NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

1950s Los Angeles was a Golden Age. 

It was a crossroads of the future, where Hollywood, televison, aviation, and the automotive industry all combined— set between the beach and the mountains. It was a time when everything felt possible—and faster and brighter was always better. 

Amid that momentum, hot rodding was evolving from a rebellious pastime into something much more. What it lacked was structure and safety was nearly non-existant. Without organization, the future of the hot rod culture and performance was uncertain. 

A small group of visionaries recognized the need to guide this growing movement—to protect it, legitimize it, and ensure it could thrive. That vision led to the formation of the National Hot Rod Association. 

In 1951, Wally Parks, along with key pioneers including Ak Miller and Marvin Lee, gathered in Los Angeles to formalize what would become the most important organizations in motorsports history—the National Hot Rod Association. The location was the Tam O’Shanter Inn, a unique blend of old-school steakhouse charm and Hollywood energy. The restaurant was already 50 years old when Parks, Miller, and Lee sat down to memorialize the start of what we know today as the NHRA. 

With its dim lighting and walls steeped in history, it was a place where deals were made and ideas took shape. Walt Disney was a regular. So was Wally Parks. It's no surprise that a place like this is where the NHRA charter was signed—an act that would bring order, safety, and sustainability to a rapidly growing sport. 

Seventy-five years later, that same spirit was honored in a return to the place where it all began. NHRA announcer Brian Lohnes gathered a group at "the Tam." Hot rod historian and Funny Car champion Jack Beckman, Wally Parks’ grandson Scott Parks, NHRA President Glen Cromwell, and National Dragster’s Phil Burgess all shared a meal and a powerful conversation about the legacy of Wally Parks. 

The discussion—captured in a podcast-style format—offered insight into the origins of NHRA and the values that continue to drive it forward today. 

Excerpts will be featured across NHRA platforms and FOX broadcasts, bringing fans closer to the stories that shaped the sport. For those attending this weekend’s Winternationals, there’s a unique opportunity to connect with that history. Just 33-miles West of the in-N-Out Burger Dragstrip sits the place where it all began—a reminder that every run down the dragstrip traces back to a steakhouse, a vision, and a belief that hot rodding deserved a future. This future. 

Special thanks to the staff at Tam O’Shanter for welcoming NHRA in 1951 to sign its founding charter, hosting our 50th anniversary in 2001, and once again providing the time and space during this race week to honor our 75th!