Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Graves.
Chris, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Drag racing has been in my family since it started. My grandfather was in a car club in Dallas and passed the bug down to my father, who of course passed it down to me. We were always spectators, never racers, attending drag races across the southwest and taking photographs. After high school, I decided I wanted to make a living one way or another in the sport of drag racing. Fast forward to this point, 33 years old, thankfully making a living in the sport of drag racing through many avenues.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There have been many struggles on this journey, starting a photography business from scratch with my own money. It took time and a lot of planning. I also had many individuals supporting me both personally and in the industry, which gave me confidence to help overcome the bumps in the road.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Max Cackle Photography & Promotions – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
“Max Cackle” is a term describing the sound coming from the engine of a nitromethane burning drag racing machine. At the time “max cackle” was born, I was in my entrepreneurship class at the University of North Texas in 2005 and we were discussing branding. Nitro cars were my main focus for photography and “max cackle” seemed the perfect label. It has stuck ever since.
Max Cackle Photography has developed into one of the leading photography outlets in the country in the sport of drag racing. We supply on-site photo vending, custom autograph cards, business cards, award plaques, posters and photo products of all make and size. We have been published in many of the leading publications like National Dragster, Hot Rod Magazine, Car Craft Magazine, Drag Illustrated among others. We, my wife Tera and I, typically attend 40 events a year as photographers covering events across the country from California to Kentucky.
Being fully in love with the sport of drag racing, both my wife and I also find interest in other aspects of this trilling adrenaline rush. An overwhelming amount of effort goes into owning a drag strip, hosting large events and managing all activities, personnel, etc. Although we don’t own a drag strip, yet, maybe one day, we do find great interest in doing what we can to keep the sport growing and create new attractions for spectators and racers alike.
In 2013, my father and I along with the help of many of our friends, formed the Southwest Heritage Racing Association. The target for this was to re-create the 1960’s and showcase the way it was in the good ol’ days. Nostalgia front engine dragsters, gassers, altereds and more were able to participate. Interest was strong off the bat, I think we had 53 cars overall at our first event in Denton, Texas at North Star Dragway, spring 2013. Over the past five years, the SHRA series has grown to become the largest independent drag racing series in the southwest and we average 125+ cars at each event. Sponsorship involvement, racer support, a lot of volunteered time by very passionate drag racing enthusiasts and of course the fun factor in our series, have brought us all together to this level of success.
My wife and I also participate in this series as racers in the fastest class of the SHRA program. We drive blown front engine dragsters that cover the 1/8th mile in 4.65 seconds at 150+ mph. My wife Tera won the class Championship in 2014 and I have finished #2 in the final standings four years out of our five year history, so it’s been a lot of fun to also be able to participate in the SHRA, but that obviously requires the ability to wear many hats as a racer, husband, and series President. A fun challenge for me, if I didn’t enjoy it, I wouldn’t do it.
2013 was also my first year working as track photographer and social media manager at North Star Dragway in Denton, Texas. This relationship opened the door to secure dates for not only the SHRA series, but another project I had in the works for many years prior. Special event management always intrigued me, drag strips typically have weekly programs for local points racers, etc. Sometimes, tracks will host unique events to attract big crowds and bring in new racers. My idea spawned from an event I attended in 2002, that for whatever reason, didn’t continue. I had always wanted to try it myself and finally in 2013 got that opportunity.
The Pro Mod -vs- Fuel Altered Showdown has since become the biggest, wildest, fastest drag racing event of the summer in the state of Texas. Both Pro Mods and Fuel Altereds are popular types of drag racing machines, but had never competed together, against each other in an organized manner. This past summer we celebrated 5 years of this event and yet again, attracted cars from all over the country to a capacity crowd at North Star Dragway with fireworks, jet cars and much more. It’s become a go to event for 4th of July weekend in Denton.
This year, I had to step it up, come up with something new, and combine everything I’d learned over the last 10 years into something really special. In the fall of this year, I hosted the first “Funny Car Chaos” event, again at North Star Dragway in Denton, Texas. Funny Cars are likely the most iconic drag racing machine on the planet, but across the country had been restricted and sub-divided into an equation that was limiting their ability to race. Funny Car Chaos eliminates rules from the equation, allowing any driver of any Funny Car from anywhere in the world to come race, as is, turnkey, in an open competition. The event was a huge success and we have since announced expansion to two Funny Car Chaos events, adding a second event in Amarillo, Texas in June before coming back to Denton, TX next September.
So, between all these things, we are at a drag race every weekend of the year from mid-January to early-December, and loving every minute of it!
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Of course, growth. Growth of the brands we’ve been working to establish. Growth of our contacts in the sport and industry as a whole. We have found a way to make a living in this sport, through many avenues, so keeping those avenues and expanding is always a goal as we move forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.maxcacklephotos.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxcacklephotos/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maxcacklephotography
Image Credit:
Martin Libhart, Roger Richards, Dave Kommel, Tyler Farris, Steve Scott
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