Eric Rickman
More than any other development drag racing’s explosive growth in the 1950s might be credited to the infant sports exposure in Hot Rod Magazine. More often than not, the black and white images that inspired imaginations across the country originated in the viewfinder of Eric Rickman’s camera. Rickman’s photographic career actually predates the 1948 introduction of Hot Rod; he started shooting San Francisco area midget and roadster races right after World War II. He was selling action photos at the 1950 Oakland Roadster Show when publisher Robert E Petersen happened by Eric’s booth, liked what he saw, and offered him a job. Over the next 40 years, Rickman expertly documented the evolution of drag racing and hot rotting. Of special historical significance are Eric’s photographs from two complete tours with the NHRA Drag Safari that crisscrossed America from 1954 to 1956, including his coverage of the inaugural NHRA Nationals at Great Bend, Kansas.