roddingandracing
roddingandracing
.PHOTOS
2015 HOT ROD POWER TOUR
CAR SHOW COVERAGE
It's been a while since I've posted a "Wish List"...vehicles I see on the internet that I hope to see in person one day to of course, take pictures of! After the Pandemic (2020), we don't go on "Road Trips" like we used to so the internet or YouTube is all we got now...but I can hope! (Plan on covering the LONE STAR ROUND-UP in Austin in April 2026, one of our frequent visits in the past.)
Ran across this image (right) going through my pictures and since I don't have a Facebook Group that "fits" it, I'm posting it here. I'm
sure y'all recognize the truck! I took it on one of my Hot Rod Power Tour "Road Trips".
Surprise appearance at a CAR CULTURE Houston gathering in Katy (TX)
Facebook Group "Drag Racing Media Of The Past" (right) has reposted my images a few times before and although I don't mind "sharing", they always acknowledge me, so I'd like to thank them for that!
"on the ROAD!"
(Christmas Edition)
When we were young, we'd drive around Houston area homes checking out their outdoor Christmas displays. I hadn't done that in years, but I was thinking of taking a few images from my current sub-division and
posting them. This past Sunday, I went on a fast-food run and saw this display that "fit" my website (left). That same night, I went out again right at midnight and decided to get a night-time picture of it (right). ("MERRY CHRISTMAS")
.....DIECAST, PLASTIC MODELING, ARTWORK COLORING BOOKS
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Last update, I posted an image of my next project (left). Its a Polar Lights SNAP DRAGGINS Anglia. I found the rear tires and wheels that I plan on using and ordered an aftermarket resin hood scoop. Like I usually do, I change plans along the way. I stuck the hood scoop on an already built Anglia with aftermarket decals
(right) and I prefer that look. The scoop will be little lower than the picture but with the blower assembly still showing. Here's the kicker...I had already done body work on both the Anglia body and scoop to get a better fit but now with the changes, I had to reorder (Ebay) both items! The model kit set me back $30 and the scoop only $10 so it wasn't that bad. I had damaged the kit's rear end assembly modifying that so now I can start from scratch...again!.
Not long ago, my brother brought me a 1/64 scale custom Chevy dually (above) and as you can see (right), it looked a little familiar to me. Both images were taken at the LONE STAR THROWDOWN in Conroe just north of Houston, one in 2022 and the other in 2023. The annual event is right around the corner...February 20-22, 2026.
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.