Shot 117 / 12:09–12:19Select a shot, or shift-click to select multipleSelect a shot, or double-tap to select multiple

Road Runners

195212 min 34 sec120 shots

Mel is a reckless young driver who ignores a school crossing, passes other cars, and treats a traffic ticket lightly. After chasing a modified jalopy to a supervised test course, he races it and loses. Determined to improve, Mel rebuilds an old car, then sets aside his pride and accepts mechanical advice and practical help from Dave and other hot-rod enthusiasts.

Alongside Mel’s story, the film says sanctioned courses and clubs give young drivers a safer alternative to racing on public roads, with expulsion for members who break that rule. At a two-day timing meet at Lake El Mirage, officials inspect each vehicle, require helmets and safety belts, enforce age and parental-consent rules, and keep an ambulance ready. Cars run separately and are timed by light beams to determine the highest speed in each class.

Mel struggles to control his car on the rutted dry lake bed but records an official speed of 151.06 miles per hour and returns to a cheering group. The closing message replaces traffic tickets with trophies and describes organized hot-rodding as a constructive path toward technical knowledge, automotive design, and engineering.

Provenance and rights

Original producer: Unknown
Collection: Prelinger Archives
Original title: Road Runners
Date: 1952
Original link: Open on Internet Archive
Rights: public_domain