A characteristically airborne Tex Hopkins brandishes the green flag to unleash a full field of Formula Junior competitors at Watkins Glen in 1960.
Photo: Alix Lafontant
The Paddock at Watkins Glen in 1954 is filled with a representative sampling of the caars being raced, including Jaguar XK120 coupes and roadsters, a couple of Porsche 356 roadsters and a coupe, an Austin-Healey 100 and lots of T-series MGs, all getting their numbers on and preparing to go racing. Photo: Alix Lafontant
An essential part of the early sports car scene was the race photographer. He was the guy with three cameras strapped around his neck – probably Leicas, Hasselblads or Nikons. He knelt by the side of the track as the cars whizzed by at 140 miles an hour only a couple of feet away. He chronicled the races at venues from Watkins Glen to Bridgehampton to Elkhart Lake, Put-in-Bay and Brynfan Tyddyn. His work went into magazines like Speed Age, Road & Track and Sports Car….not to mention the various SCCA regional newsletters.
Of course, anyone can buy a camera, but not everyone can use one. Professional photographers in motorsports were confronted with things their counterparts in regular news photography could never imagine: extreme high speeds, access to vantage points (re: safety), spectators, officials and distances (e.g., getting yourself and your gear around a three-mile road course).
No Subscription? You’re missing out
Get immediate ad-free access to all our premium content.
