My street racing days were back in the 50s.
I had a 40 coupe with a big Olds that topped out at 150 and if some serious money came along we drug out the 32 fuel roadster on a
the trsailer that we held the drag and lakes record with in 54.
I had a friend that bought a 1940 Ford Coupe, ex Georgia rum-runners car.
Canadian Mercury block - they were thicker so you could bore them to 4.1" to accept Cadillac pistons...Edlebrock everything else...cam that made it idle worse than a sick Harley.
The entire back behind the two front seats was 1 gal. racks for moonshine. Probably held 35 or 40 gallons. The left hand front and rear wheels had Bendix electric brakes on them for high-speed 180 degree turns (if a black&white was on your tail)!
Only rode in it once...we were pulled over by a NJ Turnpike patrolman who claimed we were a possible stolen car...and later admitted he was just curious because of the exhaust note. When he got a look under the hood and inside...he was suitably impressed...and wished us safely on our way.
Those were days we'll probably not see again....sadly!
Did you make it to Bonneville in 1954? I'll never forget the Chrisman Brothers "32 coupe" with the De Soto Hemi in the back that turned 193 mph at 7500 rpm. Sounded like a giant buzz saw cutting a big groove down the salt.