Published in France!

Recently, I was interviewed by writer/editor William Pac for the upcoming November/December issue of the lovely French magazine Échappement Classic.

It's now making it's way to newsstands throughout Europe. Mr. Pac is kindly forwarding a couple of copies. 
Just can't wait to see them!

1934 Italian Grand Prix

The Italian Grand Prix was held on September 9th at the Autodromo Di Monza. In the previous year’s Grand Prix, serious accidents had taken the lives of Giuseppe Campari and two other drivers. To lessen the speeds, it was decided that the track should be shortened from 10kms to 4.3kms, with many chicanes added in. With 500kms to cover for the Grand Prix, this made for a longer, more grueling race.

Mercedes had their W25, Bugatti their Type 59, Scuderia Ferrari the Alfa P3, while Maserati introduced the new model 6C-34, to be driven by Tazio Nuvolari. The balance of their team would drive the 8CMs.

Pen&ink, markers, and pencil on archival white stock 12”x 9” © Paul Chenard 2010

Original art & limited editions available.

At the start, Hans Stuck took an early lead for Auto Union but was soon overtaken by Mercedes driver Rudolf Caracciola. His teammate Manfred Georg Rudolf von Brauchitsch was not competing, having been injured in a crash at the previous Swiss Grand Prix. Battling amongst the leaders were Luigi Fagioli (Mercedes), Archille Varzi (Alfa Romeo), Nuvolari (Maserati) and Count Carlo Felice Trossi (Alfa Romeo).

Unfortunately for Nuvolari, the Maserati mechanics forgot to top-up his car's brake fluid after weigh-in, so he slowly lost his brakes during the long race.

The 4.75 hour race, with it’s 1600 total corners, took a toll on the drivers and the cars. Fagioli, whose car broke down, later replaced Caracciola, who had to be lifted out of his car. Stuck had to be replaced by zu Leiningen, and Trossi by Comotti.

Varzi dropped out with mechanical woes, so the race finished with Caracciola/Figioli in first place, Stuck/zu Leiningen in second, with Trossi/Comotti in third. After 4th place Chiron (Alfa Romeo), Nuvolari finished a respectable 5th place, using his gears to brake for the last half of the race.

François Cevert 1944-1973

Born in 1944, François Cevert (née Goldenberg) was a well-liked and talented French Formula 1 and Sports/GT driver.

He began his motorsports career on two wheels, but switched to Formula 3 in 1966. In 1968, Cevert took the French Formula 3 Championship.

For 1969, Cevert moved up to Formula 2, and finished third in the Championship. While in F2, his capabilities captured the notice of (Sir) Jackie Stewart, who encouraged Ken Tyrrell to consider Cevert for the team. Tyrrell took his advice and signed Cevert up for 1970.

Matra-Simca MS670 #14 of François Cevert and Howden Ganley, 2nd place Le Mans 1972.
Latex paint on plywood© Paul Chenard 2010
Limited editions available.
Over the next four seasons, Stewart and Cevert became fast friends, through the wins and the losses. Stewart became Formula 1 Drivers World Champion in 1971, with Cevert winning the US Grand Prix at Watkins Glen and taking third place overall.

Original in Prismacolor pencils on mid-gray stock
© Paul Chenard 2009
Limited editions available.
The team did poorly in 1972 against a powerful Team JPS (Lotus) but came back strongly in 1973. Stewart won the Championship, and was expecting to be replaced by his friend Cevert for the next season, as he had decided to retire at the season’s closing.

Cevert’s year had been very good too, with six 2nd place finishes, but in the very last race of the year at Watkins Glen on October 6th, his Tyrrell 006 crashed horribly during Saturday morning qualifying, and this shining star with the striking blue eyes was extinquished.

This talented and popular pianist and race car driver will never be forgotten by his fans and his peers.

La Carrera Panamericana 2010

A recent Twitter follower reminded me that we are only 23 days away from the 23rd running of the legendary La Carrera Panamericana, the famous Mexican road race.

The original race ran from 1950 to 1954, then started again in 1988. This year it runs from October 22nd to the 28th.

The race runs for nearly 2000 miles along public roads, starting in Tuxtla Gutierrez and finishing north 7 days later in Zacatecas.

Many famous drivers have competed in the '50s races, guys like Hershel McGriff winning the inaugural event in 1950 driving an Oldsmobile 88, and Juan Manuel Fangio, who won in 1953 driving a Lancia D24.

Juan Manuel Fangio won the 1953 La Carrera Panamericana in a Lancia D24.
Prismacolor pencils on red archival stock 12"x 9"
© Paul Chenard 2008

Original sketch is available at L'art et l'automobile, as are limited editions.

In more recent times, my friend Gary Faules raced it in 2007, driving his 1965 Mustang Gt350R ... stunning!

California's Best, Gary Faules racing his GT350R in La Carrera Panamericana 2007.
Prismacolor pencils on white archival stock 12"x 9"
© Paul Chenard 2008

Gary Faules Collection

Avus Formule Libre Race 1934

Enzo Ferrari was looking for an advantage over the sleek machines of Mercedes and Auto Union at the Formule Libre race at Avus in Berlin on May 24^th, 1934.

Pen&ink, markers and pencil on white archival stock 12"x 9"

© Paul Chenard 2010
Original sketch available, as is the limited edition.

The banked Avus track was known for it’s high speed, so Ferrari commissioned Cesare Pallavicino from the Breda Aircraft Company to design a streamline body for one of the Alfa Romeo P3’s. “Guy” Moll would drive this special “Aerodinamica” for Scuderia Ferrari.

Before the race, the Mercedes W25’s were withdrawn with fuel pump problems. With rain falling at the start of the race, the Auto Union Type-A of Hans Stuck quickly took the lead.

As the rain stopped and the track dried, Moll started catching the leaders. He passed teammates Varzi, then Chiron, who later dropped out with a broken oil pipe. He then took the lead from Stuck, who lasted only two more laps before his clutch failed.

With almost a minute and a half lead over the second place Varzi, Moll took the race, much to the chagrin of the Stuck’s hometown crowd.

Sadly, this fine driver lost his life at the Coppa Acerbo in August of the same season.

Stutz Racers, circa 1915

The Stutz team racers have the advantage on the steeply-banked wooden track.

I did this sketch on the packaging for an artwork purchased by a collector in California.

White and black Prismacolor pencils on black Foamcore.
© Paul Chenard 2010

LiveDrive 2010

I designed this poster using my illustrations to promote a fundraising event for the ALS Society. The event is organized by the British Automobile Touring Association of Nova Scotia and run by volunteers.

I did these illustrations at the British Motoring Festival; they represent a 1937 HRG, a Jaguar Mk IX sedan, and a Jaguar XK150 FHC.

Great events like this should always be supported!

Scuderia Ferrari - Spanish Grand Prix 1971

In the squeaky-clean, high-security paddocks of todays Formula 1 teams, it's easy to forget that it wasn't always so ...
While preparing the Ferrari 312B's of Scuderia Ferrari at the 1971 Spanish Grand Prix, the race car technicians were working in a dirt paddock, open to the elements, and the occasional curious local.

Pen&ink and markers on watercolour paper 12"x 9" (30.5cm x 22.9cm) © Paul Chenard 2010

Limited editions are available.

The car in the foreground was Belgian driver Jacky Ickx's mount, in which he finished in second place behind Sir Jackie Stewart driving a Tyrrell-Ford.

Auto Union: The Other Silver Arrows

In 1933, the new German government saw the marketing benefits from motor racing, so they offered a subsidy for any automotive group who want to get into racing.

Mercedes decided to opt in, but they were not alone. A group of four automobile companies – Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer – pooled their technical resources to form Auto Union.

Both companies had a car ready for the 1934 Grand Prix Season. Mercedes took the standard front engine/rear drive approach, but Auto Union created a mid-engine/rear drive racer, designed by Ferdinand Porsche.

After a bit of teething problems earlier in the season, the Auto Unions proved to be a successful, with wins growing by the end of the season.

Hans Stuck - Auto Union Type A
German Grand Prix - Nürburgring 1934

Pen&ink, markers and pencil on watercolour paper 12"x 9" (30.5cm x 22.9cm)
© Paul Chenard 2010
Original sketch available, as is the limited edition.


The total dominance of both the technologically advanced Mercedes and Auto Union teams was felt until the begin of the war.

Automobiliart in Estonia

Over the past year, I’ve been corresponding with Margus-Hans Kuuse, an Estonia engineer, automotive writer and journalist living in Tallinn.

Margus has been the powerhouse of automotive information in the Eastern Bloc countries since 1970, as Editor-in-Chief of AutoPluss (Estonia) also working with AUTOCAR (England), AutoSprint, MotoSprint, Milleruote (all Italy), and is a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers (England) and the Washington Automobile Press Association (USA).

 

Margus is also a contributor to the Beaulieu Encyclopaedia of the Automobile, for which he is the co-winner of the prestigious Cugnot award.

Earlier this year, he started the only Estonian automotive website auto mobilia and I'm honoured to have my art featured there.

You can see it here.

http://www.automobilia.ee/artikkel/kunstnik-paul-chenard-tutvustas-oma-loomingu-k%C3%B6%C3%B6gipoolt

British Motoring Festival 2010

The first British Motoring Festival took place on Saturday, July 24^th at the Kings-Edgehill School grounds in Windsor, Nova Scotia.

It was a great car show, with a wonderful setting, beautiful weather, well-organized events, and very good participation.

The array of British vehicles was wonderful … Jaguars, Triumphs, Austin-Healeys, MGs, were all well represented, with some Landrovers, Rolls-Royces, Sunbeams, Morris’, Daimlers, Vauxalls, Morgans, Austins and Fords adding to the mix.


The oldest, and might I add, rarest of the vehicles there was a 1937 HRG 1500. Beautifully restored, it is on of only 16 made of this model. It attracted lots of attention, and inquiries.

I met some great people there, and I managed to get a couple of sketches done too.

If I could have one addition to the event, it would be to have other British vehicles, such as trucks and motorcycles.

I’m looking forward to next year already!

Villeneuve takes the win …

The 1981 Grand Prix de Monaco wasn’t supposed to be Gilles Villeneuve’s race.

Nelson Piquet in his Brabham BT49C easily overwhelmed the field, closely followed by Alan Jones in the Williams FW07C.

Unfortunately, Piquet was held up by a back-marker and crashed into the Armco. Jones’ car started suffering from fuel-feed problems and was falling back.

Latex paint on oak plywood 15.5"x 17.5" (39.3cm x 44.5cm) © Paul Chenard 2010

Original available for sale - Limited editions also available

Villeneuve, pushing his Ferrari 126CK and driving a clean race, passed Jones on lap 73 and took the race with a 40 second lead.

He followed up with a win in the next race, the Spanish Grand Prix. Sadly, this would be the last win of his all-too-short Formula 1 career.

Philippe Étancelin – Private Racer

Philippe  “Phi-Phi” Étancelin was a French privateer racer who started racing in 1926, winning the Grand Prix de Reims. During his racing career, he drove Bugattis, Alfa Romeos, Maseratis, and Talbot-Lagos.

Born on December 28th, 1896 in Rouen (Normandy), he was a wool and down merchant through the Winter, and raced in the Summer. His wife Suzanne was his pit manager, giving him signals in French sign language.

In the illustration below, Étancelin is on his way to winning the French Grand Prix de Pau in 1930, driving his Bugatti Type 35C. He also won the race in 1936, driving his Maserati V8 R.I., one of only 4 produced!

Scratchboard 7”x 5” © Paul Chenard 2010

In 1934, he raced an Alfa Romeo with Luigi Chinetti in the 24 heures du Mans.

After he retired in 1953, the French government awarded him the Légion d'honneur for his contribution to the sport of automobile racing.

He passed away at the age of 85 years old in 1981. 

I want to personally thank André Étancelin for his help. Merci!

Le Mans Classic - July 9, 10, 11

I very proud to say that Historic Car Art will be bringing my original art and limited editions at the Le Mans Classic.

41.5"x 18.5" (105.4cm x 46.8cm), latex paint on plywood
© Paul Chenard 2010

My "Le Mans 1972" will be featured there, amongst some of my other pieces.

I hope you can pay the Historic Car Art stand a little visit!

Alfa Romeo & the 1934 Grand Prix Season

The 1934 Grand Prix season introduce to the world a glimmer of the powerful government-subsidized German Grand Prix racing teams. Both Mercedes and Auto Union (formed by the racing union of Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer) brought new racers to battle, highlighting advanced technologies.

These new technologies were so new that they were not fully developed for the 1934 season. The very well organized Scuderia Ferrari developed and managed the Alfa Romeo racing cars for the company, and that season’s Alfa Romeo domination was the result; they won 18 out of a total 35 races.

Pen&ink, markers and pencil on white archival stock 12”x 9” (30.5cm x 22.9cm)

© Paul Chenard 2010
Original sketch available, as is the limited edition.

In the image above, the Scuderia Ferrari Alfa Romeo P3’s of Varzi, Chiron and Trossi are ready to race the Grand Prix de France at Montlhéry. They came in respectively 2nd, 1st, and 3rd place.

Le Mans 1972 - French colours

I’ve been illustrating for a few years (since the Summer of 2006), but I as yet don’t have a studio; I do most of my art on the dining room table.

We just finished redecorating, which included repainting our living room, dining room, and kitchen.

I started thinking about doing a painting, but I can't really afford artists materials; the paints, brushes and canvas. So I went out and bought some brushes, and decided to use our leftover house paint on a piece of leftover premium plywood. Because I don't have a studio, I did it on my hands and knees on the basement floor in our little junk room with the washer and dryer ... cozy! This is my very FIRST painting!

41.5"x 18.5" (105.4cm x 46.8cm), latex paint on plywood
© Paul Chenard 2010

My painting features the winning Matra-Simca MS670 #15 of Henri Pescarolo and Graham Hill, followed by the second place MS670 #14 of François Cevert and Howden Ganley. The third Matra-Simca is the MS660C #16 of Jean-Pierre Jabouille and David Hobbs.

A friend in Scotland didn't believe is was done in house paint, so I created this paint key ...

The painting is available through Historic Car Art; limited edition prints are also available. It will be featured at the Le Mans Classic.

Porsche Rally 2010

This past Sunday, I was invited to take part in the annual rally organized by Porsche of Halifax.

It was another well-prepared and well-attended event, featuring Boxsters, Caymans, Cayennes, Turbos, Carrera 4Ss, Carreras, and the Panamera, about 25 Porsches in all.

We all gathered at Point Pleasant Park, and after a short rally briefing, we were on our way out of town towards the Annapolis Valley. To get there, we took the more interesting and curvy Highway No.1, a perfect road for the Porsches. I was navigating in a very sweet dark blue Carrera 4S Cabriolet ...

We made a pit stop in picturesque Wolfville, continuing on through Port Williams to the famous Look-Off. The normally stunning view was hindered by fog, but it is still a great place to stop and stretch.

Starting off again, we snaked our way west, downwards towards the coast, our final destination being Halls Harbour.

The event wrapped up in the picturesque little lobster village, where you can witness the famous Bay of Fundy tides, the highest in the world.

After a tour of the lobster pound, our lunch was booked in at the Hall's Harbour Lobster Pound Restaurant. We had a wonderful meal there, and we had time to meet new faces and chat.

I have to thank organizer and MC Steve Archibald for inviting me to such a fun and well-organized rally and his team, Kathy, Mary-Jane, Jeff, Chris and Kendall for looking after everything, with special thanks to Chris and Kendall for getting me there and back in such class.

All photos © Paul Chenard 2010