Sir Moss takes Monaco 1961

50 years ago on the last weekend in May, everything pointed to a possible Ferrari sweep of the Grand Prix de Monaco.

Ferrari had introduced their new Formula 1 contender the 156 “Sharknose”, which carried a distinct horsepower advantage over the competition.

Ferrari was running two engine configurations; a V-6 with a 65 degree V-angle (180 hp) and one with a 120 degree V-angle (190 hp). Phil Hill and Wolfgang von Trips raced 65 degree V-6’s and Richie Ginther the 120 degree V6.

Sir Stirling Moss - Winner, Monaco Grand Prix 1961
Prismacolor pencils on gray archival stock, 10"x 8"  © Paul Chenard 2009
Private collection. Available as a limited edition.

Sir Stirling Moss was driving the Rob Walker Lotus 18 F1 car which ran with a 1.5 litre Climax inline-4 engine producing only 174 hp.

Lotus was also there with Jim Clark driving the Lotus-Climax, with Jo Bonnier and Dan Gurney racing the Porsche 718’s.

From his pole position, Sir Moss took an early lead from Ginther and Clark, and retained it to the end. He drove at 10/10’s for the whole race, keeping just ahead of the very persistent Ginther and Hill in their more powerful cars.

Sir Moss is quoted in saying that this was his best race ever, and in seeing the machines and talent he was up against, one can only agree!

Bonne fête, monsieur Gurney!

An American racing icon celebrates a birthday; Dan Gurney is 80 years young today.

Born in Port Jefferson, New York, he moved to California as a teenager.

He became a successful racer, winning his first Formula 1 race at the French Grand 1962 driving a Porsche 804; it was also Porsche's first F1 win.

Not satisfied to be just a racer, he was instrumental in getting Colin Chapman to bring his Lotus’ to the Indianapolis 500, finally leading to their win with Jim Clark in 1965.


1967 was a big year for Americans in motor sport, and someone who was at the forefront of it was Dan Gurney.

He won, along with A. J. Foyt, the 24 Heures du Mans in a GT40 Mark IV and remains the only American to win a Formula 1 race in a car of his own construction at Spa in Belgium, racing his Eagle Weslake T1G. At his Le Mans win, Gurney introduced the tradition of spraying Champagne, which has carried from that point on.

In his career, he won races in Nascar, Can-Am, Trans-Am and Indy. Later on, as a team owner/manufacturer, his cars would also win the Indy 500, and the IMSA GTP series.

He is current writing his biography, which we are all looking forward to. There will certainly be some Champagne spraying when that is published!

Ronnie Peterson - The Quiet Storm

Swedish Formula 1 driver Ronnie Peterson was one of the few in Formula 1 who was liked and appreciated by all those who met him.

'Four into Four' - Ronnie Peterson in a March 761, James Hunt in a McLaren M23, Patrick Depallier in a Tyrrell P34 and Mario Andretti in a Lotus 77 roar down into Turn Four at Mosport 1976.
Photo © Allan de la Plante
Available as a limited edition - www.allandelaplante.webs.com/

Born in 1944, he was quiet, shy and an all-round nice guy. But once in a race car, he drove flat-out, pushing his cars often past their limit.

Peterson in a Lotus 72, 1974 Italian Grand Prix
Watercolour pencils and marker of archival stock, 12"x 6"
© Paul Chenard 2009
This original illustration is available, as are limited editions.

He started successfully in karts, rose through F3, and F2, and quickly caught the notice of the Formula 1 teams.

He started with March, moved to Lotus, March again, then Tyrrell, then finally back to Lotus. He had a total of 10 Grand Prix wins in eight years, but his life came to an abrupt and sad end in a crash while driving a Lotus 78 in the 1978 Italian Grand Prix.

Nose-piece from Ronnie Peterson's crashed Lotus 78 from the 1978 Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
Sourse: Anonymous

The impact of the death of this much-loved driver can be seen even today, with countless of tributes set up on websites worldwide.

Super Swede Ronnie Peterson - Lotus 72E - 1973 Italian Grand Prix, Monza

Watercolour pencils and marker of archival stock, 12"x 6"
© Paul Chenard 2009

This illustration is available for sale.

Swedish Formula 1 driver Ronnie Peterson was one of the few in Formula 1 who was liked and appreciated by all those who met him.

He was quiet, shy and an all-round nice guy. But once in a race car, he drove flat-out, pushing his cars often past their limit.

He started successfully in karts, rose through F3, and F2, and quickly caught the notice of the Formula 1 teams.

He started with March, moved to Lotus, March again, then Tyrrell, than finally back to Lotus. He had a total of 10 Grand Prix wins in eight years, but his life came to an abrupt and sad end in a crash while driving a Lotus 78 in the 1978 Italian Grand Prix.

The impact of the death of this much-loved driver can be seen even today, with countless of tributes set up on websites, and a museum dedicated in his memory in Örebro, Sweden.

John Surtees OBE

Prismacolor pencils on gray archival stock 22.5"x 11"
© Paul Chenard 2008

John Surtees, the only person to win World Championships on both two (1956) and four wheels (1964), was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) on the weekend, for his services to motor sports and charity.

Though it is wonderful that his great accomplishments are being recognized, I do believe that "Big John" Surtees is deserving of a higher level of recognition.

In the above sketch, Jim Clark is racing a Lotus 33 to a win of the closely fought Solitude F1 race in 1964. Left to right, we find Clark, second place finisher John Surtees in a Ferrari 158, Graham Hill in a BRM P261 and Sir Jack Braham in a Brabham BT7-Climax; both Hill and Brabham crashed out in the race. John Surtees finished the year as F1 Driver's World Champion with Ferrari.

In fact, everyone represented here was a Driver's World Champion. John Surtees took it 1964 , Clark took it in 1963 and 1965, Hill took it in 1962 and 1968, and Brabham took it in 1959, 1960 and 1966. Brabham also took it as a Constructor in 1966 and 1967. Lots of talent in one place!

Mr Surtees was kind enough to send me a comment on my illustration:

Dear Paul,

Yes a nice little piece of history. While it was very wet I of course had taken the lead and pulled away, it was only when the track started to dry up that Jim caught me. But of course I got my own back at the following race, the German GP, which I won.

Kind regards,
John

John Surtees

Available as a limited edition of 100 signed and numbered 22" x 11.25" premium archival Giclee prints for $150 plus S&H. (Includes the above quote from John Surtees O.B.E.)

Emerson Fittpaldi in a Lotus 72D

Primacolor pencils on yellow archival stock 12"x 9"
© Paul Chenard 2008

Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi won the 1972 F1 Driver's World Championship driving Colin Chapman's Lotus 72D John Player Special. At the age of 25, he was then the youngest driver to win the title. Two years later, Fittipaldi won the Championship again, driving an M23 for Team McLaren.

He left Formula 1 for the American CART series driving for Patrick Racing, taking the Championship in 1989. He won the Indianapolis 500 in his Championship year, and again in 1993 driving for Penske Racing.

Jim Clark - Solitude 1964

Prismacolor pencils on gray archival stock 22.5"x 11"
© Paul Chenard 2008

Jim Clark died tragically 40 years ago this year.
He crashed in an F2 race at the Hockenheimring in Germany in a Lotus 48.

In this sketch, Jim Clark is racing a Lotus 33 to a win of the Solitude F1 race in 1964. Left to right, we find Clark, second place finisher John Surtees in a Ferrari 158, Graham Hill in a BRM P261 and Sir Jack Braham in a Brabham BT7-Climax. Both Hill and Brabham crashed out in the race; Surtees finished the year as F1 Driver's World Champion. In fact, everyone here was a Driver's World Champion. Clark took it in 1963 and 1965, Hill took it in 1962 and 1968, and Brabham took it in 1959, 1960 and 1966. Brabham also took it as a Constructor in 1966 and 1967. Lots of talent in one place!

The following poster advertised the race ... beautiful artwork!