Hot Rods to Hell

Tom Phillips, a traveling salesman, is driving home for Christmas when a drunken driver crosses his path on a rain-streaked road. He survives but sustains a spinal injury, ending his life as a road-worn salesman. He is hospitalized and must confront a drastically changed future.

Tom's brother arranges for him to buy a remote motel in Mayville, California. The plan is to start anew as an innkeeper despite having no prior experience. This decision marks the move away from his old life.

Tom resolves to travel to California to escape the memories of the crash. He sets out with his wife and teenage children, heading toward Mayville. The trip marks the beginning of their upheaval.

On the road to Mayville, a pair of drag racers and a party girl in a high-performance Corvette force the Phillips family to swerve. The near-miss signals the start of escalating threats. The encounter sets a tense tone for the journey.

They reach the desert town of Mayville, where the local youth are bored and hungry for thrills. The adults resent their behavior and the disruptive influence on the community. Tensions simmer as the newcomers are watched closely.

One of the town's adults owns the motel Tom has bought and has allowed the youths to use it as an illicit trysting place for years. The history fuels conflict as Tom begins to take control. The town’s residents watch his every move with skepticism.

Tom tells the filling-station owner that he has bought the motel; the information is overheard by Ernie, who reports it to Duke. The revelation spurs Duke to act against the new owner. The seeds of trouble are sown early.

Duke, the Corvette driver, organizes a campaign of harassment against Tom and his family. The method is intimidation and persistent taunting. The plan escalates into a direct confrontation on the road and at the motel.

Duke and Ernie chase the Phillips family to the motel, turning the harassment into a high-stakes pursuit. The tension between residents and newcomers reaches a breaking point. The road becomes a stage for their ongoing conflict.

Tom's daughter visits Duke in the Arena, where Duke's girlfriend Gloria triggers a jealous confrontation. Tom tries to strangle Duke, but his back gives out, stopping the attempt. The incident raises the stakes for the family's safety.

Tom tells the former motel owner that he will not go through with the sale, triggering a heated clash between the owner and the youths. The confrontation spills out, revealing everyone's stake in the motel's future. Tom decides to press forward with his plan anyway.

Duke and Ernie vow to stop Tom from reaching the next town and set up a deadly game of chicken on the road. Their harassment becomes a life-or-death test for Tom and his family. The night ride grows more dangerous as the bridge awaits.

Tom parks on a narrow bridge with headlights on, cornering the attackers. He evacuates his family to safety 20 yards off the road. The strategic move buys them time to escape.

Duke drives off the edge of the bridge in retreat, bruised and defeated. He and Ernie swear they will never trouble Tom again. Tom agrees not to report them, choosing a cautious, ongoing approach to running the motel.

With danger behind him, Tom commits to running the Mayville motel properly. He resolves to stay and build a steadier life for his family in the desert town. The future remains uncertain, but the plan is clear.