I ’ve long toyed whether street rodding is a hobby or a sport. I’ve written editorials about the subject and enthusiasts seem to be split on how they refer to their passion. I’ve always leaned toward using hobby to describe what we do based on the entertainment aspect of street rodding, but lately I’m leaning toward sport. In my past thinking there were no rules but upon further thought, and while preparing this month’s issue, I realized we do have rules—the Rules of the Road. Traveling hundreds of thousands of miles for over a half century, in some cases using parts older than that, and doing it safely is certainly the goal of our sport as evidenced in this month’s Street is Neat. Driving safe, keeping your car in great condition and experi- encing how to drive in all conditions are all tools in our sport. At times today’s urban traffic seems like we are all driving on a racetrack. Speaking of driving on a racetrack, NSRA Autocross is your chance to learn the rules of our sport. NSRA has long offered free Safety Inspections, but now NSRA Autocross offers another way we can all remain safe out on the road. How many of you are comfortable with, or even know how, your car will react in emer- gency braking, sudden swerves, or acceleration to avoid accidents? Maybe your impression of autocross is excess speed and of course as in all things, who’s fastest. It’s an adrenaline pumping sport for all, but those chasing speed are in another league. NSRA Autocross is set to change enthusiasts’ impression of autocross and offer our participants the chance to learn how to react in the real-world situations of our sport. Learning how to handle your car can only be done on the track so we hope you’ll take the opportunity to come out and play. A case in point happened several days before shipping this issue as our intrepid staffer, Louie Mayall, fired up his ’33 Ford sedan for a cool 100-mile cruise to the 48th Western Street Rod Nationals in Bakersfield, California, (for the full history of Louie’s ’33 check out page 60). As he cruised up and around the rolling grasslands, he was nearing the town of McKittrick just outside Bakersfield when crossing a small bridge he was Rules of the Road
suddenly jolted by a quick hop followed by scraping sounds. As the right-rear wheel and tire passed him up out the side window, he realized his wheel and tire had exited the vehicle. After a skillful effort wrestling the ’33 to the side of the road he discovered the rear axle had snapped in half right next to the rear axle bearing. The miss- ing brake drum went with the rim and tire and that meant his brakes had little affect while try- ing to stop. Luckily, no one was hurt, and he got the sedan towed back to his house. The damage isn’t as bad as Louie first thought but aside from the mechanical fix, he’ll probably need a rear fender, bumper and paint. Remember, we said Louie was intrepid, so he jumped in his ’33 Ford roadster and headed back to ‘Oil City’ and all the action set to happen at the Kern County Fairgrounds. In a tribute to Murphy’s Law, the roadster’s top latch broke while putting it on, but there was only a slight chance of drizzle, so he headed out without a top and it rained on and off all day Saturday. Another rule all street rod- ders live by is finding shelter for our cars when the weather turns foul, so Louie parked under barns and overhangs and the roadster fared well. All in all, Louie will have a great story to be exaggerated and told for years and he hasn’t even dealt with the insurance company yet. As you enjoy your street rodding sport be sure to follow the Rules of the Road.—ED Tom Vogele tomvogele@verizon.net
8 JUNE 2025
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