Don Cox

Don was a member of the Carlsbad Oilers, and he used to take his camera along when they went racing on the lakes. He also brought along a then-new 35mm Kodachrome slide film, and many of Don's color photos ended up in Robert Genats book The Birth of Hot Rodding.

A photo that Don snapped in Carlsbad, California, during an Oilers gathering off of La Cost Avenue in the lagoon on the beach area. According to Robert Genat, the Oilers used to race there on the beach! Photo from The Robert Genat Photo Collection.

Don Cox of Oceanside, California. Don was only 10 years old when he got his first camera, and prior to WWII he worked in several photo labs and camera stores.

December 8, 1941, the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Don joined the Navy. In the Navy he became a Photographer's Mate, honing his skills. After the war, Don continued to take photos. He was a member of the Carlsbad Oilers, and he used to take his camera along when they went racing on the lakes. He also brought along a then-new 35mm Kodachrome slide film, and many of Don's color photos ended up in Robert Genats book The Birth of Hot Rodding.