Hot Rod History: Tennis Star Pancho Gonzalez Helps Power the '50s SoCal Drag Racing Scene

OnAllCylinders

During a tennis career that stretched from the late 1940s to the early 1970s, González racked up a jaw-dropping list of Major Titles, records, and Pro and Amateur Championships. In fact, from 1952 to 1961, González was the No. 1 ranked tennis player in the world for ten years.
But with all his success on the court, González still found time to pursue his other passions, particularly hot rods and drag racing.
To learn more about this lesser-known side of the tennis legend, we spoke with his eldest son, Richard Gonzales and Pancho’s nephew, Greg Gonzales.