Wednesday, 24 November 2010

Gift Ideas

Are you looking for something special for that someone special?
Captured stories of racing history have always rated high on my wish list.Here is a selection of my art available as signed numbered limited editions; some originals of these are also available.
My limited editions are printed as premium archival Giclee prints, the best printing available.
Here is a small selection of them … Enjoy!



Jaguar E-Type 50th Anniversary
Limited edition of 50 – 14.5”x 11” (36.8 cm x 27.9 cm) – $150 USD plus S/H

François Cevert 1944-1973
Limited edition of 50 – 11”x 14.5” (27.9 cm x 36.8 cm) – $150 USD plus S/H
Sir Jack Brabham F1 Drivers’ Champion 1959-1960-1966
Limited edition of 50 – 11”x 14.5” (27.9 cm x 36.8 cm) – $150 USD plus S/H
Targa Florio 1932 – Tazio Nuvolari – Alfa Romeo 8C 2600 Monza
Limited edition of 25 – 11.5”x 22” (29.2 cm x 55.9 cm) – $150 USD plus S/H
Targa Florio 1955 – Peter Collins – Mercedes 300 SLR
Limited edition of 25 - 11.5”x 22” (29.2 cm x 55.9 cm) – $150 USD plus S/H

Targa Florio 1973 – Hubert Müller – Porsche Carrera RSR
Limited edition of 25 – 11.5”x 22” (29.2 cm x 55.9 cm) – $150 USD plus S/H
Maserati 250F – Italy – Red
Limited edition of 100 – 14.5”x 11” (36.8 cm x 27.9 cm) – $125 USD plus S/H
Mercedes W196 – Germany – Silver
Limited edition of 100 – 14.5”x 11” (36.8 cm x 27.9 cm) – $125 USD plus S/H
Talbot-Lago T26C – France – Blue
Limited edition of 100 – 14.5”x 11” (36.8 cm x 27.9 cm) – $125 USD plus S/H
Vanwall 2.5L – Great Britain – Green
Limited edition of 100 – 14.5”x 11” (36.8 cm x 27.9 cm) – $125 USD plus S/H
Porsche 917K – Le Mans 1970 winner
Limited edition of 50 – 14.5”x 11” (36.8 cm x 27.9 cm) – $150 USD plus S/H
Scuderia Ferrari paddock – Barcelona 1971 – Ferrari 312B
Limited edition of 50 – 14.5”x 11” (36.8 cm x 27.9 cm) – $150 USD plus S/H



Matra-Simca team – Le Mans 1972
Limited edition of 50 –
17”x 8.8” (43.2 cm x 22.4 cm) – $150 USD plus S/H
1934 Grand Prix Season* – Spa-Francorchamps – Bugatti T59
Limited edition of 50 – 14.5”x 11” (36.8 cm x 27.9 cm) – $150 USD plus S/H
1934 Grand Prix Season* – Monza Italy – Mercedes-Benz W25
Limited edition of 50 – 14.5”x 11” (36.8 cm x 27.9 cm) – $150 USD plus S/H













1934 Grand Prix Season* – Monaco – Scuderia Ferrari Alfa Romeo P3
Limited edition of 50 – 14.5”x 11” (36.8 cm x 27.9 cm) – $150 USD plus S/H
* This series is also part of a limited edition signed/numbered book on the 1934 Grand Prix season, due out in early 2011.
Villeneuve vs Arnoux – French Grand Prix – Dijon 1979

Limited edition of 50 – 17”x 11” (36.8 cm x 27.9 cm) – $150 USD plus S/H If you are interested in ordering or discussing any of my art, please do not hesitate to contact me at paul.chenard@hotmail.com


Wednesday, 17 November 2010

1934 Eifelrennen Formule Libre

At the Nurburgring track, bad weather delayed this important race by a few hours.

Mercedes-Benz was making its first official entry into the Grand Prix season at this event after extensive testing and adjustment of the new W25.

Team manager Alfred Neubauer was feeling the pressure to succeed in their homeland. Their star driver had not yet fully recovered enough from his 1933 Monaco crash to participate so Mercedes brought in a new driver
Manfred Georg Rudolf von Brauchitsch, along with Luigi Fagioli to drive their new racer.

Pen&ink, markers, and pencil on archival white stock 12”x 9” 
© Paul Chenard 2010
Original art & limited editions available.
Auto Union had Hans Stuck, Hermann zu Leiningen and August "Bubi" Momberger to drive their Type A.

Scuderia Ferrari had Louis Chiron and Mario Tadini driving the Alfa Romeo P3. Bugatti had no entries in the race, and nor did Maserati.

Three classes of cars were racing together, flagged off one class after another, a total of forty-four cars in all.

Italian Fagioli took an early lead until he was ordered by team manager Neubauer to let his German teammate
von Brauchitsch by. Later in the pits for fueling, Fagioli argued furiously with Neubauer over this. He started off again, but with only one lap remaining in the race, he pulled over and abandoned his race car in protest.


With two Auto Unions out of the race, Stuck had taken the sole remaining Type A to a sizeable lead over von Brauchitsch. Some believed he would go non-stop and win the race. He finally did have to come in for fuel and tires, and the Mercedes driver took the lead, which he would keep to the checkered flag.

The win was a stunning debut for both the Mercedes-Benz team and their new driver.

Tuesday, 9 November 2010

British Grand Prix 1955

1955 was a very big year for racer Sir Stirling Moss.

The Mercedes-Benz racing team had recruited him because of his strong placings in previous years in all classes of racing cars.

That year, he had won the grueling Targa Florio sports car race with teammate Peter Collins, and the very long and dangerous Mille Miglia with navigator/journalist Denis Jenkinson.


He was also driving the Mercedes-Benz Formula 1 cars in which he won his first Grand Prix race, the British GP at Aintree on July 16th, ahead of his illustrious teammate Juan Manuel Fangio.

He would finish in second place in the season, and also in the following three seasons.

The above new 22”x 7” limited edition archival Giclee print is available to celebrate Sir Moss’ first Formula 1 win; you can order it by emailing me at paul.chenard@hotmail.com

Wednesday, 3 November 2010

1934 Belgian Grand Prix

Race enthusiast had great expectations for the Belgian Grand Prix, held on the stunning Spa-Francorchamps track.

Unfortunately, Belgian customs officials demanded a heavy duty from the German Grand Prix teams for their alcohol-based racing fuel. The result was a withdrawal of both the Mercedes-Benz and the Auto Union teams from the race.

This made for a very small grid of seven cars; three Bugatti T59s, two Alfa Romeo P3s, a Maserati 8CM and a Montier-Ford Special.



Pen&ink, markers, and pencil on archival white stock 12”x 9” 
© Paul Chenard 2010
Original art & limited editions available.

Raymond Sommer was the only Maserati driver present, so that the real race was going to be between the Scuderia Ferrari Alfa Romeos and the Bugattis.

As the typically rainy race began, Louis Chiron took the lead in the Alfa Romeo, with the Bugattis pitting with fouled plugs.

It looked very much like another Scuderia Ferrari win in the works. Unfortunately, Chiron’s racer slid off the track and overturned; he was luckily uninjured in the incident.

Achille Varzi took comfortably over his teammate’s lead, and at the same time, the track record. This was not to last, with his smoking Alfa Romeo coming in with a blown engine.

With their only real opposition out of the way, the Bugattis of René Dreyfus and Antonio Brivio cruised in first and second, with Sommer a distant third for Maserati.

It was to be one of the very rare top-level wins for Bugatti in 1934.

Wednesday, 27 October 2010

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!

Wednesday, 20 October 2010

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.

Wednesday, 6 October 2010

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.

Wednesday, 29 September 2010

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

Monday, 20 September 2010

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 24th, 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.

Tuesday, 14 September 2010

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

Thursday, 9 September 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!

Wednesday, 1 September 2010

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.

Tuesday, 24 August 2010

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.

Sunday, 8 August 2010

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

Thursday, 29 July 2010

British Motoring Festival 2010

The first British Motoring Festival took place on Saturday, July 24th 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!









Thursday, 22 July 2010

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.

Wednesday, 14 July 2010

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!

Monday, 5 July 2010

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!