The drag racing community lost a true pioneer on August 20, 2025, when Chic Cannon Passes Away, the last surviving member of the NHRA Drag Safari, at the age of 96. Cannon, along with Bud Coons, Bud Evans, and Eric Rickman, helped lay the foundation for what drag racing has become today. Their efforts in the mid-1950s shaped the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) into a respected motorsport organization, focusing on both safety and competition.
The Mission of the Drag Safari
From 1954 to 1956, the Drag Safari traveled across the United States, teaching early hot rodders how to properly organize drag racing events. The team’s goal was simple yet groundbreaking: bring safety, structure, and legitimacy to a sport that was still in its infancy.
Traveling in a Dodge station wagon towing a trailer full of equipment, the Safari team set up mobile events at each stop. They carried everything needed to transform a makeshift drag strip into an official race venue, including timing systems, a PA system, a generator, and communication equipment.
Bud Coons, a former Pomona police sergeant, served as the leader, selected personally by NHRA founder Wally Parks.
Chic Cannon, with his engineering and car-building background, handled technical inspections.
Eric Rickman, a photographer for Hot Rod Magazine, documented the journey.
Bud Evans, a racer and announcer, gave fans play-by-play commentary and kept detailed records of every car that competed.
Bringing Racing to America’s Backyard
The Safari usually reached a new town around the middle of the week. They worked with local law enforcement, city officials, and car clubs to prepare for the weekend’s races. Sometimes, they even built temporary towers for timing and announcing. By Saturday and Sunday, thousands of fans would gather to watch safe, organized racing instead of dangerous street competitions.
Cannon once recalled those early days with pride but also honesty:
“We really enjoyed those years together, and Bud was the best, most confident leader we could have asked for. It wasn’t always simple — not everyone agreed with the rules we were introducing — but it’s incredible to see what the sport grew into from those early days.”
Historic Tours Across the Nation
The Drag Safari’s impact was immediate and far-reaching.
1954: Their first tour began on June 10, traveling from California to Texas, Louisiana, Kansas, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Michigan, Idaho, Utah, and finally Bonneville, tying together hot rodding’s past and future.
1955: The team covered 20,000 miles in 18 weeks, staging 18 official NHRA Regional Championships across the country. Newspapers soon began referring to the group as the “Safety Safari”, a name that stuck. The tour ended in Great Bend, Kansas, where NHRA hosted its first-ever National Championship Drags.
1956: Sporting new Plymouth cars in red, white, and blue, the Safari wrapped up its third and final tour. They held another 18 events, drawing some of the sport’s biggest names, including Bernie Partridge, who would later play a key role in NHRA’s growth.
By the end of their three-year mission, the NHRA had more than 100 sanctioned tracks across 38 states — a remarkable achievement that turned grassroots racing into a national sport.
Chic Cannon Passes Away
A Lasting Legacy
Though the Safari officially ended in 1956, its influence never faded. NHRA continued to provide “How to Form a Club” kits to new groups across the country, and surveys showed strong police support for organized drag racing. What began with four men in a station wagon became a nationwide movement that helped legitimize hot rodding and drag racing.
In 1994, the Safari crew came together at the 50th U.S. Nationals, honored as legends for their pioneering contributions.
Today, NHRA President Glen Cromwell acknowledges Cannon and his team for laying the foundation of the sport:
“NHRA will always be grateful to individuals like Chic Cannon, who were at the forefront during the organization’s early years. The impact of Chic and the entire Safari crew cannot be overstated.”
“Under the guidance of Wally Parks, they showcased our sport, legitimized it, and built a foundation that still exists today.”
Chic Cannon Passes Away – End of an Era
The passing of Chic Cannon signifies the close of a remarkable era. He and his fellow Safari members not only spread the gospel of drag racing but also ensured it was done with safety, fairness, and community at its core.
At 96 years old, Chic Cannon Passes Away, leaving behind a legacy that will forever live on at drag strips across the country. Every time a fan hears the roar of engines and sees the lights of the Christmas Tree countdown to green, they are witnessing the vision that he and the Drag Safari helped bring to life more than 70 years ago.
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