"Eres un Payaso"

The backstory began about a year ago with a Lowrider Culture Art Display and Car Show at the Oceanside Museum of Art. Growing up in SoCal this would be the perfect opportunity to wrap my mind around this lifestyle. Off I went to do a story for the blog, which was "The Art of Lowriding." But, read on for more of the story...

One of Those Days...

Just sitting along side the midway looking back on memories as they drove past at the last Del Mar Goodguys Show, it was a day to soak in. Glancing down the asphalt corridor, I spied Pete Smith approaching in his badass rod, grabbed my camera and got the shot. If a car looks mean, it better back it up, his does. Read on for the details.

On Any Main Street #3..."Cruisin' Grand Fundraiser"

The cover came off the '67, fired her up and headed to the once a year "Cruisin' Grand Fundraiser." As I rolled up the Interstate a cold wind nipped at me through an open window as I gazed out over the long hood, all the while settling down for the drive. The hillsides rushed by as though there was little time left to be counted before my camera would start clicking.

Carmel-By-The-Sea Concours On The Avenue ... 2013

If you're a Monterey Car Week devotee, the news coming forth about the "Carmel-By-The-Sea Concours On The Avenue" is everything good.

Tired of paying the high and higher prices charged for attending the shows during car week? This is your salvation! It's free to spectators as it's held on the closed streets of Carmel, which becomes a pedestrian walk-about among some of the coolest and nicest cars in the US. With special classes for Porsche as well as Ferrari cars, the show doesn't fall short on offering eye delectable offerings of everything from hot rods to micro-cars. The date: Tuesday, August 13, 2013

According to Doug Freedman, the father of the Carmel Concours, "Our mission statement continues to be our focus."

Sophistication with a dash of fun,
where Authenticity, Originality and Preservation matter
All in a welcoming atmosphere!!!

The action on Ocean Avenue last year...

Photos Floating through Electronic space...

Photographic art is said to begin by creating meaningful, passionate and high quality images. But, to take it one step further, and put them out there in the blog-o-sphere for readers to soak in... that's what one of my blogging buddies, Bob Tilton does remarkably.

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 16 Replay...

It's one of those weekends that you'll think back six months from now and be glad you drank it in. Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 16 is now nothing but great memories of badass rides, music, burlesque shows, vendor rooms, bowling tournaments, pool parties, vintage fashion shows, jiving competition, a pin-up contest, tattoo contest, burlesque bingo, more cool people than can be crammed into one casino, and a tattoo lounge. More to come on that later.

What Can I Say...

Well after having my "Barn Find" '67 911 included in three different magazines, the fourth was the magic. Now, it's not in my greasy little hands let, but here is an image of the new Porsche magazine, called "Porsche Lifestyle Megascene" coming out with the forlorn little runner on the cover, no less. I guess you could say, I'm totally jazzed and just wanted to share...

The cover photo was shot by Maurice van den Tillaard and here's a link to one of his blogs, Bump Steer. Also, find a short video of the making of Issue #00...

For those who get the post via "Feedburner," here's a link to the video. Click here.

This shot was done in the back country close to Descanso, Ca.

No Time Out, Not Yet...

I've been stalling in the red zone...I need to step up to the plate and get posting again. Been spending time playing with my camera shooting car pics, and posting them on Facebook. You can always join me there, here's the link to be my buddy and friend me. Click here to find me.

Anyway, here's one I shot back in '68-'69 at Riverside Raceway looking at turn 7. I don't know why this image sticks in my mind other than I thought the car looked so cool, black with orange scallops coming off the headlights. Or maybe it was the drivers matching helmet. I now wish I had been shooting in color rather than B/W, because I can still remember how bitchin' and mean that Porsche Roadster looked to a young kid with a camera in hand.

I have no idea who the driver was, but check out the real American Mags on this E-Production classed Porsche. He was running disc brakes rather than the drum brakes the car came with. 

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The Mercedes-Studebaker connection...

I have this buddy, who will remain nameless,....well, I'll call him Bart Simpson. Bart wants a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster in the worst way. The conversation usually goes some thing like this, "Bart, what are you gonna' do with that?" "I'll drive it, every day." "Are you sure, it's a half million dollar ride, dude." "What happens if some ol' lady with no insurance nails you?" Well, Bart, being an very good attorney, just ends up smiling at me like I'm an imbecile, which by the way does nothing for my self confidence. Now to the real point of this post. Did you know there was a connection between Mercedes and Studebaker? Here's a look at some of that connection as well as the hand building of those cars.

Studebaker Golden Hawk and 190SL Mercedes-Benz share a showroom floor.
Note the Packard/Clipper banner on the wall.

Not a Good Day...

So you think you're rocketing down the track, until something goes terribly wrong. The steering wheel is jerked out of your hand and it feels like someone just threw an anchor out the back...what the heck is going on?

This pore guy racing his Triumph TR3 back in the 60's had the center of his right front wheel give way. But, all was not lost as he strikes an Olympic weight lifter pose, along with the track workers coming to his rescue.

Triumph TR3 image © Steve Chandler

Don't Paint My Car...

It was one of those nights this week, what can I say. Let's see, what did I learn? Maybe, be careful where to park. You may think, this seems like it might be worth elaborating on, but it isn't. Suffice it to say...no, it's not even worth sufficing to think this is an art car. The artist will probably have some splainin to do, even if it's just an ol' Ford van.

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Gil Elvgren, Ol' School Pin-Ups...

Shuffling along at a recent rod show, got the ol' time machine door kicked in on me again. While checking out a chopped '33 Ford coupe, I noticed a "Pin-up" painted on the cowl done the old school way, by hand.  That got me thinkin' about back in the day "Pin-up" drawings. You know the type you see on old calendars.

One of the most noteworthy classical American illustrators that did hundreds of "Pin-up" paintings was Gil Elvgren. The medium that Gil worked in was oil on canvas, painting women such as the girl next door whose girlish charms are innocently revealed in that fleeting instant when she was caught unaware in what might be an embarrassing situation. As you look through some of his automotive related paintings, you'll see how he used that moment in time.

Pin-up perched on a Mercedes-Benz. Image © Gil Elvgren