Hot Iron Dust Up: Trading Concours Lawns for Flying Dirt
Every once in a while, an event comes along that pulls you outside of your comfort zone and reminds you why you fell in love with automotive culture in the first place. For me, the Hot Iron Dust Up was exactly that kind of event.
The weekend began Friday evening at Timberyard Brewery. I arrived early, mostly because I was absolutely famished. Before long, I found myself enjoying one of the tastiest, juiciest pulled pork sandwiches I've had in quite some time while taking in the atmosphere of an event that was completely new to me.
For many years, I've immersed myself in the concours world. Events like Amelia and Pebble have become familiar territory, and more often than not, I find myself handing out only a few business cards because I already know many of the people in attendance. My introduction to the Hot Iron Dust Up came through a great friend and client, Brian Lenox. Brian has displayed his yellow Mercury lead sled at many concours events over the years and recently invited me to photograph The Mohawk Run. After documenting that event and meeting the incredible people involved, Brian told me I needed to experience the Hot Iron Dust Up. As it turns out, he was absolutely right.
The moment I arrived at Timberyard Brewery, I did what I do best and started making friends. One of my favorite parts of attending events is hearing people's stories and learning what brought them there. Before long, conversations were happening everywhere I turned. As those conversations unfolded, I explained that I specialize in automotive auction photography and work with some of the world's leading auction houses. While those companies operate globally, my assignments primarily take me throughout the East Coast and Midwestern United States. Whether someone is preparing to sell a collector car or simply wants professional photographs of a vehicle they've poured their heart into, I enjoy showing people how powerful quality photography can be. Great images don't just document a car. They help tell its story.
It didn't take long to figure out who was helping organize the brewery gathering. Their constant movement and attention to detail gave them away. I introduced myself and made sure to document both Eliza and Sam throughout the evening. As I would discover the following day, Eliza would take on the important role of flagger during the races.
As the night continued, I challenged myself creatively by photographing from different locations around the property. While everyone else was enjoying the gathering, I found myself searching for unique angles, interesting reflections, and ways to tell the story of the evening through photographs. When the crowd began to thin out, I pulled out my light painting equipment and got to work on several of the remaining cars in the parking lot. Sometimes photography rewards patience, and this was one of those nights. The combination of the setting, the cars, and the lighting came together perfectly. I ended up creating some of my favorite images of the weekend.
Unfortunately, that also meant staying up until 2 a.m. editing photographs, as I have a shoot every day and can’t fall behind. Sleep wasn't exactly in the cards. The anticipation for the main event had already taken over, and just a few hours later I found myself heading toward 508 International.
The gates weren't scheduled to open until 8 a.m., but I arrived around 7. I parked the car and made my way toward the pits, where crews and drivers were slowly coming to life. Coffee cups were in hand, trailers were being unloaded, and final preparations were underway. Those early morning moments are some of my favorite times to photograph. There's something authentic about the calm before the action begins.
I spent the next hour capturing candid moments, talking with participants, and searching for details that many people might overlook. Eventually, I switched over to my 600mm lens and began shooting through gaps between trailers, isolating interesting components, and looking for unique perspectives. Then reality caught up with me. Tim Plouffe, the organizer behind the Hot Iron Dust Up, spotted me and quickly reminded me that while I may have arrived early, I still needed to officially sign the venue waiver before wandering too far. Fair enough. I stepped back, waited the remaining twenty minutes, signed the waiver, and officially entered 508 International. At that point, it was game on.
My first impression was simple: this event was incredibly well organized, and it was going to be a spectacular day for photography. The drivers' meeting officially kicked things off, and with it being Father's Day weekend, I quickly realized that the story wasn't just about the cars. It was about families. It was about generations sharing a passion. Fathers and sons, parents and children, friends and teammates. Those interactions became just as important to document as the racing itself. One of my favorite moments early in the day involved a Boy Scout troop attending the event. I gathered several of the scouts and their parents for portraits, creating photographs that I hope become lasting memories. Events like this are about much more than competition. They're about community.
Among the familiar faces was Chuck Vranas, a talented photographer friend whom I first met while working at Pebble Beach. It's always great running into friends from different corners of the automotive world. I also met Christian Rowell, a photographer very well known in this genre, who owns High Octane Image. He and his family run around photographing the event.
Armed with my 600mm lens, I was fully committed to seeing the event from a different perspective. I spent some time near Tyler at the end of the track, shooting straight down the racing surface and waiting for moments to unfold. The reach of the lens allowed me to stand far from the action while still capturing intimate moments, expressions, and candid interactions.
As the day progressed, I worked my way alongside the track searching for new angles. One of the photographs I wanted most involved Eliza launching into the air while waving the flag as the cars accelerated away from the starting line. In my mind, the perfect image would feature her airborne while dirt exploded from spinning tires behind her.
The wind, however, had other plans. By midday, dust was everywhere. It covered my clothes, worked its way into my pockets, and found every possible opening on my camera equipment. Carrying gear around all day meant the fine dust seemed determined to infiltrate every crevice imaginable. But honestly, that's part of what made the experience memorable.
What stood out most wasn't the dust, the racing, or even the photographs. It was the people. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed into a community that was passionate, friendly, and eager to share their stories. By the end of the weekend, between Timberyard Brewery and race day, I had handed out nearly 60 business cards and made countless new connections.
I arrived expecting to create great photographs. I left with great photographs, new friendships, and a newfound appreciation for a side of automotive culture I had never fully experienced before. The Hot Iron Dust Up wasn't just about vintage racing. It was about the people, the families, the stories, and the passion that keeps automotive enthusiasm alive. Given the opportunity, I would gladly do it all over again.
Please remember to add the coupon code Dustup30 to receive 30% off your entire order. You will see it applied after you press the Do you have a coupon link in checkout. Click the white button below to see all of the photos taken on Friday and Saturday. Thank you, everyone, for making my first experience something to write about.