National Street Rod Association

The editors of Rod and Custom magazine joined with street-rod clubs across the country to organize the first Street Rod Nationals in Peoria, Illinois, in August 1970, leading to the formation of the NSRA.

[3] Wells was a partner with Ray Brock in Rod Action, a street-rod publishing venture, and set up the NSRA headquarters office in the magazine's business suite.

[2] By 1973, Wells had set up thirty volunteer state representatives who advised the NSRA headquarters of regulatory developments, and also engaged with local officials and attended public hearings.

Impressed by the effectiveness of that system, Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) adopted it in 1975, and also hired Wells away from the NSRA.

[3] The NSRA held firmly to the stance that street rods were strictly vehicles with bodies from 1948 and earlier.