roddingandracing
.PHOTOS

2015 HOT ROD POWER TOUR






COVERAGE
CAR SHOW



































































































































LUPE TORTILLAS
KATY, TEXAS














































Although the LONESTAR ROUND UP in Austin was a regular


















trip for us, the last time we covered the event was back in 2018. First it was Covid and then a family health issue but this time around, we're making the short trip west (175 miles from Houston) this coming weekend (April 18). We'll also be covering the Saturday afternoon cruise on Congress Street and hopefully get to check out the Austin Rock and Roll Car Museum which is open only five hours, two days per month. (The posted images above are from that 2018 event)




Both vehicles above were spotted on our way home from covering Houston area car shows this past weekend. The truck was spotted at a gas station on our way home from a show in Friendswood and the Oldsmobile parked at a furniture store in Pearland coming home from Kingwood. Looks like the culprit is a flat right, rear tire.


2012


2011
.....DIECAST, PLASTIC MODELING, ARTWORK COLORING BOOKS
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Before beginning a model build, I usually have a "vision" on how I want it to look like when it's done. This "drag van" is one of my current projects and I had a


"vision" on the paint scheme I wanted to accomplish. After applying the masking tape (above, left), I wasn't sure if that was what I wanted. I went ahead and set it up and shot the yellow on black paint. After removing the masking tape, I actually liked what I saw (above, right).....and like I always do, I set the body on the chassis I had already built even though the paint wasn't dry yet (right) to see what it looks like!!!





If I buy a new diecast, I usually post it. Other than that, I run across my old stuff cleaning or
looking for something. Case in point, this wild Porsche and Transporter. I remember seeing the Porsche somewhere and when I went to buy it, I saw the Transporter and bought it also. Not sure of the Porsche but the truck is limited to 499 pieces. If I remember correctly, price for both was just over $80. I believe the manufacturer is STANCE HUNTERS.





I started building plastic model car kits when I was a kid and got back into the hobby several times since then. I was hoping to get back into it when I retired and although I did, it was almost six years later. I've built a few in the last year and a half and this was my first build after getting back into it. I've actually had this model for at least thirty years and finally put it together. It's a "tooned" version of the original "Red Baron" show car (original and kit posted left).

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.













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.





