(Words and photos by Bob Chiluk) – My interest in cars and anything with wheels always presided over my interest in photography. But those grade school days reading Hot Rod magazine and seeing the photo credits and equipment used always interested me. I always though ,wow that Hot Rod photographer Steve Reyes has to be the luckiest  guy in the world shooting these cars at the starting with his Hasseblad! I would never be that lucky. Well, I was wrong. Thanks to my grade school friend and fellow Bangshift photographer Greg Rourke my love for photography was rekindled. He encouraged me to pick up the camera again and shoot some events and turn them in to this car nut website he got caught up in. I am lucky and blessed to part of this team. Having an employer that is a car guy helps in getting time off to go to tons of car events.

My winter get-away trips take me to the west coast for a little surfing as well as all the car events that I can cram in. The Pomona and Long Beach swap meets are a must do to see the rust free cars were don’t have in the midwest. Bob’s Big Boy, the Donut Derelicts morning get together, the Edlebrock factory tour, and  Yoshi’s motorcycles museum were highlighted galleries I turned in . My drag race coverage included the Hunnert Car Heads Up at the famous Union Grove Dragway, The World Series of Drag Racing at  Cordova, and we were awe struck being able to shot at the line at the Rt 66 O’Reily Nationals. Words cannot describe being only feet away from the line as a Top Fuel dragster unleashes its massive power plant upon take off!

My coverage of Goodguys events, road course events, feature cars and shop tours all introduced us to car people we connected to as our part of our extended families. I enjoyed each and everyone of the galleries that were turned in. Plans are already filling up the 2013 events calendar to bring to the Bangshift viewers. Thank you Brian and Chad keeping us part of the team! (Thank YOU Bob and your crazy pal, the Mr Freeze himself Greg Rourke. You two are a heck of a combo.)

WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU, HERE ARE BOB’S HAND SELECTED FAVORITE SHOTS FROM 2012!