"Wally Parks is a man who has lived, loved and breathed everything in motorsports. His formative automotive years were centered on building and racing hot rods, before World War II, on the street and at dry lake speed trials in the California desert. A charter member of the Road Runners Car Club in 1937, he was also active in the formation and administration of the Southern California Timing Association - both which are active today. In 1948, Park's love for cars and performance led him to become the first editor of HOT ROD Magazine, a position he held for 12 years before serving as the editorial director for all Petersen automotive magazines from 1960 to 1963. In 1951, Parks founded the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA®), promoting organized drag racing as an alternative to street racing. Today, half a century later, the NHRA® is the largest motorsports organization in the world. At age 90, Parks' remains an active member of the NHRA® board of directors and the chairman of the Wally Parks NHRA® Motorsports Museum, at the Fairplex in Pomona, California."