roddingandracing
roddingandracing
.PHOTOS
2015 HOT ROD POWER TOUR
CAR SHOW COVERAGE
TOMBALL, TEXAS
2019
2022
2022
2023
2023
2024
2024
2025
2022
2022
2023
2023
2024
2024
2025
2025
Including 2026, we've covered the HOT WHEELS LEGENDS TOUR stop here in Houston six times since 2019. On the left are the current (2026) versions of their
TWIN MILL, DODGE DEORA and BONE SHAKER. On the right are previous versions. Coverage of the 2026 event will be posted soon.
2022
2022
2023
2023
Besides the full-size HOT WHEELS vehicles above, here's a handful of "Sneak Peeks" from the Houston event. Two things, first off, personal preference...when it comes to car shows, I like Hot Rods and Pro Street vehicles and these "fit the bill". Second, one of the advantages of living in a large city is I can go to a car show west of Houston one weekend and east the next and see different cars. What I really enjoy though is seeing vehicles I've never seen before. That's why we used to take "Road Trips" before Covid. These vehicles all made the trip from out of state, and I thank them for it and of course thank HOT WHEELS for bringing their Tour down here.
.....DIECAST, PLASTIC MODELING, ARTWORK, ETC.
I bought an AMT 1/32 1963 Corvette (left) to build a "Gasser" similar to the one posted on the top row
(right). I just started doing body mods. I hadn't even
started on it yet when I saw a Corvette on a dragster frame online (bottom row) and I knew immediately that I had to build one. Haven't bought another kit yet but the 1/24 resin dragster posted is already on order! Got my fingers crossed on the body to frame fit as far as measurements. (Two Corvettes at once!)
I've always liked this kit (left) and it's one of my current projects (above). Frame is done, engine is waiting on an intake from a kit I ordered and the interior is waiting on a roll cage I plan on building from scratch.
My son picked me up a CAR TUNED Custom COE (left) at our local Hobby Lobby recently. He also picked up a
Peterbilt version for himself. I also came across a posting of the new CAR TUNED "LIFTED" series (#1, right) that's a TARGET exclusive. I'll probably pick up a few depending on what they look like.
A couple of hours before updating my site, I came across a new CAR TUNED release. They just put out their Series 6 Hobby/Alternate.
...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.
I got into photography (35mm) in 1972 and have done it ever since. I spent a few weeks in California in 1971 and visited a couple of drag strips (right) while I was there. Wanting to take some pictures, I picked up a cheap Instamatic Camera (Kodak X-15?) and took pictures at both tracks. I just shared the photo on the left on an Altered Facebook Page.
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.