I came across a great book. Some may have this book. Inside there are many stories of the clubs and the men who traveled to the desert and salt. Driving their modifieds and rods and pushing the limits of man and machine. They came from the west over the mountains taxing coolant systems and drivetrains.<O They traveled from the east through many grueling poorly maintained dirt and curvy roads.<O The most amazing thing is the quality of the pictures in this book. You would swear they were taken last year.<O Anytime someone calls your hotrod a rat rod. Show them these pictures. I would swear these pictures could have been a tradition Hamb gathering. <O One story tells of how at night many times men were killed by hot-rodders taking there cars out into the open and running them on the salt with missing or poor headlights.<O They would run over men sleeping in a sleeping bag out in the open.<O They talked of the eerie feeling in the morning lining there cars up for a run and seeing cloth covered bodies piled at the sides of the track.<O There are a lot of pictures I have scanned and will finish it as I get time. Buy this Book! Its alittle expensive but well worth it.<O Enjoy. <O></O>
Amazon.com $29.16 http://www.amazon.com/Birth-Hot-Rod...5629510?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174485853&sr=8-1
That is a wonderful book, I've had it for a couple of years. My copy's cover has the Pierson Bros. '34 coupe on the salt, pulled by their incredible white '36 3W. I'm not sure Robert Genat would like his copyrighted photos out there for all to see though. Tell him it's free advertising. If you don't already own this book, and have ANY appreciation for hot rodding (duh) then go get this book ASAP.
..wow...actual proof that hot rods were painted back in the day... ...and where's all the tats, pomps, and orca betty's?...
This book is a great find. Great history. Great photos. great stories. A must have for any car lover and traditionalist 20th century red blooded American. (And all their car buddys around the globe.) My favorite story, and the 'to be' subject of an illustration is of a fatefulljourney up Hwy 15 on the way to the Lake. You'll have to get the book for more details, I don't want to give it away here.
Yes, I definitely made known its his work although maybe not all his pictures. But all compiled by him. I think Robert's book will double in sales after this post. All the info is attributed to his work. I would hope he would consider this an honor. Yes, Very good advertising.
Borders had the soft cover version of that same book last year for $12.99. Its an awesome book. If you really want to read good stories (some gruesome) about the dry lakes, pick up Flat Out by Albert Drake.
i have a hard time seeing this as real my picture in my head is in black and white...i guess its engrained from reading and rereading the early magazines OVER & OVER theres a video in the media section of www.ahrf.com from 1946...in COLOR....seems just as unreal! thanks for posting...everyone should own this book! Zach
Yes, It was the colored pictures that blew me away. I too pictured those days as a foggy black and white era akin to the dark ages so removed from today its almost non-existent. These pictures literally do speak a thousand words and make it all Real.
How cool is that? Does he have any more pictures? Heres a few more I really like that international pickup in the below pic. I wonder why you dont see many of those years...