Road Runners

[Music] it's a pleasant afternoon in June and his best girl Thea are enjoying a ride well he's enjoying it she's not too happy about the way he drives he's got a good car and he likes to show what it can do hey you're supposed to slow down for a school crossing Mel doesn't slow down for anything see that jalape up ahead watch him pass it these boys have their opinion of such big shots uhoh perhaps Mel's not such a big shot after [Music] all here we go again he's used to this [Music] paying a fine won't be any hardship for [Music] Mel a ticket doesn't mean a thing to a phony like that Mel's determined to overtake the galopy and cut the driver down to [Music] [Applause] sides the man wants to know if Mel's going to compete or watch Mel's going to do whatever that jalap does only better many boys like Mel were a public problem until the 1950s someone had the idea of turning this abandoned airst strip into a legitimate test course for hot rods here they compete under strict rules designed for safety and fair play this strip at Santa Ana was so successful that others were opened up across the country hundreds of clubs have been formed the hood lifters the Arabs throttle Jammers shifters chaparal knuckle Busters clutcher Club dusters Sidewinders and others with equally fanciful names automatic expulsion faces any member who races on the public highways as a result the juvenile nuisance problem has been reduced as much as 90% in some communities here's Mel and the jalape the flagger things therea better get out there they go sideline experts Mel can't believe it far far by behind he's humiliated and angry is one thought is to find sah and get away there she is talking to the fell that just beat him he's giving her his card and she's taking it this is the last straw Mel refuses to be [Music] impressed his defeat by the jalape was a challenge a challenge he has accepted he'll have some tall explaining to do about this heap of jun is bringing home he knows he can handle his folks he's equally sure he can Breeze through this job he's [Music] [Music] undertaking in the next weeks he learns a lot the most important thing being how little he knows [Music] he makes one trial run after another when nobody's around to see him fail she cuts out when he gets up over a 100 and he can't figure why he's too proud to ask for help although he knows where he can get it Farah gave him Dave's Card it's hard for him to pocket his pride besides he's not at all sure of his welcome Dave looks friendly enough he'll chance [Music] it [Music] wow what a motor you've really got something [Music] here Dave thinks Mel ought to enter the big timing meet they think Mel could turn 150 mph he hasn't made 120 yet that's because he needs new wiring and new plugs also he should put in a third carburetor install an alcohol system and run on Nitro they'll be glad to help him their generosity astonishes Mel he's joined the fraternity where the car's the thing the two-day meet has started here at Lake El Mirage the object is not to race car against car but to see which can obtained the highest speed in its class the event gives these boys an opportunity to test the cars they've modified for Speed and general performance many contestants come and spend the night among them Dave and Mel there's one of the timing officials he sees to it that safety is the keynote of these meats inspect is rigid though that don't pass are eliminated no boy under 16 is allowed to participate those under 21 must have their parents written consent crash helmets are a must as our safety belts accidents are few but no car is allowed to start unless the ambulance is standing by at the Finish Line since Daybreak the starter has been sending up the cars this Streamliner is next the loudspeaker tells him to get underway very few of these cars have self-starters he's away and up to speed as he enters the Trap he breaks the first light beam sets the timing machine in operation he breaks the second light beam at the finish the time is registered announced and recorded at the board under the starter stand car after car goes out t- roadsters belly tanks chopped cops highest speed made today 16812 7 mph car 138c your next that's Mel his hands tremble as he puts on his crash helmet the official wishes him luck 138c take her out he's on the car fish tail that to take off but he stiff arms are back to the course Sho that close hold her steady Mel he can see the reason for the safety belt now sweats running down the back of his neck and his helmet weighs about a ton this is no smooth concrete strip he's traveling the dry lake bed is full of ruts and bumps but he's in control now and and beginning to enjoy the thrill of the Run begins to drop off now he's in high and praying he'll get past 6,000 revolutions per minute going through the traps there's the first marker up ahead and the tachometer says 5900 5950 6,000 he's in the trap now at 6500 the best he can do he's out it's time car 138c turned at 1516 miles per hour the time is official what a welcome awaits him back at the pits trophies now instead of traffic tickets he'll never speed on the highway again nor will any of these others for through this safe and constructive Outlet these boys satisfy their craving for knowledge and speed out of their ranks come the engineers who develop improvements for your car and mine who create new designs and affect economies these boys of today are the men of tomorrow the