We’re big fans of anything with an engine in it—and so is our pal Liz Leggett. Over the course of her career, she’s turned wrenches on everything from vintage steam engines to World War II military vehicles.
Her latest pursuit is land speed racing, where she is an integral part of the Iron Dinosaur Racing Team.
Suffice it to say, Liz has enjoyed an interesting journey in the automotive universe, so we wanted to bring her on The OnAllCylinders Podcast to talk all about it. For over 30 minutes, OnAllCylinders contributor Brian Nutter spoke with Liz about a range of topics—from road tripping in a classic Chevy to racing on the Salt Flats of Bonneville.
Liz was also featured in this documentary from filmmaker Allison Swank Owen. It’s a must-see, and you can watch the whole thing here:
As for the podcast, listen to the entire episode in the embedded player below, and we’ll also include some excerpts from the discussion beneath that as well.
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How’d You Become a Gearhead?
“A hobby called live steam, where you build a scale replica of a steam locomotive that actually still operates. So you boil water, you burn coal to boil the water, collect up the steam, and then it works and you get pulled around small tracks and there’s different gauges.
“My family actually helped kind of bring it over from England to North America, back in, I think it was in the 1920s and 30s. My great grandfather built steam locomotives.
“I got my first engine when I was like eight years old, an 0-6-0 saddle tank. So, I got that when I was really young, and it was all okay, ‘Here little girl, here’s a bottle of kerosene and some matches. Go and have some fun.’ And that was it.
“I grew up in a house filled with steam locomotives, and there was a machine shop in the basement and in the backyard. Being mechanically inclined is in my blood, I guess.”
When Did Your Interest in Auto Journalism & Photography Begin?
“My parents were both graphic designers, before computers, and my dad even did illustration, stuff like that, airbrush art.
“And so my dad, from the graphic design stuff, also did press releases and things like that. And then we were doing the photography at different go kart tracks, doing press releases for racers. I was young, quite young, like 10, 11 years old when I started going with my dad to tracks.
“Then the digital age kind of happened in which the big thing became live race reporting and websites, and we were always in the media room. And so my dad would stay up on the balconies at like karting and stuff, and I would do the notes.
“He’d hand me the camera, I would shoot the race, I’d shoot the pits, I’d interview the racers, then I’d run upstairs, give them the tape of the interview, get the fresh memory cards, run down and shoot the next race.”
Did You Think it Would Become a Career?
“I started shooting stuff really young and photographing Lance Stroll and all these racers that you hear of nowadays—like Formula 1 and stuff like that, I got to shoot them. We grew up together, I was growing up, shooting a lot of these guys, so it was a cool childhood.
“Then we worked for the Montreal Gazette, the local big local newspaper. We were doing the car section, so we get press cars that we would test. And so we worked for the newspaper and then magazines and stuff like that.
“And then I got a job, working with Pascal Richard at Revolution Motorcycle magazine. I photographed him for the Gazette, we did a story on him, and then he hired me to work for his magazine.
“It snowballs. That’s how things kind of happened.”
So, You Started Working in the Industry You Covered as a Journalist?
“It’s a long story but, essentially, what happened is I was just starting to get some traction with my photography. I was really pushing and building my portfolio.
“Then I moved to the United States and I needed a 9 to 5 job, and there was a shop called Valhalla Auto Restoration down the street.
“I walk into the shop and a guy at the back spots me. He goes, ‘Oh hey Liz.’
“[Laughing] I moved to some random place in New Jersey, I walk in the shop and there’s this guy that’s a mutual friend of mine. We already follow each other on Instagram.
“It was owned by AJ Bianco. And honestly, AJ and the guys at Valhalla gave me my first start. They really taught me a lot.”
…And That Evolved into a Job Restoring Old Military Vehicles?
“I was doing World War Two reenactment, I thought it was really fun because you gain a complete different layer of appreciation for what you did when you’re running through a frozen field, holding a Garand.
“We were a part of Redball Military Vehicle Club and the guy who owns Mil-Spec Restorations, the shop that restores tanks, said ‘Hey, we really need a painter, someone who does detailing all this stuff.’
“It’s incredible. And I’m only a product of my environments and the people that I’m with and the things that I expose myself to. But what a blessing to be able to encounter somebody like that who not only took a chance on someone who had no tech experience. I’ve never gone to a tech school. I’ve never taken a welding class or like a machining class. But, you know, I can run a lathe decently, I can weld decently, I can do bodywork and paint and do things.”
Now, How Did You Wind Up in Land Speed Racing?
“I had always been doing the photography and the photojournalism and the books and stuff for The SCTA. My father and I, we’ve been working on books and all kinds of amazing projects.
“After a few years of trying, I had gotten the opportunity to race with the Dinosaur.
“Don Gilmore met me and dad, and hired us to do photography of the team out at Bonneville. And he offered for me to have the chance to drive the car.”
You may also appreciate this article: What is Land Speed Racing & What Do You Need to Get Started?
What Do You Like Better, Building Vehicles or Racing Them?
“Oooooo, that’s a fantastic question. I really like building things, working with my hands. It gives you a different level of, like, satisfaction creating or getting that nut and bolt to finally go together. That’s a very personal gratification kind of thing.
“The racing thing is, has been something that is also a personal gratification, but it’s very much more with a team and with people sharing it and being able to get people to sit in the car. And it’s it’s a more outward kind of personal event.
“So I love building for me, but I love racing for existing. It’s the reward.”
Any Advice for Young Folks Looking to Break Into the Industry?
“It’s a passion and yes, you can make it happen. I think I’ve always kind of thought of it as if this is a story that I’m reading. What’s the more interesting decision? Is it to do the easy thing? Is it to make the decision that you’re comfortable, that everything’s fine? Or what’s the more interesting storyline for me? What would I want to see in this story?
“And it’s never the easy thing to do that ends up being the most rewarding. You have to go through the trials and tribulations to truly feel the joys and the victories. And you do sacrifice certain things, like personal relationships, for example, are a big thing.
“It’s difficult, but you find your people. You find the people that are your friends and that are your family. And in this racing community that I’m surrounded by, I have so many, so many incredible, supportive friends and family. And I’m fortunate to have those people.
“But yeah, it does take it does take a level of sacrifice or, or strife or sleeping in a car or, you know, doing different things that you have to do.”
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