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2015 HOT ROD POWER TOUR

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CAR SHOW COVERAGE

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Glad to see LOW RIDER Magazine's Super Show Tour again. 2027 marks their 50th anniversary!

I posted this image (left) on the Pro Stock Trucks Facebook Group Page over three months ago and they just reposted it as their Group Cover Photo.

I started attending drag races here in Texas before I even had a driver's license and started taking pictures seriously at the races back in 1972. Needless to say, I've got thousands of pictures from the "old days" and when I recently ran across the Facebook Group "Texas Drag Racers and Drag Strips", joining it was a no-brainer. I checked the page and saw several of my old images that members had already shared.

Before Covid hit, I used to frequent the LONE STAR ROUNDUP in Austin and both GOODGUYS events up at the Texas Motor Speedway. During Covid, I started looking after a quadriplegic

sibling, so my out-of-town trips were limited. This year, I made it back to Austin, but the afternoon Congress Street Cruise was a wash-out. I had also planned on covering the GOODGUYS event, but bad weather showed up again. I blew it off and planned on covering their return in March. I just got an e-mail from them with their 2027 schedule and wouldn't you know it, only one event is scheduled in Texas (September). After sixteen years, their LMC TRUCK SPRING LONE STAR NATIONALS in March is gone.

.....DIECAST, PLASTIC MODELING, ARTWORK, ETC.

The chassis on the custom Chevy 4x4 (left) just needs a couple more adds. I can't go any further after that until I get the oversize engine that I ordered just in case I need to modify the frame and/or body. The dragster Corvette (right) just got started. I

thought about ordering a resin Corvette body that I saw but it's built to resemble a Pro Mod and that takes away some of the nostalgic look of the original Corvette design which I wanted to keep. That means I'll have to do a little body work to clean it up (hood, trim, signal pods, etc.).

When it comes to plastic models or diecast, my family knows what I like. My wife, my son, my brother...they all know and surprise me with stuff on a regular basis. Check out these Johnny Lightning diecast (above) that my sister-in-law recently dropped off!

...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.

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Although the four pictures on the right autographed by "Big Daddy" Don Garlits are permanently posted below, I just shared them with the new Facebook Group that I just joined (further above).

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!

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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.

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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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.