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All in a Day's Work
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One year on the gig, Ken Sklute found a niche in working as a photographer for NHRA.com
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By Kenneth Sklute |
In three decades behind the lens of a camera, I've had a very unique perspective on the remarkable growth of nitro-powered drag racing. Let me take you on my journey, and I promise to keep it under 325 mph. Growing up in the Big Apple, my love of drag racing began at New York National Speedway on Long Island , N.Y. That's where I first met Funny Car racers Al Hanna and Joe Mundet of Eastern Raider fame. Mine is a familiar story to drag racing junkies. I hung around their pit and told them how wonderful they were until eventually they tossed me a rag and told me to start cleaning out the wheel wells. I was “on a team” and, of course, thought I had died and gone to heaven.
The routine was the same every time they came to the track. I'd help them do all the menial chores between rounds and then run out to the fence line to watch “my car” make a pass. Then I'd streak back to the pit in time to greet the real crew when they returned from the top end. I remember thinking I would do this job for the rest of my life and be the happiest guy in the world. Then, just when I thought things couldn't get any better, Mundet kicked it up several notches when he asked me if I wanted jump on their old ramp truck and help them tow up to the line. Take me now, Lord. It was such a thrill being on the starting line and hearing the two cars do their burnouts and the drivers gun their engines at each other like they did back then. The only true thought I could remember was that my friends wouldn't believe me. They still thought the well-worn Eastern Raider T-shirt I wore practically every day my mom would let me (she had to wash it some time) was simply one I had bought for myself no matter how much I insisted it was my crew uniform. Sure enough, the guys from the neighborhood and at school said I was dreaming and none of them believed I had been to the starting line. What could I do? I was so thrilled but I had no one to share it with. Little did I know that the gnawing feeling I carried around until the next race would shape the rest of my life.
The next time the big boys of nitro were at New York National Speedway I was primed and ready to go first thing in the morning. Just as I was about to leave the house my mom handed me her precious 126 instamatic camera and suggested I take a few shots to prove my disbelieving friends wrong; it was a perfect idea. I knew nothing about photography, but I was on a mission. I watched what the real photogs were doing and mimicked their sweeping movement as cars did their burnouts or launched on another run. Although most of my first photographs were of empty concrete where the car used to be or were so blurry from the concussion of the engines that they were useless, I did manage get one or two really good shots.
After proving my worth to my friends, which was the original idea, I decided after a lot of contemplation to take the photos with me to the next race to show the other guys on the team. Although my initial motivation to become a photographer came out of the need to prove a point, the realization I could actually be good at snapping shots came that day. Al and Joe couldn't believe I had taken these pictures. They were really impressed (or at least the pretended like they were.) Then they grabbed the small stack of photographs and took them around the pits to show the other guys the pictures I had taken of all the other cars. Guys like "Superman" Jim Nicoll, “Fast Freddy” DeName, and Jim "Screaming Eagle" Maybeck actually wanted copies of my pictures. I always point to that moment as the time I officially became a photographer.
By the next event I was on my way, photographing every car that went by and peddling my photographs the following race. In the off-season, which in New York consists of all the months where there is snow on the ground, I supplemented my income photographing weddings. I soon found my income from blushing brides and debonair grooms was significantly more than hustling 8x10's at the track, so I chose to make wedding and portrait photography a big part of my career. I was always trying to improve, to see things differently than the traditional way. I'm proud to say that many of my shots were recognized for being innovative and the awards started to fill up my tiny home studio. In all, I've collected Wedding Photographer of the Year 18 times. Still, my passion has always been drag racing and even though I was busy almost every weekend, when I did get a free moment I would zoom off to the track. I just couldn't get nitro out of my blood. In January of 1999 a previous client referred me to a friend of his that was getting married in Long Beach , Calif. It was Adria and Robert Height's nuptials and when I saw the guest list I couldn't believe it. Adria is John Force's first daughter and Robert's best man was Austin Coil himself. The groomsmen consisted of Bernie Fedderly, Chad Head, Del Worsham, Eric Medlin, and other Castrol crew members. What a thrill to be able to tie together my passions -- photography, weddings, and drag racing.
I was photographing the coolest wedding of my career. What a joy to be a part of this celebration and see a very nervous, tongue-tied John Force.
I took the numerous rolls of film I shot that weekend and assembled a documentary style album called "A Day with a Champion." That album won all kinds of awards and helped me win California Photographer of the Year from the Professional Photographers of California. Motivated by that accomplishment, I decided to try and figure out a way back to my drag racing roots. With the assistance of Oakley founder, Jim Jannard, I found my way back.
Last year, I received the highest honors from the Professional Photographers of America International Competition with images of Jannard, Angelle Savoie, and the Miller Light Top Fueler.
My company, RacersEdgePhotography.com provides images which are unique and are finished as Fine Art. Please stop by the site for a look.
I think I've finally proven my friends wrong as I've gone on to shot many of their weddings and other special moments in each of their lives. Before long, I'll start shooting their kid's weddings, but they better book me early - the NHRA season is 23 races long these days.
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As you can imagine, my excitement grew through the night as I got to speak with individually with everyone. John had no idea of my drag racing history or my passion for the sport and when he found out he invited me to photograph a race. He didn't just want me to shot the race, he wanted me to follow his crew through the entire weekend and document all that they do to make his racecar rumble. Living in Phoenix , I chose that event to spend with the team and followed them from start to finish. True to form, John even won the race for a perfect weekend. 
Today, I am providing images to NHRA.com. and working with the best of people from the NHRA like sportswriter (and slave-driver) Rob Geiger and editor Phil Burgess of National DRAGSTER. Plus, I get to stand at the wall with great image makers like Mark Gewertz, Jerry Foss, and Teresa Long, just to name a few. I still have the same drive and ambition to try and be different in my image making. 
As it is common for multiple-car teams in NHRA POWERade Drag Racing, I have joined forces with Bob Hesser this year to provide great photographic coverage and continue to push the envelope of creativity with the wonderful technological advances of digital photography. Watch where we are headed on NHRA.com and our website 