Relive the golden age of drag racing in this 1974 color film that features Don Garlits, Shirley Muldowney, and many more.

Produced by Pyramid Films and the National Hot Rod Association in 1974, VROOOM! is an artist’s broad-brush rendering of the world of drag racing.  While the setting is mainly the 1974 NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, California (with a few items from elsewhere) there’s no traditional event coverage as such, with winners and losers, race commentary, and so on. Rather, director Ken Rudolph (read more about him here) focused on capturing the sights, sounds, and sensory experience of one of the world’s more noisy and colorful sports.

If you’re into the drag racing scene of the 1970s, you’ll recognize many of the cars and personalities. The more familiar names include Shirley Muldowney, who first appears just past the three-minute mark, and Don Garlits at 4:50. Watch for Don Schumacher, and check out Jungle Jim Liberman: “Drag racing is far out!” There are countless more: Beginning at 10:10, look for a young and nimble Jack Roush as he assists partner Wayne Gapp in executing a burnout with their Ford Pinto Pro Stocker. There’s a lot of great stuff to see here. Video below.