The exhibition presents a selection of black and white photographs that embody the sport’s modest beginnings. Bank’s shows us the incredible form and power of the cars, and the drivers that sit behind their wheel, racing toward the finish line.
Drag racing as we know it was born in Southern California. In the late 1930s, local automotive enthusiasts known as hot rodders began customizing their cars and informally meeting up at local drive-in stands to show off their souped up creations. They would issue the challenge “You wanna race”? The response would usually be “let’s Drag it out”, which meant you’d go find some side street and get it on to see who‘s car was the fastest. Just like in that iconic scene from Rebel Without A Cause, a flagman would stand in the middle of the street pointing to one car, then the other, then they’d rev up, and well, you get the picture. – Steve Banks
Steve Banks – Nitro: Drag Racing in Southern California
Online Exhibition
