NHRA: Wally Parks honored at special 50th anniversary luncheon

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

March 15, 2001

LOS ANGELES -- National Hot Rod Association founder Wally Parks was honored Tuesday during a special 50th anniversary gathering at the Tam O'Shanter Inn, the official site where the drag racing sanctioning body was founded 50 years ago.

Parks was joined by key participants from the March 13, 1951 ceremony, including Ak Miller, who along with the late Marvin Lee, signed the original agreement that led to the formation of the NHRA.

"We never tried to pretend what we knew what we were starting or what we were getting into," said the 88-year old Parks. "Where we are today is because of the people who believed in what we were doing. I've been lucky to have more occasions to be proud than most people."

In its 50-year history, the NHRA has become the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 24 national events through its NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series and has more than 80,000 members nationwide and more than 140 member tracks across the country.

Text provided by R. Vizcarra

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