What? Why?

I was asked these exact questions in a text I received this week from a good friend of mine. I had posted a picture on Facebook detailing the right front headlight area on a beat-up 1959 Dodge Custom Royal that was awaiting a serious restoration at a garage in a nearby town. She didn't fully understand why I took such a tight, detailed photograph of this heap until I explained more of the details. Details like rust, patina, the concept of weathered objects in a life-after-people throw away society - and the fact it's one of several niche genres I digitally capture and then hopefully sell reprints of later on.

It's the same deal here - What? Why? I've been asked this multiple times as to why I write and photograph what I do. First off, I love what I write about - I have been a fan of muscle cars, street rods and 60's era drag racing since I was a kid. Growing up in the 60's and 70's definitely helped. Owning and being involved with classic Detroit iron for almost 40 years has also been a plus. Lastly, I have a yen for any type of motor-sports and hot rodding that's totally off the wall. If it contains mega-wow factor or makes me laugh my ass of while I'm engaging in it, all the better. Is it safe to say that I drool over off the hook hot rods and/or rat rods? Or really odd-ball muscle cars? Or how about muscle cars that were "never built" by the factory, but in fact, several documented examples actually exist? You betcha. You want weird, but hilarious motor-sports? On it - that's why I did a blurb on Barbie Jeep racing.

Speaking of rare, odd-ball muscle cars, ever hear the story of the two 1970 Olds Vista Cruiser wagons that were built with all the 4-4-2 option hardware including the W-30 455 V-8 engine? While one of the wagons whereabouts is still unknown as of this writing, the other one is believed to be alive and well in a private collection. While the model was never offered to the public, two Vista Cruiser Wagon were built by Oldsmobile as a 4-4-2 with the W-30 package. The engine was a 370 HP 455 CID V-8  producing a diesel-like 500 pound-feet of torque at 3,600 rpm. Other W-30 features included the now-incredibly rare lightweight air induction W-25 fiberglass hood. After both Vista Cruiser's were built, they were taken off the assembly line by Oldsmobile Engineering and turned into W30s with all of the special 442 parts, before being handed over to Popular Hot Rodding magazine for testing. Nicknamed “The Wonder Wagons”. Along the way, one wagon was snapped up by the late Oldsmobile expert Joe Mondello, who owned the car until his death in 2011. The other wagon was reported to have been shipped to Car Life magazine in Japan and is believed to have been sold to someone in that country.

It seems street rods in these modern times carry less shock value and more wow-appeal. There have been some builds lately that do more than raise the bar - they define a balance between unparallel workmanship and rolling art. But every once in a while, one comes along and totally upsets the apple cart - and I feel that's a good thing. Take for example this 1929 Tudor hot rod. Never mind the chopped and channel job that's been done. Dig the open exhaust... or the fact is has no front brakes. That's right - zero. Only rear brakes. It may say 28 C/G for a certain Gasser class in drag racing, but this beast is street driven regularly.

Now, how about strange but true motor-sports. How strange?  How about drag-racing motorcycles made of farm equipment? Summertime snowmobiling in Wisconsin? Did I mention tractor-trailer drifting? Since mankind’s earliest days, the never-ending quest to somehow go faster has always been a powerful force. But somewhere along the line, something went a bit haywire. Either by coincidence, accident, or defiance, automotive enthusiasts have taken unsuspecting forms of transportation and modified them into some pretty bizarre styles of racing.

 - Our first example is a brilliant blend of farm equipment, bored country folk, tractor pulls, motorcycles, and good 'ol drag racing ingenuity. Outside of a few suspension tweaks and some seriously knobby tires, these bikes are the exact same thing you see drag racing at the local strip, with 1200+ cc motors, some outfitted with nitrous, and even the occasional turbocharger upping the ante.

 -  First held in Grantsburg, Wisconsin back in July of 1977, the obscure form of racing commonly referred to as summer sledding, has been held every year since its inception. Originally designed as a challenge to see who could make it 300 feet from the island on Memory Lake to the shore, this oddity has since transformed into a competition where over 100 racers compete in both drags and ovals, with an eight-lap championship run capping things off. In a sport like this it’s a “sink or skim” experience, so these snowmobiles often get stripped-down and beefed-up before being unleashed on a lake.

 -  Words simply cannot describe our last entry. The sport of drifting is obviously nothing new. But when a 15,000-pound big-rig with over 1,100 horsepower shreds a course, it makes regular cars look like yawn city. Piloted by Michiel Becx, who was also the brains behind the Becx-TDS Racing team, a video is the only way to truly capture this beacon of automotive ingenuity and driver prowess while behind the wheel. The video is 6+ minutes long, but is truly amazing. https://youtu.be/OT8Eh7BBqOQ

Until next time, stay crazy.
Dave

Rain Dates And Delays

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once said, "... into each life some rain must fall". That is ringing more than true as I write this. It is pouring like a bastard. While numerous local meteorologists will mention that we need the rain, a gamut of vintage automobile enthusiasts wish the liquid sunshine occurred while we're working during the week. Looking back over the past two months however, I must admit, the weather has been spectacular here in coastal Maine. This has led to more car buffs than usual to bring out their Detroit iron that they may not have done otherwise. But what do you do when the skies open up, sometimes unexpectedly? We live with it, and drive our hot rods anyway.

While some enthusiasts will disagree with me, I will always give kudos to the "more hardcore" group who are not afraid to drive when the sky is crying. I remember when I owned my street / strip Mustang that was a borderline drag car - people used to ask me how I could drive it in the rain, especially when I knew it was in the forecast? Well, first off, the vehicle was water tight - even with it's aftermarket sunroof driving through a car wash. Second of all, it had wipers. That's what they were intended for. At times, it did get a bit entertaining keeping all the windows defrosted, because much of the original Ford HVAC system had been removed in the pursuit of speed, but I managed.

One of the biggest car shows of the season here in Maine is still taking place this weekend. The organization does not do rain dates. The only time they do, is if there's REALLY adverse weather in the forecast - like hurricanes, severe thunderstorms with hail, or tornadoes. Their theory is, if it poses a substantial threat to participants, then let's not be that stupid. But some moderate steady rain? No problem. This museum still believes in the creed of a vehicle is meant to be enjoyed as well as driven. Yes, the number of vehicles this year will be much thinner compared to previous years, but a hardy 50-75 vehicles will still show up. It's still a bummer more don't brave the elements - normally there's 600+ vehicles.

Major drag racing events have fallen victim to Mother Nature. Whether you're old enough or not, ever read about the 1962 NHRA Winter Nationals that were held out in Pamona California? Why this particular year? Because this was one of those rare times when the elements win out. Rain delayed the event for a week. Event organizers were worried that most of the scheduled and registered participants would not stick around for when the weather finally cleared. Don't forget - this was when the NHRA was in it's infancy. Every event, participant, and spectator counted. But, history would show that drag racers were just as hardy as other sports enthusiasts. Ninety percent of the people registered stuck it out until the skies cleared and the event was history in the making. The '62 Winter Nationals was where many us first witnessed A/FX cars as well as classic muscle cars featuring a plethora of high performance like 409 V-8 Chevy's, 421 Super Duty Pontiac's, 406 6-barrel Fords, and the crazy 413 cubic inch Max Wedge from Chrysler. Dragsters and some drivers were finally coming into their own. It was a memorial and historical time.

Face it - it's only rain. One of these days, we're all bound to get caught in it whether we plan to or not. We're not going to melt and neither is the ride. Don't let the weather be a total buzz kill. Get out and enjoy your street rod, muscle car or truck, rat rod, or vintage ride. Besides - we'll be complaining how cold it is in less than six months anyways...

Until next time, peace out.
Dave

Freedom

Freedom; noun - the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint to oneself and/or to others. When it comes to high performance vehicles of any genre - be it muscle cars, rat rods, or any custom hot rod build - freedom can be a tough exercise to execute even if you own the rig you're restoring, or modifying, or building. I can remember when I owned a '79 Chevy C-10 and it was finally time to paint it. It took me a year to figure out the paint scheme and colors I wanted and after that, it took several friends and myself nine months to pull it off in our spare time - but it was all worth it. However, if I had a dollar for every piece of free advise, or suggestion, or recommendation, I could take 2 weeks vacation from work... and that was just on the paint job. Some people were upset that I didn't use all Chevy colors (only the orange was a Corvette color) or that I didn't paint it Hugger Orange like everyone else did. The kicker was, after I sold it, there were about 4-5 other trucks rather similar to it...

I received similar "guidance" in regards to the engine, transmission, tires, and wheels, but nothing compared to when I totally customized the interior. Many people didn't understand what I was doing while it was in process, but when it was finished, they loved it. However, there were some who hated it - and sternly advised me to change it back to stock. The picture to the left is very close to what I did, minus the seats, as I've lost most of the pictures taken back then to a massive computer crash. I've always been one to follow the "dare to be different" mode. Think about it - if we all did the same thing when it came to our hot rods, where would be be? It's a rabbit hole I do not wish to venture down.

I belong to several photography groups on Facebook, and the two I post to the most involve cars as well as other objects and landscapes that just reek of rust, patina, or that are weathered, etc. I think this one reason why, as I've noted before, I am so attracted to beaters and vintage Detroit iron that has been graced by patina.

While a beautifully restored muscle car or street rod will ring my bell, one that is original with patina and is weathered, will ring a whole bunch of them. I find myself, especially at photo shoots at car shows and cruise-ins, gravitating towards the rusty stuff. In fact, at the last two cruise-ins I attended, there were guys with pickups and flatbeds that offered far-from-pristine vintage car parts for sale. It ranged from flat-head Ford valve covers to an early 50's Olds Rocket 88 hood. I shot more pictures of the wares they were selling than any other vehicle. Needless to say, it made for interesting, but cool, conversation. It's freedom to photograph what I want.


I was reading an article this weekend about how a guy came to own and modify a 1929 Dodge Gasser style hot rod. While the 3" chop was already done and it was a very solid foundation to work with, it did not have an engine or transmission, as well as zero floor boards... and I mean nothing. However, the article went on to say that he had the freedom to built it the way he wanted to. In fact, he used a ton of miscellaneous other parts and cobbled together a ride where the end result was extremely reet. 

I also had a chance to watch Havana Motor Club via iTunes download. In a nutshell, this documentary tells the story of Cuba's vibrant underground drag racing community that's pretty much been in existence for the past 55+ years. While a great deal is spoken in Spanish, you don't need an interpreter to follow or relate to this movie. In a socialist country that, for the most part is rather poor, the ingenuity and the dare to be different mentality can be mind boggling. Many racers and mechanics make their own parts. Another racer uses an engine that he recovered from the ocean floor that was used in a ship that used to smuggle Cubans to America. Not every vehicle is pristine or American. But that doesn't matter - it can't. It is a true "united we stand, divided we fall" type situation. These people create freedom where there is little to none. 

Live, engage, and be grateful for your freedoms, people. And those freedoms don't include ridiculing  and/or mocking others negatively who don't happen to agree with you. That's not utilizing your freedom... that's you being an asshole. 

Until next time, peace out.
Dave