roddingandracing
roddingandracing
.PHOTOS
2015 HOT ROD POWER TOUR
CAR SHOW
COVERAGE
.....TOMBALL
Little Woodrow's in nearby Tomball (TX) hosts a monthly gathering the last Sunday of every month and we're usually there. Last month (May) they held events both Saturday and Sunday, one a benefit.
JUNE 19-21, 2026
PASADENA CONVENTION CENTER
7902 FAIRMONT PARKWAY
PASADENA, TEXAS
As of this update, the TEXAS HOLD 'EM SHOW is just four days away. The event is back at the Pasadena Convention Center which I prefer and it's also twelve miles closer (Pearland). Above are a few of my images from last year's event.
Recently my Facebook page posted the images above from ten years ago. The car images could be from any of the five years that we followed the HOT ROD POWER TOUR but as far as a stop at ARROWHEAD STADIUM in Kansas City, it could only be 2017. We followed the tour that year from Kansas City, east seven stops to Bowling Green, Kentucky.
1st ANNUAL EVENT and CAR SHOW / MAGNOLIA ROTARY CLUB
Facebook Page "Mopar Drag Cars and Pro Street Only" just used one of my images for their Group Cover Photo.
.....DIECAST, PLASTIC MODELING, ARTWORK COLORING BOOKS
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I've mentioned before, when Covid shut everything down, I joined several Facebook Groups to share my old rodding and racing pictures (50+ years!). I've also mentioned that I got back into plastic car building after a thirty-year hiatus a few years after I retired. So, I joined a couple of model building Facebook Groups including
"Beginner scale modeling" (above, left). Recently a member posted his "workspace" (above, center) and wanted to see others to get some improvement ideas. Check out one of another member's work area (above, right).
A popular model car company's ad states..."You're only limited by your imagination" and that's where most of my projects come from. As you can see though, this '41 Willys
pickup (above) was built to replicate a real vehicle (left). Owner used to race it at local Houston area tracks, and I talked to him on occasion. He eventually moved back to California and he would send me pictures of the vehicle at shows out there. I was surprised that decals were made of the Willys and I decided to go ahead and duplicate it with a few minor differences. After the build, I searched for him and found out that he passed away a few years ago.
...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.
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.
I've been retired seven years now and I still cover car shows on the weekend. 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'm "Making Retirement the Best Years of My Life".
2018 NHRA
HOT ROD REUNION
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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.