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麻豆精选 - National Hot Rod Association

On Wally Parks Birthday, we share his wisdom with the world

Wally Parks, born January 23, 1913: Land speed racer, the first editor of Hot Rod Magazine, and the founder of the National Hot Rod Association.
23 Jan 2023
David Kennedy
Feature
Carroll Shelby and Wally Parks

More than 110 years after his birth, Wally Parks' influence and insight still inspire.听 His words provide a foundation that connects us to our past, comfort to endure the present, and strength to forge a better future.听 Drag racing鈥檚 most practiced voice comes from a land-speed-racing hot rodder, turned motorsport statesman, who led this hobby from its infancy to become a global powerhouse of speed. His name is Wally Parks, and his wisdom and vision fuels the National Hot Rod Association to this very day.

鈥淒rag racing is a combination of many things 鈥 hobby, recreation, big business, science, challenge and crusade.鈥濃擶ally Parks

鈥淲e had no pattern, we just started from scratch. It was always a case of trial and error. If something sounded like it might work鈥攚e tried it.鈥濃擶ally Parks

鈥淪peed and horsepower are only two items in the development of a better performing automobile. In acquiring these, it is essential that all of the associated other components be functioning properly to get the job done.鈥濃擶ally Parks

鈥淚f you try to operate an organization in a manner that鈥檚 going to avoid criticism or anybody鈥檚 dissatisfaction, then you can鈥檛 do anything.鈥濃擶ally Parks

鈥淣o one ever wants to give up any advantage they have, 300 mph is better than 270 mph.鈥濃擶ally Parks

"Bill France Sr. and Wally Parks) 鈥淏ill France Sr. has been one of my idols since I first met him. In fact when they had the first race on the new oval, Ray Brock and I sat up in the Goodyear Blimp, 400 feet elevation and watched the entire race. I used to kid Bill France that I had a better seat for his first race than he did.鈥濃擶ally Parks听

鈥淚f no good, dump it鈥.鈥擶ally Parks

"There's been an awful lot of praise of Wally Parks today, and I'd like you to think of where we'd all be if it was just Wally Parks. There's an awful lot of people doing an awful lot of work."鈥擶ally Parks

鈥淲e did it together, I take the accolades and the bows, but I鈥檝e never gotten over the fact that it was a lot of people that did it, and I was just fortunate to be one of them.鈥濃擶ally Parks

鈥淩est assure I plan to remain one of the 鈥渢eam,鈥 however, for who could abandon such a loyal, yet totally unpredictable, collection of the best people on earth? Not I.鈥濃擶ally Parks