A well-built hot rod inspires me.
Something from the early 1930’s, generally a Ford, built with perfect proportions, stance and growl. A lot of people try to build a perfect hot rod with varying levels of success but to me some of the coolest hot rods are built in a small, unassuming former cow barn in Upstate New York. Yes, these hot rods are born in a barn.
Many years ago, a good friend shared a movie with me made by Brian Darwas titled “3 Mile”.
It was a story of a group of crazy people from the Rolling Bones Hot Rod Shop who were driving from New York to Bonneville in cars from the 1930’s. These cars don’t have modern brakes, air conditioning or any modern or safety conveniences that we enjoy today, so you have to be a bit crazy to do this, right? They break down and get fixed on the road and then they continue to Bonneville at 70-80 miles an hour (allegedly), and damn it, they look cool. Oh, and here’s the kicker. Once they arrive these same cars are sometimes refitted to meet safety inspection and then set records at the Bonneville Salt Flats before being returned to street legal form and then driven back to New York. If that isn’t a true hot rod, then I don’t know what is.
I was honored to meet Ken and Keith, who are the co-founders of the Rolling Bones Hot Rod Shop, a couple of years later at the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, CA–my hometown.
I showed them some of my work over way too many drinks and they invited me to their shop in Greenfield Center, New York and then to accompany them to the Race of Gentlemen in New Jersey. I certainly couldn’t say no to that. Now, a few years and thousands of miles later I am honored to call these people friends and proud to be a part of telling their story.
There is a lot more to a hot rod than bolting a bunch of parts together and it being a true hot rod.
In my opinion, a true hot rod has a soul. A soul that is earned by how it is built, what parts are used, who built it, who loves it AND HOW IT IS DRIVEN.
These cars are built to be driven and driven hard they are. The Rolling Bones hot rod owners and a select group of friends (affectionately named The Circus) have traveled all over the USA making more friends and incredible stories along the way. Now, while I cannot account for the full truthfulness of all of the stories, I can say they are mostly true.
The Rolling Bones have now published two beautiful coffee-table style books of their hot rods, adventures, misadventures and other stories that you won’t find anywhere else.
Titled The Book of GOW and GAS-OIL-WATER these 200 page+ books will take you on a journey in time through photographs, stories as well as build details as to how these beautiful beasts of iron and steel are built.
I was honored to be asked to be one of the artists to be a part of the latest book GAS-OIL-WATER alongside artists like Tom Fritz, Dale Habberfield and Jeremiah Adametz and others to help to create a book that I am very proud to be part of.
This is all-American history being made right now and a beautifully produced way for you to see this incredible family in ways that most people can only dream of.
Tim Scott
Scott Photo Co.
www.ScottPhoto.co (not .com)
IG: @scottphotoco
These are available as individual books or as very limited-edition collectables with aluminum covers.
Order yours here: https://www.rollingboneshotrodshop.com/gear-barn
Shipping is available worldwide or email kwschmidt319@gmail.com for more details and availability options
SpeedHolics has not been paid to write about this product or brand, nor will we profit from any purchases you may make through the links in this article. SpeedHolics is a fully independent website.