| The twenty years between 1945 and 1965 came | | | | competitive sport. Apart from a racing event, |
| to be known as the "Hot Rod Era" because the | | | | what the NHRA really created was opportunity |
| restoration of old cars became almost like the | | | | for hot rod car shows. |
| national sport of the United States. Everyone | | | | Hot rod car shows occur across the United |
| wanted a hot rod and that era spawned multiple | | | | States and other parts of the world every year. |
| different styles and types of hot rod cars. | | | | The most popular events are the California Hot |
| "Hot Rod" is the name given to any vintage car, | | | | Rod Reunion and the National Hot Rod Reunion, |
| but it especially refers to a Ford that has been | | | | both organized by the NHRA. Through exhibitions |
| improved to enhance performance by reducing | | | | of hot rods, the shows focus on increasing the |
| the weight of the vehicle. For this reason, most | | | | popularity of the machines. The shows feature |
| hot rods have minimalistic chassis with no roof, | | | | hot rod car swap meets that help prospective |
| hood, windscreens or fenders. At times, the | | | | buyers and sellers come together as well drag |
| original engines of the car are also remove and | | | | races for different classes of cars. The show is |
| replaced with lighter more efficient ones to raise | | | | designed to be a family event with many |
| the highest speed capacity of the vehicle. The | | | | activities such as open-air barbeques and raffle |
| modeling of a hot rod was considered a work of | | | | contests. At times, fun fairs based on theme cars |
| art and thus individuals loved to exhibit their | | | | and makeshift car memorabilia museums are held |
| re-done cars to the public. This generally happened | | | | to add to the crowd's enthusiasm. |
| at informal meets and short-distance, alleyway | | | | The passes for these events are generally |
| races until the year 1951. In this year, the National | | | | available through on-the spot registration. The |
| Hot Rod Association (NHRA) came in to existence | | | | average price per day for an adult is about $50 |
| to promote hot rod drag racing as a legitimate | | | | and for a child below sixteen, it is $10. |