Evolution

The Mission: To research, record and preserve the personal histories of the young people from here in the Fox Valley, the Midwest, who played a vital role in merging land speed racing and hot rodding creating modern drag racing. And simultaneously noting the positive benefits that accrued to the lives and avocations of these young people by the very nature of their activities and labors at the track. Jay Thompson

The Era of the drag racing in the Fox Valley can be understood as one tributary contributing to the industrial age and manufacturing as it veers off of the two-lane blacktop road and taking the next on-ramp of modern interstate highway system. The impact of overseas wars, the G.I. Bill, and the beginning of modern transportation networks represent a unique period of human evolutionary changes that have yet to happen in many regions of the world. Or something like that. So don't quote me on that.

1955 Western Electric and Caterpillar Tractor Company located plants within township, explosive growth began.

1867 A great fire broke out, consumed a business block and a hotel, burned town and corporation records.

Most people think Henry Ford invented the automobile. But in fact, the modern automobile was invented in Germany by Karl Benz in 1885. The first American cars were made by the Duryea Brothers in 1892. In 1896, Ford produced an inexpensive assembly line car, the Model T. - Library of Congress.

1983 TGV (Train Grande Vitesse) introduced in France, linking Paris and Lyon with maximum speed of 168 m.p.h.

1964 Bullet Train introduced in Japan with top speed of 130 m.p.h. linking Tokyo and Osaka.

1924 The diesel truck is invented.

1892 The tractor is invented.

1885 The automobile is invented.

1874 The cable streetcar is invented.

1869 The modern motorcycle is invented.

1803 The steam locomotive is invented for railroads.

1792 The ambulance is created for Napoleon's army.

1791 The bicycle is invented in Scotland.

1769 A.D. The first steam-powered vehicle, with three wheels, is invented in France.

44 The wheelbarrow is invented by the Chinese.

3500 Animals pull wheeled vehicles in Mesopotamia.

6500 B.C. The wheel is invented by the Sumerians.

Fred, Barney, Wilma and Betty in the Flintmobile

Transportation: On (or Under) Water:

Most people think Robert Fulton invented the steamboat. But in fact, John Fitch, an American, built and operated a steamboat on the Delaware River in 1787, but his passenger business failed. Fulton's steamboat, the North River, later known as the Clermont after its port town, was financially successful in 1807 and became famous.

1998 The Grand Princess, a cruise ship with capacity for 109,000 tons of cargo and 2,600 passengers, sets sail.

1994 The Chunnel opens, linking France and England with rail service and a tunnel for passenger cars.

1988 Sovereign of the Seas, the 73,000-ton passenger ship, sails from Norway.

1954 Nuclear-powered submarines are used.

1909 The hydrofoil is invented.

1886 The electric-powered submarine is invented.

1787 The steamboat is invented in America.

1620 A.D. The submarine, human powered, is invented.

3500 Oar-powered ships sail the seas.

4500 B.C. Sailing ships are made in Mesopotamia.

1783 Hot-air balloon

Musical Timeline:

The Platters "The Great Pretender"

2000 Internet transforms music scene; music industry angry about companies offering free music over the Internet, without paying copyright fees; Court action prompts Napster to stop distributing copyrighted music free, and team up with industry giant Bertelsmann to provide material for a fee

1995 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum opens in Cleveland

Early 1990s Grunge rock, a combination of various rock styles, rises in Seattle; features such bands as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Metallica

1984 Madonna's album "Like a Virgin" makes her a major star

1983 Compact discs begin to replace vinyl records

1982 Michael Jackson releases album "Thriller", ties with Eagles' "Their Greatest Hits," as best selling album in history; "Thriller" music video becomes a classic

1981 MTV, music television, debuts with nonstop music videos, presentation becomes as important as the sound

1979 Sugarhill Gang releases "Rapper's Delight", popularizes rap, combines elements of disco and rock with urban street music

1978 Hip hop, a blend of rock, jazz, soul with African drumming, born in the South Bronx

1978 Sony introduces the Walkman

1977 Movie Saturday Night Fever popularizes "disco" music

1976 Philip Glass completes Einstein on the Beach, first widely performed minimalist piece

Circa 1975 CBGB (Country Bluegrass & Blues) club in New York showcases "punk rock" which blends various psychedelic and mainstream rock influences

Early 1970s The Moody Blues, Electric Light Orchestra, and Pink Floyd create "art rock", combining classical styles with rock; synthesizer becomes important instrument

1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair, featuring Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Joan Baez, and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, attended by hundreds of thousands of fans; culmination of rock 'n' roll and counterculture movement

Circa 1968 Jimi Hendrix celebrate counterculture with psychedelic rock

1965 The Byrds version of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" creates new form, "folk-rock;" The Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane played their first shows

1964 The Beatles' song "I Want to Hold Your Hand" is a sensation, igniting the immense popularity of British groups, known as the "British invasion"; Other popular British groups are the Rolling Stones, the Who, and Herman's Hermits

Circa 1963 Folk singer Bob Dylan popularizes protest songs; Peter, Paul and Mary sing Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" at the 1963 March on Washington

1961 Country singer Patsy Cline becomes mainstream popular (pop) music hit

1959 National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences presents first Grammy Award for music recorded in previous year

Berry Gordy Jr. founds Motown record company to mass-market black music, the Miracles, "Shop Around," 1961, is company's first song to sell one million copies; in 1960s stars include the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye

1958 Country Music Association, established in Nashville.

Billboard magazine begins Hot 100 chart listing popular songs. Ricky Nelson's "Poor Little Fool" is the first No. 1 record.

Circa 1955 Elvis Presley becomes first "rock star"

1955 Chuck Berry's "Maybellene" is first of series of hits for "Mr. Rock' n' Roll"

Circa 1954 Bill Haley and the Comets become first major white band to use black rock 'n' roll forms, featuring heavy, danceable beat and repetitive patterns, "Rock Around the Clock" becomes huge hit

1951 Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed uses term "rock 'n' roll" to promote rhythm and blues to white audiences

Avant-garde composer Elliott Cook Carter Jr. finishes String Quartet No. 1

1948 Columbia Records introduces "long playing" vinyl record

1947 Tenor Mario Lanza performs at Hollywood Bowl, draws accolades, launches career of "the voice of the century"

Circa 1947 Singer Mahalia Jackson inaugurates "golden age of gospel music" through 1965

1946 Irving Berlin musical Annie Get Your Gun is huge hit; Call Me Madam, 1950

1944 Versatile composer, conductor, pianist, Leonard Bernstein composes musical On the Town, followed by string of others, including West Side Story, 1957

1938 Roy Acuff brings nationwide popularity to Grand Ole Opry radio show, helps standardize style with its nasal "high-country" twang

1936 Aaron Copland composes El Salon Mexico, major orchestral work; uses jazz, American folk music to create American-sounding music for ballet, film, symphony orchestra

Electric guitar debuts

Circa 1935 Clarinetist Benny Goodman named "King of Swing"; Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, Glenn Miller, Artie

Shaw lead popular dance bands

1932 Blues pianist Thomas A. Dorsey, "father of gospel music," writes song "Take My Hand Precious Lord"