Rodding USA

DID YOU SHOOT COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY IN YOUR EARLY YEARS? I sure did, because even though I wanted to be an automotive photographer, you always have to keep a stream of income coming in. I photographed products for many automotive companies both local and around the country. Some of the interesting commercial jobs/ clients I shot for were: IBM – Their Tucson-based facility developed the CD (Compact Disc) which revolutionized computer storage and would lead to listening to music and watching movies on CDs. I had no idea what I was photographing as it was “top secret.” It was so confidential that someone accompanied me to the photo lab and we watched the film being processed so that there was no chance of photos being leaked out. Fishing Lures – A…

Over the years, there has been much discussion about vehicle terminology when looking at our cars. I have heard four descriptions: GOW JOB, Hot Rod, Street Rod, and Rat Rod. GOW job is probably the oldest term used to describe modified cars, as it dates back even further to horses that were drugged to go faster. 103-year-old Ed “Isky” Iskenderian introduced me to the term years ago during an interview about how he got involved with rodding. I had never heard the term before, but research has enlightened me. Ed says he was about 11 years old when he first heard it, and I have since read information that supported his memories. HOT ROD was the descriptive term I first learned about when I was a 5-year-old impressionable youngster looking…

It has been said, “There are no silly questions, just silly answers.” I am sure that phrase was first said long before the Internet existed, but that person could sure see the future. While I am not bashing the Internet itself, there is lots of content that simply is not true. Like they say, “Ask a hundred people, and you'll get 100 different answers.” As an author of automotive how-to books, I often review various discussion boards on social media to get an idea of what rodders may be having trouble with. In my books, I try to not only provide the answer but also the reason behind it. However, when someone turns to social media for technical advice, they are simply getting information from keyboard warriors who may or…

Derek Truam of Rockford, Illinois was destined to a life of hot rodding. His dad (Charles R. Traum) purchased this Model A Sedan at 15 in 1951 for $35.00. His dad passed his driver's license test in it and drove it until he purchased a 1946 Ford in the mid-50s. He was going to restore it in the early 60s and then his family began to grow, and the Model A took up residence in the family barn for the next 57 years. Derek bought a rough 1956 BelAir at age 15, but wasn't concerned since he was the son of a mechanic and he had an excellent mentor. After working on it all summer, it was road-worthy, and he drove it all through high school. After high school he…

You've probably heard of it, you may have even attended it and it's back, for our 59th year! Among the largest and most well-known recurring gatherings of pre-1937 Roadsters, show cars and swap meet in the U.S., this year's show will be held on Friday & Saturday, June 12-13, 2025, at the Fairplex in Pomona, CA. The show originated in 1960 as a one-day event, hosted by the Roadsters of Los Angeles (or LA Roadsters, as we're better known) and has evolved into a 2-day extravaganza and favorite Father's Day weekend tradition. Initially held at the Hollywood Bowl, then the Great Western Exhibit Center, the show continues the decades-long tradition at the Pomona Fairplex. The LA Roadsters Club was formed in 1957 and is known for our members wearing the…

A lot has been written about how Pete Chapouris and Jim “Jake” Jacobs combined their talents to create Pete and Jake's Hot Rod Parts. They were located in Southern California, and the hot rods they built were well documented by the legendary scribes Gray Baskerville, Pat Ganahl, and others. There is even a book written by Tony Thacker, Hot Rods by Pete and Jake, that provides a photo history. However, most of what has been written covers only Pete, Jake, and the history of the business from 1974 up to 1985. Considering that Pete and Jake's (the business) celebrated 50 years in 2024, there is a lot to catch up on. Jerry Slover grew up in the Kansas City, Missouri area and married his high school sweetheart, Peggy, in May…