Tuesday 2 October 2018

Sketching here and there at Lime Rock

I’ve so wanted to return to the Lime Rock Historic Festival, and with the encouragement and support of fabulous artist Chris Osborne and Michael Ricciardi of European Motorsports, I made the journey. Over 2,100 miles of driving later, I still can’t believe the amazing time I had there.


Michael Ricciardi of European Motorsports


Chris Osborne and her amazing art

With the help of the Lime Rock Park marketing staff, including Mitchell Conroy, Mike Distefano, and Nicholas Leone, I got to live-sketch dream cars.


Me sketching the Bugatti Atlantic - Photo Christopher Carveth

The first was the Mullin Automotive Museum’s famous Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic. As I sketched away, I met old friends, and made new ones, including Peter Mullin himself, who came to see what I was hatching. He is in fact buying the original art, with the proceeds of the sale going to the supported charity The Michael J. Fox Foundation.


Peter Mullin and I - Photo Christopher Carveth
1936 Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic

The next day, I pinched myself … there was the 1937 24 Heures du Mans winning Bugatti Type 57G from the Simeone Museum! Another stunning subject to sketch!


Me sketching the Bugatti "Tank" - Photo Dom Miliano

Of course, it was all part of the largest North American gathering of the Bugatti marque, with 60 + examples assembled! So much French rolling beauty in one place!!


1936 Bugatti Type 57G "Tank"

Over the weekend, I was so happy to connect in person with Lyn St.James, a real racing hero of mine, plus the wonderful Tom Cotter, writer, racer, and TV personality.


Me live-sketching the Cunningham C-4RK recreation - Photo Brian Koch

On Coucours car show day, I chose to sketch Chuck Schoendorf’s brutish Cunningham C-4RK recreation. I love the purposeful lines of that racer … it just shouts, “Get out of my way!”


1952 Cunningham C-4RK

On the last day, I wandered around to say hello to friends Phil Lamont and Michael Gans, stopping at Tom’s stand to check out his Cunningham C-3 when he requested a sketch of it. No problem! The barn-find racer still has its patina, making it a challenging subject to sketch.


1952 Cunningham C-3

I sold 3 of my 4 sketches, allowing me to more than cover my costs, while also providing a bit of a show for the spectators. I was made to feel so at home at Lime Rock Park, I can’t imagine not returning for next year’s Historic Festival.

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