In the background of this advertisement for Johnny Walker you’ll see a painting on an easel in the background. The painting is called Speed Demons of 1904. Both painting and advert were made by famous artist Peter Helck. When in 1944 Esquire Magazine published a calendar with a series of racing scenes painted by Peter Helck racing, his career as a motoring artist really took off and nowadays a Peter Helck painting will fetch a high price at an automobilia auction. The car in the foreground with number 16 was also owned by Peter Helck. It was a Locomobile (ddavid.com) which he bought it in 1941. The car was never restored and still carries the original grey paint and racing number from the 1908 Vanderbilt race. It went to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn after Peter’s death in 1988. (With thanks to Timothy Helck, Peter’s grandson, who built a website celebrating his grandfather’s work).





May 28, 2007