Page 67 - NM Spring 2018

would fit within the confines of wheels, off-road accessories for that
government-mandated regulations.
Another hit came when the
automobile manufacturers began
turning to fuel injection and
computers that would have much
to do with controlling the functions
of the now much more anemic
engines as they searched for –
again mandated by the government
– increased mileage marks.
At the same time, the racing
world (and drag racing in
particular) continued to grow.
Without these smog and mileage-
related restrictions and the use of
high-octane racing gas, methanol
and nitromethane, many of these
speed emporiums were able to
keep their doors open. Many,
however, found their hardcore
speed parts business dwindling
and turned to selling tires and
Mike Manuel at the race shop’s flow bench as both of the Grand Prix dragsters get prepped for the new season.
Spring 2018
Again, though, the continued
burgeoning industry or became
general automotive repair shops;
the bottom line for many of these
survivors teetered precariously and
quite a few closed their doors for
good.
Today, of course, any
modifications to new vehicles will
void their warranty and few are
willing to strip off a used car’s
smog controls, converters, etc. to
add parts that may or may not give
them a significant performance
increase for the dollars spent. One
of the only ways to add a power
boost in the modern car today is
to simply and easily re-configure
the parameters of their computer.
This is as close as many shops or
garages will get to carrying out
actual performance modifications
to their clients’ automobiles.
Nitro Madness Magazine
growth of all forms of motorsports
over the years has still kept
the speed parts industry alive,
with manufacturers all over the
country churning out parts daily
for shipment around the world.
The huge number of local dealers
for those parts has diminished
considerably, though, replaced by
a few big, internet-driven re-sellers
with advertising come-ons such as
“Wholesale prices to everyone.”
In the old days we had sellers
such as Moon Equipment, Honest
Charley and J.C. Whitney putting
out catalogs for rodders and racers
to drool over while a few, like Pep
Boys, built a chain of brick-and-
mortar stores. However, I decided
to look for what one would call the
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