Much of the early SCTA history has not seen the light of day for many years," said Parks, who's approaching his 95th birthday. "However, the need for an association to help prevent street racing is as relevant now as it was 70 years ago—only the vehicles have changed. The SCTA, and indeed the NHRA, offer enthusiasts a safe venue to go fast and this exhibit helps celebrate the men and machines that laid the ground work."
