roddingandracing
I've decided to begin posting a "PHOTOGRAPHER'S CHOICE" image(s) on new updates from now on. I recently joined a VW (Volkswagen) Facebook Group to share my current and old VW images. As I was going through my thousands and thousands of old images (50+ years!), I came across some images of "Exotics" that I really liked and that got me to thinking. I've got quite a few favorite shots, Exotics and more, that I took over the years that I don't share on Facebook Groups so I'm going to start posting them on my website regularly. What's makes them "favorites" other than personal preference, is the vehicle itself, the angle, the lighting, the background or even a combination of one or more. I hope you check them out and like what you see!
roddingandracing
.PHOTOS
CAR SHOW COVERAGE
Still playing "catch-up" with show coverages so I've posted the last and final two shows of the year of the BAYOU CITY CUP SERIES down here in the Houston area. Shows were held in Katy and Tomball (Grand Championship Show).
KATY, TEXAS.....
TOMBALL, TEXAS.....
Every year on holidays, individuals and/or companies post holiday images or videos on Facebook. Check out this image from an Ai video that was posted this Thanksgiving from "EXTREME 660 Drag Racing".
Joined a couple more Facebook Groups this past week. Went to a car show recently with a handful of nice-looking Novas so I shared with the "Nova only" Facebook Group (left). I have quite a few old images of Altered Drag Vehicles, so I also joined "Altered Reality" (right) to share those with.
UNLIMITED HYDROPLANES / HOUSTON (CLEAR LAKE), TEXAS / 1984
More times than not, whenever I post an upcoming Mecum Auction vehicle on "Mopar Drag Cars and Pro Street Only",
they use it as their "Group Cover Photo" as they did this time around (above).
.....DIECAST, PLASTIC MODELING, ARTWORK COLORING BOOKS
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I recently saw this (left) pre-release image of an AMT model car kit that's scheduled for release on February 27, 2026. I love "caricatures" so I went into the internet for more information. It's a re-
release version of AMT's "Der Beetle Bus" but panel instead of window van. I also saw one version that I like even more, the AMT "Lug Bug", a wrecker version of a similar VW pickup. I posted images of the box art plus a couple of completed models of both versions. I've pre-ordered the Coca-Cola van and plan on looking hard for the Wrecker/Pickup version.
GOOD NEWS! My decals came in and after a little more detailing, my 1933 Willys (above, left) is complete. I had the aftermarket, aluminum injectors for at least thirty years and this was my first time using resin (rear wing). Now my 1955 Chevy is still "in progress" Actually it's on hold while I order some Ultra Fine Tip Markers to finish up the molded-in body trim. Using regular Sharpies
has been challenging. I'm also waiting for a 1953 Corvette bullet grill that I ordered. Should look good with it.
Here are my latest CAR TUNED purchases. I ordered the "RIG" from the manufacturer
(MGA) and I got the two trucks at my local Hobby Lobby. They're both from the just released "Series 8". Need one more from the series and a couple each from "Series 6" and "Series 7". I don't
want to pay triple the price plus shipping from Ebay so I'll just keep checking around here.
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.
Although I had been attending car shows a few years before, my first time taking pictures was in 1972, in this case, the Houston Autorama (right). Picture quality was off; I believe it was some type of Kodak Instamatic Camera (X-15) (?).
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.