Hot Rod Highlights on Film

Hot rodding opens so many doors to the past. It gives us an opportunity to explore another place and time while also forging our own path. Whenever anyone asks why I’m so into these cars, it’s hard to pinpoint what exactly it is that makes them so special. More often than not, I mention that they blend art, science and history into one very fun project. If you’re reading this, you know where I’m coming from.

Anyways, my love for this bygone era has found its ways into other areas of my life too. In the past few years, I’ve gotten into the world of film photography. Three cameras and countless rolls of 35mm later, I’m still learning. For work I shoot digital, but my pocket-sized Konica allows for a little bit of experimentation. The expired film creates interesting effects, and I find the whole process of shooting, waiting, forgetting and rediscovering exciting.

For today’s post, I’m going to showcase a handful of shots from my latest film haul. They’re far from perfect, but I feel that they turn back the clock in a way that digital simply cannot.

—Joey Ukrop

This photo is significant for a number of reasons. Most importantly, it’s the first Model A I’ve ever raced. Secondly, the car has a Riley OHV conversion. It’s owned by an Oregon hot rodder named Tim, and he was gracious enough to let me hop behind the wheel and kick up some dirt at last year’s Harvest Field Drags, which were held just south of Portland.

This fenderless Model A roadster pickup belongs to Tim’s brother. Starting with a body that was sawed in half a lifetime ago, they resurrected it into the ’banger-powered hauler you see here. Highlights include a high-compression head, dual updraft carbs, and old chrome 15-inch steelies up front. If I recall correctly, they call McMinnville, Oregon, home.

“I’m surprised you didn’t ride your straight-piped Triumph chopper here,” said the man standing next to me in an Oregon field. Dumbfounded, I asked how he knew that. He introduced himself as Tim Elliot (a different Tim than the one with the #94 Model A), and he said he had been following my project on Instagram/the H.A.M.B. This is Tim’s A19 Model A coupe, which was chopped by Charlie Hascall. On the last run of the day, Tim let me drive it in a much-anticipated head-to-head showdown with a friend’s Model A RPU. We won! It was a race I’ll never forget.

This is David di Falco’s roadster. It’s my favorite hot rod of all time. Whenever I see it, I can’t help but smile.

Even though I haven’t officially introduced my car on The Jalopy Journal, I can’t help but share these here. I took these two shots the day before they removed the heavy, porthole doors from our garage in San Francisco. The top came off an old Sacramento hot rod.Tom Secora Sr. is a lifelong hot rodder from Nebraska. While I was in Omaha last month, I had the privilege of riding around with him in his survivor Deuce cabriolet. Originally hot rodded in the ’50s, the Chevy-powered ’32 is period-perfect throughout. Tom, who is in his late-70s, drives it like he stole it with the headers uncorked. “Gotta raise hell while I’m alive,” he says.