It never made it...

Kicking in the time machine door again, this time in the summer of 1963, GM's truck studio was working on a pickup version of the slab windshield Chevrolet G-Van. This concept model appears to be a combination of the traditional pickup and a Corvair ramp sided transporter, remember those? Could've been a cool way to get your surf boards to the beach back in the day. No idea why it never made it into production because both Ford and Dodge had van-based pickups. Could it be that Chevrolet put all it's eggs into the Corvair basket and we know how that turned out...

Have a great Thanksgiving guys!

Del Mar Motors...A San Diego Connection

Being raised in San Diego, I always feel a connection to my hometown past. How many of you know San Diego had its own manufactured automobiles? Well, check this out. This one called America's lowest priced car, named the Del Mar! Who could turn down $1170 for a 4-Cylinder, 63 H.P. beast? Can you imagine going around a corner in this, the tires squealing like pigs? It was to be built at the Convair plant on Pacific Highway after World War II left the building available. It didn't last long, in fact never really made it into production, only a prototype. However, this wasn't the only car to be built in San Diego, more on that in a later post.

When Men were Men... Hulme, Moss, and Surtees

Do you ever kick open the time machine door and look back? I sometimes wonder where all the years of this long road of life have gone. To me time seems to fly as we get older, at least it appears to do so. To that end, maybe years ago you had the chance to see or meet someone you looked up to as a hero, I did. I would see these ex-Formula 1 racers at Monterey during the Historic races, just a glimpse at times, then to say hi as they walked by. You ask, "Why am I writing about this?" Well, another one has left all of us behind with only memories. John Surtees passed recently joining Denny Hulme. Stirling Moss is still with us, and was racing at Laguna just a few years ago. This photo is a tribute to a time when they were together, laughing and enjoying the time off track.

As I sit here, I offer a toast to the memories and making this trip worthwhile...

Left to right: Denny Hulme, Stirling Moss and John Surtees.

Why Listen to Everyone...?

Staying close to those that "Get you," you know, understand you and respect the crazy diamond that you are, is important. I would hear, "Don't shoot into the sun, don't shoot into the sun" over and over until I said, "Why not!" Oh, I know it's hard to get the exposure right and you get lens flair, but that's what makes it a challenge and when the flair adds something special to the image, you gotta' smile. This is one of those shots that I did for myself, not intended to be printed.

So what do you think?

A Warm Breeze Brings Back Memories...

I know it happens to you too. You're minding your own business and a smell, sight, or sound can take you back to a time forgotten, vanished by everyday life. It just happen recently to me. The sun was warm on my face and the smell of Fall, I was gone...

I remember as a kid in 7th...8th grade walking home from school on a Friday afternoon, and the excitement thinking one of my favorite TV programs aired that evening. "Route 66" and oh, those 1960 and '62 Corvettes that Todd and Buz drove to places unknown was just to die for. My imagination inevitably would travel with them, mile by mile. It played to viewers from 1960 to 1964, always to the sounds of Nelson Riddel's instrumental theme. Why am I telling you about this?  Well, growing up in San Diego I recently found these images of one of their episodes filmed in my home town. I'm here to share them with you, as you may also remember. As much as I can figure, they headed to San Diego, then TJ, stopping at a BBQ joint and then onward to Caliente. No doubt there was a pretty girl involved in some kinda' trouble as usual...

I just loved it!

"Cars Yeah" Interview...

American born, a long ago curious kid with camera, and past part time automotive blogger, now sharp shooter with camera in hand, makes good doing interview...

That's right, you can learn a little more about me and how I got my start in photography by clicking on the link of a pod-cast that I had the pleasure of being asked to do by Mark Greene. Mark has a web based company called "Cars Yeah," and has interviewed many, many people involved in the automotive industry. Those interviewed have been race car drivers, team owners, artists, automotive designers, photographers, and more. Speaking of that, by now you know I like to make automotive fine art images that people can hang on their walls, so without further ado, the link is below. It's about a half hour long, so sit back and relax.

The place to click: "Cars Yeah"

The Capture...

I love surprises. This was one for my friend, Kaid. Some time ago he asked me to get a shot of him vintage racing his Alfa. An Alfa that had trophied back in the day at Autodroma Nazionale Monza, Italy. A special car, indeed.

I'm sure Kaid had forgotten the ask, but I hadn't. After shooting at numerous vintage races, I captured the one I wanted to present to him. Enjoy, Kaid!

George Barris at Monterey Car Week

I was going to post about George Barris some time ago, but you know how things go...

I shot this about three years ago during the Monterey Car Week
 at the Automotive Fine Arts Society show at Pebble Beach. 

The self-proclaimed "King of the Kustomizers" passed away at his home in Encino, California last November 5th. He was 89, and even at that age he was a regular at car events, constantly shaking hands, signing autographs, and bringing his classic smile to warm the hearts of everyone. The last time I saw him was two years ago at the Los Angeles Auto show, and as I did always, posed to get a selfie with him.

George started out like a lot of us, building model cars and modifying them as a kid. It was only natural that he should do the same thing on a larger scale. He started a customizing business with his brother in Lynwood, L.A. after the war, there chopping and sectioning countless cars, including the era-defining Matranga 1940 Mercury and the Hirohata 1951 Mercury. He built cars for television shows as well as celebrities such as Sonny and Cher, Elton John, even John Wayne. He truly was a classic, just like the cars he created and I'm sure he will always be remembered by the rod and custom community. Godspeed, George!

The Mobile Camera...

It made me feel good to see this old image. So I decided to show it to you, because it has a bike and camera in it. This here was made back in the days when creators were creators, and not some skinny hippie kid who would put a crimp in a sheet of now-a-days ultra-thin sheet metal and call it the day in the design studio.

Actually, the camera looks kinda' like a, Agfa Ansco that I just put on my photo site, you gotta' check it out, here.

Sometimes Things Just Click...

I just love it when things are unplanned and go right.

I had taken my camera down to Palm Springs to take some shots at a Porsche RGruppe weekend, and one of the other events going on at the same time was a Cruisin' Association cruise night. One thing led to another, I met some friends, Robert and JoAnne Trinkle with their new gorgeous '32 rod at the cruise and grabbed my camera and snapped this image. The Eight Ball...

The cool thing is, I posted it on Facebook, they emailed me and said they just had to have a print. A 16" x 24" printed on archival metallic paper is on its way to hang in their great room! Sweet!

Art On 30th

Well it's the Holidays and guess what, I'll be participating in the "Art On 30th" year end sale. Some of my "Vintage" framed prints will be on sale for a very small sum of $99. They're 8" x 12" printed on archival metallic paper, matted. signed, and framed at a size of 18" x 22" with barnwood frames.

So bring your Big Bens (the president on a $100 bill) and take home a piece of original signed artwork. I'll be upstairs in the 30th street gallery in my wife's art studio and while you're there you can check out her awesome paintings.

Saturday night, December 12th, 5:00-8:00 pm.
Art On 30th, 4434 30th Street, San Diego, CA.
Here's a link for more info.   arton30th.com

Point Loma's 1915 Race Re-lived...

What is old is new again, so they say. Earlier this year I got word that for Balboa Parks Centennial they were going to re-drive the same course that was raced in 1915. Naturally the best place to start the reenactment was at the San Diego Automotive Museum in San Diego's Balboa Park. The back story on this, was the race was being held in 1915 to bring attention to the Panama-California Exposition, in the new City Park. More on this later...

I researched a good location a few days earlier, to what I hoped would make a great shot. Here's a capture just before one of the cars crossed the Cabrillo Bridge.

1912 Packard 7080 CC heading to the Cabrillo Bridge. Image, © John Straub

Could James Dean's Spyder be Found...

With the 60th anniversary of James Deans infamous death, "The long-lost – and some say cursed -- car that James Dean died in may soon be found, if a half-century old memory can be believed. The 24-year-old Hollywood star was killed when the Porsche 550 Spyder he was driving to an automobile race near Monterey, and scheduled to compete in, collided with a Ford Tudor coupe at an intersection in Cholame, Calif., on Sept. 30, 1955.

 Nicknamed “Little Bastard,” the tiny Porsche was totaled in the crash. The wreck was sold to one of Dean’s competitors, who removed the engine and other useable components, then passed what was left to famed car customizer George Barris. Dean’s car gained the reputation of being cursed in the wake of several incidents over the years, including the death of a racer whose car reportedly was built using some of its parts. After shelving plans to restore the Porsche, Barris began lending it to the National Safety Council to use to promote car safety, and showing it at automotive events. While being shipped back to Los Angeles from Miami in 1960, it mysteriously disappeared from the locked container it was in, either on a train or truck, depending on the report. Since then, the mysterious car’s whereabouts have been unknown.

The day of the fatal crash....

End of a Run... Porsche 918

After 21 months of building, the last Porsche 918 rolled off the production line in Zuffenhausen. The super-car was built with the idea that it would be a limited edition, with only 918 units being produced. To that end, it pioneered innovations that will help Porsche continue as a high performance builder. Porsche has stated that those innovations found in the 918 like adaptive aerodynamics and rear axle steering have already made their way down to the next generations of 911s. I say, good on them!

Back before the super sports car made its way into owners hands here in the states, I was able to get a photo shoot. The one you see, is my favorite. It's the "bling power" of the engine lid that drew me. I can't think of any other machine out there that has the exhaust venting out like this, truly looks like something from outer space.

I did a face mounted acrylic of this for a friend, that won an award at the annual Porsche Parade, and I gotta' say, I think it's awesome! If you have a 918 or know of others that do, please share this post with them. Prints are available at this link on my photo site: http://alongfortherideimageworks.zenfolio.com/p853571094/h8962c70#h8962c70

Changes in the Air...

If you've been signed up for this blog for some time, you know I haven't posted much in the last two years...sometimes life gets in the way, as I'm sure has happened to most of you at times. Also as a blog follower, you know it has been dedicated to all things automotive.

I'm excited to say I've been expanding my horizons with my photography. Well, that said horizon, was a major part of my life as a young person, and it's finally finding its way back to me. Now don't go jumping ship on me yet, I'll still be posting content jam packed with automotive, but it will also be seasoned with vintage artifacts from the past and, not to get stale, there will also be some off the wall images posted along the way.

You ask, "Why is he doing this?" Over the last few years I'm happy to say I've had more and more requests from people to purchase my images, as the example below. So, I figure this adjustment in format, with images available for purchase within each post, is the best way to keep track, rather than driving myself crazy with special requests.

So, please stay tuned. I think you'll enjoy it.

An image captured during the Coronado Speed Festival of Hans Lapine ripping through a corner in his Porsche 914/6 GT with a Corvette hot on his heels. This image is hanging in his office as a one off, printed on archival paper.

Getting the best View...

Ansel Adams, photographing in Yosemite National Park from atop his car about 1942. The car he was riding high on, a Pontiac Chieftain Woodie...

A very rare car by today's standards.

Photographer unknown...

Don't Call Me Late...

Call me whatever you want, but don't call me late for this event. What event? The annual gathering of Porsche 356 cars at Dana Point.

Once a year in July there is arguably one of the best Porsche 356 Shows/Concour in the world. A few years ago I was making my way around checking all the jewels and I came upon an '52 pre-A Cab shown by Cam Ingram from Road Scholars'. I noticed the impeccable interior with the Telefunken radio and it shouted, "Take my picture!" I asked Cam, he opened the door for me and I got this shot.

"Telefunken" is 16" x 24" printed and face mounted on acrylic to achieve a stunning presentation, and includes a wall mount. It's UV protected and absolutely glows under light. Perfect for the den or office. It's 1 of 1 as the artist proof. Ready to hang and enjoy. $395.00 + $45.00 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. SOLD

"Telefunken"

Amelia Island Concours Lands Two Rare Porsches...

I received this notice from one of my friends, Burt Propp. Thought I would share it with you guys.

With the automotive celebrations at Amelia Island looming (March 13-15, 2015), Porsche let us know that they'll be bringing two very significant racing cars from their museum to display on the concours field. While there are certainly some great Porsches for aution, the level of rarity is kicked up another notch out on the green show field. The first of Porsche's entrants being the venerable, one-of-two 909 Bergspyder, and the second is a one-of-one powerhouse in the form of the 917 PA Spyder 16-cylinder. Both were extraordinary engineering exercises that helped to develop Porsche into an international sportscar racing leader. The late 1960s and early 1970s were an exciting time at Porsche, and these two racers exemplify the type of out-of-the-box thinking that helped them to win multiple world championships.

909 Bergspyder, Factory Photo Archives

Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, 2015...

For those of you that like to make the trip to Monterey for the Historics, here's the latest info on this years honored marque.The Shelby GT 350.

Donn Vickery coming down from the "Corkscrew" entering turn 9 at Laguna Seca.

Laguna Seca...Happy Birthday!

As one grows older, fifty-seven years ago seems like not so far in the past. This weekend that many years past, motor racing on the West Coast was changed forever with the first race at Laguna Seca Raceway.

The official opening on November 9th. Photo, courtesy Laguna Seca