With camera in hand at a mere eighteen years old, Paul Novak captured in black-and-white glory what American racing used to mean as publicity photographer at Playland Speedway in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Racing back in the '70s at Playland meant jeans, t-shirts, barely held together junkyard specials, and fistfights in the stands thanks to cheap malt liquor. A collection Playland Speedway photographs shot by Novak will be on display at the Modernica Gallery here in Los Angeles from March 15-April 14, with a reception for the artist tonight. We're unsure if malt liquor will be served or if fistfights will be allowed.
Playland Speedway 1974 at Modernica [Modernicaprops.net]
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If Only NASCAR Was Still This Cool: '79 Daytona 500 Finale [Internal]