"Fast and Furious 6" hits theaters this weekend, packed with an amazing roster of cars and over the top action sequences.
But the movie franchise would never have started without real life inspiration.
Before you head to the movies, here's a look at the real street racers of Los Angeles, where the original "The Fast and the Furious" film began.
Their driving may not be as outrageous as that of their movie counterparts, but those who choose to race illegally face the same serious, even deadly consequences.
Southern California is considered the birthplace of drag racing. Here's driver Don Garlits in 1961, racing his Chrysler Swamp Rat.
[Source: AP]
It has always been a sport that embraces unusual vehicles. Art Arfonts of Ohio named his ride the Green Monster, and he dressed to match.
Today, the cars look a bit different, but not much else has changed.
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