HOME | roddingandracing

E-MAIL

roddingandracing

.PHOTOS

2015 HOT ROD POWER TOUR

CAR SHOW COVERAGE

It doesn't happen very often; as a matter of fact, I can't remember when it's happened before! The first two shows posted below were both taken in Pearland, Texas. The first was their weekly Friday Night Cruise and the second was a benefit event held at the Pearland Junior High School. We covered an event there earlier in the year and they had good turnouts both times. Can't wait for the next one!

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

CITY OF BROOKSHIRE 4th OF JULY CELEBRATION & AMERICA'S 250th ANNIVERSARY CAR SHOW

OKAY, LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN! A couple of updates ago, I posted coverage of the weekly Friday Night Cruise here in Pearland (TX) and I left off the rear shot of this Pro Street 1956 Chevy. On my last update, I went ahead and posted them both. Right after publishing, I went into my "trash folder" and inadvertently deleted the

front image this time which removed it front my site. So here are both images again...together!

1/1

Last weekend, we had four shows scheduled to cover on Saturday (two late in the day) and two on Sunday. One Saturday show never panned out (?) and one on Sunday started late. On the right are vehicles that showed up for the Saturday show and the images on the top row are from that later Sunday event of a few vehicles that got there early.

1/1

.....DIECAST, PLASTIC MODELING, ARTWORK, ETC.

I had ordered some light blue paint for a previous project that I never used so I decided now would be the time. Starting with a resin 1/32 scale 1955 Chevy Modified dirt racer, I used parts from AMT's 1/24 scale Modified 1965 Chevelle (left) to give it an exaggerated look. Only body work was removing the

molded in front grill that I plan on replacing with wire mesh. Now as far as the Chevelle kit, I'm using the wheels and tires, the roll cage (cut down), some body racing pieces, parts for a simulated engine and the decals. I also ordered custom lettering.

Even though this is a fun build, my modifications bring up issues some times. That's where most of the "fun" comes in; resolving those issues! Check out the wild wheels on this thing. They're aftermarket resin wheels and tires, with the rears made for a Big Rig and the fronts for a Dually Pickup. Not

100% sure of the final paint design, but it will be a Harley-Davidson theme.

...photographer's choice!

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.

162939508_4530043200355744_4438182553104371211_n

1/1

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!

337551122_1467293013806247_5447903887015673563_n

162622913_4528927260467338_8651874383525371338_n

165144535_4548101381883259_5713107603991426993_n

157530446_4493316567361741_3344377673730977856_n

8 - Rear Engine Top Fuel Dragsters Aug 15, 21

159865257_4505378472822217_8696848793437132220_n

342723438_1216913699192870_6380784982993158307_n

159985881_4507655375927860_8711197573475596024_n

161459093_4516966268330104_6486630455828007810_n

360092777_7270741666285870_6344463442052462665_n

342899421_750951586410487_5226675981449465867_n

243833119_5132267556799969_654193896916956323_n

244132518_5135581966468528_2678802606490791516_n

4 - Green Valley Raceway Drag Strip May 12, 21

349124565_265722902531255_2183209354310697541_n

321931161_1728962510855292_5103726936917225456_n

157443640_4501666906526707_8422866498055730002_n

175337610_4623359877690742_5175908963651423479_n

157948909_4495999077093490_1484338147357871245_n

2 - ALAMO DRAGWAY SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS May 24, 20

343991304_892881518483259_5778855906301880498_n

328260640_523816376290592_3806020565887814862_n

1/2

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!

856211_256386a2da084724a72aeb3f5c932b98_mv2

856211_9e2247c743bb4c63b916e7adce4d2335_mv2

856211_8bd2d472d6e84926825313207c6313e9_mv2

1/1

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.

1/1

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)

1/1

1/1

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.

I've been retired seven years now and I still cover car shows on the weekends. I've been doing it for over fifty years and it wasn't until I retired that I realized that it's actually therapeutic for me! While I'm at the car shows, I record most racing events on cable TV that I can watch during the week. I also spend a lot of time here, on my website. On top of that, if you've noticed further above, I got back into the hobby of plastic model car building after a thirty-year hiatus. So I guess I've "RETIRED HAPPY!".

856211_a86bed8e61b8452087075510ee02d324_

2018 NHRA

HOT ROD REUNION

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.