roddingandracing
roddingandracing
.PHOTOS
2015 HOT ROD POWER TOUR
CAR SHOW COVERAGE
roddingandracing.photos
Pearland Weekly Friday Night Cruise (Pearland, Texas)
Recently my son and I were driving through our sub-division and spotted this gorgeous 1962 Chevy (left). There was a vehicle parked in front of the house so I couldn't get a good picture of it. A few days later, my son got one and sent it to me.
Last night (3:45am), I posted this Firebird (right) on "The Pro Street Era" Facebook Page and six minutes later, it was their Facebook Group Cover Photo. We took the picture during the 2015 Hot Rod Power Tour. The picture actually replaced our previous post (1958 Chevy) from a week ago.
"Sneak Peek" just posted on the Car Tuned Diecast Facebook shows their Series 13 eight-car release. They are currently taking pre-orders. I don't purchase complete series anymore and haven't decided which ones I like. I'm sure I'll buy two or three from the set, probably wait until they show up at local outlets.
I checked the lots of an upcoming Mecum Auction in Florida and saw a wild 1963 Corvette "Gasser" that was being offered (left). As you can see (above), it reminded of one of my recent builds.
I updated a day early (November 4), and the LONE STAR RALLY in nearby Galveston begins tomorrow (November 5) until Sunday (November 8). The car show that we also cover, is held both Saturday and Sunday but the Motorcycle Show on the Seawall is on Saturday only so that's when we'll be there.
Outside of looking for an exhaust system in my spare parts, the engine and chassis on the Corvette Dragster (top row) are complete. I didn't install the hood the way I wanted so now I have to do body work.
I sure would hate having to start all over. The Blazer 4x4 (bottom row) is still waiting for a resin, over-sized engine that I ordered. Need to see if I have to modify the frame, body or hood to make it fit.
The 1/32 scale VW is on the way, the 1/24 scale, turbo-charged VW engine I
already had, I'm currently bidding (Ebay) on the 1/24 scale Mustang Modified and the 1/18 scale modified tires are also on the way. Both should be fun builds
*Just received the VW. Body is four and a half inches front to back.
...photographer's choice! (Exotics +)
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.
The Emmons Family Racing Team is nationally known (over 50 NHRA national event wins, over a dozen Divisional Championships and a World Championship in 2021) and is based here in the Houston area. Needless say, I have tons of images of their cars and ever since I joined the Facebook Group "Texas Drag Racers and Drag Strips", it's a match made in heaven (okay, maybe not heaven, but I'm happy about it!).
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
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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.