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Before the race, the Mercedes W25’s were withdrawn with fuel pump problems.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.