The PID Cruise at QS&L
Add another successful cruise to the PID events. This one was on June 7th at the Pleasant Hills Quaker Steak and Lube. The cruise featured the cars of Pittsburgh C.A.R.S. And as usually it broke the previous years total of cruises both for this event and for QS&L. One of the feature cars was S&A's Hemi Road Runner pictured here.
The weather was perfect and the crowd enjoyed the automotive offerings for their review. Who wouldn't enjoy the day, with music, friends, good food and a chance to win a 50/50. If you wandered in to the P.I.D. room you noticed some new additions, the Don Bye photo and a hood from his infamous "Beer Wagon" which hung on the wall. I was able to treat myself to some of the menu selections while talking with Bill Truby, the long time photographer extraordinaire and chronicler of racing's early days at PID and elsewhere in the Bill Truby Collection. We talked about his cars and his experiences as a young racer trying to work and race and keep it all together. Ask him about using cement as a body putty, great stuff.
Gotta go. See yinz at the Sonic -Rich
The restaurant has cruises every Saturday but you will have to wait until next year for another one like this.
To view more of the cars from this event click the Vette
If you do not see your car and would like a photo call Rich @ 412-956-3966
Click this poster to see samples
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If you and your car have the Auto Blues maybe this will help. This is the season wrap up for 2013. For me it has been a great season. I went to many cruises, races and events, snapped thousands of shots, and widened my circle of friends. Maybe you will feel better, as I often do, by browsing through some of the pictures from the last several months. If you are a cruiser, dragster, or car enthusiast, the winter months here may send you into withdrawal. For what it's worth, take a look at the photos here and it may help smooth a rough edge or two. Give it a try, if it doesn't help, go out and tinker in the garage until you get too cold.
Be sure to click HERE to see all the photos from this gallery of 2013 favorite images in all categories
WARNING: if you feel the urge to shift or step on the accelerator while viewing, follow these instructions
1. Stop Viewing 2. Move away from the computer 3. Call your mechanic immediately
Do not continue to view the slide show
I would be remiss if I didn't say thank you to all yinz that stopped by to say hello or made purchases at the events this year. Thanks also for following my blog. A special thanks to all the folks that showed their hospitality at PRP and Flashlight Drags, Hersch/TalkHotRods.com, Sonic, Quaker Steak and Lube as well as the other cruise locations that were accommodating. A special thanks to Jim Senkewitz and his PID crew for allowing me to tag along at their great events again.
Hope you have a great holiday season, I wish you all the blessings of Christmas and a Happy New Year.
I hope you get all you wanted under your tree.
Be careful out there, watch out for black ice and reindeer.
"Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight"
Hey... I gotta go put the folding chair in my parking place.
-Rich Hardway, Photographer/Pittsburgh Iron
** Year End Special ** Order 2 of the same 11 x 17 print for $30.00, (shipped to one address) - Save $20.00
Framing available at additional cost
To make a purchase: E mail request to [email protected] or call the photographer at (412) 956-3966
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I spent the day Saturday, September the 28th at the Pittsburgh Raceway Park in New Alexandria, PA shooting the goin’s on at the Drag Strip and the Car Cruise. Wow!! What a day. The event was the Nostalgia Nationals, a yearly event for this strip. It is a combined event in recent years for the former Keystone and P.I.D. drag strips. For two days, Saturday and Sunday, the park was abuzz with sounds and sights of screamin’ racers and and the beautifully restored cruisers of yesteryear.
Racers from back in the day congregated around the pavilion that housed the Bill Truby Collection of photos from the early days of PID and Keystone. Many racers and fans spent hours huddled around the images and remembered how it used to be. In fact that is what this event was all about, “the way it used to be”. It was a “nostalgic weekend”. Several heroes of the old drag strips were present to sign autographs, and reminisce. Some came to show off and others to admire the vintage automobiles of the car cruise. And there were plenty of them to admire in the field above the strip, round 250 or so. If these oldies didn’t make your eyes happy then it’s time for new glasses. And the strip had many attractions of its own from the rails and Funny Cars, to the various classifications of stocks.
It was a great event and beautiful, sunny weekend. If you didn’t have a good time, it had to be your fault. There was even a band to entertain you Saturday night, Train Wreck. Kudos to PRP and all those involved in organizing and sponsoring the event. If you missed it, mark your calendar next year.
………Gotta go. I gotta try and get this darn earplug extracted from my ear.
See yinz at the gas pump. Go Bucs!!! -Rich
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Let's Get Nostalgic
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Car Cruise Down Time Ready To Rumble
Click on the images above to go to the galleries
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Mugs Are Coming!!!
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What is gray and white and goes 65 to 19 in 6 seconds? That's easy. A "Baby Boomer" in their hot rod at the Flashlight Drags. Of course the "Boomers" are not the only ones racing there however. The young and old, men and women of all ages have made the Greene County Airport the Mecca of drag racing on chosen Sundays in Western PA. Although the races are not sanctioned by any organizations, no points are earned and no money prizes given, it is as close to the early days of drag races as you can get. Those old enough to remember the dawning of drag racing may remember that old airports were offered up as drag locations to young racers in an attempt to keep them off the streets and out of harms way or "street racing without the jail time" as Mike Schindel and the folks down at the Flashlight Drags like to say.
On August 4th the organizers at Flashlight Drags planned a reunion, with the help of Jim Senkewitz and others, for the racers from the old P.I.D. drag strip. Pittsburgh International Dragway which was in its' prime in the 1960's - 70's was also an old airport located just outside of Bridgeville, PA. This event was a perfectly planned "deja vue" for some of the original P.I.D. racers, a time travel like a scene out of "Back to the Future", back to the glory days when they were 19 and racing back at their home track. Unfortunately the stars of the show were unable to perform at this, the premiere of what will become an annual event. The Ford / Chevy grudge match which was to be one of the highlights of the day was canceled because of mechanical malfunctions, not unlike the old days. No worries, there were plenty of cars to watch. If you still craved the smell of burning rubber and the ear thumping sound of raw horse power, you were in the right place.
The event was held on a beautiful day, unlike July 7th when it was originally scheduled, and the beautiful day was eventful. Things started off with the D.J. "The Greaser", Doug Wilson spinning the oldies to entertain the early crowd. A little later there was a welcome by Mike Schindel, the flag salute followed by the singing of the national anthem, and a blessing of the racers by Ray Gossett of the "Race to Victory " youth ministry. Following the brief opening festivities there was a parade of all the participating cars and drivers and after a few laps the cars paired off to hit the strip in a continuous line with Hersch, of TalkHotRods.com, doing the play by play. After each race the drivers would pair off with someone new and continue the cycle, and the beat goes on-all day. At the end of the day there was an elimination of all cars in four classes: Street Competitors,Top Tuners, Big Dogs and Trucks, with unique "Turk" trophies given to the winners of each class and the newly founded "Jake" trophy going to the best performing P.I.D. car. I am pleased to say I had my fill, my senses satisfied with the sights, sounds and smells of a long day back to the future.
I plan to call my car buddies and tell them what a blast it was but I'm gonna have ta wait till my hearing comes back.
Hey, be safe out there....see yinz at the stoplight - Rich
PID Day Events At the Line
To view the gallery of many of the pictures taken at this event click HERE
To make a purchase: E mail request to [email protected] or call the photographer at (412) 956-3966
Payment can be made by personal check or by PayPal
Contact me at [email protected] if you do not see the photo you are looking for
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They were fired up in Bridgeville, and who wouldn't be after 40 days and 40 nights of rain? I'm on the the phone at 3:20 driving, sitting, on the Parkway and the voice on the other end says: "where are you? people are waiting for pictures." I say," doesn't it start at 6?" the response is "yeah". So on I drive bobbing and weaving, squeezing my way into every gap I can find, ignoring all the kind words and well wishes as I crawl towards the Fort Pitt Bridge as the blaring horns echo off the concrete walls. The anticipation of another trip to Sonic with a parking lot packed with some of the finest classic cars in the area made me oblivious to the fanatic gesturing going on around me. As I sped beyond Greentree Hill, the traffic began to thin and I left all those crazy, hothead motorists behind me. I said to myself, "What a great day to be on the road."
I finally arrived a 4:05and the parking lot was filling up with every form of auto classic. As they pulled up the drive to the "Christmas tree" the cars paired off into interesting duos, Mustangs and Vettes, woodies and pickups, Deuces and 442's, rats and Beetles, new and old, they just kept coming all the while listening to tunes spun by DJ Grace.
The beautifully cool and sunlit day turned into a pleasant evening and the cars kept on coming. As usual, this PID Reunion Cruise was a good time of meeting old friends and talking cars. To be sure, every car has a story and the day was filled with beautiful cars and interesting stories, hundreds of them in he same place at the same time. At 10 the lights went out and I took the last gulp of my strawberry shake and said goodbye to a few remaining friends.
With the truck loaded I headed down the road out of Bridgeville when, what!! hey where's the fire?!! I just got cut off. Where do these people come from? You better believe their ears are still ringing from the horn solo I gave 'em. Anyway, I gotta go, there's a tape stuck in the deck.
See yinz in the tunnels -Rich
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To see all the Sonic Lineup CLICK HERE
Stop back again, we'll keep the lights on for ya.
PID Day at the Greene County Airport Flashlight Drags, August 4th
To make a purchase: E mail request to [email protected] or call the photographer at (412) 956-3966
Payment can be made by personal check or by PayPal
To order prints or posters click the Sonic Lineup link above, locate your picture number, 022e etc. and call me at: 412-956-3966 or email me here [email protected]
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I was on the road and it was good. I was playin' Carly Simon on the cassette player and traffic was light. I followed the car in front me with much anticipation. It was the big day, the day for the PID Reunion at the Flashlight Drags in Waynesburg. Jim Senkewitz had his car packed full of every piece of memorabilia he could stuff into his Century without poppin' the windows. We cruised down the highway without regard for the speed limit or the rain that sprinkled our windshields just beyond Bridgeville.
The trip down 79 ended at the Waynesburg exit just before John Denver had a chance to sing about the "West Virginia Mountain Momma" . Just down the road we turned in to the Greene County Airport. At last. We reached the drag strip with an elapse time of 43.20 minutes from the Churchill exit on 376, it was 10:13, the sun jumpin' from cloud to cloud -it was a great day.
Mike Schindel and his crew greeted us and we toured the track and thought what a great venue for the dragster reunion. I though what could be better as I ignored the gray clouds on the horizon. The next few minutes were spent setting up tables and watching Jim Henderson and his son Scott prep his Chevy for the much awaited grudge match with Bob Libertore and his '63 big block Ford.
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I though this is gonna be great as the gray clouds tuned to black. The racers got in a run or two before the rains came. I thought, "no worries " it's just after 11 and we all knew it was clearing up. It would blow through. I did manage to take a few quick shots of some of the cars in the lot before I had to cover the camera and dash to the cover of the hot sausage stand, the aroma made me order-one hot sausage and a Mountain Dew, of course. The Greene hills began to cover with a damp mist. We all thought -the radar on the iphones will prove our optimism, we would be rewarded. Jim and I jumped into my Lesabre to dodge the passing shower after we covered the tables and such and waited for the shower to pass. The hardier crews still continued to "tweek" their cars between the raindrops.
The old 87 Buick was a fine shelter for the 2 , then 3, then 4, of us as the rain got harder. nothing to do but wait it out. The conversations began, remembering the good old days, the drivers, the cars and the good times. I sat back and took in the mini-reunion. Bob Wenzelburger snapped a photo, as he often does, but this time of the inside of a car. He took a picture of Jim, PID's former starter and current ace promoter and a gentleman that was introduced to me as Harry Luzader.
As the events continue the passengers came and went until finally it is just me and Harry. He spoke with a quiet confidence as he answered the many questions I asked him about his cars and his racing days. Little did I know, I was talking to racing royalty from back in the day. As long as the rain was comin' I had a captive audience and the time evaporated as I listened and learned about the '32 Ford dragster that owned the strip in the 60's and 70's. I heard about the high school kids "fast car" that later set records and won championships. His car was chosen as one of the 75 most significant 32 Fords ever made on its 75 anniversary. I also learned about the "Opel GT" that he plans to restore in the near future, there's a blast from the past. It had to be hard to talk about his successes and not brag, but he didn't. He could have told me much more, I know, I looked it upon the net. But, wouldn't you know it, ahhh, the rain let up and Harry had to go. I looked at the dash and the clock said almost 2. The sky was still annoyingly gray. The decision was made, no drags today, except for one -we weren't having drags today, (pun intended).
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After all the apologies were made the tents were packed and the trailers loaded -it was back to the highway and heading north with the defrosters on. I was thinking again, -who would have won that race? I guess there is a chance we could still find out. PID day is rescheduled, "Lord willing and the creek don't rise, (again) for August 4th, mark your calendar. As for me, I can't say I had a reunion because I wasn't there in the glory days, but I did drive away with a great appreciation for what it must have been like. As I approached Bridgeville I had to put on the air and sunglasses. What is it about Bridgeville, oh yah. See you there on the 24th at the Sonic, PID reunion. I drove away to the sound of the Beach Boys singin' "Little Deuce Coupe" and just thinking, I might be thinking too much.................... YIKES!! almost missed the turnoff, see yinz on the 24th. -Rich
Leave a comment or contact Rich here [email protected]
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View all the photos of this event click here
To make a purchase: E mail request to [email protected] or call the photographer at (412) 956-3966
Payment can be made by personal check or by PayPal
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The day started out a little questionable, with the drizzle and threatening clouds but, as if staged by the lights on the "Christmas Tree", the sun fired up at show time. The lot filled with every kind of car imaginable. There was chrome, metal flake and primer, side pipes and headers, rag tops and rat rods, sleepers and creepers, hot rods, sweet rides and classics, fins and wings, (I particularly like the Parmesan with black pepper and ranch but that's just me, you have lots of choices here...mmmmm). And the cars and trucks kept coming. All day from 5 until 8. And the drivers stayed to enjoy the food and drinks offered by the host. There is a cruise here every Saturday but the parking lots swell beyond capacity for this one like no other.
Besides reliving the events of the old days at the dragstrip, friends catch up on life events as well and allow the young bucks to show off their new wheels as the saga continues. Of course one of the big draws is the "Christmas Tree" from the original track which is placed at the entrance to the lot. Everyone that enters can get their picture snapped and reclaim some of those faded images of the past. And there is also a large collection of photos for sale from the tracks "Glory Days" which were taken by track photographer Bill Truby.
If you haven't been to a PID cruise, do yourself a favor and go, take you cruiser and the kids and show them how it used to be as you listen to the D.J. spin the oldies. You may have missed this one, nothin' left but the burn outs, but there will be others, keep an eye open and look for the road signs.
Hey, gotta go the lights changin' -Rich
PID Event-Flashlight Drags Waynesburg July 7, PID Event-Sonic Bridgeville July 24, PID/Keystone Nostalgia Nationals, Sept 28-29
To see all the cars at the line and in the lot Click Here
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Payment can be made by personal check or by PayPal
Coming up on July 7, Flashlight Drags...Check it out
Click Poster Above
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T'was the night before Christmas when all through the house, Oh no, sorry. It was May 24th at Lynch Field in Greensburg and the event was Greensburg Community Days. My calendar said spring, my body said Brrrr!!! It was wet and cold but I braved the weather as did a small group of cruisers to celebrate the day.
Despite the weather there was a lot going on. There were lots of rides and games to play. The food stands were numerous and the food, what little I had, was great. Besides the games there we two bands to entertain the crowds. Appearing Friday night were The Brothers Kelly and The Bad Boys Blues Band. The event continues through the weekend so go over and enjoy yourself a while.
From my observations I would say a good time was had by all, including myself. The pictures I took included some big time army trucks and a helicoptor, which is a regular feature at the field. I managed to avoid the frost that was threatened and retreated to the fireside at home to post this blog.
See ya down the road -Rich
To see all of the images from this cruise Click HERE
To make a purchase: E mail request to [email protected] or call the photographer at (412) 956-3966
Payment can be made by personal check or by PayPal
Leave a comment or contact Rich here [email protected] or to be added to the email list click here
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If you happened to have been driving up Route 22 last Thursday, May 16th, headed toward Delmont, you may have noticed all the hub-bub in the parking lot of the Lamplighter. The lot was filled with cars and cruisers. Not just a few and not just the regulars. The occasion was the first trophy cruise of the 2013 season at the Lamplighter. If you are a child of the muscle car era, you had a chance to see some classics from the 50's through the 70's. Mustangs and Vettes led the pack with a good showing of both. It was interes
ting to see the older models lined up next to some of the newer ones. If you like hot rods, "Oh What a Night", Good and Plenty of eye candy. It made it difficult to pick a favorite, which of course was the objective of the the voting. The trophy of event was directed by Jeff Allen of WLSW, the M.C. and D.J. , quite a man of letters, the icon from Music Power 104. As he played the oldies the cruisers enjoyed a beautiful evening poking their heads under hoods, comparing notes, and telling tales of the good old days.
As the evening sun reflected off chrome and polish, I scurried around the parking lot snapping cars and trucks at a hurried pace trying to get as many pics I could before my ride left me behind in the dust. There were several "out of the ordinary" makes appearing at this cruise such as: Mack, Miata, Willys, Studebaker, International, Kaiser and Fiat to name a few. If you missed the cruise, no worries, they're just getting started. The cruise is held every Thursday evening. If you are out that way, stop in, treat yourself.
Gotta go. Gotta catch my ride. -Rich
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To catch all the rides from this cruise, watch the slide show below or Click Here
To make a purchase: E mail request to [email protected] or call the photographer at (412) 956-3966
Payment can be made by personal check or by PayPal
Leave a comment or contact Rich here [email protected] or to be added to the email list click here
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You could have asked for a nicer day but you probably could not have gotten one. It was a perfect day to put the top down. Sunshine, in the 70's with little humidity and cars: the most here ever, a hundred sixteen or so. A nice collection of custom paint, a few rats, hot rods and some well kept oldies but goodies.
This annual event has grown into a sizable local showing of some real gems in the church parking lot. You could have spent some time, and money at the flea market or on some treats if you cared to or just strolled as you listen to the oldies. Sponsored by Forest Hills Nursery School and Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, the first 50 cars received a lunch ticket, Dash Plaque, and Goodie Bag. The Blessing of Cruise Vehicles took place at noon and proceeds of the day will go to local missions.This lengthy cruise started at 9 am and went until 3 pm. I personally recognized some local cars mixed with several that were unfamiliar making a nice venue close to home. As usual, we all have our favorites and I will share mine below.
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As they say, "a good time was had by all," myself included. If you have an event coming up let me know and I'll bring the camera. I will be hitting the road again soon and will be posting soon. If want be to shoot your car, I will be glad to and I promise it won't hurt.
See ya at the stop sign...Rich
To see all the photos from this event, Click Here
To make a purchase: E mail request to [email protected] or call the photographer at (412) 956-3966
Payment can be made by personal check or by PayPal
Several cruisers made their way up to the new high school in Penn Hills on Saturday, April 13th. The event was in support of the upcoming musical, "All Shook Up". The tunes included there transported patrons back to the early days of Rock and Roll. Student performers provided the entertainment performing a few sets from the musical. The chilly afternoon did no shake up the crowd enough to keep them from enjoying the grilled food and checking out the cars.
Appropriately enough, several hot rods in the parking lot flashed us back to the era of DA's and fox tails. If you traveled the fifties, you would have enjoyed a small but clean collection of fifties machines. Fords made up the bulk of the 50's crew but a nice group mid fifties Chevys and some pretty cool later model muscle cars and bikes were mixed in. The two hour cruise that showcased cars from the 30's thru the 70's was enough for me to scour the lot and shoot some pics of some real keepers. If you were there you could have picked your favorite and voted on it. I made a few choices of my own which I will show below. If you didn't catch these cars today, who knows, maybe you will run into them at another cruise this spring or summer.
Now it's time relax, sit back. Put on a 45 and let the slide show roll as you shoo bop your way down memory lane. I choose my "Pittsburgh Iron Classic Cruisers" keeping in the theme of 50's music. Here are the cars that shook me up but I just couldn't find that Hot Rod Lincoln.
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Parts n'at
Click here to see All Photos from this cruise
To make a purchase: E mail request to [email protected] or call the photographer at (412) 956-3966
Payment can be made by personal check or by PayPal
Leave a comment or contact Rich here [email protected] or to be added to the email list click here
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I know, I know, you can't get out of the garage because it's covered in snow. But...It is the end of March. Come on now, enough is enough. Soon ladies and gentlemen it will be time to start up the engines, shampoo the carpets and re-apply that dazzling shine to your pride and joy.
Cruising season will soon be here, and if you are like me, you are beginning to mark your calendar for those must see events. And I will be packing the camera to shoot some of those local beauties in the Pittsburgh area. I is amazing to me that there are so many classics around here knowing the troubled life some of these cars had to endure to make it to their ripe old age. Some may have the pampered life now, but how many years did they have to endure the tough PA winters. Kudos to those survivors that were able to dodge the potholes and bathe in salt without eroding away. The "right of spring" for these mobile memorials is about to unfold, and I for one can't wait.
If you feel the same way let's get ready to cruise together. I will be shootin' and postin' through the season. If you have an event you would like me to attend just contact me and if I can make it I will. I will also give a heads up to my readers by posting your dates if you like. Please feel free to leave comments and info for me in this blog.
Buckle up. We are going to start moving pretty fast here in a minute. Until we can start seeing the real thing I am going to send you to a slide gallery where you can see some of the last years "Pittsburgh Iron" hot pics. Enjoy and keep in touch.
See you soon....mind your speed! -Rich
To make a purchase: E mail request to [email protected] or call the photographer at (412) 956-3966
Payment can be made by personal check or by PayPal
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There is something very special in a car cruise for me and I am sure for many of you of my, shall we say "vintage". Growing up in the era of the muscle car and getting a drivers license in the 60's, it is probably part of my DNA that cars, cruises and oldies are embedded deep in my fondest memories. A 56 Olds can still make my heart race more than any old girlfriend. Memories of washing and waxing that old beauty, putting lights behind the grill and adding various upgrades and gadgets to impress those hanging out at the tasty freeze took up much of my teen age spare time. The local boys would run em' on the highway or on the weekends at the strip, Keystone in our case, allowing them to bask in their bragging rights until the next time. Could life possibly have been any better? Pardon me while I digress.
If you are like me you still just like looking at them or better yet driving them if you can.
Never mind that you spend too much time and money on those oldies but goodies, it just feels good. It is part of our history, it was our birthright, there was plenty of cheap gas and it was our job to burn it. We accepted that responsibility and enjoyed it.
I invite you into my blog to reminisce. Let's cruise the Pittsburgh area in search of some of that old iron that has been rejuvenated, or preserved and buffed back into its' former self. Sit back, fasten your seat belt (if so equipped) and pop the clutch to race back a few years. We're gonna be checkin' out some of those old flame painted, fire breathin', rubber layin', hot rods and steroid injected muscles cars of our youth. We might even spot an exotic or a cool classic along the way. We'll even jump in the back of a pick up and throw caution to the wind on those old country roads.
Whata ya say? Yinz wanna go for a ride?
........ Stay tuned, more to come
To make a purchase: E mail request to [email protected] or call the photographer at (412) 956-3966
Payment can be made by personal check or by PayPal