DRAG RAGS OF JUL.-DEC. 1966: FAILING NEWSPAPERS, PIONEERING FEMALES
by
Dave Wallace
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Publisher’s Note: Duplicate issues of most 1966 drag rags & mags are now available from the Wallace Family Archives (hrd.dave@gmail.com).
The Golden Age of Drag Racing Publishing that our series celebrates was not without its casualties. This second half of 1966 dealt deadly, back-to-back blows to fully two-thirds of the independent, national weeklies featured in recent installments. In July, Drag Sport Illustrated, the longest-running competitor to Drag News, was shut down by the U.S. Treasury Department after nearly three-and-a-half years of weekly publishing. No less shocking came Drag World’s August sale to Jim Tice, who moved headquarters to AHRA’s Kansas City office and hired all-new staff. Only the logo and layout design remained the same. In one month’s time, thousands of readers lost a combined 100 issues a year of independent reporting and opinion columns.
Had these two dead tabloids managed to hang on a little longer, there might’ve briefly been six independent drag weeklies coming out of L.A. simultanously in mid-1966! One weekend after Drag Sport disappeared, something called Drag Digest was handed out free at SoCal strips, bravely promising better coverage of Western events than Drag News had been providing since 1955. Doris Herbert, the powerful Drag News publisher (since 1959), retaliated with Drag West, a separate weekly devoted to five Western states. Both battling tabloids wholeheartedly embraced Funny Cars, whereas all of their newsprint predecessors favored traditional open-wheel favorites: competition coupes, modified roadsters, altereds, and especially dragsters. Drag News additionally spotlighted the gas coupes and sedans responsible for generating a disproportionately-large number of advertising dollars during the “Gasser Wars” fought primarily on its pages.
While Funny Cars had earned grudging acceptance out west by their third season, women were still fighting for the right to drive serious drag cars. The accompanying clippings reveal that even in progressive southern California, where women had been successfully and safely competing against men literally since drag racing began, veteran Paula Murphy’s intentions to wrap her pretty legs around a blown-fuel 392 Chrysler lit off the biggest controversy of this second half of 1966. Prominent male competitors, sanctioning officials, journalists and editors took sides in print that some may regret rereading onscreen. Murphy’s cool professionalism both inside and outside of all types of fast race cars ultimately prevailed, setting a professional example for all those who followed in fuel cars, jet cars, rocket cars, stock cars, etc. — females and males alike.
Because this was such a significant season for drag-racing journalism, we’re gonna give 1966 a bonus third installment when Drag Rags returns. Tune back in for the inside story of a sad and sudden end to one popular drag rag, as told in 2018 by Drag Sport Illustrated founder Phil Bellomy and his final editor, Forrest Bond (since deceased). Our interviews turned out to be each man’s first on the subject since arriving for work one Monday morning and finding a Treasury Department lock on the door, 56 years ago.
Since our inception, we have been passionately dedicated to delivering the most accurate, timely, and compelling content in the world of drag racing. Our readers depend on us for the latest news, in-depth features, expert analysis, and exclusive interviews that connect you to the sport’s pulse.
To enlarge font for captions – Hold down CTRL button and push down + symbol on the numbers bar. Each time you press the + it will increase font size. To reduce size, hold down CTRL button and press –
Publisher’s Note: Duplicate issues of most 1966 drag rags & mags are now available from the Wallace Family Archives (hrd.dave@gmail.com).
The Golden Age of Drag Racing Publishing that our series celebrates was not without its casualties. This second half of 1966 dealt deadly, back-to-back blows to fully two-thirds of the independent, national weeklies featured in recent installments. In July, Drag Sport Illustrated, the longest-running competitor to Drag News, was shut down by the U.S. Treasury Department after nearly three-and-a-half years of weekly publishing. No less shocking came Drag World’s August sale to Jim Tice, who moved headquarters to AHRA’s Kansas City office and hired all-new staff. Only the logo and layout design remained the same. In one month’s time, thousands of readers lost a combined 100 issues a year of independent reporting and opinion columns.
Had these two dead tabloids managed to hang on a little longer, there might’ve briefly been six independent drag weeklies coming out of L.A. simultanously in mid-1966! One weekend after Drag Sport disappeared, something called Drag Digest was handed out free at SoCal strips, bravely promising better coverage of Western events than Drag News had been providing since 1955. Doris Herbert, the powerful Drag News publisher (since 1959), retaliated with Drag West, a separate weekly devoted to five Western states. Both battling tabloids wholeheartedly embraced Funny Cars, whereas all of their newsprint predecessors favored traditional open-wheel favorites: competition coupes, modified roadsters, altereds, and especially dragsters. Drag News additionally spotlighted the gas coupes and sedans responsible for generating a disproportionately-large number of advertising dollars during the “Gasser Wars” fought primarily on its pages.
While Funny Cars had earned grudging acceptance out west by their third season, women were still fighting for the right to drive serious drag cars. The accompanying clippings reveal that even in progressive southern California, where women had been successfully and safely competing against men literally since drag racing began, veteran Paula Murphy’s intentions to wrap her pretty legs around a blown-fuel 392 Chrysler lit off the biggest controversy of this second half of 1966. Prominent male competitors, sanctioning officials, journalists and editors took sides in print that some may regret rereading onscreen. Murphy’s cool professionalism both inside and outside of all types of fast race cars ultimately prevailed, setting a professional example for all those who followed in fuel cars, jet cars, rocket cars, stock cars, etc. — females and males alike.
Because this was such a significant season for drag-racing journalism, we’re gonna give 1966 a bonus third installment when Drag Rags returns. Tune back in for the inside story of a sad and sudden end to one popular drag rag, as told in 2018 by Drag Sport Illustrated founder Phil Bellomy and his final editor, Forrest Bond (since deceased). Our interviews turned out to be each man’s first on the subject since arriving for work one Monday morning and finding a Treasury Department lock on the door, 56 years ago.
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DRAG RAGS OF JUL.-DEC. 1966: FAILING NEWSPAPERS, PIONEERING FEMALES
To enlarge font for captions – Hold down CTRL button and push down + symbol on the numbers bar. Each time you press the + it will increase font size. To reduce size, hold down CTRL button and press –
Publisher’s Note: Duplicate issues of most 1966 drag rags & mags are now available from the Wallace Family Archives (hrd.dave@gmail.com).
The Golden Age of Drag Racing Publishing that our series celebrates was not without its casualties. This second half of 1966 dealt deadly, back-to-back blows to fully two-thirds of the independent, national weeklies featured in recent installments. In July, Drag Sport Illustrated, the longest-running competitor to Drag News, was shut down by the U.S. Treasury Department after nearly three-and-a-half years of weekly publishing. No less shocking came Drag World’s August sale to Jim Tice, who moved headquarters to AHRA’s Kansas City office and hired all-new staff. Only the logo and layout design remained the same. In one month’s time, thousands of readers lost a combined 100 issues a year of independent reporting and opinion columns.
Had these two dead tabloids managed to hang on a little longer, there might’ve briefly been six independent drag weeklies coming out of L.A. simultanously in mid-1966! One weekend after Drag Sport disappeared, something called Drag Digest was handed out free at SoCal strips, bravely promising better coverage of Western events than Drag News had been providing since 1955. Doris Herbert, the powerful Drag News publisher (since 1959), retaliated with Drag West, a separate weekly devoted to five Western states. Both battling tabloids wholeheartedly embraced Funny Cars, whereas all of their newsprint predecessors favored traditional open-wheel favorites: competition coupes, modified roadsters, altereds, and especially dragsters. Drag News additionally spotlighted the gas coupes and sedans responsible for generating a disproportionately-large number of advertising dollars during the “Gasser Wars” fought primarily on its pages.
While Funny Cars had earned grudging acceptance out west by their third season, women were still fighting for the right to drive serious drag cars. The accompanying clippings reveal that even in progressive southern California, where women had been successfully and safely competing against men literally since drag racing began, veteran Paula Murphy’s intentions to wrap her pretty legs around a blown-fuel 392 Chrysler lit off the biggest controversy of this second half of 1966. Prominent male competitors, sanctioning officials, journalists and editors took sides in print that some may regret rereading onscreen. Murphy’s cool professionalism both inside and outside of all types of fast race cars ultimately prevailed, setting a professional example for all those who followed in fuel cars, jet cars, rocket cars, stock cars, etc. — females and males alike.
Because this was such a significant season for drag-racing journalism, we’re gonna give 1966 a bonus third installment when Drag Rags returns. Tune back in for the inside story of a sad and sudden end to one popular drag rag, as told in 2018 by Drag Sport Illustrated founder Phil Bellomy and his final editor, Forrest Bond (since deceased). Our interviews turned out to be each man’s first on the subject since arriving for work one Monday morning and finding a Treasury Department lock on the door, 56 years ago.
PREVIOUS DRAG RAGS
THE EARLIEST EDITIONS
BANS WERE BIG IN ’57
ISKY STIRS THE POT
DRAG RAGS OF 1960 – TRAGEDY, POPCORN SPEEDS AND A CAMSHAFT RIVALRY
DRAG RAGS OF 1961: CONTROVERSY STALKS NHRA
DRAG RAGS: 1959 – GARLITS GOES FROM ZERO TO HERO, TURNS PRO
DRAG RAGS: 1959, PART 2 — HOW THE SMOKERS BEAT THE FUEL BAN
DRAG RAGS OF 1962: GARLITS IS NO. 1, WALLY IS ALL GAS
DRAG RAGS OF 1963: FUEL IS BACK – OR IS IT? JETS RUN WILD
DRAG RAGS OF JAN.-JUNE 1964: INNOVATION WITHOUT LIMITATION
DRAG RAGS OF JULY-DEC. 1964: ZOOMIES PUSH THROUGH THE 200-MPH BARRIER
DRAG RAGS OF EARLY ’65: EXPLOSION OF WEEKLY PUBLICATIONS
DRAG RAGS OF JULY-DEC 1965: FUELERS, FUNNIES AND GASSERS APLENTY
DRAG RAGS 1965: TERRY COOK TELLS HOW THE WEEKLY SAUSAGE GOT MADE
DRAG RAGS: DRAG RAGS OF EARLY 1966: FUNNY CARS FLIP OUT, “SURFERS” STAR
DRAG RAGS: DRAG RAGS OF EARLY 1966: FUNNY CARS FLIP OUT, “SURFERS” STAR
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Since our inception, we have been passionately dedicated to delivering the most accurate, timely, and compelling content in the world of drag racing. Our readers depend on us for the latest news, in-depth features, expert analysis, and exclusive interviews that connect you to the sport’s pulse.
Sign up for our newsletters and email list.
DRAG RAGS OF JUL.-DEC. 1966: FAILING NEWSPAPERS, PIONEERING FEMALES
To enlarge font for captions – Hold down CTRL button and push down + symbol on the numbers bar. Each time you press the + it will increase font size. To reduce size, hold down CTRL button and press –
Publisher’s Note: Duplicate issues of most 1966 drag rags & mags are now available from the Wallace Family Archives (hrd.dave@gmail.com).
The Golden Age of Drag Racing Publishing that our series celebrates was not without its casualties. This second half of 1966 dealt deadly, back-to-back blows to fully two-thirds of the independent, national weeklies featured in recent installments. In July, Drag Sport Illustrated, the longest-running competitor to Drag News, was shut down by the U.S. Treasury Department after nearly three-and-a-half years of weekly publishing. No less shocking came Drag World’s August sale to Jim Tice, who moved headquarters to AHRA’s Kansas City office and hired all-new staff. Only the logo and layout design remained the same. In one month’s time, thousands of readers lost a combined 100 issues a year of independent reporting and opinion columns.
Had these two dead tabloids managed to hang on a little longer, there might’ve briefly been six independent drag weeklies coming out of L.A. simultanously in mid-1966! One weekend after Drag Sport disappeared, something called Drag Digest was handed out free at SoCal strips, bravely promising better coverage of Western events than Drag News had been providing since 1955. Doris Herbert, the powerful Drag News publisher (since 1959), retaliated with Drag West, a separate weekly devoted to five Western states. Both battling tabloids wholeheartedly embraced Funny Cars, whereas all of their newsprint predecessors favored traditional open-wheel favorites: competition coupes, modified roadsters, altereds, and especially dragsters. Drag News additionally spotlighted the gas coupes and sedans responsible for generating a disproportionately-large number of advertising dollars during the “Gasser Wars” fought primarily on its pages.
While Funny Cars had earned grudging acceptance out west by their third season, women were still fighting for the right to drive serious drag cars. The accompanying clippings reveal that even in progressive southern California, where women had been successfully and safely competing against men literally since drag racing began, veteran Paula Murphy’s intentions to wrap her pretty legs around a blown-fuel 392 Chrysler lit off the biggest controversy of this second half of 1966. Prominent male competitors, sanctioning officials, journalists and editors took sides in print that some may regret rereading onscreen. Murphy’s cool professionalism both inside and outside of all types of fast race cars ultimately prevailed, setting a professional example for all those who followed in fuel cars, jet cars, rocket cars, stock cars, etc. — females and males alike.
Because this was such a significant season for drag-racing journalism, we’re gonna give 1966 a bonus third installment when Drag Rags returns. Tune back in for the inside story of a sad and sudden end to one popular drag rag, as told in 2018 by Drag Sport Illustrated founder Phil Bellomy and his final editor, Forrest Bond (since deceased). Our interviews turned out to be each man’s first on the subject since arriving for work one Monday morning and finding a Treasury Department lock on the door, 56 years ago.
PREVIOUS DRAG RAGS
THE EARLIEST EDITIONS
BANS WERE BIG IN ’57
ISKY STIRS THE POT
DRAG RAGS OF 1960 – TRAGEDY, POPCORN SPEEDS AND A CAMSHAFT RIVALRY
DRAG RAGS OF 1961: CONTROVERSY STALKS NHRA
DRAG RAGS: 1959 – GARLITS GOES FROM ZERO TO HERO, TURNS PRO
DRAG RAGS: 1959, PART 2 — HOW THE SMOKERS BEAT THE FUEL BAN
DRAG RAGS OF 1962: GARLITS IS NO. 1, WALLY IS ALL GAS
DRAG RAGS OF 1963: FUEL IS BACK – OR IS IT? JETS RUN WILD
DRAG RAGS OF JAN.-JUNE 1964: INNOVATION WITHOUT LIMITATION
DRAG RAGS OF JULY-DEC. 1964: ZOOMIES PUSH THROUGH THE 200-MPH BARRIER
DRAG RAGS OF EARLY ’65: EXPLOSION OF WEEKLY PUBLICATIONS
DRAG RAGS OF JULY-DEC 1965: FUELERS, FUNNIES AND GASSERS APLENTY
DRAG RAGS 1965: TERRY COOK TELLS HOW THE WEEKLY SAUSAGE GOT MADE
DRAG RAGS: DRAG RAGS OF EARLY 1966: FUNNY CARS FLIP OUT, “SURFERS” STAR
DRAG RAGS: DRAG RAGS OF EARLY 1966: FUNNY CARS FLIP OUT, “SURFERS” STAR
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More Posts
Send Us A Message
Don’t miss these other exciting stories!
Explore more action packed posts on Competition Plus, where we dive into the latest in Drag Racing News. Discover a range of topics, from race coverage to in-depth interviews, to keep you informed and entertained.
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DRAG RAGS OF JUL.-DEC. 1966: FAILING NEWSPAPERS, PIONEERING FEMALES
To enlarge font for captions – Hold down CTRL button and push down + symbol on the numbers bar. Each time you press the + it will