Limited-Edition Print o f 350 (13x19) prints
Signed and numbered by the Artist.
One of the biggest icons in Drag Racing is the firesuit facemask. I'm sure there were a lot of other kids like me, but the first time I saw a driver wearing that mask, I thought it was the most "Bitchen" thing in the world!
To me that mask was Drag Racing... It represented something very special and unique, and was worn only by a selected few, a very rare breed of race driver. That mask warned us of "Danger!" It was all that stood between a driver, and a veritable blow-torch inferno if the car were to explode. The fact that drivers had to wear a Firesuit because disaster could strike at any moment (and did frequently,) is what made Drag Racing so special. Back in the day, the sport "Scared the Hell" out of all of us!
I was really surprised to learn it was my buddy the "Goose" Tom McEwen, that had the bright idea to ad the breather caps to that mask, creating Drag Racings most recognizable piece of hardware.
In this painting, we see that some 20 years or so after it's inception, some drivers still preferred to use the mask instead of the standard full face helmet.
In this image we see Denny Savage behind the wheel of Joe Pisano's (short lived) Beautiful 84 Daytona at the Winternationals in Pomona. Later that year, the car was destroyed in a trailer fire prompting "Uncle Joe" to purchase "Lil John" Lombardo's Black Daytona as a replacement. That car, with Al Segrini behind the wheel went on to win the 'World Finals" later the same year, again at Pomona.
Can you smell the Nitro? DCP
