roddingandracing
I've decided to begin posting a "PHOTOGRAPHER'S CHOICE" image(s) on new updates from now on. I recently joined a VW (Volkswagen) Facebook Group to share my current and old VW images. As I was going through my thousands and thousands of old images (50+ years!), I came across some images of "Exotics" that I really liked and that got me to thinking. I've got quite a few favorite shots, Exotics and more, that I took over the years that I don't share on Facebook Groups so I'm going to start posting them on my website regularly. What's makes them "favorites" other than personal preference, is the vehicle itself, the angle, the lighting, the background or even a combination of one or more. I hope you check them out and like what you see!
roddingandracing
.PHOTOS
CAR SHOW COVERAGE
TRUCKS & COFFEE
TRUCK or TREAT
CYPRESS
TEXAS
HOUSTON CARS AND COCKTAILS (Northwest)
LITTLE WOODROW'S (Tomball)
HOUSTON, TX
NOV. 27 - 30
2025
WARREN
MOON
DEE
SNIDER
Above are the 2025 Autorama features and celebrity guests and right and below are a handful of images from the 2024 Houston Autorama.
Early this year, my wife switched us from Cable TV to a streaming service (ROKU) and now I can watch YouTube on the big screen! One thing that popped up and now I watch regularly is European Tractor Pulling and Semi Truck Shows. Tractor pulling is different than here, especially in the lower
classes but the Semi Trucks are a step above. They sport incredible paint jobs which I thought were wraps but they're all hand painted murals! Can you imagine the cost?
I mentioned at the top of the page that the "Photographers Choice" images are usually ones that I don't share on Facebook Group Pages. I did join a "World of Outlaws" Group a couple of years ago but most of their posts were current. I frequented the circuit back in the '80s, here in Texas (Houston / Big H Raceway, Mesquite / Devil's Bowl).
.....DIECAST, PLASTIC MODELING, ARTWORK COLORING BOOKS
+
After posting some of my Winged Sprint Car images above ("Photographer's Choice"), I dug out images of some of my autographed, 1/24 scale Sprint Car diecast (below) that I had autographed back then. They include a couple from Steve Kinser, Dave Blaney, Jac Haudenschild and Andy Hillenburg.
Here's the current status of my SNAP DRAGGINS '33 Willys build-up. I'm using
one of my two bodies for the body work (light blue) and the chassis is in progress. I wasn't happy with the way the over-sized rear parachute came out so I checked the internet and found a Simpson image that I liked so I recreated it!
start searching for three that I want ( ) from this set. They've also released a new JDM series.
1954 GRUMMAN STEP VAN
1973 TOYOTA STOUT
1981 TOYOTA HI-LUX
2015 TOYOTA TUNDRA
1992 CHEVY SUBURBAN
1950 CHEVY COE TRUCK
1968 OLDSMOBILE 442
1972 TOYOTA
LAND CRUISER J50
Still looking for one from Series 6. They've released two more series since then, an Alternate Mix and Series 7, pictured here. I've got the two I wanted from the Mix set and will
Since I didn't cover any car shows in 2020 and very few in 2021, I decided to join several private and public Facebook Groups to share my old pictures, some going back 50 years! Below are the latest images I shared.
Before heading out to cover the NHRA Hot Rod Reunion in Bowling Green (KY) back in 2018, I made some prints of a handful of pictures that I had taken of "Big Daddy" Don Garlits. He had made surprise appearances in the past so I was hoping that he would show and I could get the pictures
autographed. As you can see above and right, he did and so did I. My old images, now autographed, were taken years ago at Alamo Dragway in San Antonio and Green Valley Race City in Fort Worth (top row). Both bottom images were taken at Eastex Dragway in Porter just north of Houston. Now as far as the political bumper sticker above, Garlits ran for Congress in Florida back in 1994.
After a couple of years with a two-door 1962 Chevy Bel Air which I wish I still had, I bought my first brand new vehicle; a 1972 Datsun pickup (left). Once I got used to working the manual shift, I slapped on some big-meat Goodyears on Ansen wheels. It got plenty of attention
whenever I picked up my younger siblings at Junior High and High School.
Check out my admission ticket from Houston International Speedway (above). Not sure of the year but only $3.00, it had to be from quite a while back.
Right after the Pandemic shut everything down, I joined several Private Facebook Groups to share my old images. As I share, usually 8-16 per week, I also post them further above. Before the Pandemic, I
also had a "RACING" page where I posted my old racing images. I've decided to post a condensed version of that page below. What I'm trying to show is the variety of motorsports that I frequented back then and as you can see, it was quite a few!
Yes, all the images above were taken by me over the years but this image was not. It's the only image I've ever seen posted that actually has me on it!
Although I never use my camera's motor-drive feature, I do get lucky enough sometimes to get an action sequence.
That's me on the right side (w/beard) leaning on the trailer at Eastex Dragway when Don Garlits was there.
GREEN VALLEY RACEWAY HISTORICAL AREA
Several years ago, I received an email from someone on the North Richland Hills (TX) City Council concerning a Green Valley Race City Historical site that was in the planning stages. They were asking permission to use several
of the images that I had taken at the track back in the '80s. I of course told them that it wouldn't be a problem. Below are the latest images of the site that were posted on a Green Valley Race City Facebook Page.
A quick check of the three information boards that are already put up (top, right) shows eleven of my images! I posted those images below and I hope I can make it up one day to check it out. (On the right image, you can see some of the original track that's still there)
It was a lot more fun to be 20 in the '70s than to be 70 in the '20s!
Time is precious,
Don't waste it.
2018 NHRA
HOT ROD REUNION
.jpg)
Before heading to the NHRA Hot Rod Reunion in 2018 (Bowling Green, Ky), I decided to make some enlargements of images I had taken over the years including some of "Big Daddy" Don Garlits and Tom "the Mongoose" McEwen in hopes of getting them autographed. They had both showed up in previous years so I decided to give it a shot. As you can see above (left) and below, Garlits did show up and I was able to get some of my personal images signed. Not sure if he had planned on showing up or not but sadly, McEwen passed away three days prior at the age of 81.
All the images above were taken at Texas tracks that I frequented when I was a lot younger. Left to right...Alamo Dragway in San Antonio, Green Valley Race City in Fort Worth and the final two were taken here (Houston) at Eastex Dragway in Porter. The tracks have been closed for years.