Firsts
I’ve written a lot of articles over the years, but this latest one means a lot to me for a lot of different reasons. It’s in the latest issue of World of Rods, and it features my friend Adam’s dual ’63s.
I first met Adam about 10 years ago, when we were both in the same car club. He had an Astro van at the time and so did I, so we bonded. He lived in Las Vegas, while I was in Phoenix, but we’d chat on the phone every so often. His most recent child also had a few medical issues that required a specialist, and the only one he could find in the area was down here in my neck of the woods. I was working nights at the time, so I’d pick up Adam, his wife and his kid at the airport, take them to the doctor’s office, then take them back. That lasted a few months, but I certainly didn’t mind. He was a friend and a fellow club member, so I’d do anything for him, just like he would for me.
I was there when Adam first looked at the ‘63 Impala wagon pictured to the left. It was a little rough, and a full-on lowrider, but Adam saw potential. He traded straight across for his Astro and got building.
He was there for my first SEMA appearance, with my 2000 Ford Focus Wagon, although technically, it was more of a SEMA-adjacent appearance.
He was also there when I left that car club, and he was one of the few people who stayed by my side during that time. He really is a good friend.
Over the years, Adam and I have spent a lot of time together. Whether he’s down here or I’m up there, we hang out a lot – to the point where some people asked if we were brothers (although you could make the argument that it’s because we’re both chubby guys with shaved heads). We’ve both had some roller coaster times, but we’ve made it through regardless.
When I decided to go full-time with the writing and photography, Adam was one of my first calls. I figured that if I was able to round up at least 4 or 5 features in a particular area that I could fly out there, get the shoots done and fly out while still making a profit. It meant getting a bunch of features under my belt, and it was a good way to get the business started, although there were risks with weather and time schedules. I knew that Adam knew everyone in Vegas, so I asked him if he had any buddies who wanted shoots. He lined up 5 or 6 of them, and that was good enough for me. By the time I was done, I had 6 features ready to go for my trip.
I quit my old job on October 2nd, and on October 4th I was on a plane, headed to Vegas. I shot several features out there, but the one that really was important to me was the one pictured above, of my friend’s ‘63 Impala wagon, and his ‘63 Buick Riviera.
I’ve been anxiously waiting for this feature to print, and today, I stumbled upon it at the grocery store. There it is, 8 pages and the table of contents, all of Adam’s cars. The layout turned out better than I could’ve ever hoped, and it all turned out really, really good.
This article marks a number of firsts for me. It’s the first article I’ve ever shot with two cars. It’s the first article I’ve ever had published at World of Rods. It’s the first 8 page feature I’ve ever had.
The big one though, is that this is the first article I’ve had printed that was started and turned in once Whipps Industries was formalized. Seeing that picture above reminds me of that October day in Vegas. I was cold, wearing shorts in 50 degree weather, and scared out of my mind. I had no idea if I was going to be able to make it as a writer, no idea if my business would ever work, and no idea what I was doing. All I knew was that I had to use my camera to get the best shots I could of my friend’s cars. And I did.
I don’t often ask people to check out my work. But if you happen to be at a newsstand sometime soon and see the latest issue of World of Rods, I’d really appreciate it if you picked it up.
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