Category: Automobile

Drag Racing Legend

Automobile, Motorsports

(photograph copyright 2009 by Dan Routh)

Today’s photograph is pulled from my files and goes back to the days when a lot of my work was based on motorsports. The image is of International Motorsports Hall of Famer and Pro Stock driver Bob Glidden, who when he retired in 1997 held the record for the most NHRA wins at 85 (he now stands third overall). I shot this shot from a cherry picker over the start line at Rockingham, North Carolina.

56 Chevy

Automobile

(photograph copyright 2009 by Dan Routh)

There is a body shop across from my studio in Greensboro, North Carolina, and they must do pretty good work. You never know what they will be working on, but from time to time there are some nice cars sitting out front. This slick 56 Chevrolet was there for some touchup last week. Looked fairly stock on the outside, but when I saw the hood open, it definitely wasn’t original show-room.

Willys Jeep

Automobile



Odell Routh of Lineberry, North Carolina, south of Greensboro works on replacing the brake master cylinder of his 1946 Willys CJ2A Jeep in his garage at Routh Oil Co.. The vehicle is actually an “Agri-Jeep”, a post war, civilian model of the famous World War II military vehicle. Odell has long been a vehicle restorer, and currently has several he has restored and is working on, including another Willys, a 1948 four wheel drive pickup.


(photographs copyright 2009 by Dan Routh)

Old Chevy Heavy Farm Truck

Agriculture, Automobile, Farm, Randolph County

(photograph copyright 2009 by Dan Routh)

My community, Grays Chapel, was traditionally a farming community until just a few years ago. Development has spread into the area and it has become more and more a bedroom community for Greensboro and the Triad. There is still a lot of rural space left, however, and there are many old farms, and with these old operations, there is a world of old farm equipment and vehicles. Time has produced a patina on many of them and they take on the effect of historical sculpture. This old Chevrolet heavy farm truck sits sleeping in my neighbor’s barnyard.

Buicks

Automobile, Randolph County


Continuing in the automotive vein of last week’s post, over the weekend I stopped by Richard’s Auto Salvage on Highway 49 between Asheboro and Denton. Richard’s specializes in salvage parts for pre-1972 American autos, and his yard is a treasure trove of old car parts. He has several old Buicks that are beautiful examples of art deco design. Even in their un-restored condition, they are subtle pieces of art. If you have an old car with chrome and fins, he has parts available. Some people see junk yards, or salvage yards, or used auto part facilities as eyesores. They are however, the original green businesses, the first recyclers. Old 50 year old vehicles wait for restoration and someone to bring them back to life, and an art form is preserved. For info, go to http://www.richardsclassiccars.com/



(photographs copyright 2009 by Dan Routh)

Vintage Race Cars

Automobile, Motorsports


One of my weaknesses is old race cars. Watching and listening to these vintage machines go around the track in anger arouses me. I’m glad that some people have the interest and where-with-all to keep these classic machines going. I wonder how the economy will affect motorsports in general and vintage racing in particular. I hope they can keep these old cars on the track so we can continue to enjoy them. It’s one thing to see an old car in a museum and quite another thing to experience them doing what they were designed to do, go fast. Photographs are from Virginia International Raceway and Road Atlanta.



(photographs copyright 2009 by Dan Routh)