Wally Parks was father of modern drag racing
By GREG ZYLA

PHOTO CUTLINES:

1) NHRA founder Wally Parks with Funny Car champ John Force. (NHRA photo)

2) As Hot Rod Magazine's first editor, Wally Parks' roadster was daily transportation. (NHRA photo)

I am dedicating this column to Wally Parks, the founding father and driving force behind the formation of the National Hot Rod Association. Parks passed away at the age of 94 on Sept. 28.

Thanks to Parks' vision and goals in a time when "drag racing" meant juvenile delinquency, and his unconditional commitment to the need of safe, sanctioned racing, he created what today is the world's largest motorsports governing body.

Those who had the opportunity to chat with Wally found a humble, gentle, yet strong individual who knew where racing was headed.

"Wally's passing is a sad day in the world of NHRA and the sport of drag racing," said Tom Compton, NHRA president. "Words simply can't describe the immeasurable impact Wally has had on the sport he created and the millions of people's lives he touched along the way. The name Wally Parks is synonymous with drag racing, and his vision and direction will guide NHRA for years to come."

I wrote that Parks was a humble man, and to his last days he never took the credit he deserved in helping make racing what it is today. His pride and joy, The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum presented by Automobile Club of Southern California at Fairplex in Pomona, Calif., is where he spent most of his time in recent years while still serving on NHRA's board of directors, according to NHRA.com.

Parks was a Kansas native whose family moved to California when he was 8. He became active in hot rodding and built many Model-T Fords he used both on the street and in early speed trials on dry lakebeds at Muroc, just north of Los Angeles. In 1937, Parks helped found the Southern California Timing Association, which held land-speed record events. He and friends such as pioneer master speed-parts designer/engineer Ed Winfield and "The Camfather" Ed Iskenderian helped grow the sport, and Parks served as an SCTAofficial until World War II began.

In 1946, following military service in the South Pacific, Parks was elected president of the reorganized SCTA. In 1947, Parks left a job at General Motors to assume a new role as the SCTA's general manager.

It was Parks' idea to produce America's first Hot Rod Show, presented by the SCTA in 1948 at the Los Angeles Exposition Armory. His co-producer was none other than Robert E. "Pete" Petersen, the noted racing and hot-rod magazine publisher, who also recently passed away.

In 1948, Parks helped copublishers Petersen and Bob Lindsay with the introduction of Hot Rod Magazine, which today is of the world's largest-circulation auto-enthusiast publications. Parks was named "Hot Rod" magazine's first editor, and in 1949, he organized a marketing campaign that led to the opening of Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats for hot-rod speed trials - a stillthriving annual activity.

Finally, in 1951, and making use of Hot Rod Magazine as a conduit to nationwide readership, Parks formed the NHRA. In 1963, he resigned his position as editorial director for all of Petersen's automotive magazines to assume full-time duties as president of NHRA.

Parks has received hundreds of awards along the way, and we dedicate this space to him for opening the door to a sport that today thrives in many different flavors. We'll miss you, Wally, and thanks for everything.

Write to Greg Zyla in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL32853-6475, or send an e-mail to gzyla@ptd.net.

(c) 2007 King Features Synd., Inc.