Limited-Edition Print of 500 (13x19)
Signed and numbered by the Artist.
This was a painting I did as Cover-Art for a DVD featuring the 1968 "Nationals" at Indy, however the film was never released. This “Fisheye” image was to wrap around the DVD case with the Christmas tree running down the spine, and the Ramchargers car one the back cover. Since the right half of this image was to be the front cover, this is why the tower is vertical with the Christmas Tree, as opposed to leaning slightly over to the right to maintain the ‘Fisheye” perspective. It would have looked a little funny to have the “Leaning Tower of Indy” right in the middle of the front cover. I painted this image from a Bob Swain photo that was somewhat overexposed, and slightly blurry, so it was fun to bring this scene back to life and into focus...
In this painting we see the first round race between the “Ramchargers” and "Hawaiian" with the “Chargers” taking the win. I really tried here to capture the feel of the Indiana sun, and the vista of Indy itself. Indianapolis Raceway Park has gone through many face-lifts over the years, but this was the look I liked best, with the orange tower and the Hurst crossover bridge, it gave the place a very pastoral setting. Unlike today with the over-abundance of Corporate Logos, images, and giant box-like press suites and hospitality lounges, it's obvious in this scene that the event was still about "Racing!"
Back then it wasn't about Championships, Point chases or Sponsor incentives, no one had a TV deal or press people to handle the media. Luckily for us, the only thing the racers had were the trailers to haul the cars to the track on, and even luckier for us, was the fact that all these guys wanted to do was race.
