What Are Friends For ?

The car may have been different...but...dream back.

Can you remember hanging out with your buddies oil staining the driveway at your parents house?  The rising mid-morning sun, clean, a good day ahead for you. Not a care in life, just girls, swapping lies and making the ride of your life faster, that's all that mattered.

Image via, H.A.M.B.

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"Immortalized: Rods and Customs of Distinction"

"Art and Rods", what a bitchin' way to spend a warm Friday evening, a band, beer, wine, food and cool people. It was the opening reception of a "Rod" inspired art exhibition in a downtown Escondido gallery called ArtHatch with artist Robert Williams.

The reception was held with wine from "Vinz Wine Bar," beer from "Stone Brewing Co.," and sounds from Gino and the Lone Gunmen. All a benefit for Cruisin' Grand and ArtHatch. Oh yeah, the event had plenty of badass car art hanging on the walls, with more of the same in machinery on the street. After hanging out inside with show curator and speaker, artist Robert Williams, we came out to a sky heavy with stars shining down on some of the coolest rides on the earth.

It was a delicious night...

Immortalized: Rods and Customs of Distinction © ArtHatch staff photographer

Paint Me A Line / Pinstriping Hood Art

Von Dutch, Dean Jeffries, 'Big Daddy' Roth among many others became "automotive tattooers" of the 50's. Armed with nothing more than tins of "1 Shot" enamel, thinner, some oil, a squirrel hair brush and a steady hand, they became artists that are now known the world over.

Today with so much art being computer generated, it may be worth a look at some of the current hand drawn art done by the young guns. These shots of "Hood Art" were taken at this years Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend. This was such a bitchin' event...we're heading back.

Tools of the trade, pinstriping at Viva Las Vegas. Image © AFTR

Abandoned Dreams / Daniel J. Rice

While wandering around a local cruise night a few ago, came across this young guy with his vendor tent selling prints of his photographic work. Got to talkin' with him and picked up a smallish coffee table book he had published, called "Junkyard Reflections." Very cool images inside...

"For me photography has always been the means of remembering and sharing the beauty I find here on earth. I always even as a child was intrigued by the history behind abandon homesteads on the Oregon frontier. When I stumbled across the forgotten junkyard, on one of my many drives on the back-roads of Oregon, it was absolutely amazing. You could just feel the memories those cars provided for the individuals that drove them over time.

 

I have dedicated myself to the exploration of places in history. I look forward to visiting the Mayan ruins in Mexico next, which I am currently planning. And much more as time passes."---Daniel J. Rice

If you would like to see more of his book and some of his other awesome images, it's certainly worth the click here! You won't be disappointed! 

"Junkyard Reflections" © Daniel J Rice

America's First Racing School / Carroll Shelby School of High Performance Driving

Carroll Shelby’s racing career grew out of a trip to a drag race in 1952. Later that year Shelby got behind the wheel of an MG TC and raced in his first road race, determined to win, and that he did.
In November of 1954, while racing in the Carrera Pan Americana in Mexico, Shelby crashed, flipping his car four times. It was his first serious accident. In 1955, he raced with his arm in a cast due to follow-up surgeries as a result of the accident. Later that same year, at Torrey Pines, Carroll beat Phil Hill while driving a Ferrari. Nothing was to keep him down.

In 1956 and 1957 Shelby was named "Driver of the Year" by Sports Illustrated magazine. He entered Formula One Racing in 1958, and in 1959 went on to win the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans with co-driver Ray Salvadori. His last race would be on October 23nd, 1960 at the Pacific Grand Prix for Sports cars at Laguna Seca. He finished 2nd for the day behind the wheel of a Tipo 61 Birdcage Maserati. He was in such chest pain due to a heart condition after the race, that he called it quits.

Retiring from racing in 1961, he decided to open a Goodyear Racing Tire Distributorship and a driving school at a young Riverside International Raceway, called "Carroll Shelby School of High Performance Driving." He also called upon his friend, Pete Brock, to manage to operation. This school later became the Bob Bondurant school in 1968 at a SoCal drag strip and small road course called Orange County Raceway. When the Ontario Motor Speedway in California was built the school was moved to a dedicated road race/oval track. However, when Ontario was to be demolished after several years, the school was moved to its present location in Phoenix, Arizona.

Blog follower, Cameron Kane send in most of these photos from his father, Clark. Here's the story.

His father was at Riverside Raceway a lot in those days, and raced a H Modified Renault. Being a Sheriff in Riverside he was able to work the safety crew at the track. Which led to him being able to hang around with Shelby and Pete Brock at the driving school and when they did the 24 hrs with  Corvairs at Riverside, also when the 1st Cobra was made.

PR. photo release for Driving School. Image Carroll Shelby Archives.

Hangar Rockin' 2011 / Only The Basic Best

A hot rod is motoring at the basic best...a body, chassis, minimal amenities, and hopped up engine. Radio, what radio?...Ya wanta' hear the mill. That's the way it's gotta be...even in Europe!

Hangar Rockin’ has grown more and more and this year was the tenth edition in the festivals history. It has become one of the biggest Hot Rod, Rock’n’Roll, Kustom Kulture, Classic Car and Vintage Motorbike Meetings in Europe! The gathering was on the 1st and 2nd of July, 2011 at Airfield St. Stephan in Switzerland. The venue was set in the awesome scenery of the mountains between Zweisimmen and Lenk. The weekend was filled with first class live music and DJ's from the world over, also included, 1/8 mile Hot Rod drags, motorcycle show and race! There were also vendor tents, and you can't leave out the Hawaiian Bamboo Cocktail Bar, plus much more!

Check out the photos, hard to belive it's happin' in Europe...taking a step back in time.

Hangar Rockin', image © Sebgaidin.