The idea of Area Rides began sometime around 2006. I was invited to a shoot by a fellow car-guy photographer. We went to a couple locations with models and cars. One of us had suggested that doing it as a full time job would be great. I determined then I'd make a site so we could do just that.

Spoiler Alert: It did become a full-time project, but not enough to quit my job.

By 2008 I had a site with photos, video and an event calendar. I was attending local car shows and cruises with cameras, flyers, and business cards in hand. I had begun getting a network together. In the meantime, there were other side jobs in photo, video and web design. There were partners who had come and gone. At one point Area Rides had photographically covered eleven shows in one weekend. 

It was 2011 when I made my mind up to focus strictly on Area Rides. The plan was to hack away non-stop, day and night 24/7. If, after three years, it did not turn any profit I would get the proverbial burger flipping job and forget all about Area Rides. It was hard. 

Near the end of 2013, Area Rides was teetering the threshold from red to black when I received a call about Area Rides being the official media provider for a prestigious restoration shop. Then I was offered two other jobs, both with great pay because of Area Rides's exposure. Of the three, I took on two of them and called it a win.

My Mother's health began to deteriorate around 2014 and I had to quit both jobs and Area Rides to be her full time caregiver. When she passed away in 2017 I took the other of the three job offers and have been there ever since.

In the meantime, I did another all-in project that consumed all of my spare time for nearly two years. This time, it was with three (sometimes four) others joining in. It was fun. We never made it big. Then one of the crew had passed away far too young and the motivation was gone. 

The year 2023 found me getting anxious to start another project. There were some good ideas, but they never came to fruition.

Time to dust off Area Rides. This time I wont settle. If I need an extension for the CMS, I'll buy the premium not try to make it work with free junk. My camera gear is far away better than before. I have a lot of old Area Rides ideas I could do this time. It's going to be easy!

Too bad I'm old. Sitting at the desk punching away at the keyboard is almost as easy as before. (My back hurts more frequently now) I will probably not go shoot as many shows. I would probably only shoot video or photo, not both. Maybe even one show a weekend instead of four.

The best part of the plan, is that I have set aside a larger budget and allowed myself a lot of time to get everything ready. By the beginning of the 2024 Show and Cruise Season, Area Rides will be ready. Just as before, but better and grayer.