You’ve probably noticed that this blog, in other words, me -
had taken a few weeks off. At first, I sort of got into a self-bashing mode and
briefly thought of a sign a friend of mine uses for his small business. One
side says, “Yes! We’re open!” The flip side says, “Sorry, We’re Lazy!”
I then realized
that I wasn’t being lazy. I could have used the excuse that I was doing photo
shoots at some local car shows as well in farther reaches of the state. While
that last statement is true, I also looked back at the posts I have already
written and realized that some things were missing. I had yet to really broach
subjects like vintage drag racing and NASCAR in addition to muscle cars &
high performance. So, in retrospect, it’s quite possible that the blog needed a
break from me so I could get my act together.
The car shows I
attended were awesome. They are by no means the biggest ones I’ve ever been to,
but they offered a great diversity of vehicles - all of which were driven
there. No trailer queens. I personally have nothing against car shows, and
while I’ve been to well over 200 in my lifetime and have seen some really cool
rides, they don’t flip my cookies in the ways they used to. I no longer enter
my car in the show as a participant - it’s just too much of a headache. I can
no longer just sit there for hours on end & listen to some people blather
with so much incorrect bullshit, that it starts ruining the experience. I’ll
drive my car to and from the event, no problem; which is what I’d rather be
doing anyways.
I also find I’m
attending smaller events. I’ve been to some huge 3 day events from New Jersey
to Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. What
you see & what goes on there can literally blow your mind. And while I
encourage everyone to attend a show like that at least once in their life, it’s
something I’m starting to veer away from as a photographer and writer. I just
can’t capture it all - it’s TOO much. When I go to smaller
events, I can spend 6 hours at it & come away feeling totally satisfied
with what I took in, made notes of, and photographed. I feel less stressed -
and I get the feeling that the other people running the event as well as
attending it, feel that way too.
At one of the car
shows, I saw a number of vintage drag racers as well as stock car machines.
This brought me back to what I wanted to cover in the blog. I’ll admit that I’m
a pretty big nostalgia buff. I recently saw a blurb where long time NHRA Funny
Car racer Dale Creasey Sr. is trying to make things work with a new racing crew
and car. A Cadillac no less! Check out the pic. While it’s a Funny Car to the
nth degree, it actually looks like a new Cadillac CTS, not some molded hunk of
fiberglass that completely misses the mark. The car even has a cool name - not
a sponsor. This is a case of character over commercial. All I can say is, “Bravo
Dale!”
The nostalgia
aspect also got me to thinking about NASCAR. The modern day stuff I can’t stand
- haven’t been able to stomach it for almost 30 years. Between the homogenized
race car bodies, the ludicrous sponsorship deals, the junior high school drama,
and the general boredom of the race just left me flat. Even when Ford announced
it’s 2013 Fusion as a next generation NASCAR vehicle, it still had decals for lights, doors that weren’t doors, and body lines that were nowhere near stock.
I’m sorry - but most modern day racing teams show up at the track with more
equipment than many new car dealerships. I miss 
All this supposed
thinking got my brain working into the thought pattern of “What type of
gearhead am I really?” My kids just want to say I’m becoming an old fart. I
remember fondly the golden days of stock car as well as drag racing, I’m
attending smaller car shows that are closer to home, I’ve grown tired of the
concept of “completely restoring” another old vehicle - all the excuses
are there.
However, as I
grow older, I find my automotive passions are widening. 25 years ago, it was
muscle cars from the 60’s - I wouldn’t even consider street rods. Now, I fully
embrace hot rods from the 20’s through the 70’s, and can even get into some
modern day muscle. I prefer the older stuff because the lines, styling, and
year to year uniqueness will never return to the production automobile. I
prefer function over form, love patina, and stance & character still trump
chrome and polish. I still enjoy rat rods, even though people are starting to grow
tired of them. I am grateful that the pro-street excess of the 80’s and early
90’s hasn’t returned - and I hope it never does. I’ll never build a “checkbook”
ride, but I can still appreciate them.
Drag racing is
the only sport I’ll watch on television and even that is not too often. In
modern day racing, Funny Cars still ring my bell more than anything, but I
prefer nostalgia racing hands down over everything else in that realm. Bracket
racing has gotten old for me. Maybe it’s a case of been there, done that. And
yes, I still have no interest in modern NASCAR or monster trucks.
I still go to car
shows mainly to take photos & notes as well as to appreciate the vehicles.
I’d rather do that than talk about them for hours. Showing & talking is
another severe been there, done that. I will never stop trying to learn about
the mechanics of a vehicle (new or old),
NOS stuff is way over-rated, I love the aftermarket as well as swap meets. I’ll
keep my comments to myself in regards to automotive films as well as music.
So - how about
you? Let me kn ow what you think.
Until next time, peace out.
Dave
Until next time, peace out.
Dave
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