Hot Rods and Racing Cars #35

Frank Kurtis rises from a young grease monkey to become the preeminent designer of racing chassis, applying revolutionary engineering innovations—from lightweight alloy tubing to advanced suspension systems—across everything from midget racers to Indianapolis speedway mammoths. This 1958 profile traces his journey from building his first hot rod out of scrap parts to dominating the nation's most prestigious racing circuits, all guided by his father's timeless principle: if something's worth doing, it's worth doing well.

Don Carol is a newcomer to the Safety Road Kings hot rod club with a beautifully built Olds-Ford roadster, but when a poisoning emergency strikes during the annual invitational meet, his real test comes not on the drag strip but on the open road. What begins as a chance to prove himself against rivals like Duke becomes something far more meaningful as Don races against the clock to save a child's life.

The Ford Motor Company shrouds the Edsel in secrecy for three years before unveiling its bid to shake up the upper-medium price car market in 1957. When the company announces its plans, demand explodes—over 5,000 dealership applications flood in—and a disguised pair of Edsels hits the road for testing, leaving curious onlookers wondering if this newcomer has the roadability, appeal, and stamina to compete with the big names.

Shim Burke, once the top independent driver on the racing circuit, finds himself frozen out by vengeful factory teams after a crash leaves his yellow Jaguar destroyed. When a mysterious benefactor gifts him a pristine SLR 300, Burke gets a second chance to prove himself—but his old rivals Bisto and Kragg are determined to finish what they started, forcing a climactic showdown on the treacherous Alpine course.

Terry Frake, a gas station owner fed up with reckless hot-rodders, clashes with the boastful Firpo Reilly after Reilly's dangerous driving lands a frightened woman in a ditch. When Reilly challenges him to a race, Terry surprises the cocky driver with his own hidden talents—and uses the win to steer Firpo toward something more worthwhile than street showing off.

Young Tommy Adams idolizes the champion speed cyclist "Jet" Barnes and dreams of becoming a racing champion himself—until a hurricane traps his town and forces him to put his motorcycle skills to the ultimate test. Racing through a storm to deliver life-saving antitoxin to Saybrook Hospital, Tommy discovers that real heroism means more than fame and speed. When "Jet" learns who saved his life, he sees a true champion in the boy who inspired him.

George Karl's hopes of proving his hot rod at the Fulson Flat drag trials take an unexpected turn when he spots a police car in pursuit of armed gunmen fleeing a gas station holdup. When the officer wrecks during the chase, George volunteers his '32 Ford coupe to help track down the criminals—and his driving skill and nerve earn him respect from both the police and his skeptical father. By the end of the night, what started as a desperate bid to validate his investment in his car becomes something far more rewarding.

When a gas leak threatens to derail the pit crew's chances, Chuck must get the 77 Special back in working order—but a dangerous spin on the track tests everyone's nerves as the race hurtles toward its climax. With tensions running high between the driver and his pit chief, Chuck's split-second decisions and the team's trust in each other become as critical as the engine itself.

Sir Malcolm Campbell's decades-long obsession with speed finds its expression in the Bluebird II, a daring speedboat with a dangerously thin hull that nearly kills him during his first attempt to break the water speed record on Italy's Lake Maggiore. Through engine failures, fires, and miraculous escapes, Campbell's faith in the lucky name carries him toward world records on water—though his ambition to reach 150 mph would follow him to the very end.

Joe Resnal rebuilt his late fiancée's father's legendary race car—the Powder Keg—and promised to take it up Pikes Peak's brutal 12.5-mile climb, but Mary Chadwick can't bear the thought of losing another man to the mountain that claimed her dad. When Joe enters the race anyway, he'll have to navigate treacherous turns and mechanical challenges to prove that some promises are worth the risk—and that their future together is worth fighting for.

Diagnose that mystery engine knock with a simple DIY trick that any hot-rodder can whip up in minutes. Using nothing more than a broomstick and some basic know-how, you'll learn how to pinpoint whether your motor's trouble is a bearing knock, a valve issue, or something else entirely. A clever bit of hands-on wisdom from the pages of 1958 that'll save you hours of frustrating guesswork.