Doris Herbert
The first journalists inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame was also the sport’s most influential female of the 1960’s. In 1959, Doris Herbert assume control of the fledgling bi-weekly tabloid circulated primarily in California. Almost immediately, she transformed Drag News into a weekly newspaper with unrivaled national circulation and influence. Historic innovations included the all-important drag news Standard 1320 Records and Mr. Eliminator list which embraced all drag strips, sanctioned or otherwise, that met her Standard 1320 requirements. Her unprecedented, nationwide standardization of track measurement, elevation and timing procedures effectively countered the range of promoter-inflated, “popcorn” speeds that seriously threatened the credibility of the young sport in the early 60’s. Moreover, the roots of major match racing and, indeed, professional drag racing itself can arguably be traced to the lucrative best-of-three-round battles between holders of the papers covenant Mr. Eliminator positions and hungry challengers. Equally significant was Herbert’s uniquely unbiased editorial policy. Fearful of neither sanctioning organizations or advertisers, Doris encouraged constructive criticism- however controversial- from contributors, columnists, and letter writers. Many of the sport’s best-known editors, journalists, and photographers credited Drag News with launching their publishing careers. In 1976 after 17 years at the helm, Doris Herbert sold “The Drag Racers Bible”. She would go on to own a successful marketing company based in Huntington Beach, California