PETER HELCK

The legendary American illustrator whose passion for early racing inspired a remarkable book in 1961

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More than any other motoring artist, Peter Helck’s motorsport illustrations of the pre-WW1 years have a special authenticity gained from witnessing the spectacle first-hand. Born in 1893, Helck saw his first race, the Vanderbilt Cup, in 1906 and was immediately entranced by these mighty titans and their valiant crews.

During the summer, while playing with friends on West 96th Street in New York, Helck spotted a Simplex 50 warming up and pestered the pilot to let him sit up on the passenger seat and go for a ride. The test driver was Al Poole, a veteran of the 1000 Mile Trial with CS Rolls, but more impressive to young Helck was that he’d also ridden shotgun with Vanderbilt Cup winner Joe Tracy.