Harley – Ruscha’s Auto Superhero

I was honored to meet Harley Laird who is Ed Ruscha’s automotive superhero. He has a vast knowledge of automotive know-how and can fix about anything given to him. I could have listened to his stories for hours about cars and days gone by. Harley reminded me of my grandfather and a generation that I’m just not ready to let go. When Ed Ruscha originally wrote his TwentySix Gasoline Stations, a short fifty years ago, cars were still made of metal, bondo was just starting to be used to fix dents and drivers traveled Route 66 to get from Chicago to Los Angeles. Harley is of that generation and along with Ed Ruscha has seen many changes.

I made a few images and recorded Harley’s voice so when I left California and returned to Oklahoma, I could remember just how much I liked this man. The wrinkles buried deep into his face reminded me he has lived a long life, as I’m sure each wrinkle has a story. His hands, which fiddled with car parts as I listened to him speak, showed years of hard work on cars and even airplanes. My husband is a pilot so I thoroughly enjoyed Harley’s stories of flying off in a “borrowed” plane. I knew my husband would love him as much as I loved him too.

I only wish I had more time to spend at Ed Ruscha’s studio. I could feel in my heart that Ruscha and those people he surrounds himself with are good people. I could tell that they were people I would love to spend more time with and get to know better. I truly appreciate the short time I was able to spend at Ruscha’s studio. Thank you Ed Ruscha, Paul, Harley and all.

- Shelly Perkins
www.shellyperkins.com

Cowboys at the U-Drop Inn

While visiting the U-Drop Inn located in Shamrock Texas, I had the opportunity to meet two extremely nice gentlemen. These Texas cowboys are also insurance adjusters who set up an office in the U-Drop Inn, which is also known as the Tower Station or Tower Café of Wheeler County Texas. Most may remember the architecture of the U-Drop Inn as it was featured in the 2006 animated film Cars as the inspiration for the fictional Ramone’s Body Shop. Currently the building acts as the Shamrock City Chamber of Commerce, visitor’s center and office space. The diner area has been restored to its original condition, although a full time diner is not currently in operation.

These cowboys were working as insurance adjusters, as recently a storm had traveled through the area and affected quite a few residents. One of the cowboys I spoke with was Gary Brewer who is also the Mayor of Wellington, Texas, which has a population of 2,200 people. The other gentleman, Dennis Wilson, raises Palomino horses. Wilson belongs to the Palomino Horse Club and travels to Pasadena, California with his horses to the Rose Bowl Parade. I teased Mr. Wilson that he should be the sheriff because he was so tall and in my mind is the epitome of a big Texan sheriff. I enjoyed meeting these two gentlemen and wish I had more time to get to know them. This area of Texas and the town of Shamrock seems like a very lovely place to visit and I know will be back with my kids. This was the first day of our journey on the Road to Ruscha.

Shelly Perkins ~ University of Oklahoma Road to Ruscha 2013
www.shellyperkins.com