HOME | roddingandracing

E-MAIL

roddingandracing

.PHOTOS

2015 HOT ROD POWER TOUR

CAR SHOW COVERAGE

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

It's been years, many years (!) since I've attended a tractor pulling event. Growing up they used to hold them at the Astrodome and the Summit Sports Complex (now Lakewood Mega Church). I did join an antique tractor pulling Facebook Group to share my old images, but I really miss going to them. I plan on covering a 2026 TTTPA pulling event in nearby Columbus (73 miles west) this coming May (right). Above are stills from a YouTube video of an antique

tractor pull event even closer in Hempstead (54 miles northwest) that I didn't know about until I saw the video. They're "antique", but as you can see, they put on a show and they look good!

[Just before I updated, I did a little research and found the club that put on the Antique Tractor Pull in Hempstead (above). It was the EARLY IRON TRACTOR CLUB based here in Texas. I also found an event flyer from the show that was held back in January (right)}

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

+

Completed the engine for the Semi Project (left) including repairing a broken turbo/exhaust, painting and detailing. On

the right are the second set of resin wheels and tires that I ordered (1/32 scale) and I hope they fit on the tandem setup. First set (1/24 scale) was way too big.

Here's one of my favorite series released a little over ten years ago. They're from a company called JOY RIDE and even though they announced two more releases (Ghostbusters, American Graffiti), they stopped after these four. The Burt Reynolds figure I got from FUNKO POP.

Most "builds" have their ups and downs. I had already purchased an old 1/32 scale Monogram kit for my "DRAG VAN" project (far right) and just recently switched it to a similar Chevy Van from Revell (above, left). What sold me was no

side port windows, stock rear windows instead of circular, no roof vent, stock front grill assembly and most important, no louvers (a lot!) on the hood. As you can see above center, I mounted resin rear wheel flares and then trimmed the body to match the flares with a Dremel tool and then decided to clean it all up by wrapping a deep socket with sandpaper to smooth out the radius. That's when another "down" popped up. As I was applying upwards pressure to the wheel well on the right side, I went out to far and broke a piece of the flare off (see rear shot above). Looks like a little extra body work!

Cleaning out one of my drawers recently, I came across an old F1 Race Car that I bought years ago (left) from an overseas company (UK) called PLAYFOREVER. They've released several antique and classic race cars

and aircraft and besides the F1 car, I also have the Indy style car (right) somewhere. The orange Can-Am car (right) will be my next purchase. Check out their website for lots more including an original Ford GT and a classic Lamborghini.

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.

180725494_4659785504048179_6779339485361702595_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.

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.