Here are images I took in what has become known as The Golden Age of Sports Car racing in the late 50s to late 60s era. In them you will see the major drivers of the day like Gurney, Hill, Moss, the Rodriguez brothers, Ginther, Scarfiotti, Penske, and Reventlow as they raced for the World Sports Car Championship at circuits like Sebring, Bridgehampton, and Nassau at the time the grand marques like Ferrari, Porsche, Cobra, Alfa, Jag, OSCA, and others were in ascendance. Equally important are photos I took at the local circuits like Marlboro, Lime Rock, and Thompson of the vibrant band of SCCA amateurs.

No matter the circuit or driver level of skill, as I began to photograph at the beginning of that by-gone era, three common threads neatly highlight the ethos of the time: 1) competitors raced in Corinthian style without sponsors simply to win a silver trophy, 2) they did so without roll bars, seat belts, or flame proof clothing, on circuits with little if any safeguards. 3) The technology of the day was only just beginning to progress following WWII with winning speed heavily dependent on the expert use of the driver’s feet and hands. Aerodynamics was not much more than an afterthought. In fact when I asked the Ferrari team manager, Romolo Tavoni, during practice for the 1959 Sebring 12 Hour Race how the factory came to the design of the ‘59 Testa Rossa, he said “if a car looks beautiful it will go beautifully”.

I was lucky enough to befriend a number of the Champions of this now golden age, and reveled in any opportunity go to SCCA regional and National races and especially the World Championship events like Sebring & Nassau. My first real opportunity to photograph at a major Championship event came in a chance meeting with Lucky Casner in the fall of '58 when I asked him if he was looking for pit crew for his Ferrari 2-liter entry for the '59 Sebring 12 hour race. "Yes", he said. We shook hands & months later Lucky was good on his word and had crew credentials waiting for me. And thus, with camera in hand, I began to capture the heart of the many facets of this amazing, golden age of motor racing. If, like me, you lived through the era I hope these images stir some good memories, and bring you so close to the action that only the sweet smell of Castrol R wafting through the pits could bring it any closer. If you were too young to have lived through that Golden Age in sports car racing, these photos will give you a good idea of why those times remain such revered, memorable, and powerful visions of a truly grand era.

Please note: additional images will be added to the gallery continuously as will photos from other motor racing segments I took in more modern times like CART and Indy Car, and even motorcycle racing in the UK … so check back often to see the new image additions.