Hot Rods and Racing Cars #37

In "Hot Rod at the Panam," Jo and her crew race the legendary La Carrera Panamericana, a grueling cross-Mexico journey where speed meets survival. Armed with a wildly eclectic machine—Oldsmobile engine, Ford chassis, and a Model T body—Jo pushes her "Ensalada" through dusty deserts and treacherous mountain passes, testing both machine and nerve in one of the most daring races of the era.

Fred Mallon has always been the quiet type, content to let his baseball talent do the talking—but when his pals organize a hot rod club and count on him to be their driver at the drag strip, his silence becomes a problem nobody expected. As the group pushes forward with their plans, Fred's refusal to join forces the crew to rethink everything, and tensions start to simmer over whether the strong, silent approach is help or hindrance. "The Quiet One" explores what happens when a talented guy's reluctance to speak up threatens to derail his friends' dreams.

A group of young hot-rodders pushes forward on their dream car—a 1939 Willys Coupe destined for the drag races—but they're held back when a talented member, Fred, mysteriously walks out on the club without explanation. When the races are unexpectedly moved up and parts grow scarce, the crew realizes they need Fred's help, but no one even knows where to find him. A chance encounter at a traveling stunt show reveals the truth behind Fred's departure and sets the stage for a dramatic reunion.

Tim Reilly buys a faded former racing champion—the legendary Serak Special—with dreams of restoring it to glory, and funds his restoration by winning race purses while he and an old mechanic gradually rebuild the car from the ground up. When the restored Serak Special finally takes the track in a Trophy Race, the car proves it still has what it takes—until mechanical trouble strikes during the event. With help from the car's original builder, Flash Serak himself, Tim gets one more shot at proving the old clunker belongs back among the winners.