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2015 HOT ROD POWER TOUR

CAR SHOW COVERAGE

I heard about the NEW YEAR 2026 PICNIC (left) the day before the event so on my way home (Pearland) from covering a show in north Houston that day, I decided to swing by. Boy, am I glad I did! I could not believe the turnout and quality of the participants. I'll be there for sure next time.

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Ever since the Pandemic, I don't cover as much shows as I used to outside of the Houston area. There's still a couple of shows close by that bring in vehicles from all over the country, the LONE STAR RALLY (Motorcycles) in Galveston (51 miles) and the LONE STAR THROWDOWN (Trucks) in Conroe (40 miles). Well, the THROWDOWN is right around the

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corner (February 20-22) and we'll be there. Below I've posted a handful of images we took at last year's event.

With the Super Bowl right around the corner, an artist posted this rendering (above) on Facebook recently. Either he likes Seattle or it's a commission for a Seahawks fan.

This wild, 1957 Chevy inspired BBQ Grill recently showed up on Facebook Marketplace and its right up the road in Huntsville (TX). Owner is asking $5,500 for the pit.

.....DIECAST, PLASTIC MODELING, ARTWORK COLORING BOOKS

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Ever since I can remember, I've liked caricature ("TOONed") artwork of cars, more so nostalgic drag racing vehicles. I've got artwork, diecast and in this case, plastic model kits. Years ago, Polar Lights came out with a six-car

"Gasser" series called "SNAP DRAGGINS". I've bought them all over the years, even in multiples. On the left are two of those builds built right out of the box with paint and aftermarket decals to duplicate "Gassers" from the '60s. On the right are current builds and as you can see, both with several modifications. On the 1933 Willys ("Bad Attitude"), I removed the wheel locks to drop the front end, added aluminum injectors which I've had for 30+ years and a resin rear wing. A little body work, paint and aftermarket decals completed the kit. On the 1941 Anglia ("The Shark"), I went with different rear wheels and tires and added wheelie bars, all from my spare parts. I then added resin front wheels and tires and a resin snorkel hood scoop. This was also my first time using precut flame masking tape. Not contest quality but okay for my first time.

I started collecting diecast a little over 30 years ago when they started coming out with "Pad Printing". Instead of decals which faded and/or peeled off over time, actual paint was applied. I started with NASCAR, mostly Kellogg's driver Terry Labonte. We came from the same hometown (Corpus Christi, Texas) and a rough count of my 1/24 scale Labonte vehicles is around 40. I also have other scales, transporters, figures, trading cards and more. I also got his autograph on a large 1/18 scale vehicle at the Houston Autorama years back (right).

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.

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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!

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8 - Rear Engine Top Fuel Dragsters Aug 15, 21

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4 - Green Valley Raceway Drag Strip May 12, 21

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

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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!

That's me on the right side (w/beard) leaning on the trailer at Eastex Dragway when Don Garlits was there.

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Although I never use my camera's motor-drive feature, I do get lucky enough sometimes to get an action sequence.

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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)

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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.

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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.