Robert E Petersen
The appearance of Hot Rod Magazine in January 1948 legitimized the men who were destined to become the founding fathers of drag racing. Motion picture publicist Robert Petersen’s initial under-financed publishing venture also serves to organize and inspire performance enthusiasts throughout the world. It was a reader’s letter to Hot Rod Magazine that convinced editor Wally Parks to form the NHRA in 1951. As drag racing grew increasingly popular Pearsen Publishing Company launched Car Craft Magazine as drag racing’s complete magazine. In the 1960s Petersen Publishing Company produced the nation’s largest independent events, the Hot Rod Magazine Championships, and the Car Craft All-Star Drag Racing Team Aqwards, which were among sports most coveted honors. In the early 1980s Peterson Publishing Company published three drag racing history books, followed six years of Drag Racing Magazine. The sport of drag racing continues to receive valuable editorial exposure through Hot Rod Magazine. It should be noted the original 1948 copies of Hot Rod Magazine have a value of over $500.