Worm's Eye View: Auto Union C-type

I don't recall exactly where I found this, but it's a really cool period photo I had never seen before showing the Auto Union C-type at speed. This might even be a record attempt on the Autobahn, given how straight the road is. I love these "worm's eye views" that were so popular in the 30s as a way to show the pure speed of the car hurtling towards you. The forced perspective is just fantastic!

Announcing a new weekly series: The Elf scans

'Tis the season where one naturally thinks of elves, but I recently acquired a fantastic set of A4 sized photo cards that were printed as promotional items for french petroleum giant ELF.  These cards, each celebrating the cars and drivers of the Matra and Alpine teams, were available at Elf fuel stations in France circa 1970. Starting in January 2011, I will upload a high res image of a new card each week.  The photos are simply sensational, and there are many cool cutaway drawings and diagrams on the backs of the cards.  See below for my Saul Bass-inspired mosaic showing the whole series!

Bugattis in the Rain

Since it's winter, I thought I would go back in time to a wet and wonderful weekend when I saw the American Bugatti Club members race their wonderful cars on the rain-soaked Watkins Glen course.  The rain was so heavy that day that most of the vintage racers stayed off the track.  But not the ABC members, who braved it out on their skinny tires to the delight of the few spectators who bothered to show up!  I took these photos at the long sweeping turn 6.