I've posted on this before, so I won't bore anyone with all the details again, except to say I did grow up in those times, and wouldn't trade it for the world.

Not only were the cars cool, but the times were just so simple. Gas was like a quarter or less a gallon, you could take your sweetie to a drive in for either a buck a car-load, or sometimes a buck a head (These were the first run movies). Every year we waited anxiously for the new model cars to arrive, and we knew each brand and model like we knew our own names.

I don't remember anyone getting shot, the worst that could happen to you was someone could beat you up. Drugs weren't a problem until the Hippie era in the late '60's, and we didn't have to lock our doors. You could actually let your kids out to play until dark and not worry about some pervert getting his hands on them.

As for the drag races, you are right there. I remember seeing TV Tommy Ivo come into town with his trailer truck with the glass sides in it, so you could see two stacked fuel rails in it, and also his corvette chase car. Watched tons of Hemi Cuda's, RamChargers, 427 Vettes, Ford SIde Oiler 427's, etc run.

For me, two things changed us from what we were to what we are: President Kennedy being assinated, and the Viet Nam war. We became a lot less innocent after those events, in my opinion.

But yeah, the '50's and the early '60's were some of the best times to be alive, IMHO.

Don