(Words and Photos by Tommy Lee Byrd) – This year gave me lots of opportunities for cool pictures, as I rarely had a free weekend without some sort of car show, drag race or other motorsports event on my schedule. I definitely put a lot of miles on my camera and got a bunch of great shots along the way. I began contributing to BS in September, and plan to do much more in 2013. When Brian asked me to compile some of my favorite photos from 2012, it was eye-opening to see just how many events I’ve attended and how many cars I’ve photographed along the way. I narrowed it down to 20 favorite photos, so check ‘em out!

Along with my extreme interest in hot rods and drag racing, I’m a big time monster truck fan. I photograph a couple events per year for Feld Motorsports (owner of Monster Jam), and this shot is from Knoxville, TN.

 

I shot this from the passenger seat of our car, through the windshield, while on our way to do other driving shots. The Model A has a 392 Hemi and the ’32 coupe in front has a 700 horse small block Chevy.

 

Another lucky one! This time, it’s from the Sevier County Bank, which is a major hangout for traditional hot rods, gassers and such during the Grand Run events in Pigeon Forge, TN.

This is Corky Coker’s Marmon Wasp replica motoring down a country road. I shot this one from the bed of a truck, going around a blind corner in the wrong lane.

This needs no explanation…great lighting, and a great car!

 

The painful reality that something has gone horribly wrong.

 

Hot Rod Reunion is one of my favorite events of the year, and this is one of many reasons…

 

Cool nighttime shot of a killer Willys gasser at the Holiday Inn in Bowling Green.

 

Although the Great Race isn’t necessarily my cup of tea, in terms of the style of racing, I am the event photographer, so I travel with the cars every year. Here are a few of my favorite photos from the 2012 event. The big thing crossing the road in front of the ’57 Chevy is a super crazy dry lock system that we saw somewhere in Ontario, Canada. This huge piece of machinery is carrying a boat from one side of the road to the other.

A row of gassers exits the Somernites Power Cruise event in Somerset, KY.

 

I fired a shot this shot of Mark Carlyle’s crazy fast Corvette, as it rolled past me with the rear tires ablaze during LS Fest.

 

This shot of Kevin King’s ’32 Ford Vicky with my Corvette in the background might go down as my favorite from 2012. It was taken after hours at the fall Chattanooga Cruise In.

Not the greatest picture in the world, but if was definitely cool to see Justin Sears lay a couple of stripes in front of Honest Charley Speed Shop in his ’65 Chevelle.

It’s not rare to see a wheelstand at the drag strip, but this one is great because it’s a freakin’ AMX doing it!

 

I’ve shot drag racing events for quite some time, but this was my first ever nitrous explosion shot. Hooray!

 

And then there’s this thing….Robert Killian’s Model A, powered by a Jon Kaase 820ci Ford Hemi, boasting 2,000 naturally aspirated horsepower.

 

Wheelies make me happy.

 

To finish it off, a photo of my car after completing a run through the Tail of the Dragon. 318 curves in 11 miles in a car with slicks, front runners, manual steering and manual drum brakes.